Political Science
Chair: Michael Berry
Undergraduate Advisor: Karen Breslin
Pre-law Advisor: Glenn Morris
Graduate Advisor: Michael Berry
Director, New Directions Program: Steve DelCastillo
Office: Student Commons, Room 3212
Telephone: 303-315-1770
Fax: 303-315-1780
Website: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/polisci/
Overview
Political science is the study of people, power and the public good. Looking at a variety of societies, institutions and interpersonal situations, the discipline asks who has power, where this power comes from, how it is used, how it promotes or impairs the public good and how the public good is defined. Political science draws from other fields, such as psychology, philosophy, economics, sociology and world literature. Finally, it explores the relationship between idealism and realism, between theory and practice, between political thought and personal action.
Opportunities for students with a degree in political science include careers in business, teaching, journalism, community organizing and government service. A political science degree also serves as good preparation for professional training in law and public administration. Students’ internship experiences increase their job opportunities. Students with an MA in political science may find careers in such areas as business, government research and administration and teaching at the community-college level. The CU Denver Political Science Master's Program provides many opportunities for professional development through political internships, for community-based learning through a focused community organizing and development curriculum (including many teaching, research and service partnerships with local community organizations), and for international engagement through a robust international politics curriculum, study abroad opportunities, and partnerships with international organizations.
Please visit the political science department website for detailed information on programs, faculty, students, courses and syllabi, community involvement and service learning, internships and photographs.
Fourth World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and Politics
Executive Director: Glenn T. Morris
Telephone: 303-315-1762
This center provides a research clearinghouse to students and faculty at CU Denver on legal and political issues that affect indigenous peoples (the Fourth World). In addition to supporting a modest library of rare books and periodicals on indigenous issues, the center also stocks video and audio resources on subjects of indigenous politics and a substantial news file archive on current developments in the Fourth World. The center has produced curricular materials, including the Fourth World Bulletin, for use in international relations and area-studies courses.
Center for NEW DIRECTIONS in Politics and Public Policy
Director: Steve DelCastillo
Website: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/newdirections/
This center provides academic programs, courses and research focused in the areas of politics and public policy with the purpose of developing the leadership capacities necessary to address changing public priorities for the 21st century within neighborhoods, communities, governmental jurisdictions, labor organizations,and nonprofit entities. Students in the Center’s academic programs include working professionals in public and non-profit sectors; elected officials; community activists; interest-group stakeholders; educators from a wide range of demographic, occupational, and personal backgrounds; and simply concerned citizens. The New Directions program offers professional internships with a wide variety of political jurisdictions, community-based groups, and labor organizations across Colorado, including several funded internships.
The center offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science with emphases in public policy and administration.
Requirements for Admission
Students applying for admission to the MA program in political science should have an undergraduate degree in political science or related field (e.g., international affairs or public administration, among others) or have completed at least 18-credit hours of previous academic work in political science, at least 9 hours of which should be at the upper-division or graduate level. The department may make exceptions to these requirements in unusual cases (for instance, if course work in related fields such as psychology, economics and history compensates for the deficiencies in political science). Applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered. In their applications, students must submit official transcripts and three letters of recommendation (academic references preferred) as specified by graduate admissions. In addition, applicants must submit a statement of academic objectives and an academic writing sample. Standardized test scores are not required of applicants but will be considered if submitted. Program applicants who face difficulties in meeting these requirements should reach out for individual discussion with our Graduate Program director (for example, if an undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, or if letters of recommendation from professors taken years ago are difficult to obtain).
In order to take graduate courses in political science, students must either be admitted to the MA program, a declared 4+1 BA/MA student, or secured permission to take courses as a non-degree student. Non-degree students interested in our certificate programs or in taking graduate courses for any reason should reach out to the Department Graduate Advisor to secure admission to courses as a non-degree seeking student.
See more about our admissions on our website.
Faculty
Professors:
Christoph Stefes, PhD, Denver University
Associate Professors:
Michael J. Berry, PhD, University of Colorado
Sasha Breger-Bush, PhD, University of Denver
Bassem Hassan, PhD, University of Denver
Betcy Jose, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Glenn T. Morris, JD, Harvard University School of Law
Tony Robinson, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Thorsten Spehn, PhD, University of Denver
James Walsh, PhD, University of Colorado
Assistant Professors:
Karen Breslin, JD, University of Denver
Senior Instructors:
Harvey Bishop, MA, University of Colorado
Adjunct Faculty:
Charles Norton, JD, University of Chicago
Basim Mahmood, M.A., University of Colorado
Nicholas Rockwell, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Karen Sugar, MA, University of Colorado
Martin Widzer, PhD, University of Denver
Emeritus Faculty:
Mike Cummings, PhD, Stanford University
Joel Edelstein, PhD, University of California, Riverside
Jana Everett, PhD, University of Michigan
Stephen C. Thomas, PhD, Stanford University