2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Civics, Public Policy and Equity Undergraduate Certificate

General Requirements

Students must satisfy all requirements as outlined below and by the department offering the certificate.

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Certificate Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours, from approved coursework
  2. Students must complete a minimum of six upper division (3000-level and above) credit hours, from approved coursework.
  3. Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all courses that apply to the certificate and must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to certificate requirements.
  4. Students must complete all credit hours applying to the certificate with CU Denver faculty.

Certificate Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

  1. Students must complete the specified number of courses from the designated certificate focus areas. Exceptions to the focus area distribution requirements are not permitted. 
  2. Courses completed in pursuance of the certificate may also count toward CU Denver major or minor requirements, however each course may count for a maximum of two graduation requirements. 
Complete two of the following Historical and Legal Context courses:6
U.S. History to 1876
U.S. History Since 1876
Controversies in History
The American Presidency
Red and Blue America: U.S. History, 1973-Present
Introduction to Legal Studies
First Amendment: Theory and Context
Why Obey the Law? Introduction to Philosophy of Law
American Political System
State Politics: Focus Colorado
The Presidency
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
Judicial Politics
Contemporary Issues in Civil Liberties
Courts & Society
Complete one of the following Policy courses:3
Mass Media Law And Policy
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Law and Society
Courts and Social Policy
The Politics of Nature
Science, Policy and the Environment
Justice, Freedom, and Power: Social and Political Philosophy
How to think green: Environmental Ethics
Medicine, Health Care, and Justice: Bioethics
Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy 1
Politics of the Budgetary Process
Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Environmental Politics
Immigration Politics
Organizational and Strategic Management
Collaboration Across Sectors
PUAD 4000
Course PUAD 4000 Not Found
Sustainable Energy Policy
Sociology of Law
Complete one of the following Equity courses:3
Communication, Citizenship, and Social Justice
Communication, Prisons, and Social Justice
Race, Class, and Justice
Poverty, Crime, and Justice
Economics of Race and Gender
Equality, Rights & Education
Ethnicity, Health and Social Justice
Family Systems and Social Justice
Diversity, Inclusion, Social Justice in Higher Education
Social Movements in 20th Century America
Crime, Policing, and Justice in American History
Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism
Feminist Philosophy
US Music: Social & Political Impact
Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice
Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy 1
Political Movements: Race and Gender
Power and Empowerment in the United States
The Urban Citizen
Theories of Social and Political Change
Law, Politics and Justice
Gender and Politics
Leading and Engaging for the Public Good
Philanthropy
Foundations in Social Justice
Special Topics: Social Justice
Inequalities in Social World
Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
Race, Culture and Immigration
Health Disparities
Poverty and Social Inequality
Total Hours12
1

PSCI 3034 Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy can apply toward the Policy or Equity requirement.

Upon completion of this program, students will:

• develop critical thinking and written communication skills

• explain and analyze historical and contemporary aspects of American political institutions and civic engagement

• describe and examine the formulation, analysis, and critique of public policy

• discuss and evaluate how equity/inequity operates in politics and society