Political Science - Public Policy Option, BA
Introduction
Please click here to see Political Science department information.
This option was designed for students who desire to pursue careers in public policy and/or public administration in the public or nonprofit sectors. This BA track emphasizes the specifically political aspects of public policy processes and is grounded in political science theory and familiarity with American, Comparative and International politics. Courses will emphasize key policy issues confronting U.S. local, state and national decision makers and citizens. A focus on politics and the policy-making process will prepare students conceptually and methodologically to move beyond partisan politics to address how leaders can best mobilize resources to achieve constituent goals consistent with the public interest.
These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Program Delivery
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This program can be completed online or on-campus.
Declaring This Major
- Click here to go to information about declaring a major.
General Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
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Click here for information about Academic Policies
Program Requirements
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Students must complete a minimum of 39 PSCI credit hours.
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Students must complete a minimum of 21 upper division (3000-level and above) PSCI credit hours.
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Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
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Students must complete a minimum of 15 PSCI credit hours with CU Denver faculty.
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
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Students with significant pre-existing political or civic engagement experience in the community, or for whom the experiential- learning requirement poses a hardship may petition the chair to waive the experiential-learning requirement; the overall requirement of 39 credit hours for Political Science graduation will still apply.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take the following courses | 9 | |
| PSCI 1001 | Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice | 3 |
| PSCI 1101 | American Political System | 3 |
| PSCI 2011 | Logic of Political Inquiry | 3 |
American Politics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| PSCI 3034 | Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 3035 | Political Movements: Race and Gender | 3 |
| PSCI 3064 | Power and Empowerment in the United States | 3 |
| PSCI 3214 | Federal Law and American Indians | 3 |
| PSCI 3347 | Film and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 3914 | The Urban Citizen | 3 |
| PSCI 4014 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4024 | State Politics: Focus Colorado | 3 |
| PSCI 4025 | Local Governance and Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4034 | Political Parties and Pressure Groups | 3 |
| PSCI 4044 | The Presidency | 3 |
| PSCI 4074 | Urban Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4075 | Gentrification and Social Equity | 3 |
| PSCI 4084 | Local Government and Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 4094 | Seminar: American Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4124 | Denver Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4236 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4237 | American National Security | 3 |
| PSCI 4330 | U.S. Health Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4354 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4414 | Non-Profits and Social Change | 3 |
| PSCI 4444 | Contemporary Culture and Politics in America | 3 |
| PSCI 4477 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| PSCI 4487 | Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| PSCI 4494 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4535 | Labor and Working Class Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4545 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4554 | Chicano and Latino Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4726 | Seminar on U.S. and China Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 4827 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4837 | Contemporary Issues in Civil Liberties | 3 |
| PSCI 4914 | Community Organizing and Community Development | 3 |
Public Policy and Administration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take two of the following | 6 | |
| PSCI 2365 | Politics of Climate Change | 3 |
| PSCI 3034 | Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 3214 | Federal Law and American Indians | 3 |
| PSCI 4009 | Politics of the Budgetary Process | 3 |
| PSCI 4024 | State Politics: Focus Colorado | 3 |
| PSCI 4025 | Local Governance and Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4034 | Political Parties and Pressure Groups | 3 |
| PSCI 4084 | Local Government and Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 4085 | Comparative Governance: Environment and Society | 3 |
| PSCI 4124 | Denver Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4274 | Conflict Resolution and Public Consent Building | 3 |
| PSCI 4236 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4330 | U.S. Health Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4354 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4414 | Non-Profits and Social Change | 3 |
| PSCI 4914 | Community Organizing and Community Development | 3 |
| PSCI 4934 | CU at the Capitol | 3 |
Comparative Politics and International Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following* | 3 | |
| PSCI 3022 | Political Systems of the World | 3 |
| PSCI 3042 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 3050 | Islamophobia | 3 |
| PSCI 3064 | Power and Empowerment in the United States | 3 |
| PSCI 4025 | Local Governance and Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4085 | Comparative Governance: Environment and Society | 3 |
| PSCI 4105 | Comparative Politics: Europe | 3 |
| PSCI 4115 | Third World Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4126 | Introduction to International Political Economy | 3 |
| PSCI 4144 | Indigenous Political Systems | 3 |
| PSCI 4146 | Indigenous Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4150 | Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism | 3 |
| PSCI 4155 | Political Systems of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| PSCI 4156 | The Arab-Israeli Peace Process | 3 |
| PSCI 4165 | Islamic Politics and Culture | 3 |
| PSCI 4176 | Gandhi's Legacy: Non-Violent Resistance Today | 3 |
| PSCI 4185 | Corruption in the U.S. and Abroad | 3 |
| PSCI 4186 | East Asia in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4195 | Political Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 |
| PSCI 4206 | Social Movements, Democracy and Global Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4215 | Women's Rights, Human Rights: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| PSCI 4216 | International Politics: Human Rights | 3 |
| PSCI 4224 | Dictatorships in 21st Century | 3 |
| PSCI 4225 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| PSCI 4226 | The United Nations in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4235 | Politics and Markets in Latin America | 3 |
| PSCI 4236 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4237 | American National Security | 3 |
| PSCI 4240 | International Security | 3 |
| PSCI 4248 | Gender, Globalization and Development | 3 |
| PSCI 4265 | Social Justice And Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4266 | International Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4274 | Conflict Resolution and Public Consent Building | 3 |
| PSCI 4276 | Conflicts and Rights in International Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4280 | The Politics of War Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4286 | International Relations: War or Peace? | 3 |
| PSCI 4326 | Advanced International Political Economy: Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4365 | Global Ecological Crises | 3 |
| PSCI 4446 | Advanced Indigenous Peoples' Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4505 | Political System of Russia and Its Neighbors | 3 |
| PSCI 4555 | International Women's Resistance | 3 |
| PSCI 4605 | Politics and Governments of South Asia | 3 |
| PSCI 4615 | Politics and Government of China | 3 |
| PSCI 4645 | Comparative Political Leadership | 3 |
| PSCI 4726 | Seminar on U.S. and China Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 4736 | The Middle East in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4807 | Political Violence | 3 |
| PSCI 4808 | Strategies of Peacebuilding | 3 |
| PSCI 4914 | Community Organizing and Community Development | 3 |
| * | The faculty are currently developing PSCI 4245, Populist Movements Around the World, and intend to offer it starting Spring 2022. PSCI 4245 will count toward the Comparative Politics distribution area. |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take any two additional courses from the three fields above, plus take any one other upper or lower-division PSCI course. | 9 | |
| PSCI 2006 | Global Political Issues | 3 |
| PSCI 2011 | Logic of Political Inquiry | 3 |
| PSCI 2365 | Politics of Climate Change | 3 |
| PSCI 2410 | Political Science through Science Fiction | 3 |
| PSCI 3000 | Topics: Conference Participation | 1 |
| PSCI 3002 | Topics in Political Science | 1-3 |
| PSCI 3011 | Research Methods | 3 |
| PSCI 3022 | Political Systems of the World | 3 |
| PSCI 3034 | Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 3035 | Political Movements: Race and Gender | 3 |
| PSCI 3042 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 3050 | Islamophobia | 3 |
| PSCI 3064 | Power and Empowerment in the United States | 3 |
| PSCI 3214 | Federal Law and American Indians | 3 |
| PSCI 3347 | Film and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 3914 | The Urban Citizen | 3 |
| PSCI 4002 | Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 4009 | Politics of the Budgetary Process | 3 |
| PSCI 4011 | GIS in Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 4014 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4024 | State Politics: Focus Colorado | 3 |
| PSCI 4025 | Local Governance and Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4034 | Political Parties and Pressure Groups | 3 |
| PSCI 4044 | The Presidency | 3 |
| PSCI 4057 | Religion and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4074 | Urban Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4075 | Gentrification and Social Equity | 3 |
| PSCI 4084 | Local Government and Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 4085 | Comparative Governance: Environment and Society | 3 |
| PSCI 4094 | Seminar: American Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4105 | Comparative Politics: Europe | 3 |
| PSCI 4115 | Third World Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4124 | Denver Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4126 | Introduction to International Political Economy | 3 |
| PSCI 4144 | Indigenous Political Systems | 3 |
| PSCI 4146 | Indigenous Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4150 | Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism | 3 |
| PSCI 4155 | Political Systems of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| PSCI 4156 | The Arab-Israeli Peace Process | 3 |
| PSCI 4165 | Islamic Politics and Culture | 3 |
| PSCI 4176 | Gandhi's Legacy: Non-Violent Resistance Today | 3 |
| PSCI 4185 | Corruption in the U.S. and Abroad | 3 |
| PSCI 4186 | East Asia in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4195 | Political Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 |
| PSCI 4206 | Social Movements, Democracy and Global Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4207 | Theories of Social and Political Change | 3 |
| PSCI 4215 | Women's Rights, Human Rights: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| PSCI 4216 | International Politics: Human Rights | 3 |
| PSCI 4224 | Dictatorships in 21st Century | 3 |
| PSCI 4225 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| PSCI 4226 | The United Nations in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4235 | Politics and Markets in Latin America | 3 |
| PSCI 4236 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4237 | American National Security | 3 |
| PSCI 4240 | International Security | 3 |
| PSCI 4248 | Gender, Globalization and Development | 3 |
| PSCI 4265 | Social Justice And Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4266 | International Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4274 | Conflict Resolution and Public Consent Building | 3 |
| PSCI 4276 | Conflicts and Rights in International Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4280 | The Politics of War Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4286 | International Relations: War or Peace? | 3 |
| PSCI 4326 | Advanced International Political Economy: Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4330 | U.S. Health Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 4354 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4365 | Global Ecological Crises | 3 |
| PSCI 4407 | Early Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4414 | Non-Profits and Social Change | 3 |
| PSCI 4417 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4427 | Law, Politics and Justice | 3 |
| PSCI 4437 | Coercion and the State | 3 |
| PSCI 4444 | Contemporary Culture and Politics in America | 3 |
| PSCI 4446 | Advanced Indigenous Peoples' Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4457 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4477 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| PSCI 4487 | Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| PSCI 4494 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4505 | Political System of Russia and Its Neighbors | 3 |
| PSCI 4535 | Labor and Working Class Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4545 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4550 | The Irish Diaspora | 3 |
| PSCI 4554 | Chicano and Latino Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4555 | International Women's Resistance | 3 |
| PSCI 4564 | Gender and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 4605 | Politics and Governments of South Asia | 3 |
| PSCI 4615 | Politics and Government of China | 3 |
| PSCI 4645 | Comparative Political Leadership | 3 |
| PSCI 4726 | Seminar on U.S. and China Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 4736 | The Middle East in World Affairs | 3 |
| PSCI 4757 | Legal Reasoning and Writing | 3 |
| PSCI 4807 | Political Violence | 3 |
| PSCI 4808 | Strategies of Peacebuilding | 3 |
| PSCI 4827 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4837 | Contemporary Issues in Civil Liberties | 3 |
| PSCI 4878 | War, Film, and International Law | 3 |
| PSCI 4914 | Community Organizing and Community Development | 3 |
| PSCI 4934 | CU at the Capitol | 3 |
| PSCI 4944 | CU in the City | 3 |
Political Theory
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following: | 3 | |
| PSCI 4207 | Theories of Social and Political Change | 3 |
| PSCI 4265 | Social Justice And Globalization | 3 |
| PSCI 4407 | Early Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4417 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4427 | Law, Politics and Justice | 3 |
| PSCI 4437 | Coercion and the State | 3 |
| PSCI 4457 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 4564 | Gender and Politics | 3 |
Experiential Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following: | 3 | |
| PSCI 3914 | The Urban Citizen | 3 |
| PSCI 3939 | Internship | 3 |
| PSCI 4934 | CU at the Capitol | 3 |
| PSCI 4995 | Global Study Topics | 1-3 |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take the following | 3 | |
| PSCI 4960 | Capstone in Political Science 1 | 3 |
| 1 | Students must complete a capstone experience by enrolling in the following course, any time after completing 27 credit hours in the Major. |
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.
To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.