Political Science

Chair: Tony Robinson
Program Assistant: Cory Gruebele
Undergraduate Advisor: Lucy McGuffey
Pre-law Advisor: Glenn Morris
Graduate Advisor: Thorsten Spehn
Director, New Directions Program: Kathryn Cheever
Office: King Center, 502
Telephone: 303-556-3556
Fax: 303-556-6041

Faculty

Professors:
Mike Cummings, PhD, Stanford University
Jana Everett, PhD, University of Michigan

Associate Professors:
Glenn T. Morris, JD, Harvard University School of Law
Tony Robinson, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Christoph Stefes, PhD, University of Denver
Stephen C. Thomas, PhD, Stanford University

Assistant Professors:
Michael J. Berry, PhD, University of Colorado
Betcy Jose, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Lucy McGuffey, PhD, University of Denver
Thorsten Sphen, PhD, University of Denver

Adjoint Faculty:
Kathryn Cheever, PhD, University of Colorado

Senior Instructor:
Bassem Hassan, PhD, University of Denver

Instructors:
Harvey Bishop, MA, University of Colorado
James Walsh, PhD, Regis University

Adjunct Faculty:
Loring Abeyta, PhD, University of Denver
Karen Breslin, JD, University of Denver
Charles Norton, JD, University of Chicago
Stephen Polk, MA, University of Colorado Denver

Emeritus Faculty:
Joel Edelstein, PhD, University of California, Riverside

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 BA 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. The 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.

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.

Undergraduate Information

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Major in Political Science.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Minor in Political Science.

Click here to learn about the Undergraduate Certificate in Democracy and Social Movements.

Departmental Honors

Requirements for honors in political science are an overall GPA (in all courses, not just political science courses) of 3.65 or better and the preparation and defense of an honors paper. Honors graduates with an overall GPA of 3.75 to 3.84 may graduate with high honors, and those with GPAs of 3.85 and higher may graduate with highest honors. Level of honors granted depends upon both the GPA and the quality of the honors paper. Students interested in departmental honors must secure a full-time faculty sponsor for their honors paper early in the semester in which they intend to graduate. For details, please contact the department undergraduate advisor.

Fourth World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and Politics

Executive Director: Glenn T. Morris
Telephone: 303-556-6243

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: Kathryn Cheever
Telephone: 303-556-5950

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 and nonprofit entities.

The center offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science with emphases in public policy and administration.

Graduate Information

Please go to the Graduate catalog to read about our graduate programs.