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
Website: clas.ucdenver.edu/polisci/

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

Megan Reif, PhD, University of Michigan

Thorsten Sphen, PhD, University of Denver

Adjoint Faculty:

Kathryn Cheever, PhD, University of Colorado

Senior Instructors:

Harvey Bishop, MA, University of Colorado

Amin Kazak, PhD, University of Denver

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

Thad Tecza, PhD, University of Colorado

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 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. 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 (http://clas.ucdenver.edu/polisci/) for detailed information on programs, faculty, students, courses and syllabi, community involvement and service learning, internships and photographs.

Graduate Program

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

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Masters in Political Science, New Directions option.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Democracy and Social Movements Graduate Certificate.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Community Leadership Graduate Certificate.

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
Web site: clas.ucdenver.edu/newdirections/index.htm

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.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Masters in Political Science, New Directions option.