Apr 27, 2025

2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog

2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science BA

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Undergraduate students must declare their intention to major in political science by the time they have completed 60 semester hours, and must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in political science, of which at least 21 must be upper-division courses. Fifteen of the 36 hours must be taken from CU Denver faculty. Courses are distributed among the primary fields as listed in this section, i.e., American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and public policy and administration. To count for the major, all course work must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. Two cognate courses (which don’t count toward the 36 hours) from the list below must also be completed.

Traditional Option

Required Core

PSCI 1001 - Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
PSCI 1101 - American Political System gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
PSCI 3011 - Research Methods gtPATHWAYS:
-OR- PSCI 4011 - GIS in Political Science gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 9 Hours

Choose two:

PSCI 4207 - Theories of Social and Political Change gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4407 - Early Political Thought gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4417 - Modern Political Thought gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4427 - Law, Politics and Justice gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4437 - Coercion and the State gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4457 - American Political Thought gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

One 4000-level course in each of three fields:

American politics, comparative politics, and international relations

Total: 9 Hours

Experiential-Learning Requirement *

Choose one:

PSCI 3914 - The Urban Citizen gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 3939 - Internship gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4934 - CU at the Capitol gtPATHWAYS:
Experiential learning project in any P SC class: 3 semester hours
* Students with significant volunteer experience in the community or for whom the experiential-learning requirement poses a hardship may petition the chair to waive the requirement (36 hours still required).

Total: 3 Hours

Electives

Three political science elective courses

Total: 9 Hours

Political Science Total: 36 Hours

Required Cognate Courses

In addition to the 36 hours above, choose two of the following cognate courses:

ECON 2012 - Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
ECON 2022 - Principles of Economics: Microeconomics gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
HIST 1016 - World History to 1500 gtPATHWAYS:
HIST 1026 - World History Since 1500 gtPATHWAYS:
HIST 1211 - Western Civilization I gtPATHWAYS:
HIST 1212 - Western Civilization II gtPATHWAYS:
HIST 1361 - U.S. History to 1876 gtPATHWAYS: GT-HI1
HIST 1362 - U.S. History Since 1876 gtPATHWAYS: GT-HI1

Total: 6 Hours

Major Total: 42 Hours

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Public Policy Option

This option was designed for students who specifically desire to pursue careers in public policy and/or public administration in the public or nonprofit sectors. Grounded in basic political science theory and familiarity with American, comparative and international politics, this BA track emphasizes the specifically political aspects of public policy processes and settings. Cases 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.

Required Core

PSCI 1001 - Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
PSCI 1101 - American Political System gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
PSCI 3011 - Research Methods gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 9 Hours

One 4000-level course in each of the following three fields:

Total: 9 Hours

Elective courses

Choose any two additional courses from the list above, plus choose one other upper or lower division PSCI course.

Total: 9 Hours

Two political theory courses

PSCI 4427 - Law, Politics and Justice gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4437 - Coercion and the State gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Experiential-Learning Requirement *

Choose one:

PSCI 3939 - Internship gtPATHWAYS:
PSCI 4934 - CU at the Capitol gtPATHWAYS:
* Students with significant volunteer experience in the community or for whom the experiential-learning requirement poses a hardship may petition the chair to waive the requirement (36 hours still required).

Total: 3 Hours

Two cognate courses

ECON 2012 - Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1
ECON 2022 - Principles of Economics: Microeconomics gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS1

Total: 6 Hours

Public Policy Option Total: 42 Hours

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Return to Department of Political Science

Political Science BA

Traditional Option

Required Core

Total: 9 Hours

Choose two:

Total: 6 Hours

One 4000-level course in each of three fields:

Total: 9 Hours

Experiential-Learning Requirement *

Total: 3 Hours

Electives

Total: 9 Hours

Political Science Total: 36 Hours

Required Cognate Courses

Total: 6 Hours

Major Total: 42 Hours

Public Policy Option

Required Core

Total: 9 Hours

One 4000-level course in each of the following three fields:

American Politics

Comparative Politics and International Relations

Public Policy and Administration

Total: 9 Hours

Elective courses

Choose any two additional courses from the list above, plus choose one other upper or lower division PSCI course.

Two political theory courses

Total: 6 Hours

Experiential-Learning Requirement *

Total: 3 Hours

Two cognate courses

Total: 6 Hours

Public Policy Option Total: 42 Hours