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Political Science Professors: R. Lorch and Null Bachelor of Arts — Political Science Students majoring in Political Science must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in the discipline, of which 30 hours must be with a grade of C or better. At least 21 hours must be in upper-division courses. The program offers four major tracks, one general and three representing important subfields of political science: American Politics/Public Law, Global Politics, and Public Administration. All four tracks are designed to prepare students for professional careers in the public or private sector, or graduate or professional study. Federal, state and local governments are important employers of political science graduates. In the private sector, including non-profits, the increasing interaction with government creates a growing demand for graduates with an understanding of political systems, domestically and internationally. Political Science, Law, and Public Administration are common graduate fields of study for our graduates. Degree Tracks General Students majoring in the General track are required to take P SC 101 and 110, or equivalent lower-division courses with the approval of the department chair; P SC 250; either P SC 442 or 445; and P SC 450 or an approved equivalent. Students should plan to complete P SC 101, 110 and 250 prior to taking upper-division courses. All students are required to complete a senior thesis prior to graduation, usually as part of P SC 450 near the end of the course of study. In addition, students should plan to take at least one upper-division course from each subfield (American Political Institutions and Behavior, Global Politics, and Public Administration, Policy and Law). American Politics/Public Law Students majoring in the American Politics/Public Law track are required to take P SC 101, 110, and 210 or equivalent lower-division courses with the approval of the department chair; P SC 250; P SC 440; either P SC 442 or 445; P SC 447; and P SC 450 or an approved equivalent. Students should plan to complete P SC 101, 110, 210 and 250 prior to taking upper-division courses. All students are required to complete a senior thesis prior to graduation, usually as part of P SC 450 near the end of the course of study. In addition, students in this track must complete three additional courses from among those listed under American Political Institutions and Behavior or Public Administration, Policy and Law. Global Politics Students majoring in the Global Politics track
are required to take P SC 101 and 110, or equivalent lower-division courses with the
approval of the department Public Administration Students majoring in the Public Administration track are required to take P SC 110 and 210, or equivalent lower-division courses with the approval of the department chair; P SC 250; P SC 432; P SC 440; P SC 445; P SC 446; and P SC 450 or an approved equivalent. Students should plan to complete P SC 110, 210, and 250 prior to taking upper-division courses. All students are required to complete a senior thesis prior to graduation, usually as part of P SC 450 near the end of the course of study. In addition, students in this track must complete three additional courses from among those listed under Public Administration, Policy and Law. Minor In Political Science Students majoring in other Letters, Arts, and Sciences disciplines may elect a minor in Political Science, Global Politics, American Politics and Public Law, or Public Administration. A minor requires a minimum of 18 hours of coursework in political science, to include P SC 101 and P SC 110, except for the minor in Public Administration, which requires P SC 110 and P SC 210. For the general Political Science minor, students must complete at least nine hours of upper-division coursework of their choice. For the Global Politics minor, at least nine hours must be selected from the Global Politics section. For the American Politics and Public Law minor, nine hours of upper-division must come from either American Political Institutions and Behavior or Public Policy, Administration and Law. The Public Administration minor must include nine hours of upper-division coursework from Public Policy, Administration and Law. Prelaw Students planning to attend law school should consult with Professor Robert Lorch, prelaw advisor. Honors Program Departmental honors are available to graduating majors in political science. In order to be eligible for departmental honors, students must: a) have a 3.0 general grade point average and a 3.5 average in political science; and b) write a senior thesis judged as "meritorious" by the department. Students recommended for departmental honors may be entitled to graduate with distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction. Internships The department encourages all students to consider enrolling for an internship during their tenure at the University. Internships give students "hands on" experience in the public sector, giving students a greater appreciation for the complexity of politics and policymaking and of the legal system. The department places students in three kinds of internships: prelaw (P SC 948), legislative, with U.S. or Colorado legislators (P SC 348), and public agency internships in governmental or non-profit agencies (P SC 398). Students may earn up to six credits in P SC 348 or 398, and should see Professor Ponder for more information. The prelaw internship (P SC 948) may earn up to three hours of credit. Interested students should see Professor Lorch. Course Offerings Courses at the 100 level are designed for beginning students and 200 level courses are taught at the sophomore level. Remaining courses are structured in a more advanced manner. Students without previous courses in political science should consult appropriate instructors before attempting to take courses numbered 300 and above. American Political Institutions and Behavior P SC 103-3 Colorado Politics P SC 110-3 American Political Systems P SC 111-1 to 3. Current Topics P SC 301-3 Women in Politics P SC 303-3 Political Parties P SC 305-3 Race and Ethnicity in American Politics P SC 348-3 to 6. Legislative Internship P SC 402-3 The American Congress P SC 404-3 Political Interest Groups P SC 405-3 Public Opinion and Political Behavior P SC 408-3 U.S. Electoral Process P SC 439-3 The Presidency P SC 440-3 Government and Society
Global Politics P SC 101-3 Introduction to Global Politics P SC 311-3 Emerging Nations P SC 321-3 Western European Political Systems P SC 322-3 Eastern European Political Systems P SC 413-3 Latin American Politics and Development P SC 421-3 International Politics P SC 422-3 Comparative Politics P SC 423-3 The United States in World Politics P SC 424-3 Russian Foreign Policy P SC 425-3 International Law P SC 426-3 International Organizations P SC 427-3 Latin America in World Politics P SC 434-3 National Security Organization and Policymaking
Public Policy, Administration and Law P SC 210-3 Politics and Policy in State and Local Communities P SC 330-3 The Bureaucrats P SC 398-3 or 6 Public Administration Internship P SC 406-3 State Political Systems P SC 407-3 Urban Politics P SC 432-3 Public Administration P SC 435-3 Environmental Policies and Administration P SC 446-3 Administrative Law P SC 447-3 Introduction to Constitutional Law P SC 448-3 Constitution and Individual Rights P SC 449-3 The Judicial System P SC 451-3 Defendant’s Constitutional Rights P SC 948-3 or 6 Prelaw Internship Political Theory and Methods P SC 250-3 Introduction to Political Inquiries P SC 442-3 Political Ideas P SC 445-3 American Political Thought P SC 450-3 Senior Research
Other Courses P SC 498-1 to 3 Special Problems in Political Science P SC 940-1 to 3 Independent Study |