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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Political Science B.A.

Program Overview

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Location: McKee 318

Email: HSS@unco.edu

Website: www.unco.edu/hss/political-science-international-affairs

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This program emphasizes the development of the analytical, research, and writing skills that are necessary to think critically and reflect upon political values and public policy. The program participates in the Center for Teaching History and Social Science, the Institute for Civic Education, the Honors program, Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, and International Relations program.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Recommendations:

See recommended LAC courses below.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

The following courses are recommended, but not required.

HIST 100Survey of American History from Its Beginnings to 1877LAH1

3

HIST 101Survey of American History from 1877 to the PresentLAH1

3

HIST 120Western Civilizations from the Bronze Age to 1689LAH1LAIS

3

HIST 121Western Civilization from 1689 to the PresentLAH1LAIS

3

ECON 203Principles of MacroeconomicsLAB1

3

ECON 205Principles of MicroeconomicsLAB1

3

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 36 credits

Take all of the following courses:

PSCI 100United States National GovernmentLAB1

3

PSCI 105Fundamentals of PoliticsLAB1

3

PSCI 110Global IssuesLAB1LAIS

3

Choose one of the following courses:

PSCI 405Senior Seminar in American Politics

3

PSCI 415Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics

3

PSCI 425Senior Seminar in International Relations

3

PSCI 435Senior Seminar in Political Philosophy

3

Choose two courses from each of the following groups — 24 credits:

Group A — American Politics
ENST 205Environment, Politics and Law

3

PSCI 203Colorado Politics

3

PSCI 207Women and Politics

3

PSCI 208Introduction to Public Administration

3

PSCI 301Electoral Politics in the United States

3

PSCI 302Power in America

3

PSCI 303Public Policy in the United States

3

PSCI 306Constitutional Law

3

PSCI 309American Political Development

3

PSCI 335American Political Thought

3

PSCI 392Internship

1-13

PSCI 405Senior Seminar in American Politics

3

PSCI 422Directed Studies

1- 3

Group B — International Relations
PSCI 220Introduction to International Relations

3

PSCI 240Globalization

3

PSCI 320American Foreign Policy

3

PSCI 321War and Peace

3

PSCI 325Conflict in the Middle East

3

PSCI 326International Political Economy

3

PSCI 327Politics of Migration

3

PSCI 328International Law and Organizations

3

PSCI 422Directed Studies

1- 3

PSCI 425Senior Seminar in International Relations

3

Group C — Political Philosophy
PSCI 331Political Philosophy I

3

PSCI 422Directed Studies

1- 3

PSCI 332Political Philosophy II

3

PSCI 435Senior Seminar in Political Philosophy

3

Group D — Comparative Politics
PSCI 200Introduction to Comparative Politics

3

PSCI 210European Politics

3

PSCI 215Post-Communist Russian Empire

3

PSCI 230The Evolution of the Modern State

3

PSCI 270Nationalism, Ethnicity and RaceLAB1LAMS

3

PSCI 286Value Issues in Political EconomyLAB1

3

PSCI 296Study Abroad Experience

3

PSCI 315Comparative Public Policy

3

PSCI 316Latin American Politics

3

PSCI 317Dictatorship to Democracy

3

PSCI 318The Politics of the Developing States

3

PSCI 319Asian Politics

3

PSCI 323Politics of Religion

3

PSCI 350Politics and Film

3

PSCI 351Screening for PSCI 350

0

PSCI 415Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics

3

PSCI 422Directed Studies

1- 3

3. University-Wide Credits — 53 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 53 credits.

Program Notes

Qualified students are invited to enroll in the Honors Program in Political Science. Consult the director, Honors Program in Political Science.

Students must have permission of the Internship Coordinator before registering for an internship.

Students must have completed 9 credits in political science before doing an internship. While students may take up to 13 credits in the Political Science Internship program, only 3 credits can be used toward the requirements for the major.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

HIST 121Western Civilization from 1689 to the PresentLAH1LAIS

3

PSCI 105Fundamentals of PoliticsLAB1

3

PSCI 110Global IssuesLAB1LAIS

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ENG 123Writing and Research MethodsLAW2

3

PSCI 100United States National GovernmentLAB1

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

PSCI 220Introduction to International Relations

3

PSCI 240Globalization

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

PSCI 315Comparative Public Policy

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

University-Wide Elective

2

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

PSCI 317Dictatorship to Democracy

3

PSCI 331Political Philosophy I

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ENST 205Environment, Politics and Law

3

PSCI 332Political Philosophy II

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

PSCI 303Public Policy in the United States

3

PSCI 306Constitutional Law

3

PSCI 392Internship

1-13

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

PSCI 392: Take 3 credits

Spring Semester

PSCI 405Senior Seminar in American Politics

3

or

PSCI 435Senior Seminar in Political Philosophy

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

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