Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration 1 MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, U.S. GOVERNMENT, LAW AND POLICY CONCENTRATION The Department s U.S. Government, Law, and Policy concentration is designed to prepare students to become future leaders in the public sector. The skills gained in this concentration help prepare students for a variety of careers (for example, government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, lobbying firms, elected office, political communication, research and policy analysts) as well as prepare students for law and graduate schools. Resources for careers include the American Political Science Association (http://www.apsanet.org/ careersinpoliticalscience) and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (http://www.naspaa.org/students/careers/ joblinks.asp). The courses in this concentration educate students about the political processes and the legal environment of all levels of American government as well as the processes of policymaking and the administrative apparatus used to implement public policy. Students will also be exposed to a variety of substantive policy issues including urban policy, energy policy, and environmental policy in the United States. U.S. Government, Law, and Public Policy students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in one of the many organizations in the broader community. Past students have completed internships with a variety of law firms (http://polisci.colostate.edu/undergraduate/pre-law), the Cities of Fort Collins, Windsor, Loveland, and Westminster, the Colorado General Assembly, and Woodward Governor among others. Students in this concentration are also encouraged to participate in the Legislative Internship Program (http://polisci.colostate.edu/undergraduate/ legislative-internship) during their junior or senior years. Requirements Effective Fall 2016 Political science majors must achieve a minimum grade of C- (1.670) in each of the political science (POLS) courses counted toward meeting the requirement of the major. Freshman AUCC Credits CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2) 1A POLS 101 American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) C POLS 10 State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) C Arts and Humanities B 6 Biological and Physical Sciences A 4 Historical Perspectives D Mathematics 1B Electives 5 Total Credits 0 Sophomore Select one course from the following: CO 00 Writing Arguments (GT-CO) 2 CO 01A Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO) 2 CO 01B Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO) 2 CO 01C Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO) 2 CO 01D Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO) 2 CO 02 Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO) 2 JTC 00 Professional and Technical Communication (GT-CO) 2 LB 00 Specialized Professional Writing 2 POLS 22 International Relations (GT-SS1) E POLS 241 Comparative Government and Politics (GT-SS1) E Tier Four: Select one course from the following (see list below) 1,2 POLS 02 U.S. Political Parties and Elections 4A,4B POLS 0 Politics of Organized Interests 4A,4B POLS 04 Legislative Politics POLS 05 Judicial Politics POLS 06 Executive Politics POLS 09 Urban Politics POLS 51 Public Administration POLS 61 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy
2 Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration POLS 64 U.S. Energy Policy Analysis POLS ** Tier Three (00-level courses only; see list below) 2, 0- Biological and Physical Sciences A Support Option (see list below) -6 Electives 12 Total Credits 0- Junior Tier Two: Select one course from the following: POLS 420 History of Political Thought 4A,4B POLS 421 Contemporary Political Theories 4A,4B POLS 422 Democratic Theory 4A,4B POLS 42 American Political Theories 4A,4B POLS *** Tier Three (courses not taken previously; see list below) 2, -6 POLS *** Tier Four (courses not taken previously; see list below) 1,2-6 Support Option (see list below) 6-12 Electives 4-12 Total Credits 27-0 Senior POLS *** Tier Four (courses not taken previously; see list below) 1,2-6 POLS 492 (Tier Five) 5 Capstone Seminar 4A,4B,4C Support Option (see list below) 6-12 Electives 4-12 Total Credits 27-0 Program Total Credits: 120 U.S. Government, Law, and Policy Concentration Tier Requirements Code Title AUCC Credits TIER ONE COURSES 12 credits, four courses taken in the freshman and sophomore years as shown above POLS 101 POLS 10 American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) C C POLS 22 International Relations (GT-SS1) E POLS 241 TIER TWO COURSES Comparative Government and Politics (GT-SS1) credits, one course taken in the junior year, as shown above E POLS 420 History of Political Thought 4A,4B POLS 421 Contemporary Political Theories 4A,4B POLS 422 Democratic Theory 4A,4B POLS 42 American Political Theories 4A,4B TIER THREE COURSES Select 6 unique credits, one course from each of the two different subfields below, taken in the sophomore, junior and/or senior years 2, International Relations POLS 1 Politics and Society Along Mexican Border
Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration POLS 2/ECON 2 International Political Economy POLS 62 Global Environmental Politics POLS 41 International Law POLS 4 International Organization POLS 45 United States Foreign Policy POLS 46 Comparative Foreign Policy POLS 47 International Security Comparative Politics POLS 41 POLS 45 POLS 442 Western European Government and Politics Russian, Central, and East European Politics Environmental Politics in Developing World POLS 44 Comparative Social Movements POLS 444 Comparative African Politics POLS 445 Comparative Asian Politics POLS 446 Politics of South America POLS 447 Politics in Mexico, Central America, Caribbean POLS 448 Comparative Racial/Ethnic Politics 4A,4B POLS 449 Middle East Politics 4A,4B TIER FOUR COURSES Select 12 unique credits, with at least one course from each of the first two subfields below, taken in the sophomore, junior and/or senior years 1,2 American Politics and Law POLS 02 U.S. Political Parties and Elections 4A,4B POLS 0 Politics of Organized Interests 4A,4B POLS 04 Legislative Politics POLS 05 Judicial Politics POLS 06 Executive Politics POLS 09 Urban Politics POLS 405 Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics 4A,4B POLS 409 Urban and Regional Politics POLS 410 American Constitutional Law POLS 41 U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties Public Policy and Administration POLS 51 Public Administration POLS 61 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy POLS 64 U.S. Energy Policy Analysis POLS 451 POLS 459 Public Policy Design and Governance Program Evaluation for Public Administrators POLS 460 Public Policy Process POLS 462 Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice POLS 46 Urban Policy and Management POLS 465 Public Policy Analysis Practicum POLS 486A Practicum: Legislative Politics 6 6 POLS 486B Practicum: Government 6 1-6 TIER FIVE COURSE
4 Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration credits, one course taken in the senior year POLS 492 Capstone Seminar 5 4A,4B,4C Support Option Political Science majors must complete one of the following five Support Options. Minor or Interdisciplinary Minor Support Option Select a minor or interdisciplinary minor in consultation with advisor. 21-24 Student-Selected Course Group Support Option A program of courses proposed by student and approved by advisor containing a minimum of 21 credits, of which at least 12 must be upper-division (00- to 400-level). Second Major Support Option Select a second major in consultation with advisor. This option may require as much as 6 credits. Credit range shown is approximate, and may require more or less, depending on the second major chosen. 21 27-6 Foreign Language Support Option A minimum of 5 courses totaling at least 15 credits in a single foreign language, including at least 2 courses of language instruction or in the language at the upper-division level. 15-22 Methods Support Option Methods Support Option 21 POLS 20 Empirical Political Analysis STAT 01 Introduction to Statistical Methods Select two from the following: 6 PHIL 120 History and Philosophy of Scientific Thought (GT-AH) PHIL 27 PHIL 415 Philosophy of Behavioral Sciences Logic and Scientific Method Select one from the following: STAT 05 STAT 40 STAT 50 Sampling Techniques Multiple Regression Analysis Design of Experiments Select two from the following: 6 1 2 4 5 6 ANTH 441 AREC 5/ ECON 5 SOC 210 SOC 11 Method in Cultural Anthropology Introduction to Econometrics Quantitative Sociological Analysis Methods of Sociological Inquiry Select a minimum of 12 upper-division (00- to 400-level) credits to fulfill Tier Four. Sophomores may take only 00-level courses from this section. Courses selected to fulfill Tier Three requirements may not also fulfill Tier Four requirements, and vice versa. Sophomores may take only 00-level Tier Three courses. Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (00- to 400-level). Students must complete one upper-division course in each of four of the five departmental subfields (American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Policy and Administration) prior to taking POLS 492. A maximum of credits of POLS 486A or POLS 486B may be used to fulfill Tier Four requirements, subject to department approval. Major Completion Map Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program: Grade of B and C or better in 2 POLS courses and at least 2.000 CSU GPA. Upper-Division course in at least four subfields of political science required to register for POLS 492. Freshman Semester 1 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2) X 1A POLS 101 American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) X C Arts and Humanities B Biological and Physical Sciences A 4 Elective 2 Semester 2 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits POLS 10 State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) X C Arts and Humanities B Historical Perspectives D Mathematics X 1B Elective CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2. X
Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration 5 Sophomore Semester Critical Recommended AUCC Credits POLS 22 International Relations (GT-SS1) X E Biological and Physical Sciences X A POLS ** Tier Three (See Department list on Concentration Requirements Tab) Support Option (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 Electives 6-18 Semester 4 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits Select one course from the following: CO 00 Writing Arguments (GT-CO) X 2 CO 01A Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO) X 2 CO 01B Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO) X 2 CO 01C Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO) X 2 CO 01D Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO) X 2 CO 02 Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO) X 2 JTC 00 Professional and Technical Communication (GT-CO) X 2 LB 00 Specialized Professional Writing X 2 POLS 241 Comparative Government and Politics (GT-SS1) E Select one course from the following: POLS 02 U.S. Political Parties and Elections 4A,4B POLS 0 Politics of Organized Interests 4A,4B POLS 04 Legislative Politics POLS 05 Judicial Politics POLS 06 Executive Politics POLS 09 Urban Politics POLS 51 Public Administration POLS 61 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy POLS 64 U.S. Energy Policy Analysis Electives 6 Junior Semester 5 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits POLS*** Tier Three (See Department list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 POLS*** Tier Four (See Department list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 Support Option (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 Elective 0- Total Credits 12-15 Semester 6 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits Select one course from the following: POLS 420 History of Political Thought 4A,4B POLS 421 Contemporary Political Theories 4A,4B POLS 422 Democratic Theory 4A,4B POLS 42 American Political Theories 4A,4B Support Option (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 Electives -9 Senior Semester 7 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits POLS*** Tier Four (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 Support Option (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) -6 0-
6 Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law and Policy Concentration Elective 0- Total Credits 12-15 Semester 8 Critical Recommended AUCC Credits POLS 492 Capstone Seminar X 4A,4B,4C Support Option (See option list on Concentration Requirements Tab) X -6 Electives X -9 The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. Program Total Credits: 120 X