Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law, and Policy Concentration

Program Overview

This U.S. Government, Law, and Policy Concentration in Political Science prepares students for leadership roles in the public sector. Graduates develop critical thinking, ideological understanding, historical context, political processes, and problem-solving skills. Students can pursue careers in government agencies, nonprofits, lobbying firms, elected office, political communication, and research and policy analysis.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Program Name: Major in Political Science, U.S. Government, Law, and Policy Concentration
• Program Description: This concentration is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the public sector.
It focuses on the political processes, legal environment, and policymaking at all levels of American government. Students learn about the administrative apparatus used to implement public policy and explore various substantive policy issues like urban policy, energy policy, and environmental policy.
• Program Objectives: The program aims to equip students with the following skills and knowledge:
• Critical Thinking:
Ability to reason through political claims and assertions.
• Ideological Understanding: Skill in recognizing and responding to diverse ideological perspectives.
• Historical Context: Ability to locate political issues and controversies within their relevant institutional and historical contexts.
• Political Processes: Familiarity with the institutional processes of politics in numerous global and domestic political arenas.
• Problem Solving: Confidence in expressing opinions and presenting analyses of political problems and their solutions.
• Resources: The program recommends resources like the American Political Science Association and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration for career exploration.
• Internship Opportunities: Students are strongly encouraged to complete internships in organizations within the broader community.
The Legislative Internship Program is also recommended for junior and senior years.

Careers:

• Potential Occupations: Graduates can pursue careers in:
• Government agencies
• Nonprofits
• Community organizations
• Lobbying firms
• Political communication
• Research and policy analysis
• Further Education: Graduates can also use their political science education to prepare for law and graduate schools.
• Past Student Experiences: Past students have completed internships with:
• Law firms
• Cities of Fort Collins, Windsor, Loveland, and Westminster
• Colorado General Assembly
• Woodward

Other:

• Minimum Grade Requirement: Political science majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in each of the political science (POLS) courses counted towards the major.
• Upper-Division Course Requirement: Students must complete an upper-division course in at least four subfields of political science before taking POLS 492 (Capstone Seminar).
• Support Options: Students must complete one of the following five Support Options:
• Minor or Interdisciplinary Minor Support Option
• Student-Selected Course Group Support Option
• Second Major Support Option
• Foreign Language Support Option
• Methods Support Option