Undergraduate News

Colorado Legislative Roundup

CU Denver’s Legislative Roundup, presented by CU Denver’s Pi Sigma Alpha and “CU at the Capitol” legislative interns, took place this past April! Multiple legislative aides and the executive director of the Colorado Education Association participated in the bipartisan discussion of education politics and policies in Colorado. Current interns at...

Students on trip smiling while sitting at the table for a meal

Amache/Sand Creek Educational Trip

Undergraduates

Pi Sigma Alpha 2023 Induction Ceremony

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Jim Walsh with his student campaign workers

Prof. Jim Walsh's Student-run Mayoral Campaign

Undergraduates Graduates News

A Conversation With Winona LaDuke

Undergraduates Graduates News

Undergraduate

Political Science: A degree of opportunity

Political Science prepares students for careers in government, law, business, and education. Our students develop high-level critical-thinking skills, problem solving skills, and communication skills among many others. Our award-winning faculty go above and beyond to provide our students with top-tier instruction and individual mentorship during their study, and beyond.

Summer 2023 PSCI Courses: Enroll Now!

PSCI 1001 – Introduction to Political Science: The Quest for Freedom and Justice

Professor Harvey Bishop, online

6/27/2023 - 7/30/2023

PSCI 3022 – Political systems of the World

Professor Martin Widzer, online

6/5/2023 - 7/29/2023

PSCI 3042 – Introduction to International Relations

Professor Thorsten Spehn, online

6/6/2023 - 7/8/2023

PSCI 3347 – Film and Politics

Professor Harvey Bishop, online

6/27/2023 - 7/30/2023

PSCI 4248 – Gender, Globalization and Development

Professor Karen Sugar, online

6/6/2023 - 7/8/2023

PSCI 4427 – Law, Politics and Justice

Professor Nick Rockwell, online

6/4/2023 - 7/29/2023

PSCI 4457 – American Political Thought

Professor Karen Breslin, online

6/6/2023 - 7/8/2023

PSCI 4770 – Middle East Politics and Society in Film

Professor Bassem Hassan, Zoom

5/15/2023 - 6/1/2023

PSCI 5245 – Gender, Globalization and Development

Professor Karen Sugar, online

6/6/2023 - 7/8/2023

Find your next Political Science Course!

Instructions

Go to the CU Denver course database

CU Denver Course Database

Select "CU Denver" for Institution
Enter the semester and year
Select "Denver Campus"
NOTE: Online courses are listed under "Denver Campus"; New Directions courses are listed under "Extended Studies."
Enter "PSCI" in the Subject field
Hit search

Undergraduate Options:

Political Science Courses
Professional Certificates
PSCI Minor
PSCI Major
"4 + 1" Dual BA/MA Degree Plan

PSCI Undergraduate Advisor:
Karen Breslin
Karen.Breslin@ucdenver.edu

Declare a PSCI Major or Minor:
1. Meet with College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) advising to declare their major or minor.

2. Meet with your PSCI Advisor, Karen Breslin.

3. Meet with your CLAS Academic Advisor.

Learning Goals & Objectives for Graduates

In their introductory classes, and continuing at successively higher levels across their departmental studies, Political Science students will consistently improve their:

1. Knowledge of the role of political action and political systems in shaping human cultures and socio-economic patterns, including:

Knowledge of the American Political System Knowledge of political systems across history and world region Knowledge of theoretical foundations of political systems and political values Ability to compare political systems in their differing abilities to deliver public welfare Knowledge of the processes, institutions and actors involved in globalization This knowledge will be focused by engagement with the fundamental questions of political life, both contemporary and enduring. Students will place themselves in conversation with multiple political and moral perspectives, including those outside of the traditional Western canon, by developing their own positions and by seeing how their positions build from and contribute to these perspectives.

2. Intellectual and Practical Skills, including:

Inquiry and analysis • Critical thinking • Creative thinking • Written communication • Oral communication • Reading Ability • Quantitative literacy • Information literacy • Teamwork • Problem solving These skills will be applied to evaluate conflicting arguments, assemble and present empirical evidence using appropriate methods of research and data analysis, make reasoned conclusions from the evidence available, and prepare professional and persuasive presentations regarding those conclusions.

3. Personal and Social Responsibility, including:

Civic knowledge and engagement—local and global Intercultural knowledge and competence Ethical reasoning and action Foundations and skills for lifelong learning This responsibility will be anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges (including internships, service-learning and other experiential learning opportunities) that allow students to reflect on the relationship between theory, political practice and potential career paths. In these experiences, students will apply critical thinking skills to solve collective problems in a manner that improves the public good.

4. Integrative/Holistic and Applied Learning, including:

Completion of department course work across a range of political science subfields Application of insights from other programs of study to enhance their political understanding and practical skills This learning will be demonstrated through the application of integrative and holistic knowledge and skills to foster purposeful civic commitments, to produce effective oral and written presentations, and to develop practical skills for continual personal and professional development.

Assessing Learning Objectives

The Department of Political Science conducts annual assessments of student progress towards departmental learning objectives. Assessments are typically targeted towards different categories of courses in different years. For example, one year the department might assess all “experiential learning” courses, while another year we might assess our “core curriculum” courses, and in another year we might assess our study abroad courses. In some years, the department conducts a broader assessment of department-wide progress towards learning objectives across many different courses. The specific strategies typically utilized in our annual assessment process are a mixture of the following: • Direct Assessment of Course-Based Learning. The Political Science Department reviews student exams, written papers, oral presentations and final portfolios for targeted classes during its assessment • Student Self-Assessment Surveys. The Political Science Department often embeds a student self-assessment survey into its assessment process. The survey collects students’ self-assessment of their own intellectual growth, knowledge gained, and level of change in political aptitudes, skills, attitudes and engagement level during their time in our classes and department. Informal assessments include a review of student FCQ comments and other informal verbal feedback from students. • Master’s Capstone Assessment. The Political Science Department periodically assembles a team of faculty to review all master’s theses or projects submitted for oral defense in an academic year, to conduct an assessment of progress towards learning objectives among our master’s students.

University of Colorado Denver

Denver

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Colorado Legislative Roundup

Undergraduate

Political Science: A degree of opportunity

Summer 2023 PSCI Courses: Enroll Now!

Find your next Political Science Course!

Instructions

Learning Goals & Objectives for Graduates

University of Colorado Denver

Denver

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Other ways to search:

Colorado Legislative Roundup

Undergraduate

Political Science: A degree of opportunity

Summer 2023 PSCI Courses: Enroll Now!

Find your next Political Science Course!

Instructions

Learning Goals & Objectives for Graduates