Political Science Majors Guide and Roadmap
Welcome to The Political Science Department, part of the Social Science Division of the College of Arts & Sciences. We have over 700 majors and the largest entering class of the Social Sciences.
We study the politics of everything: the environment, the international system, war, public policy, local government, congress, language, the family, the Amazon forest, protest, voting, democracy, economic development, gender, race, representation, and immigration just to mention a few.
For a choose-your-own-adventure style game, click here to download our major PowerPoint!
Whether through writing, oral presentation, or data analysis, the political science major develops critical thinking skills while confronting the political challenges of our day. During your freshmen or sophomore years explore our introductory courses (1101, 2223, 2012, 2106, and 2004) as well as 2075 so that you can develop your craft.
During your sophomore or junior year, take advantage of our many research opportunities, including classes in survey design, data analysis, or social science research, working for a professor or advanced graduate student, or participating in the research fellowship program.
Study abroad if you鈥檙e interested in things international or participate in the CU in D.C. program if you鈥檙e more domestically inclined. Do both if you鈥檇 like!
Our honors thesis program reinforces all of the skills you鈥檝e honed over the last three years as well as giving you the opportunity to explore whatever subject interests you. If the honors program is not for you, apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and get paid for your research.
Join our Political Science Club or participate in the Political Science Honors Society (Pi Sigma Alpha). Both organizations are designed to give students the experience of organizing, leading, and conversing in politics. While taking classes is one thing, getting involved in political life outside the classroom is another. Debate watch parties, movie nights, speakers, and political science career night are typical activities. It鈥檚 also a great way to get to know our faculty who regularly participate in the events. These organizations are run by our students and function specifically to serve their needs.
The best thing about the political science major is that you can do just about anything with it. The worst thing about the political science major is that you can do just about anything with it. It鈥檚 not likely that companies will show up to job fairs looking for political science majors. They鈥檙e there for computer scientists. However, if you want to gain many of the skills you need to succeed in the workplace, the political science major will help you. Skills such as critical thinking and data analysis, which are the focus of many of our classes, are increasingly in demand. Being able to express yourself in oral and written form are what all companies insist on these days, so work on perfecting that. If you concentrate on gaining practical skills through your passion for things political, you鈥檒l succeed at CU and beyond!