B.A. in Political Science

Colorado State University

Political science is the study of politics and political action in society. It explores how political decisions are made, how institutions function, and how individuals and groups influence public policy-both in the United States and around the world. The field encompasses a wide range of topics: from international agreements and organizations to grassroots citizen activism and the workings of local, state, and national governments. It examines electoral systems, political parties, and judicial processes across different political systems, offering a comparative perspective on how politics operates in diverse cultural and institutional contexts. Political science also engages with fundamental normative questions about justice, authority, and the purpose of political life. It recognizes that politics is not confined to legislatures or elections-it is woven into every aspect of society, shaping the world we live in and continually evolving through the actions of people and institutions alike. The department’s curriculum is distributed across five subfields of the discipline: American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. Course work across the discipline's subfields is complemented by a required support option. Support options include a minor in another department an interdisciplinary minor the second language support option the methods support option, or a second major.

College of Liberal Arts