Best Political Science Programs in Colorado for 2027

Colorado Boulder’s political science BA is a 42-credit major with a methods spine. You take Quantitative Research Methods, then one upper-division research course such as Designing Social Inquiry, Survey Design and Analysis or Strategy and Politics. Four lower-division courses cover American, comparative and international politics plus Western political thought. Upper-division work comes from four of six fields, including methodology and public policy, and 12 credits are electives. Every one of the 42 hours needs a C- or better, and honors thesis credits in PSCI 4715 and 4725 can push you past the usual cap. The 212 degrees awarded in 2023–24 make it one of the larger options on its state page.

Methods Sequence

Quantitative Research Methods plus one upper-division research course

Field Distribution

One upper-division course in four of six primary fields

Honors Thesis

PSCI 4715 and PSCI 4725 thesis credits

Program Sources: B.A. in Political Science Requirements | Political Science | University of Colorado BoulderB.A. in Political Science Requirements | Political Science | University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado State’s political science major spreads coursework across five subfields: American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations and public policy. You start with American Government and Politics, then International Relations and Comparative Government and Politics, and every political science course needs a C or better. A required support option, such as a minor in another department, complements the subfield work. You can stay in the general major or choose a concentration, including Environmental Politics and Policy, Global Politics and Policy, Law, Politics, and Government, Power, Justice, and Democracy, or Public Policy and Service. An accelerated option lets you finish on a faster schedule. The program awarded 111 degrees in 2023–24.

Subfields

American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations and public policy

Concentrations

Environmental Politics and Policy, Global Politics and Policy, Law, Politics, and Government, and others

Support Option

Required, such as a minor in another department

Program Sources: Major in Political Science | Colorado State University CatalogMajor in Political Science | Colorado State University Catalog

Denver’s political science BA is a 40-credit major. Two of four introductory courses lead into Political Inquiry, which covers quantitative, qualitative and historical research design, and then into one upper-level course in each of four subfields: American politics, comparative and international politics, law and political theory. You finish with a Capstone Seminar in Politics, where you write a significant independent research paper based partly on primary sources. Internships for credit are offered in American politics and law, and the DU in DC program with American University places you in Washington. Distinction in the major requires a project of about 20 to 30 pages.

Methods Course

Political Inquiry (PLSC 2901)

Capstone

Capstone Seminar in Politics with an independent research paper

Washington Program

DU in DC with American University

Program Sources: Political Science | University of Denver BulletinPolitical Science | University of Denver Bulletin

Colorado College asks political science majors for ten units, and four introductory courses come first: United States Politics and Government, Introduction to International Relations, Introduction to Comparative Politics and Introduction to Political Philosophy. From there you take two units in each of four subfields, one prescribed course plus one more, and a tutorial in the subfield you want to emphasize. Students admitted to write a senior thesis skip the tutorial and submit a proposal by the start of the final block of junior year. AP courses do not count toward the major, and the department expects most of your work to happen at Colorado College.

Introductory Courses

United States politics, international relations, comparative politics and political philosophy

Subfield Tutorial

One tutorial in the subfield you choose to emphasize, unless you write a thesis

Senior Thesis

Proposal due at the start of the final block of junior year

Program Sources: POSC-BA-Major - Political Science, MajorPOSC-BA-Major - Political Science, Major

CU Denver offers three ways to finish its 33-credit political science MA: a thesis, a project or portfolio, or extended coursework with an oral portfolio defense. State of the Discipline and Research Methods in Political Science form the core. Your electives must cover American politics, comparative politics or international relations, and political theory. Students can also take courses from the New Directions program, whose topics include local social movements, nonprofit management and labor organizing.

Completion Plans

A thesis, a project or portfolio, or extended coursework with an oral portfolio defense

Seminar Breadth

Electives include graduate seminars in American politics, comparative politics or international relations, and political theory

Program Sources: Political Science, MA

Boulder’s political science PhD runs on a fixed calendar. You complete 42 credits of coursework, including Scope/Methods, Introduction to Data Analysis and Teaching PSCI, and pick a major and a minor field with at least three seminars in each. A qualifying paper with an oral defense is due April 1 of the fourth semester, and comprehensive exams follow in January of the sixth: a two-day written exam in the major field and a one-day exam in the minor. Within nine months of passing, you present a dissertation prospectus, and the defense committee has at least five faculty. You also complete two advanced methods courses or show language competence.

Required Courses

Scope/Methods, Introduction to Data Analysis and Teaching PSCI

Qualifying Paper

Written paper and oral defense by April 1 of the fourth semester

Comprehensive Exams

January of the sixth semester, two days in the major field and one in the minor

Program Sources: The Ph.D. Pathway at CU and Handbook | Political Science | University of Colorado BoulderThe Ph.D. Pathway at CU and Handbook | Political Science | University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado State’s political science PhD has one specialty: environmental politics and policy. Alongside that focus you build broad foundations in two other subfields chosen from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and administration, and political theory. Every student writes a dissertation with an environmental focus. The department teaches seven seminars on the topic, among them Politics of Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Politics in the U.S., Political Theory and the Environment and Comparative Environmental Politics, so much of your coursework can stay inside that focus. Applications are due February 15, and doctoral students are normally admitted in the fall.

Environmental Focus

Training in environmental politics and policy with a dissertation on an environmental topic

Environmental Seminars

Seven seminars, from Politics of Environment and Sustainability to Environmental Policy and Administration

Additional Subfields

Two chosen from five political science subfields

Program Sources: Doctorate - Political Science | Colorado State UniversityDoctorate - Political Science | Colorado State University

Front Range’s political science AA is a 60-credit, four-semester degree built for transfer, so you finish the first two years of a bachelor’s degree and move to a university as a junior. Courses cover the origin, development and operation of political systems and public policy, including American Government, Comparative Government and Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. The college lists eleven transfer destinations for a political science major, among them CU Boulder, Colorado State in Fort Collins, CU Denver and Metropolitan State University of Denver. You can take the program at the Boulder County, Larimer or Westminster campus. It awarded 5 degrees in 2023–24.

Transfer Pathway

Eleven Colorado four-year schools accept it toward a political science major as a junior

Core Topics

American Government, Comparative Government, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Degree Length

60 credits over four semesters

Program Sources: Earn a two-year AA degree in Political ScienceEarn a two-year AA degree in Political Science

Community College of Denver’s political science AA sits in the Social and Behavioral Sciences pathway and totals 60 credits across four semesters. The course map includes Intro to Political Science, International Relations and Comparative Government, with American Government as an elective choice, alongside macroeconomics, introductory statistics and sociology, all with GT Pathways designations. The college notes that political science courses beyond the four identified may not count toward the major at the receiving university, so you should check where you plan to transfer before choosing electives. The map also marks a University of Colorado Denver choice in one elective slot.

Political Science Courses

Intro to Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Government and American Government

Transfer Pathway

Transfer major in the Social and Behavioral Sciences pathway, 60 credits

Supporting Courses

Macroeconomics, Intro to Statistics and Sociology of Institutions and Social Change

Program Sources: Political Science | Community College of Denver Catalog

Red Rocks’ political science AA with designation follows a statewide transfer articulation agreement, so its 60 credits are designed to carry toward a political science major at a Colorado four-year school. Thirty-two credits are general education, including macroeconomics and microeconomics and a GT Pathways math course, with MAT 1260 preferred. Twelve more credits are four political science courses: Intro to Political Science, American Government, International Relations and Comparative Government. The remaining 16 credits are electives, and the catalog warns that extra political science courses beyond those four may not count toward the major at the receiving institution.

Transfer Agreement

Statewide transfer articulation agreement, 60 credits

Political Science Courses

Intro to Political Science, American Government, International Relations and Comparative Government

General Education

Thirty-two credits, including macroeconomics and microeconomics

Program Sources: Red Rocks Community College - Political Science AA Designated Degree RequirementsRed Rocks Community College - Political Science AA Designated Degree Requirements