Select one of the options below:
Study how politics, policies, and political actions affect all areas of government in this flexible, fully online bachelor's program from CSU.
Study how politics, policies, and political actions affect all areas of local, state, and national governments. Learn to:
Curriculum includes coursework in:
Coursework is complemented by a required support option, choose from:
As a student in this program:
“I probably appreciated political science much more when I first ran for election. I was appointed to elective office and had to run in 1994, which was 16 years after I graduated from CSU. I had a great foundation in political science, and I got to experience political science at work. There really is a science to this. It’s a science that has to do with both the political side and the public policy side. I ran in an election four different times and political science helped me with that but even if I hadn’t been in elected office, understanding how the world functions in a democratic government was really important to me.”
- Governor Bill Ritter, CSU Political Science Bachelor’s Degree 1978
Develop knowledge and skills to follow a variety of paths across a broad spectrum of employment in the public, private, or non-profit sectors. Gain success in career opportunities such as:
Job titles may include:
Learn from faculty who conduct research to advance knowledge about government and politics. Faculty research helps to identify solutions to societal problems in the US and around the world.
A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree.
The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:
Political science majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in each of the political science (POLS) courses counted toward meeting the requirement of the major.
At least 24 credits of upper-division political science courses must be completed for the major. The 24 credits include the senior capstone course, POLS 492, at least 3 credits of AUCC 4A and 4B in addition to POLS 492, and at least one upper-division course in each of the following five subfields:
Review all requirements and major completion map.
The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the Transferology™ to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU. Please note, new online courses are in development to provide additional choices.
Broaden your degree by adding a minor that deepens your interests and builds valuable, career-ready skills. A minor helps you explore new ideas, gain focused expertise, and strengthen your education without significantly changing your degree plan. Many courses can count toward both your major and minor, including courses you’ve already completed, as long as all requirements are finished before graduation.
| Fall semester | June 1 |
| Spring semester | November 1 |
| Summer semester | May 1 |
Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.
Apply NowPlanning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.
Refer to admissions.colostate.edu/apply/ for details about who we look for in our individual review process
Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Student Success Coach: Terrance Dickens
Phone: (970) 491-7468
Email: Terrance Dickens
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay any associated nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date. If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use FAFSA code 001350. Additional financial aid information is also available.
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.
We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.
