In the Department of Political Science, we study who gets what, when, where, how and why. That is, we study questions about power. If you're interested in why or how groups influence political institutions, elected officials behave, governing institutions affect people's lives, people run for office, nations choose war or peace, or voters make up their minds, this is the major for you.

In our department, you get to work closely with faculty, collaborate on research projects and gain real-world experience through internships. Your experiences inside and outside the classroom will prepare you for a wide range of careers in politics, law, advocacy and other fields.

In our classes, we invite you to think about the big questions of how we govern ourselves, such as:

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    What is justice?

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    How does the political process function?

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    How do people exercise power?

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    How do political parties make decisions?

What I'm really motivated by is trying to get students to become good citizens, students who can figure out what's going on around them politically and how they can function within that...

Joshua Wilson, DU professor of political science
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Academics

Learn about our undergraduate major and minor, academic sub-fields, and Global Masters Scholars dual degree program in collaboration with Lund University in Sweden.

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Resources for Current Students

Access information about advising, major requirements, courses, forms and frequently asked questions. 

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Why Political Science?

Discover why a degree in political science might be right for you!

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