Department of Political Science

The goal of the Political Science undergraduate program is to provide students with the finest liberal arts undergraduate experience in both theory and practice that resources allow.

The department fosters an environment of learning that leads to critically seeking a better understanding of politics both past and present. Further, students should be able to better understand the world they live in and make sound contributions to their community.

Message from the Chair

The Department of Political Science is a scholarly community of teachers and researchers who strive to be experts in their areas of specialty and who serve the university and community with their knowledge.

The Department provides a comprehensive political science curriculum which:

Enables students to understand and write about political and legal questions of governance of global, national, regional, and local significance.
Equips its graduates for employment in private enterprise, government, or to pursue advanced degrees.
Provides non majors with a fundamental understanding of global, national, regional, and local politics.

Steven Pittz, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Political Science

Student Success Stories

Lisa Ward

Political Science Major

Hey there! My name is Lisa, and I am a senior studying Political Science here at UCCS! When I first started college, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do. I had some interest in government and politics in high school, so I decided to explore that at the university level - and I am so glad I did!

I started in Intro to Global Politics, where I learned about the fascinating world of international relations. My favorite classes had to be Political parties and Civil Rights and Liberties. Each of these courses allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how our government functions and where improvements should be made. Civil Rights and Liberties particularly sparked my interest in law, which I intend to pursue after graduation. I also got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad in Italy with Dr. Hagedorn!

In addition to these stellar classes and experiences, I have been welcomed into the supportive and encouraging community within the department that has kept me motivated throughout my studies.

I believe that UCCS and the Political Science Department have done an excellent job of preparing me for law school, which I will be attending this fall! I was accepted into my top choice school, CU Boulder, where I am so excited to dive deeper into my studies!