Politics and Government Comprehensive Major: Secondary Licensure Emphasis

Program Requirements

This emphasis qualifies students for State of Colorado Licensure in Social Science Education. Students interested in pursuing this comprehensive program should consult with the Teacher Education Program advisor in addition to the advisor in their major as soon as possible. A minimum of 72 credits is required. In addition, students must fulfill the Secondary Licensure Option described under Education. The following courses are required:

ECON 201Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)3
ECON 202Microeconomics3
ECON 303International Economics and Globalization3
ECON 476American Economic Development3
GEOG 110World Regional Geography (GT-SS2)3
GEOG 120Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)3
GEOG 250Geography of North America (GT-SS2)3
GEOL 101Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
HIST 100Topics in World History (GT-HI1)3
HIST 126U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1)3
HIST 127U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1)3
HIST 200Historical Inquiry3
HIST 327Colorado History3
POLS 117Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1)3
POLS 180Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 255Introduction to Comparative Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 282Issues in State and Local Government3
POLS 300Constitutional Law I3
POLS 301Constitutional Law II3
POLS 309Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern3
POLS 310Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary3
POLS 376American Political Thought3
One of the following:3
Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1)
American Foreign Policy
Select one of the following capstone courses:3
Studies in Political Theory:
Studies in American Politics:
Studies in International Relations:
Studies in Comparative Politics:
Total Credits72

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Politics and Government Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: POLS 485 STUDIES IN POLITICAL THEORYPOLS 486 Course POLS 486 Not FoundPOLS 487 STUDIES IN INTL RELATIONS:POLS 488 Course POLS 488 Not Found.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1) 3
POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
HIST 100 Topics in World History (GT-HI1) 3
 Credits16
Spring
POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1) 3
ECON 201 Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) 3
GEOL 101 Physical Geology (GT-SC2) 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
HIST 200 Historical Inquiry 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
POLS 282 Issues in State and Local Government 3
ECON 202 Microeconomics 3
GEOG 110 World Regional Geography (GT-SS2) 3
HIST 126 U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Spring
POLS 301 Constitutional Law II 3
ECON 303 International Economics and Globalization 3
GEOG 250 Geography of North America (GT-SS2) 3
HIST 127 U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
POLS 300 Constitutional Law I 3
HIST 327 Colorado History 3
GEOG 120 Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2) 3
POLS 309 Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Spring
ECON 476 American Economic Development 3
POLS 310 Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary 3
POLS POLS Capstone 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
Elective Electives 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
EDUC 403 Instruction and Assessment in Content Area 3
EDUC 404 Creating Positive Learning Environments 3
EDUC 405 Data-driven Instructional Practices 3
EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching 3
EDUC 424 Differentiation: Applying Learner-Centered Instruction 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 402 Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Fluency 3
EDUC 406 Content Area Literacy 3
EDUC 407 Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills 3
EDUC 408 Teaching Writing with the Brain in Mind 3
EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching 3
EDUC 429 Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers 3
 Credits18
 Total Credits124