Program Learning Goals:
- Students will engage analytically and critically with issues, problems, and practical dilemmas.
- Students will acquire knowledge of political institutions, processes, and theories in both American and global contexts.
- Students will develop their written communication and public speaking abilities.
- Graduates will be prepared for success on the Social Studies Praxis exam and to assume a constructive role in teaching social studies and government at the high school level.
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 201 | Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 303 | International Economics and Globalization | 3 |
| ECON 476 | American Economic Development | 3 |
| GEOG 110 | World Regional Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| GEOG 120 | Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| GEOG 250 | Geography of North America (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| HIST 100 | Topics in World History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIST 126 | American History through Reconstruction (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIST 127 | U.S. History from the Civil War (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIST 200 | Historical Inquiry | 3 |
| HIST 327 | Colorado History | 3 |
| POLS 117 | Democracy, Capitalism, and Their Critics (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| POLS 180 | Power in America (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 255 | Inequality and Development (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 282 | Issues in State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 300 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| POLS 301 | Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| POLS 309 | Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern | 3 |
| POLS 310 | Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary | 3 |
| POLS 376 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Globalization, Borders and the Human (GT-SS1) | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Capstone course: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Total Credits | 72 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course in the Politics and Government Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: POLS 485 Senior Seminar.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
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.
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Sample Plan
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| POLS 117 | Democracy, Capitalism, and Their Critics (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| POLS 180 | Power in America (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| HIST 100 | Topics in World History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters: Studies in...(select one) | 2 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 260 | Globalization, Borders and the Human (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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON 202 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| POLS 255 | Inequality and Development (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| GEOG 110 | World Regional Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| HIST 126 | American History through Reconstruction (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| 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 from the Civil War (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 300 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| GEOG 120 | Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| POLS 300 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| POLS 309 | Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 476 | American Economic Development | 3 |
| POLS 310 | Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary | 3 |
| POLS 485 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 6 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta Studies in...(select one) | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDUC 000 | Education Gateway Course | 0 |
| EDUC 403 | Instruction & 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 406 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | 3 |
| EDUC 407 | Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills | 3 |
| EDUC 409 | Secondary Student Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 429 | Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 123 | |
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.