Political Science Associate of Arts
Program Description
This program is designed for students wanting to complete the first two years of a Bachelor's degree at the community college and transfer to a university to complete a BA in Political Science. Students explore governmental structure and processes. Careers often require a BA degree or higher. Political Science is the study of the political process, and its students understand the difference between an opinion and an argument. Political science graduates have a passion for political life not only locally, but also globally. Students will discover the origin, development, and operation of political systems and public policy. This program introduces students to Political Science and it includes courses that are common to all four-year institutions in Colorado. Career paths for Political Science degree holders include much more than running for political office. They also include public service, law, international relations, business, political campaigns, and working for charitable organizations. The Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Political Science prepares students to complete the second half of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science at a four-year university.
Learn more about this program.
My Academic Plan: Full-Time
Courses are displayed in a full-time sequence showing the fastest path to your degree. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree in 4 semesters (2 years). For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
First Semester
| PSC 2020 | Intro to Political Science: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| ECO 2002 | Principles of Microeconomics: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: U.S. History Since the Civil War (HIS 1220) or U.S. History Since 1945 (HIS 2145) | 3 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH). Prefer: Intro to Philosophy (PHI 1011) or Ethics (PHI 1012) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Semester
| PSC 1011 | American Government: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| ECO 2001 | Principles of Macroeconomics: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Intro to Statistics (MAT 1260) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: 20th Century World History (HIS 2015) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Third Semester
| PSC 2025 | Comparative Government: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1), Prefer: Intro to Environmental Science (ENV 1111), Phys Geo: Landforms w/Lab (GEO 1011, or Phys Geo: Climate, Eco w/Lab (GEO 1012) | 4 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH). Prefer: Intro to Literature (LIT 1015) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Intro to Sociology I (SOC 1001) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: General Psychology II (PSY 1002) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Semester Note: PSC 2025 is offered at Larimer Campus in the Fall semester, and Westminster Campus in the Spring semester.
Fourth Semester
| PSC 2005 | International Relations: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1), Prefer: Intro to Environmental Science (ENV 1111), Phys Geo: Landforms w/Lab (GEO 1011, or Phys Geo: Climate, Eco w/Lab (GEO 1012) | 4 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Public Speaking (COM 1150) or Interpersonal Communication (COM 1250) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: World Regional Geography (GEO 1005) or Human Geography (GEO 1006) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Social Psychology (PSY 2221) | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Semester Note: PSC 2005 is offered at Larimer Campus in the Spring semester, and Westminster Campus in the Fall semester.
My Academic Plan: Part-Time
Courses are displayed in a part-time sequence providing flexibility for the working professional. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree within 8 semesters (3 years). This pathway may be accelerated by applying transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and/or completing one or more additional courses each semester. For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
Fall Semester 1
| PSC 2020 | Intro to Political Science: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: U.S. History Since the Civil War (HIS 1220) or U.S. History Since 1945 (HIS 2145) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Spring Semester 2
| PSC 1011 | American Government: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Intro to Statistics (MAT 1260) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Summer Semester 3
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Intro to Sociology I (SOC 1001) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 4
| PSC 2005 | International Relations: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| ECO 2002 | Principles of Microeconomics: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH). Prefer: Intro to Philosophy (PHI 1011) or Ethics (PHI 1012) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Semester Note: PSC 2005 is offered at Larimer Campus in the Spring semester, and Westminster Campus in the Fall semester.
Spring Semester 5
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1), Prefer: Intro to Environmental Science (ENV 1111), Phys Geo: Landforms w/Lab (GEO 1011, or Phys Geo: Climate, Eco w/Lab (GEO 1012) | 4 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH). Prefer: Intro to Literature (LIT 1015) | 3 |
| ECO 2001 | Principles of Macroeconomics: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Natural & Physical Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
Summer Semester 6
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: General Psychology II (PSY 1002) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 7
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1), Prefer: Intro to Environmental Science (ENV 1111), Phys Geo: Landforms w/Lab (GEO 1011, or Phys Geo: Climate, Eco w/Lab (GEO 1012) | 4 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Social Psychology (PSY 2221) | 1 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Public Speaking (COM 1150) or Interpersonal Communication (COM 1250) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Natural & Physical Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
Spring Semester 8
| PSC 2025 | Comparative Government: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: 20th Century World History (HIS 2015) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: World Regional Geography (GEO 1005) or Human Geography (GEO 1006) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Semester Note: PSC 2025 is offered at Larimer Campus in the Fall semester, and Westminster Campus in the Spring semester.
Total Credit Hours: 60
Prior Learning eligible course
• Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning
• View all eligible courses
Important Program Notes:
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you may complete ENG 1021 (GT-CO1) and ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) OR ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) and gtPathways-approved CO3 course (GT-CO3).
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), ECO 2001 and ECO 2002 are required Social & Behavioral Sciences (GT-SS) courses.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), if PSC 2020, PSC 1011, PSC 2025, and/or PSC 2025 are not required for the major at a receiving 4-year institution, they will be applied to the Bachelor's degree as elective credit toward graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine in which way these courses will be applied.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you must take two gtPathways Natural & Physical Sciences courses (GT-SC1).
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), additional Political Science (PSC) courses beyond the 4 courses (12 credit hours) identified above may not count toward the Political Science major at the receiving 4-year institution. See explanation in Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA) under the Limitation section.
You may take PSC 2005 and PSC 2025 in either Semester 3 or Semester 4. You should take the course that is offered at your preferred campus or online depending on course availability. PSC 2025 is offered at Larimer Campus in the fall semester and Westminster Campus in spring semester. PSC 2005 is offered at Larimer Campus in spring semester and Westminster Campus in fall semester. Campus offerings vary by semester. You must take BOTH PSC 2005 and PSC 2025 to successfully complete the AA degree in Political Science.
If you take MAT 1240 and/or more credits in mathematics or science than are listed, it will reduce the 16 credits of electives needed.
You must complete a minimum of 60 credits to complete this degree. If receiving financial aid, you should only take courses and credits as required for this degree. Check with your advisor to monitor your completion progress.