Political Science & International Affairs
College
The Department of Political Science and International Affairs offers two main college degrees: Political Science and International Affairs. We also offer a minor in Political Science for students who want to add it to another major.
Welcome to the Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Our Faculty That Inspires
Our professors have won many teaching awards. They want to help students learn. They discuss important political issues instead of only giving lectures. Our department helps students get to know their teachers and peers. This makes discussions in class more engaging and personal. We focus on helping students build strong reading, writing, and thinking skills.
Stan Luger, political science professor, teaching an outdoor classroom in 2021.
Sharpen Your Mind
Our top priority is teaching undergraduate students. We work hard to provide some of the best political science and international affairs programs at public colleges in Colorado.
Students in Class
Mission Statement
The Department of Political Science and International Affairs is a part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Like other programs in the college, our department helps student learn by doing, get involved in their communities, and explore our subject through research. Our mission is to help people become better citizens and give future leaders the skills they need to do well in their work.
Celebrating Achievements and Inspiring Others
The 2025 HSS Honored Scholars Convocation
Congratulations to the award recipients at the 2025 HSS Honored Scholars Convocation.
Model Arab League attends RMMAL conference
Rocky Mountain Model Arab League is held in Laramie, Wyoming every year. At the event, students pretend to be leaders from Arab countries and talk about important topics like the conflict between Israel and Palestine, oil, protests, and women's rights.
Alumni Highlights
Major in Political Science
The Political Science department at UNC provided a unique blend of rigor and community that prepared me to be a competitive applicant
Breanna Maria Bailey
Graduate Teaching Assistant for African American History at Colorado State University
Air Force Academy Conference
Each year, two students are selected to attend a special conference at the Air Force Academy. All costs, including travel, meals, and lodging, are fully covered. Since 1959, the Air Force Academy has a yearly student conference called the Academy Assembly. It's planned with help from Columbia University's American Assembly. About 75 college students from more than 50 schools in North America come to talk about important issues happening in the U.S. and around the world.
Model Arab League
Model Arab League is a student group that goes to a conference with other schools every year.
Law Club
As part of the Pre-Law program, students are also encouraged to join Law Club. Please see the Pre-Law Program page for more information.
Scholarships
These scholarships are meant for students majoring in Political Science or who meet requirements that include that major. There are also many other scholarships students can apply for. To learn more about these scholarships, and financial aid, visit the Office of Financial Aid.
- Political Science major with at least 45 credits, 12 of which are in Political Science
- Minimum grade point average of 3.2
- Demonstrated financial need
- Estimated amount awarded $1100
- Be eligible for a provost scholarship
- Full-time major in history or political science
- Demonstrated above average academic standing, ability, and future promise
- Estimate amount awarded $1800
- Junior social science majors, including political science
- Demonstrated scholastic achievement, personality, and promise of future growth
- Apply in junior year for award in senior year
- Estimated amount awarded $1,900
- Social Science student, preferably a history or political science major
- 3.0 GPA
- Shows financial need
- Apply in sophomore year for award in junior year
- Estimated amount award $3,900
- Awarded to junior or senior students majoring Political Science
- Minimum grade point average of 3.5
- Preference for recipient to be a junior that renews for senior year provided the recipient continues to be eligible
- Estimated amount award $2,000
The Political Science faculty works closely with the McNair Scholars Program by supervising theses. Students have written theses on a wide variety of topics, including:
- “The Centrism Debate: What Makes Israel Unique?” Leslie Dias
- “Cultural Foundations of Chinese International Behavior” Aundrea Montano
- “The Youth Vote: How a Generation Will Re-Shape American Politics” Donnae Wahl
- “Killing for Profit: An Inquiry into the Relations among Historical Colonial Ties, the Mining of Diamonds, Mercenary Activities, and the Decline in State Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa” Joseph Delgado
- “The Influence of Print Media on Public Policy Decisions: A Case Study of Colorado Referendum C and D” Loryn Cesario
- “Solidifying the Rawlsian Conceptions of Communities, Associations, Social Unions and Non comparing Groups within his Theory of Justice as Fairness” Rene Mullen
- “Pacific Islander Access to Underrepresented Minority Scholarship and Fellowships” James Kawika Riley
- “Social and Civic Participation in Higher Education: Are Students Becoming Better Citizens?” Jory Taylor
- “Is America Exceptional” Ideology, Class Consciousness, and the Welfare State” Shelly Mock
Your Future with a Political Science and International Affairs Degree
Use your degree in Political Science and International Affairs to find a job you enjoy and that helps you grow. In this major, students learn to think clearly, read, and write well, and speak with confidence. They also learn how to study important issues, understand different opinions, and explain their ideas using facts.
Government Administration
Many UNC alumni go on to work in government jobs, where they help plan, organize, lead, and manage government activities in different roles.
Nonprofit Organizations
UNC alumni gain the skills they need to support nonprofits around the world, often using their degrees to work in leadership and management roles.
Hands on Learning: Internships
The Department of Political Science & International Affairs offers internships for credit in many interesting and educational places during the spring, summer, and fall.
Posner Center for International Development:
A Woman’s Place:
Global Refugee Center:
Greeley Chamber of Commerce:
American Civil Liberties Union:
Join Our Honors Program
The Honors Program lets students work on a detailed project that they choose. To join the program, students most apply through the Honors office. The program includes special university classes and a final research project, called a thesis, which is guided by a professor in the department.
Past Honors Theses in Political Science
- Globalization and terrorism: the extent to which extremism is the result of efforts to homogenize/ Sophia Lorenzo.
- Twentieth century Russian culture’s effect in shaping the relationship between leaders and led/ Joann Kinsey.
- The American Crisis: Modern Health Care In The U.S / Mason J. Smith.
- Two people’s pursuit of happiness: retributive justice in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict/ Jordan M. Odo.
Student Reception
Every semester, the Department of Political Science and International Affairs has a student reception. To keep up with this event and other chances to get involved, students should follow the department’s official Instagram page.