HIPS-BA-Major - History/Political Science, Major

Students may enter the major by taking the appropriate introductory course in either History or Political Science. In Political Science, students must take one of the following: PS 200 United States Politics and Government; PS 236 Introduction to Comparative Politics; PS 209 Introduction to International Relations*; PS 290 Introduction to Political Philosophy. In History, First-Year Foundation courses in the History Department or any other 100- or 200-level course may also serve as an entry.  

Prospective History-Political Science (HY-PS) majors must consult with one of the HY-PS advisors in order to declare, and majors should anticipate regularly working with faculty in both departments.  

*Students entering CC in AY 2024-25 or later (graduating class of 2028 and beyond) must take PS209 (Introduction to International Relations) as their introductory IR course. 

Students who entered CC prior to AY 2024-25 (graduating classes of 2027 and previous) may take either PS209 (Introduction to International Relations) OR PS225/PS340 (Conduct of US Foreign Policy) as their introductory IR course. Please note that the course number for Conduct of US Foreign Policy was PS225 prior to AY 2024-25, and changed to PS340 as of AY 2024-25. Students in this category may choose to take both PS209 and PS225/PS340.  In qualifying circumstances where students take both courses, PS209 (Introduction to International Relations) will count as the introductory IR course and PS225/PS340 (Conduct of US Foreign Policy) will count as an upper-level IR elective.

• In Political Science, students must take at least three courses in a single subfield (either US Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Philosophy), with at least one of these courses at the 300 level.  

• In History, students must take at least three courses within one of the thematic fields outlined on the History Department website, (https://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/history/courses/thematic-fields.html ) and at least one course at the 300-level and/or HY410. 

The History-Political Science advisors may approve credit toward the major for other special or advanced courses when appropriate to a student’s concentration. “Topics” courses in both history and political science are examples. Approval must be sought prior to taking such a course. Subject to approval, one course from a study abroad program may count toward the five units in History, and another toward Political Science. 

To declare a History-Political Science major, students must speak with a HY-PS advisor about their particular concentrations within the major (ie, their chosen Political Science subfield and History thematic field).  These concentrations should be specified in order to declare the major. 

*The introductory course counts as one of the five units for the department in which it was taken. 

Students must complete HY/PS 330 Colloquium in History/Political Science and are encouraged to do so during their junior year. This course may not count as one of the five courses in either department. 

Either HY 420 Senior Essay, or the tutorial in the chosen subfield area in political science.  Students electing to complete the capstone in the History Department are encouraged to enroll in both HY410 and HY420; in such cases, HY410 would also meet the upper-level course requirement in History. 

Any History–Political Science major may apply to complete a capstone project that extends beyond the unit of advanced research in History (HY420) or the tutorial in Political Science, subject to approval by advisors in both departments. A student must submit a proposal to both departments outlining the subject and identifying general sources by the beginning of Block 8 of the junior year, or at the beginning of Block 1 of senior year if the student is off campus junior year. The thesis should be interdisciplinary in nature and include the use of primary materials.