Broadfield Social Studies Education (Grades 4-12) Major: Political Science Concentration - BS

Political science is the study of governments, policies, institutions, and the behavior of participants in the political world. Using humanistic and scientific approaches, as well as qualitative and quantitative methods, the field of political science examines political structures both inside and outside government with the goal of better understanding how they function, and the ways in which they change the world over time. The study of political science includes four subfields of specialization: American government and politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory.

Broadfield social studies education: political science concentration students are prepared to teach a range of civics, social studies, and government courses. This major prepares students to earn a WI teaching license that allows them to teach grades 4-12 in all of the six subject areas of social studies: economics, geography, history, psychology, political science, and sociology.

Completion of the Social Studies Education: Political Science Concentration Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • Middle and High School Social Studies, grades 4-12 (2700).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education in order to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in social studies education (grades 4-12): political science concentration must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy. Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.

Curriculum

The Social Studies Education: Political Science Concentration Program is aligned with InTASC Teacher Standards and the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) Standards.

Required general education courses (12 credits)

Besides the courses specified below, social studies education: political science concentration majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a total of 42 credits.

EDS 203School, Society, and Teachers 1, 53
EDS 206Multicultural Education 2, 53
HIS 110World History 3, 63
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments 4, 73
Total Credits12
1

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Self and Society (GE Category 6).

2

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies (GE Category 3).

3

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, World History (GE Category 4-1).

4

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, Global and Multicultural Studies (GE Category 4-2).

Social studies education requirements (33 credits)

Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
EDS 309Teaching Global Perspectives Across the Curriculum3
HIS 403Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Social Studies Education 53
PSY 212Lifespan Development 5, 63
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 53
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education
HIS 304Schools and Learning in Social Studies and Field Experience I 52
HIS 402Secondary Content Methods for Teaching English Language Learners 53
HIS 419Teaching and Learning Social Studies in the Secondary School and Field Experience II 54
Student teaching semester 8
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 51
One of the following: 511
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits33

Social studies major content requirements (12 credits)

World geography
GEO 110World Cultural Regions3
Additional content areas
Select one of the following: 73
Microeconomics and Public Policy
Global Macroeconomics
Select one of the following:3
American National Government
State and Local Government
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Sociology
Society and Schools
Total Credits12

Political science concentration requirements (30 credits)

A maximum of three credits from each repeatable political science (POL) course may be applied to the social studies education: political science concentration major.

Foundational content
Select one course from the following (the course not chosen for social studies major content requirement):3
American National Government
State and Local Government
POL 251Political Theory3
Select one of the following:3
Contemporary Global Issues 9
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Select one of the following:3
Political Inquiry and Analysis 10
Research Methods in Politics and Government 11
Advanced content
Select three credits of 300/400-level coursework in three of the following four areas of inquiry:9
American government
Comparative politics
International relations
Political theory
Select six credits of elective courses from POL or PUB courses not used to satisfy the above requirements. 126
Capstone
POL 494Capstone Seminar in Politics and Government3
Total Credits30
5

Also satisfies an SOE core requirement.

6

Also satisfies a social studies major content requirement.

7

Also satisfies a WI statutory requirement for a teaching license in Social Studies (2700). 

8

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

9

Students may not take POL 202 if they have already taken ANT 202, GEO 202, HIS 202, or SOC 202. Instead, these students must take either POL 234 or POL 244 to satisfy this requirement.

10

Students who complete POL 261 to satisfy this requirement must take at least three credits of 300/400-level electives.

11

STAT 145 is a prerequisite of this course. 

12

Public policy electives include PUB 330, PUB 332, PUB 334, and PUB 338.

American government

POL 301American Presidency3
POL 302Legislative Process3
POL 303Wisconsin Government and Politics3
POL 304Politics and the Media3
POL 305Political Parties3
POL 306Judicial Process3
POL 307Political Language and Communications3
POL 308Interest Group Politics3

Comparative politics

POL 330Politics of Developing Areas3
POL 331Politics of Democratization3
POL 334Post-Communist Politics3
POL 336Middle Eastern Government and Politics3
POL 338European Government and Politics3

International relations

POL 340American Foreign Policy3
POL 341America and the World3
POL 344Global Governance3
POL 345International Law3
POL 346Model United Nations1-3
POL 347Peace and Conflict3

Political theory

POL 350American Political Theory3
POL 351Classical Political Theory3
POL 353Modern and Contemporary Political Theory3
POL 355Political Ideologies3

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.

All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDS 203 (Gen Ed Self & Society)3EDS 206 (Gen Ed Minority Cultures)3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written )3
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3Gen Ed Math4
POL 1013POL 1023
Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3HIS 110 (Gen Ed World History)3
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
POL 251 (Gen Ed Humanistic Studies)3GEO 1103
Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems3-4ECO 110 or 1203
POL 202, 234, or 2443POL Areas of Inquiry (300/400 level)3
SOC 110 or 2163Gen Ed Natural Lab Science4
University Elective3Gen Ed Arts2-3
EDS 3093 
 18 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 200 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3POL Areas of Inquiry (300/400 level)3
PSY 2123POL Elective3
POL Elective3SPE 2003
POL 261 or 3611,23HIS 3042
HIS 4033HIS 4023
Apply for admission to SOE3 Apply for Field Experience II4 
Apply for Field Experience I4 Apply for Student Teaching5 
 15 14
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HIS 4194All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.6 
POL 4943EDS 4921
POL Areas of Inquiry (300/400 level)3EDS 49611
University Elective3 
Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 15 12
Total Credits: 120
1

Students who complete POL 261 to satisfy this requirement must take at least three credits of 300/400-level electives.

2

STAT 145 Elementary Statistics (4 cr.) is a required prerequisite of POL 361 Research Methods in Politics and Government (3 cr.).

3

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

4

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.

5

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

6

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.