Political Science Major - Bachelor of Science (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.
(All colleges)
30 credits, at least 15 credits of which must be at the 300/400-level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Political science foundation: | ||
| POL 101 | American National Government | 3 |
| or POL 102 | State and Local Government | |
| POL 130 | Comparing Politics and Governments Around the World | 3 |
| POL 244 | International Relations | 3 |
| POL 251 | Political Theory | 3 |
| POL 261 | Political Inquiry and Analysis 1 | 3 |
| or POL 361 | Research Methods in Politics and Government | |
| POL 494 | Capstone Seminar in Politics and Government | 3 |
| Political science areas of inquiry: | ||
| Select three credits at the 300/400-level in three of the following four areas of inquiry (see lists below): | 9 | |
American government | ||
Comparative politics | ||
International relations | ||
Political theory | ||
| Political science electives: | ||
| Select an additional three credits of electives from political science (POL) or public administration (PUB) courses not used to satisfy the above requirements. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
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Students who complete POL 261 to satisfy this requirement must take three credits of electives at the 300/400-level.
A maximum of three credits from each repeatable political science (POL) course may be applied to the political science major.
Double majors in political science and public administration may only count POL 261, POL 361, and POL 494 towards the completion of both majors.
American government
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL 301 | American Presidency | 3 |
| POL 302 | Legislative Process | 3 |
| POL 303 | Wisconsin Government and Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 304 | Politics and the Media | 3 |
| POL 305 | Political Parties | 3 |
| POL 306 | Judicial Process | 3 |
| POL 307 | Political Language and Communications | 3 |
| POL 308 | Interest Group Politics | 3 |
| POL 309 | Identity Politics | 3 |
| POL 310 | Public Opinion and Political Behavior | 3 |
| POL 319 | Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| POL 370 | Constitutional Law I: Powers of Government | 3 |
| POL 371 | Constitutional Law II: The First Amendment | 3 |
| POL 372 | Constitutional Law III: Racial, Gender and Targeted Group Discrimination | 3 |
| POL 373 | Constitutional Law IV: Rights of the Accused | 3 |
| POL 374 | Constitutional Law V: Right to Life | 3 |
| POL 375 | Constitutional Law VI: Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| POL 376 | Constitutional Law VII: Administrative Law | 3 |
| POL 377 | Constitutional Law VIII: 1787 and Original Intent | 3 |
Comparative politics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL 330 | Politics of Developing Areas | 3 |
| POL 331 | Politics of Democratization | 3 |
| POL 333 | Asian Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL 334 | Post-Communist Politics | 3 |
| POL 336 | Middle Eastern Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL 337 | African Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL 338 | European Government and Politics | 3 |
International relations
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL 340 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POL 341 | America and the World | 3 |
| POL 344 | Global Governance | 3 |
| POL 345 | International Law | 3 |
| POL 346 | Model United Nations | 1-3 |
| POL 347 | Peace and Conflict | 3 |
Political theory
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL 350 | American Political Theory | 3 |
| POL 351 | Classical Political Theory | 3 |
| POL 353 | Modern and Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| POL 355 | Political Ideologies | 3 |
The option to complete the political science major online is available to students who have completed an associate’s degree (or the general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree). If interested, please meet with the department chair.
All students must complete the general education, college core, 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.
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements
The CASSH core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the requirements of general education. Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.
The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:
- Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
- Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
- Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
- At least one course in the degree must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
- All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
- Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.
Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).
Bachelor of Science students complete four courses outside the department of the student's major as follows:
- A lab science course (from the general education list); and
- A social science course; and
- Another social science or general education natural science, or math course, or an approved CASSH alternative (ENV 101, PHL 334, PHL 339); and
- One additional course in humanities or fine arts or complete a global cultures and languages course 102 level or higher.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or individualized option by satisfying one of the following:
- Complete a minor (or two certificates with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level or a second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
- Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
- Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:
- 100 level or higher courses outside the major (general education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements); or
- 300/400 level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- 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.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- 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.
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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.
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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 less than 12 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL 101 or 102 (Gen Ed Self & Society) | 3 | POL 251 | 3 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy - Written) | 3 |
| STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math) | 4 | Gen Ed Natural Lab Science | 4 |
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy - Oral) | 3 | Gen Ed World History | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL 130 (Gen Ed Global Studies) | 3 | POL 244 | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | POL 361 or 2611 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems | 3-4 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course (Natural Lab Science) | 4 | Minor Course | 3 |
| POL 300/400 Areas of Inquiry | 3 | CASSH Core Diversity Course | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | POL 300/400 Areas of Inquiry | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | POL 494 | 3 |
| POL 300/400 Elective | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| POL 300/400 Areas of Inquiry | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||