Political Science Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
(All colleges)
36 credits, at least 18 credits of which must be at the 300/400-level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Political science foundation: | ||
| POL 110 | Exploring Puzzles in Politics and Government | 3 |
| Select nine credits from the following introductory courses: | 9 | |
| American National Government | ||
or POL 102 | State and Local Government | |
| Comparing Politics and Governments Around the World | ||
| International Relations in a Changing World | ||
| Foundations of Political Thought | ||
| Women and Politics | ||
| 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 | ||
| Methods, skills, and experiential learning 1 | ||
| Select six credits from the methods, skills, and experiential learning list of courses (see below). At least three credits must come from political science (POL) courses. | 6 | |
| Political science electives: | ||
| Select an additional six credits of electives from political science (POL) or public administration (PUB) courses not used to satisfy other requirements in the major. | 6 | |
| Political science capstone: | ||
| POL 494 | Capstone Seminar in Politics and Government | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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Students may request to apply political science (POL) faculty-led study abroad courses towards the "Methods, Skills, and Experiential Learning" requirement instead of other requirements in the major.
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 308 | Interest Group Politics | 3 |
| POL 309 | Identity Politics and Polarization | 3 |
| POL 319 | Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| POL 325 | Politics of Mass Incarceration | 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 334 | Post-Communist Politics | 3 |
| POL 335 | Comparative Law | 3 |
| POL 336 | Middle Eastern 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 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 |
Methods, skills, and experiential learning
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POL 261 | Political Inquiry and Analysis | 3 |
| POL 310 | Public Opinion and Political Behavior | 3 |
| POL 346 | Model United Nations | 1-3 |
| POL 361 | Research Methods in Politics and Government | 3 |
| POL 367 | Strategic Political Communication | 3 |
| POL 450 | Internship in Political Science | 1-12 |
| POL 451 | Internship in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POL 498 | Honors Research in Politics and Government | 3 |
| POL 499 | Independent Study in Political Science | 1-3 |
| CST 211 | Communication and Civic Engagement | 3 |
| CST 213 | Public Advocacy and Dialogue | 3 |
| CST 310 | Debate | 3 |
| CST 413 | Persuasive Campaigns | 3 |
| ENG 307 | Workplace Writing | 3 |
| ENG 314 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| ENG 335 | Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing | 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). This flexible format allows students to complete upper-level coursework remotely while maintaining the same academic standards as the on-campus program. It’s an ideal path for transfer students or working professionals looking to advance their education in political science. Interested students are encouraged to meet with the department chair to discuss eligibility and next steps.
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 Arts 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 at the 102-level or higher (CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA, or SPE 214) used to fulfill a general education requirement 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 41 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 as noted above.
Bachelor of Arts students declare one of the following tracks online via the CASSH website:
A. Language track
- Native speakers of English complete:
Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student.Course List Code Title Credits Select one of the following: Chinese Language and Culture in Action II French Language and Cultures in Action II Intermediate Languages II German Language and Cultures in Action II Hoocak Language and Culture IV Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced Intermediate Japanese II Russian Language and Cultures in Action II Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II or SPA 221Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions - Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different categories selected from the following: humanities, social sciences, or fine arts.
B. Humanities track
- One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments selected from the following: communication studies, English, history, philosophy, or race, gender, and sexuality studies (see the Advisement Report (AR) for a listing of the approved courses); and
- One additional course in social sciences or fine arts.
C. Fine arts track
- One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments selected from the following: art, music, or theatre and dance; and
- One additional course in social sciences or humanities.
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.
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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 "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 110 | 3 | POL Introductory Course1 | 3 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar) | 3 | ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy) | 3 |
| CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy) | 3 | Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us2 | 3 |
| STAT 145 (Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning) | 4 | Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity2 | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics | 2 | Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL Introductory Course1 | 3 | POL Introductory Course1 | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics | 2 | POL Methods, Skills, and Experiential Learning | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World/CASSH Core Language3 | 3 | Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL Methods, Skills, and Experiential Learning | 3 | POL Areas of Inquiry Course | 3 |
| POL Areas of Inquiry Course | 3 | POL Elective Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell2 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| CASSH Core Diversity Course | 4 | Minor Course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL Areas of Inquiry Course | 3 | POL 494 | 3 |
| POL Elective Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies2 | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
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Selected POL Introductory Courses may also satisfy the following General Education requirements: POL 101 and POL 102 satisfy Gen Ed 1009 Social & Behavioral Studies, POL 205 satisfies Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity, POL 130 satisfies Gen Ed 1013 The Cultures of Our World, POL 140 satisfies Gen Ed 1011 The Pasts that Define Us, and POL 150 can satisfies Gen Ed 1010 The Stories We Tell. However, the General Education Program limits the number of courses with the same prefix that can be used to satisfy the "Integrative Perspectives" requirement, which encompasses Gen ED categories 1010-1013.
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If a selected POL Introductory Course is being used to satisfy a General Education requirement, the student will need to select another university elective to reach the required 120 degree credits.
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CASSH Core Humanities and Fine Arts Tracks require 102+ level language. CASSH Core Language Track requires 202 level language. Students unprepared for 202 level will need to complete prerequisite course work.