Liberal Arts Major
(Track in) Political Science

A minimum of 36 credits including:

Core courses:

POLS 100 Introduction to Politics and Public Policy
or
POLS 101 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
or
POLS 150 American National Government
or
POLS 175 Introduction to World Politics
POLS 185 First-Year Internship
POLS 260 Contemporary Issues in American Politics
or
LSTU/POLS 261 Contemporary Issues in Law and Society
or
PHIL/POLS 262 Introduction to Political Theory
or
POLS 263 Contemporary Issues in World Politics
POLS 330 U.S. State and Local Government
POLS 396 Research Design
POLS 485 Internship
or
POLS 499 Individualized Research or Applied Skills

For a total of 18 credits, together with one course from each of the following categories:

Group 1: American Politics
POLS 370 Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation
POLS 465 Seminar in American Politics
POLS 467 Public Administration
POLS 372 Political Activism and Strategy
POLS 373 Congress and Presidency

Group 2: Political and Legal Institutions and Processes
POLS 302 Legislation and Legal Process
POLS 321 Judicial Process and Politics
POLS 368 Alternative Dispute Resolution
POLS 450 United States Constitutional Law, Part I
POLS 451 United States Constitutional Law, Part II

Group 3: Comparative and International Studies
POLS 352 Introduction to Peace Studies
POLS 356 Methods of Conflict Resolution
POLS 360 Middle East Politics
POLS 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics
POLS 431 International Law: Human Rights and War Crimes
POLS 441 Topics in Peace Studies
POLS 442 Theories of Nonviolence
POLS 476 Theories of World Politics Group
LSTU 363 Comparative Legal Systems

Group 4: Political Thought
POLS 454 History of Political Thought I
POLS 455 History of Political Thought II

Group 5: Multiculturalism and Diversity
FNS 151 Introduction to Tribal Administration
POLS 362 Women and Politics
POLS 303 Environmental Law and Regulation
LSTU/POLS 365 Race, Class and Law
POLS 343 Politics of Sexuality

Although not required, at least two years of a foreign language are strongly recommended for all Political Science programs.

Students majoring in Political Science are strongly urged to take ECON 235 and MATH 130 to satisfy the requirement for General Education.

Students should consult with their advisors regarding graduate and professional training and job opportunities in Political Science and related fields.
 

American Political Studies
Track in Political Science

A minimum of 36 credits including:

Core courses:

POLS 100 Introduction to Politics and Public Policy
POLS 150 American National Government
POLS 185 First-Year Internship
POLS 260 Contemporary Issues in American Politics
POLS 330 Research Design
POLS 370 Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation
or
POLS 467 Public Administration
POLS 372 Political Activism and Strategy
POLS 373 Congress and Presidency
POLS 454 History of Political Thought I
or
POLS 455 History of Political Thought II
POLS 465 Seminar in American Politics
POLS 485 Internship
or
POLS 499 Individualized Research or Applied Skills

Students majoring in Political Science are strongly urged to take ECON 235 and MATH 130 to satisfy the requirement for General Education.

Students should consult with their advisors regarding graduate and professional training and job opportunities in Political Science and related fields.
 
 

International Peace Studies Major
(Concentration in Political Science)

A minimum of 36 credits including:

Core Courses:

POLS 101 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
POLS 175 Introduction to International Politics
POLS 185 First-Year Internship
POLS 352 Introduction to Peace Studies
POLS 356 Methods of Conflict Resolution
POLS 476 Theories of World Politics
POLS 441 Topics in Peace Studies
POLS 442 Theories of Nonviolence
POLS 396 Research Design
POLS 499 Individualized Research or Applied Skills

Electives:

At least six credits from the following list of classes:

POLS 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics
POLS 360 Middle East Politics
POLS 431 International Law: Human Rights and War Crimes
LSTU 363 Comparative Legal Systems

Students are strongly recommended to enroll in MATH 130 Elementary Statistics. Foreign language skills also are strongly recommended. Students should have at least two years of a foreign language.
 
 

Political Science Minor
(Liberal Arts)

A minimum of 24 credits including:

Core courses:

POLS 100 Introduction to Politics and Public Policy
or
POLS 101 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
or
POLS 150 American National Government
or
POLS 175 Introduction to World Politics
POLS 260 Contemporary Issues in American Politics
or
LSTU/POLS 261 Contemporary Issues in Law and Society
or
PHIL/POLS 262 Introduction to Political Theory
or
POLS 263 Contemporary Issues in World Politics
POLS 330 US State and Local Government
POLS 396 Research Design

For a total of 12 credits, together with one course each from four of the following five categories:

Group 1: American Politics
POLS 370 Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation
POLS 465 Seminar in American Politics
POLS 467 Public Administration
POLS 372 Political Activism and Strategy
POLS 373 Congress and Presidency

Group 2: Political and Legal Institutions and Processes
POLS 302 Legislation and Legal Process
POLS 321 Judicial Process and Politics
POLS 368 Alternative Dispute Resolution
POLS 450 United States Constitutional Law, Part I
POLS 451 United States Constitutional Law, Part II

Group 3: Comparative and International Studies
POLS 352 Introduction to Peace Studies
POLS 356 Methods of Conflict Resolution
POLS 360 Middle East Politics
POLS 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics
POLS 431 International Criminal Law
POLS 441 Topics in Peace Studies
POLS 442 Theories of Nonviolence
POLS 476 Theories of World Politics
LSTU 363 Comparative Law

Group 4: Political Thought
POLS 454 History of Political Thought I
POLS 455 History of Political Thought II

Group 5: Multiculturalism and Diversity
FNS 151 Introduction to Tribal Administration
POLS 362 Women and Politics
POLS 303 Environmental Law and Regulation
LSTU/POLS 365 Race, Class and Law
POLS 343 Politics of Sexuality

Students with minor in Political Science (Liberal Arts) should contact a faculty member in the Political Science program located on the third floor of Sundquist Hall for advisement.
 

Political Science Minor
(International Peace Studies)

A minimum of 24 credits including:

Core Courses:

POLS 101 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
POLS 175 Introduction to International Politics
POLS 352 Introduction to Peace Studies
POLS 356 Methods of Conflict Resolution
POLS 476 Theories of World Politics
POLS 441 Topics in Peace Studies
POLS 442 Theories of Nonviolence

Electives:

At least three credits from the following list of classes:

POLS 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics
POLS 360 Middle East Politics
POLS 431 International Law: Human Rights and War Crimes
POLS 185 First-Year Internship
POLS 363 Comparative Law

Foreign language skills are strongly recommended. Students should have at least two years of foreign languages.
 
 

International Peace Studies
(Concentration in Political Science)

(Comprehensive major)

A minimum of 63 credits, including:

Core Courses:

POLS 101 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
POLS 175 Introduction to International Politics
POLS 352 Introduction to Peace Studies
ECON 235 Economics in Society
COMM 467 Intercultural Communications
POLS 356 Methods of Conflict Resolution
POLS 476 Theories of World Politics
POLS 441 Topics in Peace Studies
POLS 442 Theories of Nonviolence
POLS 396 Research Design
POLS 499 Individualized Research or Applied Skills
 

Electives:

At least six credits from the following list of classes:

CJUS 106 Human Behavior and Its Control
POLS 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics
POLS 360 Middle East Politics
POLS 431 International Law: Human Rights and War Crimes
POLS 455 History of Political Thought, Part II
POLS 465 Seminar in American Politics
LSTU 363 Comparative Law
POLS 185 First-Year Internship

In addition, the students must have at least 12 credits in a foreign language.

The remaining 12 credits must include at least one course from each group:

Group 1: Sociology
SOCI 460 Social Class
SOCI 461 Population
SOCI 464 Social Change

Group 2: History
HIST 160 Arab Cultures and Societies
HIST 161 African Peoples and Issues
HIST 220 Asian Civilization
HIST 225 Latin American, Neighbors to the South
HIST 241 Africa in Modern Times
HIST 252 The United States as an Industrial and World Power
HIST 281 The Muslim World
HIST 338 Contemporary Europe
HIST 403 Voices of African Women
HIST 404 Voices of Arab Women

Group 3: Economics
ECON 430 International Economics

Students are strongly recommended to also enroll in the following courses:

MATH 130 Elementary Statistics
SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociological Perspectives

Since the Concentration in International Peace Studies is considered a comprehensive major, no minor is needed for graduation.
 
 

Political Science Major
in Secondary Education

A minimum of 39 credits in Political Science is required, including the same array of courses for the Political Science major (Liberal Arts), with the addition of POLS 339 Secondary Methods in Social Science Education and those courses required for a Secondary Teaching Certificate in Social Studies (see Teacher Education).
 
 

Political Science Minor
Secondary Education Curriculum

A minimum of 27 credits in Political Science is required, including the same array of courses for the Political Science minor (Liberal Arts), with the addition of POLS 339, Secondary Methods in Social Science Education, and those courses required for a Secondary Teaching Certificate in Social Studies (see Teacher Education).
 

Broad Field Social Studies
in Political Science

Broad Field Social Sciences is a comprehensive liberal arts major. Students intending to pursue careers in secondary education must also complete a series of Wisconsin Teacher Certification requirements. Contact the Teacher Education Department for details.

The Broad Field Social Studies program is interdisciplinary and includes course work in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology. Certification to teach fusion courses will be granted upon completion of the Broad Field Social Studies program. Fusion courses are defined as those that integrate several social studies disciplines and require composite preparation in social studies. Civics, social problems, American problems, area studies, and vital issues are examples of fusion courses.

Coursework in Broad Field Social Studies may also be used, where appropriate, to fulfill the university's General Education requirements. Students majoring in Broad Field Social Studies are urged to work in close cooperation with their academic advisors to insure efficient completion of the program.

The Broad Field Social Studies major requires a minimum of 54 semester credits to be fulfilled in the following fashion:

1. Completion of the following set of core courses (36 credits)

ECON 235 and BUS 110 6 credits
PSYC 101 and three additional PSYC credits 6 credits
GEOG 100 and GEOG 102 6 credits
HIST 151 or 152 and HIST 111 or 392 6 credits
POLS 150 and POLS 330 6 credits
SOCI 101 and ANTH 112 6 credits

2. Completion of either:

A. A major in Political Science. (Completion of the Broad Field Major in this manner will require a student to take more than the 54 semester credit minimum required of the Broad Field Major.) Broad Field core courses may, where appropriate, be applied toward the major.

B. A minor in Political Science. Broad Field core courses may, where appropriate, be applied toward the minor.

3. Additional elective credits, if necessary, in any of the disciplines within the Broad Field Major other than the field of the teaching major or minor.