Listed below are the requirements for the Political Science major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all of the university general education requirements and the College of Letters & Science breadth and other degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. You are strongly advised to consult your advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree. Read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Changes in the Research requirement
Starting in Fall 2016, the research requirement will be met by completing one of our research-oriented substantive courses. These courses only count as fulfilling the requirement if you take them in or after Fall 2016 (i.e., they do not count as fulfilling the requirement if they were taken any time before Fall 2016).
If you have any questions regarding the completion of this requirement, or anything else, for that matter, please feel free to contact one of the political science undergraduate advisors.
Political Science Major Requirements
Majors must attain a 2.0 GPA in all political science courses, including any transfer work, and a 2.0 GPA in political science courses taken at UWM. Majors are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits in political science, of which at least 15 must be in upper-division courses (numbered 300 or above) taken in residence at UWM. The following courses must be included among those taken for major credit:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Requirement | ||
| POL SCI 104 | Introduction to American Government and Politics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| Politics of the World's Nations | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Methods Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Political Science Research | ||
| Political Data Analysis | ||
| Survey Research | ||
| Requirements: Areas of Political Science | ||
| Select at least one course beyond the 100 level in each of the following four areas of political science: | 12 | |
| American Politics | ||
| State Politics | ||
| Multicultural America: Minority Voting Rights and Representation | ||
| Introduction to Public Service | ||
| American Public Policy | ||
| Urban Government and Politics | ||
| Ethnicity, Religion and Race in American Politics | ||
| Environmental Politics | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| Topics in American Politics: | ||
| Latino Politics | ||
| Cyber-Politics: 1 | ||
| State Government: | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| Law Through Popular Culture | ||
| Constitutional Law: Government Powers and Federalism | ||
| Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | ||
| The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| The Supreme Court | ||
| Constitutional Interpretation | ||
| Party Politics in America | ||
| Women in Politics | ||
| Congressional Politics | ||
| Politics and the Bureaucracy | ||
| Urban Political Problems | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Sex, Gender, and the Law | ||
| Elections and Voting Behavior | ||
| Problems in Law Studies: | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| Political Psychology | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Politics of the World's Nations | ||
| Western European Politics | ||
| British Politics | ||
| Politics of Eastern Europe | ||
| Russian and Post-Soviet Politics | ||
| The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes | ||
| Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy 2 | ||
| Politics of Developing Countries | ||
| Politics of Revolution in Developing Nations | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Brazilian Politics and Society | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Seminar in Comparative Politics: | ||
| German Politics and the New Europe | ||
| Comparative Political Systems | ||
| Politics and Markets in Pacific-Rim Countries: | ||
| Korean Politics and Foreign Policy 2 | ||
| The Politics of Economic Inequality | ||
| Gender and Politics in Developing Nations | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Poverty and Politics: | ||
| Health, Wealth, and Democracy | ||
| Elections in the Modern World | ||
| International Politics | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy 2 | ||
| International Law | ||
| The Politics of International Economic Relations | ||
| International Organization and the United Nations | ||
| Seminar in International Relations: | ||
| European Integration | ||
| Politics of Nuclear Weapons | ||
| Asian International Relations | ||
| Korean Politics and Foreign Policy 2 | ||
| U.S.-Latin American Relations | ||
| Problems of American Foreign Policy | ||
| Theories and Methods in International Politics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Morality, Conflict and War | ||
| Current Crises and Events in International Relations | ||
| Conduct of American Foreign Affairs | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Sex and Power | ||
| Great Issues of Politics | ||
| Classics of Political Theory | ||
| History of International Political Thought | ||
| The Development of Western Political Thought | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Environmental Political Theory | ||
| The Philosophy of Law | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Contemporary Political Theory | ||
| Politics and Philosophy: | ||
| Research Experience | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 3 | ||
| The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes | ||
| Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Brazilian Politics and Society | ||
| Seminar in International Relations: | ||
| U.S.-Latin American Relations | ||
| History of International Political Thought | ||
| Gender and Politics in Developing Nations | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| The Supreme Court | ||
| Women in Politics | ||
| Congressional Politics | ||
| Sex, Gender, and the Law | ||
| Elections and Voting Behavior | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits from any of the above. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
Depending on instructor, may satisfy American Politics or International Relations area requirement, but not both.
- 2
May be used to satisfy Comparative Politics or International Politics but not both.
- 3
Satisfies the L&S requirement for a research experience in the major; should be taken in the last year of study.
Course of Study: Law Studies Option
Students may emphasize the study of law within the major by completing, in conjunction with or in addition to all of the requirements outlined above, the courses listed below as part of the 30 credits required for the major. Some of the courses below also satisfy the requirement of 3 credits above the 100 level in each area of Political Science.
Law Studies Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| POL SCI 250 | Law and Society 4 | 3 |
| POL SCI 411 | Constitutional Law: Government Powers and Federalism 4 | 3 |
| POL SCI 412 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties 4 | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| International Law 5 | ||
| The Philosophy of Law 6 | ||
| Law Through Popular Culture 4 | ||
| Judicial Politics 4 | ||
| The Supreme Court 4 | ||
| Constitutional Interpretation 4 | ||
| Administrative Law 4 | ||
| Sex, Gender, and the Law 4 | ||
| Problems in Law Studies: 4 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 4
Satisfies the American politics requirement.
- 5
Satisfies the international politics requirement.
- 6
Satisfies the political theory requirement.