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 103 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| or POL SCI 104 | Introduction to American Government and Politics | |
| Methods Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
POL SCI 203 | Introduction to Political Science Research | |
POL SCI 390 | Political Data Analysis | |
POL SCI 392 | 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 | ||
POL SCI 105 | State Politics | |
POL SCI 150 | Multicultural America: Minority Voting Rights and Representation | |
POL SCI 201 | Introduction to Public Service | |
POL SCI 210 | American Public Policy | |
POL SCI 213 | Urban Government and Politics | |
POL SCI 215 | Ethnicity, Religion and Race in American Politics | |
POL SCI 216 | Environmental Politics | |
POL SCI 243 | Public Administration | |
POL SCI 250 | Law and Society | |
POL SCI 387 | Topics in American Politics: | |
POL SCI 388 | Latino Politics | |
POL SCI 398 | Cyber-Politics: 1 | |
POL SCI 405 | State Government: | |
POL SCI 408 | The American Presidency | |
POL SCI 410 | Law Through Popular Culture | |
POL SCI 411 | Constitutional Law: Government Powers and Federalism | |
POL SCI 412 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties | |
POL SCI 415 | The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | |
POL SCI 416 | Judicial Politics | |
POL SCI 417 | The Supreme Court | |
POL SCI 419 | Constitutional Interpretation | |
POL SCI 421 | Party Politics in America | |
POL SCI 425 | Women in Politics | |
POL SCI 426 | Congressional Politics | |
POL SCI 444 | Politics and the Bureaucracy | |
POL SCI 450 | Urban Political Problems | |
POL SCI 452 | Administrative Law | |
POL SCI 464 | Sex, Gender, and the Law | |
POL SCI 467 | Elections and Voting Behavior | |
POL SCI 471 | Problems in Law Studies: | |
POL SCI 473 | Public Opinion | |
POL SCI 475 | Political Psychology | |
| Comparative Politics | ||
POL SCI 106 | Politics of the World's Nations | |
POL SCI 300 | Western European Politics | |
POL SCI 301 | British Politics | |
POL SCI 302 | Politics of Eastern Europe | |
POL SCI 310 | Russian and Post-Soviet Politics | |
POL SCI 312 | The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes | |
POL SCI 314 | Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy | |
POL SCI 320 | Politics of Developing Countries | |
POL SCI 321 | Politics of Revolution in Developing Nations | |
POL SCI 325 | Latin American Politics | |
POL SCI 326 | Brazilian Politics and Society | |
POL SCI 328 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict | |
POL SCI 329 | African Politics | |
POL SCI 333 | Seminar in Comparative Politics: | |
POL SCI 334 | German Politics and the New Europe | |
POL SCI 335 | Comparative Political Systems | |
POL SCI 341 | Politics and Markets in Pacific-Rim Countries: | |
POL SCI 355 | The Politics of Economic Inequality | |
POL SCI 368 | Gender and Politics in Developing Nations | |
POL SCI 371 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | |
POL SCI 372 | Poverty and Politics: | |
POL SCI 374 | Health, Wealth, and Democracy | |
POL SCI 377 | Elections in the Modern World | |
| International Politics | ||
POL SCI 175 | Introduction to International Relations | |
POL SCI 316 | International Law | |
POL SCI 330 | The Politics of International Economic Relations | |
POL SCI 337 | International Organization and the United Nations | |
POL SCI 338 | Seminar in International Relations: | |
POL SCI 339 | European Integration | |
POL SCI 340 | Politics of Nuclear Weapons | |
POL SCI 343 | Asian International Relations | |
POL SCI 346 | U.S.-Latin American Relations | |
POL SCI 359 | Problems of American Foreign Policy | |
POL SCI 365 | Theories and Methods in International Politics | |
POL SCI 370 | International Conflict | |
POL SCI 379 | Morality, Conflict and War | |
POL SCI 391 | Current Crises and Events in International Relations | |
POL SCI 423 | Conduct of American Foreign Affairs | |
| Political Theory | ||
POL SCI 110 | Sex and Power | |
POL SCI 255 | Great Issues of Politics | |
POL SCI 281 | Classics of Political Theory | |
POL SCI 361 | History of International Political Thought | |
POL SCI 381 | The Development of Western Political Thought | |
POL SCI 382 | Modern Political Thought | |
POL SCI 384 | The Philosophy of Law | |
POL SCI 385 | American Political Thought | |
POL SCI 386 | Contemporary Political Theory | |
POL SCI 389 | Politics and Philosophy: | |
| Research Experience | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | ||
POL SCI 312 | The Politics of Authoritarian Regimes | |
POL SCI 314 | Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy | |
POL SCI 325 | Latin American Politics | |
POL SCI 326 | Brazilian Politics and Society | |
POL SCI 338 | Seminar in International Relations: | |
POL SCI 346 | U.S.-Latin American Relations | |
POL SCI 361 | History of International Political Thought | |
POL SCI 368 | Gender and Politics in Developing Nations | |
POL SCI 370 | International Conflict | |
POL SCI 408 | The American Presidency | |
POL SCI 415 | The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | |
POL SCI 417 | The Supreme Court | |
POL SCI 425 | Women in Politics | |
POL SCI 464 | Sex, Gender, and the Law | |
POL SCI 467 | Elections and Voting Behavior | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits from any of the above. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| 1 | Depending on instructor, may satisfy American Politics or International Relations area requirement. |
| 2 | 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 3 | 3 |
| POL SCI 411 | Constitutional Law: Government Powers and Federalism 3 | 3 |
| POL SCI 412 | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties 3 | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
POL SCI 316 | International Law 4 | |
POL SCI/PHILOS 384 | The Philosophy of Law 5 | |
POL SCI 416 | Judicial Politics 3 | |
POL SCI 417 | The Supreme Court 3 | |
POL SCI 419 | Constitutional Interpretation 3 | |
POL SCI 452 | Administrative Law 3 | |
POL SCI 464 | Sex, Gender, and the Law 3 | |
POL SCI 471 | Problems in Law Studies: 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 3 | Satisfies the American politics requirement. |
| 4 | Satisfies the political theory requirement. |
| 5 | Satisfies the international politics requirement. |