​​Political Science Major

Political Science is a popular liberal arts major. We have approximately 150 majors, and we offer a wide range of courses covering American and Comparative Politics, International Relations, Public Policy, Political Theory, and Public Law. Our courses help student develop their critical thinking and analytical skills, and build competence and confidence in oral and written communication. Former UWSP Political Science majors can be found working in a wide range of jobs: as staffers in the U.S. Senate, environmental lobbyists in Washington D.C., and in managerial positions in federal, state, and local governments. We have a few graduates serving in the U.S. military, teaching in public and private schools, and working in private industry for banks, insurance companies, and other corporations. We also have graduates who are now lawyers in private practice, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, and we have had a few graduates clerk for federal and state judges as part of their legal training.

For students interested in law school​, political science is one of the most frequently selected majors. In 2006, 25% of our graduates enrolled in law school. In fact, in 2006 and 2007 UWSP had the sixth largest cohort of students enrolled in law school at UW-Madison, the most of any of the UW comprehensives. The Political Science Department provides much of the pre-law advising on campus. Interested students should consult the Student Resources page on the Political Website for more information, as well as the Law School Admissions Council Website AND the American Bar Association's resources on preparing for a legal education.

Students must have a 2.5 GPA among political science courses in order to graduate with a Political Science Major.

The Department offers  a Bachelor's of Arts or a Bachelor's of Science in Political Science.  The two majors are very similar in terms of political science coursework.  The B.A. requires one year in a world language other than English.  The B.S. requires an extra statistics course in place of the world language.

Click here for a sample 4-year graduation plan for the B.A. in Political Science.

Click here for the catalog link to the B.A. in Political Science.

Click here for a sample 4-year graduation plan for the B.S. in Political Science.

Click here for the catalog link to the B.S. in Political Science.

Four Year Sequence​

Freshman Year
Fall I
Choose one:  Poli 101 (American Politics), Poli 160 (Comparative Politics), Poli 170 (Political Ideas), or Poli 180 (International Politics)
3 cr
General Education / Electives1 12 cr
Spring I
Choose one:  Poli 101 (American Politics), Poli 160 (Comparative Politics), Poli 170 (Political Ideas), or Poli 180 (International Politics) 3 cr
General Education / Electives1 12 cr
1The Political Science Department encourages the study of a foreign language, also required for the BA degree.

Sophomore Year
Fall II
200/300 LEVEL POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES INCLUDING POLI 300 (Analyzing Politics)2 3-6 cr
General Education / Electives 9-12 cr
Spring II
200/300 LEVEL POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES INCLUDING POLI 300 (Analyzing Politics)2 3-6 cr
General Education / Electives 9-12 cr
2Poli 300 is a one semester course; majors should try to take it during their sophomore year.

Junior Year
Fall III
UPPER LEVEL COURSES (300 LEVEL) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE3 9-12 cr
General Education / Electives (or courses for Second Major / Minor) 3-6 cr
Spring III
UPPER LEVEL COURSES (300 LEVEL) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE3 9-12 cr
General Education / Electives (or courses for Second Major / Minor) 3-6 cr
3There is no specific required sequence of courses. Students must take at least one upper level course in each subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Politics.

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Senior Year
Fall IV
UPPER LEVEL COURSES (300 LEVEL) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE4 9-12 cr
General Education / Electives (or courses for Second Major / Minor) 3-6 cr
Spring IV
UPPER LEVEL COURSES (300 LEVEL) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE4 9-12 cr
General Education / Electives (or courses for Second Major / Minor) 3-6 cr
4There is no specific required sequence of courses. Students must take at least one upper level course in each subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Politics.