This minor may be completed only by students admitted to the Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence options of Elementary Education. The Department of Political Science is housed in the College of Letters & Science. Students may wish to consult with an undergraduate advisor in the department to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study.
This minor may be completed only by students admitted to the Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence options of Elementary Education. Students admitted to the Content Focus option are asked to identify the minor of their choice when admitted to the program. Students admitted to the other Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence options should fill out a minor declaration form available in Education Academic Services, Room 139 Education Building.
Complete a minimum of 24 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all political science minor coursework taken on the UW–Madison campus.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete any 100-level Political Science course (one course) | 3-4 | |
| POLI SCI 205 | Introduction to State Government | 3-4 |
| or POLI SCI 405 | State Government and Public Policy | |
| Research Methods | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Research Methods in Political Science | ||
| Understanding Political Numbers | ||
| Political Choice and Strategy | ||
| Analysis of International Relations | ||
| Introduction to Survey Research | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Inference for Political Research | ||
Distribution Requirements
Complete at least one course from each of the four political science groups. Courses taken to meet the requirements above may be applied toward the course distribution.
Political Theory
Political Theory course options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 160 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 265 | Development of Ancient and Medieval Western Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 266 | The Development of Modern Western Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 360 | History of American Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 361 | Contemporary American Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 363 | Literature and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 460 | Topics in Political Philosophy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 463 | Deception and Politics | 4 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 469 | Women and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/AFROAMER 519 | African American Political Theory | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 561 | Radical Political Theory | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 590 | Study Abroad Topics in Political Science: Political Theory | 1-4 |
American Government
American Government course options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 104 | Introduction to American Politics and Government | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 184 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI 205 | Introduction to State Government | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 206 | Introduction to Political Psychology | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/LEGAL ST 217 | Law, Politics and Society | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/AFRICAN/AFROAMER/HISTORY 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 302 | Mexican-American Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 303 | Election Campaign Practicum | 3 |
| POLI SCI 304 | The Political Economy of Race in the United States | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 305 | Elections and Voting Behavior | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 308 | Public Administration | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 309 | Civil Liberties in the United States | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 311 | United States Congress | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 314 | Criminal Law and Justice | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 315 | Legislative Internship | 3 |
| POLI SCI 402 | Wisconsin in Washington Internship Course | 4 |
| POLI SCI 405 | State Government and Public Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 408 | The American Presidency | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 409 | American Parties and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 410 | Citizenship, Democracy, and Difference | 4 |
| POLI SCI 411 | The American Constitution : Powers and Structures of Government | 4 |
| POLI SCI 412 | The American Constitution: Rights and Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLI SCI 414 | The Supreme Court as a Political Institution | 3 |
| POLI SCI 415 | The Separation of Powers and Federal Courts | 3 |
| POLI SCI 416 | Community Power and Grass Roots Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI 417 | The American Judicial System | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/PUB AFFR 419 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 508 | American National Security: Policy and Process | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 510 | Politics of Government Regulation | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 511 | Campaign Finance | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 514 | Interest Group Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 515 | Public Opinion | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 516 | Political Communications | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/AFROAMER 519 | African American Political Theory | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 602 | Wisconsin in Washington Advanced Public Policy Course | 4 |
| POLI SCI 490 | Study Abroad Topics in Political Science: American Government | 1-4 |
Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics course options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 120 | Politics Around the World | 4 |
| POLI SCI 182 | Politics Around the World (Honors) | 3 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ASIAN/GEOG/HISTORY/SOC 244 | Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines | 4 |
| POLI SCI/GEOG/HISTORY/SLAVIC 253 | Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| POLI SCI/GEOG/HISTORY/SLAVIC 254 | Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey | 4 |
| POLI SCI/ASIAN/E A STDS/HISTORY 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/LACIS/SOC/SPANISH 260 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/AFRICAN/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/GEOG/HISTORY/SOC 277 | Africa: An Introductory Survey | 4 |
| POLI SCI/AFRICAN/AFROAMER/HISTORY 297 | African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction | 4 |
| POLI SCI 321 | Latin-American Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 322 | Politics of Southeast Asia | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 324 | Political Power in Contemporary China | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 325 | Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ASIAN 326 | Politics of South Asia | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 327 | Indian Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3 |
| POLI SCI 329 | African Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 330 | Political Economy of Development | 3 |
| POLI SCI 332 | German Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 334 | Russian Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 421 | The Challenge of Democratization | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 423 | Social Mobilization in Latin America | 3 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 431 | Contentious Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 432 | Comparative Legal Institutions | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/RELIG ST 433 | Religion and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 434 | The Politics of Human Rights | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 436 | Political Inequality: Measures, Causes, Effects and Remedies | 3 |
| POLI SCI 437 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 438 | Comparative Political Culture | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 439 | The Comparative Study of Genocide | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 529 | Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 534 | Socialism and Transitions to the Market | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 537 | Electoral Systems and Representation | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 538 | Politics and Policies in the European Union | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 635 | Comparative Politics of Sport | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 690 | Study Abroad Topics in Political Science: Comparative Politics | 1-4 |
International Relations
International Relations course options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 140 | Introduction to International Relations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 340 | The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 343 | Theories of International Security | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 345 | Conflict Resolution | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 346 | China in World Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 347 | Terrorism | 3 |
| POLI SCI 348 | Analysis of International Relations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 350 | International Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 351 | Politics of the World Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 353 | The Third World in the International System | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 354 | International Institutions and World Order | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 356 | Principles of International Law | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 359 | American Foreign Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 455 | African International Relations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 652 | The Politics of Development | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 390 | Study Abroad Topics in Political Science: International Relations | 1-4 |
Electives
Complete additional coursework, if necessary, to reach the minimum of 24 credits.