Why Study Political Science?
Politics have been put under scrutiny in a systematic way since the ancient Greeks. Aristotle even called it the Queen of the Sciences. Our own Constitution is the product of both the scholarly study of political theory and a practical framework for political institutions and norms. Our faculty in the Department of Political Science engage politics in a scientific and rigorous way to understand human behavior and world events. Study political science to prepare yourself for a career in campaigns, public policy, business, administration, political advocacy, or public service, but also to become an informed and active citizen.
Political science is a broad and rich discipline. Some of our faculty members conduct research on the psychology of why people behave the way they do politically. Others study institutions such as legislatures, courts, and bureaucracies both as organizations and as political actors themselves. Other faculty members seek to clarify recent constitutional and legal issues. Many study foreign political systems to learn the peculiarities of different political systems comparing them regionally and globally. Our political theorists are intellectual historians and social critics interested in the millennia-long quest for the good society. Still others are policy analysts and dedicated students of American politics. Many are statistical theorists and specialists in surveying political attitudes. Our comparative and international relations experts investigate the causes of war and the conditions for peace among nations.
Political science majors are comfortable at the intersection of the humanities and the sciences. Poli Sci majors can apply rigor to problems and they can articulate solutions with clarity and with an analytical command of data. Poli Sci graduates move into a wide spectrum of positions that demand well-honed writing and presentation skills. Poli Sci graduates can apply reason and rigor to problems that are often consumed by ideology and emotion. Other disciplines may also stress rigor, but Political Science will keep you honest. The ability to define a problem and contribute to its solution while placing it within political, social, and cultural realities is a rare skill indeed, with applications well beyond the narrow confines of political work. The wide range of intellectual, analytical, qualitative, and quantitative skills, and a broad knowledge of world events that Poli Sci majors develop form the cornerstone of a powerful liberal arts education.
What careers do Political Science majors pursue?
Poli Sci majors learn quickly, work well in teams, and have basic understanding of the policy process and the operations of government. Poli Sci majors understand that for every endeavor, no matter how important, there is a mountain of ordinary grunt work that has to be done. Poli Sci majors can be counted on to do the foot-work, put in the face-time, and endure the slog necessary of everything of consequence.
Poli Sci majors go on to work in all levels of government. Local and state governments have a direct impact on the quality of life of all Americans. Courses on state and urban government, public policy, administrative law, and public administration are especially valuable. Quantitative and statistical skills developed in these courses and applied in the internships many of our students do provide a powerful combination.
Poli Sci majors go on to work in a wide range of International careers, in business, Foreign Service, and non-governmental organizations. Political Science offers a wide variety of courses in comparative politics, international relations and organizations, public policy, political development, and interest group politics. These courses in combination with economics, statistics, computer science, and international trade.
Poli Sci majors pursue careers in campaign management, political polling, national political committees, and consulting. They will have taken multiple courses in the American political system, comparative political parties, elections, public opinion, and voting behavior; as well as committing themselves to developing their writing and data analysis. There are over half a million campaigns in the United States annually, and while entry level jobs have long hours, low pay, and enormous demands, they are places where you can ‘cut your political teeth’. Local campaigns lead to statewide or national campaigns, and then perhaps to consulting and polling if that strikes your interest.
Poli Sci majors have also traditionally gone into law. Some lawyers are litigators while others are employed by corporations, government, and other organizations. Political Science track fits nicely for students seeking law degrees as official credentials to ‘practice law’ and those students who seek a law degree as an additional ‘tool’ to make positive impacts in their professional areas of interest. Some individuals with legal training work in other areas such as corporate or public management. The department offers a wide variety of political theory, constitutional law, and public policy courses that will help you explore the interaction between law, politics, and society.
Students in the College of Letters & Science can declare Political Science by completing a form on the department website. After meeting with the major advisor, that declaration will be made official.
Students in other schools and colleges interested in adding the Political Science major to their primary degree program need a declaration form signed by the Political Science advisor in order to obtain permission from their home school/college to add the additional major.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Breadth and Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum. View a comparison of the degree requirements here.
Bachelor of Arts degree requirements
| Mathematics | Fulfilled with completion of University General Education requirements Quantitative Reasoning a (QR A) and Quantitative Reasoning b (QR B) coursework. Please note that some majors may require students to complete additional math coursework beyond the B.A. mathematics requirement. |
| Foreign Language |
Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work. |
| L&S Breadth |
|
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | 60 intermediate or advanced credits |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one (1) major |
| Total Credits | 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience | 30 credits in residence, overall 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit |
| Minimum GPAs | 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison 2.000 in intermediate/advanced coursework at UW–Madison |
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements and do not need to complete the L&S breadth and degree requirements above. Please note that the following special degree programs are not considered majors so are not available to non–L&S degree-seeking candidates:
- Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics (Bachelor of Science–Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics)
- Journalism (Bachelor of Arts–Journalism; Bachelor of Science–Journalism)
- Music (Bachelor of Music)
- Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)
Requirements for the Major
30 credits are required in the following areas:
distribution1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Three courses and three areas required: | 9-12 | |
| International Relations | ||
POLI SCI 140 | ||
POLI SCI 340 | ||
POLI SCI 343 | ||
POLI SCI 345 | ||
POLI SCI 346 | ||
POLI SCI 347 | ||
POLI SCI 348 | ||
POLI SCI 350 | ||
POLI SCI 351 | ||
POLI SCI 354 | ||
POLI SCI 356 | ||
POLI SCI 359 | ||
POLI SCI 429 | ||
POLI SCI 449 | ||
POLI SCI 455 | ||
POLI SCI 652 | ||
| American Government | ||
POLI SCI 104 | ||
POLI SCI 184 | ||
POLI SCI 205 | ||
POLI SCI 206 | ||
POLI SCI 217 | ||
POLI SCI 231 | ||
POLI SCI 297 | ||
POLI SCI 302 | ||
POLI SCI 304 | ||
POLI SCI 305 | ||
POLI SCI 309 | ||
POLI SCI 311 | ||
POLI SCI 314 | ||
POLI SCI 315 | ||
POLI SCI 402 | ||
POLI SCI 405 | ||
POLI SCI 408 | ||
POLI SCI 409 | ||
POLI SCI 410 | ||
POLI SCI 411 | ||
POLI SCI 412 | ||
POLI SCI 414 | ||
POLI SCI 415 | ||
POLI SCI 416 | ||
POLI SCI 417 | ||
POLI SCI 419 | ||
POLI SCI 490 | ||
POLI SCI 508 | ||
POLI SCI 510 | ||
POLI SCI 511 | ||
POLI SCI 514 | ||
POLI SCI 515 | ||
POLI SCI 516 | ||
POLI SCI 519 | ||
POLI SCI 602 | ||
| Political Theory | ||
POLI SCI 160 | ||
POLI SCI 265 | ||
POLI SCI 266 | ||
POLI SCI 360 | ||
POLI SCI 361 | ||
POLI SCI 363 | ||
POLI SCI 460 | ||
POLI SCI 463 | ||
POLI SCI 469 | ||
POLI SCI 519 | ||
POLI SCI 561 | ||
POLI SCI 590 | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
POLI SCI 120 | ||
POLI SCI 182 | ||
POLI SCI 231 | ||
POLI SCI 244 | ||
POLI SCI 253 | ||
POLI SCI 254 | ||
POLI SCI 255 | ||
POLI SCI 260 | ||
POLI SCI 277 | ||
POLI SCI 297 | ||
POLI SCI 321 | ||
POLI SCI 322 | ||
POLI SCI 324 | ||
POLI SCI 325 | ||
POLI SCI 327 | ||
POLI SCI 329 | ||
POLI SCI 330 | ||
POLI SCI 332 | ||
POLI SCI 334 | ||
POLI SCI 421 | ||
POLI SCI 422 | ||
POLI SCI 423 | ||
POLI SCI 431 | ||
POLI SCI 432 | ||
POLI SCI 433 | ||
POLI SCI 434 | ||
POLI SCI 436 | ||
POLI SCI 437 | ||
POLI SCI 438 | ||
POLI SCI 439 | ||
POLI SCI 529 | ||
POLI SCI 534 | ||
POLI SCI 537 | ||
POLI SCI 538 | ||
POLI SCI 635 | ||
POLI SCI 690 | ||
| Total Credits | 9-12 | |
research methods
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from: | 3-4 | |
POLI SCI 170 | ||
POLI SCI 270 | ||
POLI SCI 274 | ||
POLI SCI 348 | ||
POLI SCI 373 | ||
POLI SCI 374 | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
electives
Additional POLI SCI courses to attain 30 credits in the major.2
residence and quality of work
- 2.000 GPA in all POLI SCI courses and courses that count toward the major
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level credits in the major, taken in residence3
- 15 credits in POLI SCI, taken on campus
| 1 | Courses may only meet one Distribution area. A course may meet both a Distribution and the Research Methods requirement, but will only be applied once toward the 30 credits required in the major. |
| 2 | No more than 6 total credits of Directed Study (POLI SCI 199, POLI SCI 698, POLI SCI 699) and Internship (POLI SCI 315) may count in the major. |
| 3 | POLI SCI courses numbered 300 and higher count as upper-level in the major. |
Honors in the Major
To declare Honors in the Major, students must have at least one POLI SCI course for Honors, at least a 3.300 University GPA, and meet with the major advisor to discuss the requirements.
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy the requirements for the major (above) and these additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 or higher University GPA
- Earn 3.500 GPA or higher in all POLI SCI courses
- Complete at least 20 credits in POLI SCI for Honors to include:4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 601 | 3 | |
| POLI SCI 685 | 1-3 | |
| and one of these Thesis sequences: | 6-8 | |
POLI SCI 681 & POLI SCI 682 | and | |
POLI SCI 683 & POLI SCI 684 | and | |
| Additional POLI SCI courses taken for Honors 4 | 6-10 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
| 4 | A grade of B or higher is required to earn Honors credit. |
Distinction in the Major in Political Science
Students not declared for Honors in the Major may be awarded Distinction in the Major, if they have:
- a 3.700 GPA or higher on all POLI SCI courses and courses that count toward the major
- a University GPA of 3.000 or higher
- 20 credits of upper-level work in the major, taken in residence
- One of the following
- POLI SCI 691-POLI SCI 692, or
- POLI SCI 601, or
- Coursework approved by the major advisor
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the methods and approaches of diverse subfields in Political Science-‐American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory-‐and their relevance to important theoretical and pragmatic questions.
- Analyze different forms and practices of governance both democratic and non‐democratic.
- Argue effectively and defend propositions with intellectual integrity, while considering a range of alternative points of view and evidence.
- Analyze relations among individuals, civil society, political institutions, and states.
- Analyze the motivations and consequences of political decision‐making and activities.
Sample Four-Year Plan
This Sample Four-Year Plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it—along with their DARS report, the Degree Planner, and Course Search & Enroll tools—to make their own four-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests. As students become involved in athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, volunteer experiences, and/or work, they might adjust the order of their courses to accommodate these experiences. Students will likely revise their own four-year plan several times during college.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI 104, POLI SCI 120, POLI SCI 140, or POLI SCI 160 | 3-4 | POLI SCI 104, POLI SCI 120, POLI SCI 140, or POLI SCI 160 (complete two) | 3-4 |
| Communications A | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Declare the major | POLI SCI elective | 3 | |
| POLI SCI 207, POLI SCI 231, POLI SCI 297, or POLI SCI 355 (satisfes Ethnic Studies requirement) | 3-4 | Communications B | 4 |
| POLI SCI 270, POLI SCI 274, POLI SCI 348, or POLI SCI 374 (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning B requirement) | 3-4 | Physical Science Breadth | 3 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| I/A COMP SCI, MATH or STAT (if B.S.) | 3 | I/A COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if B.S.) | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI course 300 and above | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 3 |
| POLI SCI 202 (required for WIW participants) | 1 | Humanities Breadth | 3 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Elective | 6 |
| Elective | 3 | Apply for Senior Thesis (optional)1 | |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI course 300 and above | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 6 |
| POLI SCI 681, POLI SCI 683, or POLI SCI 691 (optional)1 | 3-4 | POLI SCI 682, POLI SCI 684, or POLI SCI 692 (optional)1 | 3-4 |
| Elective | 9 | Elective | 6 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
| 1 | Students wishing to write a senior thesis (with or without Honors) should apply in the spring of their third year. |
Sample Three-Year Plan
This Sample Three-Year Plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it —along with their DARS report, the Degree Planner, and Course Search & Enroll tools — to make their own three-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests.
Three-year plans may vary considerably from student to student, depending on their individual preparation and circumstances. Students interested in graduating in three years should meet with an advisor as early as possible to discuss feasibility, appropriate course sequencing, post-graduation plans (careers, graduate school, etc.), and opportunities they might forgo in pursuit of a three-year graduation plan.
Departmental Expectations
Students planning to graduate within three years with a Political Science major should enter the University with a minimum of 18 advanced standing credits, and have satisfied the following requirements with course credit or via placement examination:
- Communication Part A
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A
- 18 credits of any elective coursework
- 3-4 units of foreign language
Students missing one or more of these requirements upon entering the University should talk to their advisor about completing coursework over Summer terms to stay on track for a three year timeline.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI 104, 120, 140, or 160 | 4 | Declare the Major | |
| POLI SCI 104, 120, 140, or 160 | 4 | POLI SCI 104, 120, 140, or 160 | 4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | POLI SCI Elective | 3 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | Communication B | 4 |
| Intermediate or Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if B.S.) or Elective (if B.A.) | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | ||
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI 207, 231, 297, or 355 (satisfies Ethnic Studies) | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 4 |
| POLI SCI 270, 274, or 348 (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning B) | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 3 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3 | Humanities Breadth | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Intermediate or Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if B.S.) or Elective (Intermediate or Advanced level) (if B.A.) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective (Intermediate or Advanced level) | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | ||
| Apply for Senior Thesis (optional)1 | |||
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLI SCI course 300 and above | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 4 |
| POLI SCI 681, 683, or 6911 | 4 | POLI SCI course 300 and above | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | POLI SCI 682, 684, or 6921 | 4 |
| Electives (Intermediate or Advanced level) | 6 | Electives (Intermediate or Advanced level) | 6 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits 102 | |||
| 1 | Students wishing to write a senior thesis (with or without Honors) should apply in the spring of their second year. |
Advising
The Department of Political Science has two academic advisors and one career advisor who are available to meet with you to offer guidance on:
- Course selection
- Program planning
- Internships opportunities
- Study abroad programs
- Post-college plans
- Career prospects
- Scholarship opportunities
- Student research interests
- Transfer and study abroad credits
Advisors are available for 30-minute appointments and are available for walk-in advising Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. each week during the academic year. Please note that no advising appointments are scheduled via email. Information about scheduling appointments can be found here.
Enrollment Information
Political science majors who wish to enroll in the following course(s) must obtain prior consent/authorization:
- Directed Study (note that after the sixth week of class students adding a Directed Study must obtain permission from the department chair)
- Thesis
- Proseminars (varies by specific course; check footnotes in the class schedule)
- Specific Topic
- Honors Research Internship
- Other advanced-level coursework with permission of the undergraduate advisor and consent of the instructor in lieu of other required courses
Information and course descriptions for topics courses (POLI SCI 201, POLI SCI 400, POLI SCI 401) and proseminars (POLI SCI 601, POLI SCI 601, POLI SCI 601) are posted on the department website prior to each enrollment period. POLI SCI 315 Legislative Internship is available by application only. Specific deadlines will be announced each semester. For further information, see Internships on the department website. Students with a classification making them ineligible for certain courses due to retroactive or AP credits may see the instructor for possible permission to enroll on a space available basis. Students who wish to enroll in a course that is closed may use the online wait list available through the Student Center in MyUW. The number of credits for variable credit courses is determined by course format and contact periods for a specific semester as noted in the class schedule. For graduate programs, see the Graduate section of this Guide.
Honors in Political Science
Honors in the Major in Political Science is intended for students who are eager to experience the excitement of original research and who wish to graduate with the best possible undergraduate training in the discipline. Honors in the Major is especially appropriate for students who are considering graduate work in political science or who want an especially rigorous training in research, reasoning, and writing skills. Students should consult with the department advisor to determine the best way to fulfill Honors requirements and how to make the most out of the Honors in the Major experience in the field.
See the Requirements section for political science Honors in the Major requirements.
Proactive planning and frequent collaboration with majors advisors is key to successfully completing Honors in the Major. It is recommended that students complete the Proseminar or Honors Research Internship in their junior year.
Students should secure a faculty thesis advisor by the end of their junior year; successful theses normally include planning activities during the junior year. Students should enroll for the Honors Thesis Colloquium, POLI SCI 683 in the Fall and POLI SCI 684 in the Spring. Students must be making sufficient progress in POLI SCI 683 to be admitted into POLI SCI 684; Students not making sufficient progress will not be admitted into POLI SCI 684, and will consequently not complete Honors in Political Science. Rarely, students may enroll in the independent honors thesis, POLI SCI 681 in the Fall and POLI SCI 682 with the permission of the Political Science advisor and the supervising faculty thesis advisor. Likewise, students must be making sufficient progress in POLI SCI 681 to be admitted into POLI SCI 682; Students not making sufficient progress will not be admitted into POLI SCI 682, and will consequently not complete Honors in Political Science.
Career Advising
Students can find information about meeting with the career and internship advisor here.
L&S career resources
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers). In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.
SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.
Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit, targeted to first- and second-year students)—for more information, see Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Com B General Education Requirement)
- Handshake
- Learn how we’re transforming career preparation: L&S Career Initiative
Professors Burden, Canon, Cramer, Gehlbach, Hendley, Herrera, Marquez, Martin, Mayer, Pevehouse, Schatzberg, Schweber, Shafer, Straus, Tripp, Weimer, Yackee, Zumbrunnen
Associate Professors Ahlquist, Avramenko, Copelovitch, Ewig, Kapust, Kinsella, Kydd, Owens, Ringe, Shelef
Assistant Professors Bhavnani, Lindsay, Lupu, Powell, Renshon, Simmons, Tahk, Weeks
For appointments, see schedule an advising appointment on the Political Science Major page on the department website.