Program Overview

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Political Science, BA

The Political Science major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is designed to provide students with a systematic study of power relationships and their impact on individuals, societies, and governments. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students develop critical thinking and analytical skills, preparing them for careers in law, government, business, journalism, and politics.

What Careers Do Political Science Majors Pursue?

Political Science students acquire a broad range of skills, including critical thinking, research, and analysis, making them ideal candidates for various careers. Some of the career paths that Political Science majors pursue include:

• Local and state governments
• International careers in business, Foreign Service, and non-governmental organizations
• Campaign management, political polling, national political committees, and consulting
• Law, with some students pursuing law degrees as official credentials to practice law, while others seek law degrees as an additional tool to make positive impacts in their professional areas of interest

How to Get In

To declare the Political Science major, students must meet the following requirements:

• No application is required
• No specific courses are required to get in
• No GPA requirements to get in
• No credits required to get in
• Other requirements: None

However, students who are declared in the Political Science certificate may not be declared in the Political Science major at the same time. Students who wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration in the certificate.

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. These requirements include:

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree include:

• Mathematics: Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework
• Language: Complete the fourth unit of a language other than English, or complete the third unit of a language and the second unit of an additional language other than English
• L&S Breadth: Complete 12 credits of Humanities, 12 credits of Social Science, and 12 credits of Natural Science
• Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits
• Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work: Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level
• Major: Declare and complete at least one major
• Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits
• UW-Madison Experience: Complete 30 credits in residence, overall, and 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit
• Quality of Work: Maintain a 2.000 GPA in all coursework at UWMadison and a 2.000 GPA in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison

Requirements for the Major

The Political Science major requires 30 credits in the following areas:

Distribution

Students must complete three courses and three areas required, with a total of 9-12 credits. The areas include:

• International Relations
• American Government
• Political Theory
• Comparative Politics

Research Methods

Students must complete one course from the following options, with a total of 3-4 credits:

• POLI SCI 170: Research Methods in Political Science
• POLI SCI 270: Understanding Political Numbers
• POLI SCI 274: Political Choice and Strategy
• POLI SCI 348: Analysis of International Relations
• POLI SCI/JOURN/URB R PL 373: Introduction to Survey Research

Electives

Students must complete additional POLI SCI courses to attain 30 credits in the major.

Residence and Quality of Work

The residence and quality of work requirements for the major include:

• 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 residence
• 15 credits in POLI SCI, taken on campus

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 and additional requirements, including:

• Earn a 3.300 or higher University GPA
• Earn 3.500 GPA or higher in all POLI SCI courses
• Complete at least 15 credits in POLI SCI for Honors, including a thesis sequence

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the Political Science major include:

1. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the methods and approaches of diverse subfields in Political Science
2. Analyze different forms and practices of governance
3. Argue effectively and defend propositions with intellectual integrity
4. Analyze relations among individuals, civil society, political institutions, and states
5. Analyze the motivations and consequences of political decision-making and activities

Four-Year Plan

The Four-Year Plan is a tool to assist students and their advisors in planning their undergraduate degree. The plan includes:

• First Year: Complete introductory courses in Political Science, Communications A, Quantitative Reasoning A, and Foreign Language
• Second Year: Declare the major, complete POLI SCI electives, and satisfy breadth requirements
• Third Year: Complete upper-level POLI SCI courses and electives
• Fourth Year: Complete remaining requirements, including a senior thesis (optional)

Three-Year Plan

The Three-Year Plan is a tool to assist students who wish to graduate in three years. The plan includes:

• First Year: Complete introductory courses in Political Science, Communications A, Quantitative Reasoning A, and Foreign Language
• Second Year: Declare the major, complete POLI SCI electives, and satisfy breadth requirements
• Third Year: Complete upper-level POLI SCI courses, electives, and a senior thesis (optional)

Advising and Careers

The Department of Political Science has academic advisors who are available to meet with students to offer guidance on course selection, program planning, internship opportunities, study abroad programs, scholarship opportunities, student research interests, and transfer and study abroad credits. Students can also seek advice on careers and professional development through SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science.