Political Science Major (BA)
This department offers options for the major: the traditional major in political science and the major in political science with a concentration in law. Students need to complete the requirements for one of these options. For example, a student choosing to major in political science with a concentration in law needs to meet the requirements listed under the concentration in law.
- We seek to help our students attain a practical and theoretical knowledge of politics and the law, assisting them to become conversant in a broad-range of concepts in the areas of political theory, international politics, comparative politics, American government, and the law.
- We seek to help our students to become critical thinkers; thinkers that are able to question the assumptions that underwrite claims or positions and make reasoned determinations about the truth and strength of various arguments.\\n
- We seek to help our students to become independent researchers, capable of identifying and articulating hypotheses, seeking information and inputs relevant to the topic, evaluating the credibility of sources and information, applying the appropriate methods and tools for testing or exploring a hypothesis, and drawing proper conclusions based on their findings.\\n
- We seek to help our students become global citizens in the sense that they have civically-oriented consciousness, a respect for diversity, pluralism and inclusiveness, and a moral and ethical sense of responsibility and moral disposition regarding their place in local, state, national, and international communities.\\n
Requirements for the Political Science Major
All students must complete their degree program within 10 years of declaring a major or minor in political science, or the concentration in law, or completing their first course in political science, whichever is earlier. Credits earned at UW-Parkside or at any other institution that are more than 10 years old cannot be used to complete any major, minor or concentration offered by this department. A student who has been inactive for three or more years must reapply for admission to the major. The department reserves the right to require additional credits or course work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| American Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Required Research Course | ||
| Advanced Courses | ||
| POLS 200 | Research Methods and Sources | 3 |
| Select three of the following, one course from at least three different sub-groups, at least 6 credits must be upper-division: 2 | 9 | |
| American Politics | ||
| Introduction to Law | ||
| Legislative Politics | ||
| Political Parties and Interest Groups | ||
| Elections and Political Participation | ||
| Women, Power and Politics | ||
| World Politics | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| European Politics | ||
| The Politics of Developing Nations | ||
| International Conflict and Cooperation | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Women, Power and Politics | ||
| International Law | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Classical Political Philosophy | ||
| Modern Political Philosophy | ||
| Contemporary Political Thought | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Tactical Decision Making | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Introduction to Global Warming Policy and Governance | ||
| Diversity Law: African Americans | ||
| Strategic Decision Making | ||
| Latinos(as) and the Law | ||
| Additional Upper Level Courses | ||
| Select at least three additional courses numbered 300 or above 3 | 9 | |
| Required Senior Seminar | ||
| POLS 445 | Senior Seminar in Political Science | 3 |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
This course is required even if another research methods course has been taken.
- 2
Note: Courses offered in more than one category can satisfy either category, but not both.
- 3
The political science internship (POLS 494 Internship in Political Science) and independent study (POLS 490 Special Topics in Political Science) are recommended options but are not required.
No more than 6 credits of internship and 3 credits of independent study can be counted toward meeting the credit-hour requirements for the major.
Requirements for the Political Science Major with a Concentration in Law
This department offers a concentration in law for political science majors interested in pursuing a career in law or legal studies (practicing law, teaching law, court administration, and government agencies). The concentration in law brings together the most significant perspectives and tools required for a thorough preparation in law and legal studies, grounded in democratic theory and practice.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits at UW-Parkside in their major in courses numbered 300 or above. This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits. These credits are distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| POLS 100 | American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 200 | Research Methods and Sources | 3 |
| or PHIL 275 | Techniques of Philosophical Research | |
| POLS 116 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| POLS 202 | Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 310 | Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 320 | Constitutional Law: The Structure and Power of U.S. Government | 3 |
| POLS 445 | Senior Seminar in Political Science | 3 |
| Required Courses Subtotal | 21 | |
| Introductory Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Upper Level Electives | ||
| Select three of the following (minimum of one POLS): | 9 | |
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Restorative Justice | ||
| Capital Punishment | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Introduction to Global Warming Policy and Governance | ||
| Diversity Law: African Americans | ||
| Politics, Law, and Society | ||
| Latinos(as) and the Law | ||
| International Law | ||
| Internship in Political Science 1 | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| Strongly Recommended | ||
| Logic | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
A maximum of 3 credits of internship can be applied to the 9 credits required in this category.
Note: Courses in other departments may have course or departmental prerequisites.
Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements.
- Complete 120 credits of college work. This must include 36 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Certain elementary courses are identified in the catalog and/or course schedule as not counting toward the 120 credits required for graduation. In addition, only the first 8 credits of physical education activity courses (100-level) may be counted toward graduation or grade point averages (GPA).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits toward their undergraduate degree at UW-Parkside. Individual departments and programs may require that certain courses must be taken at UW-Parkside. Students must complete all course work to be counted toward graduation by the end of the semester/subscription period in which they graduate.
- Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Some programs have higher GPA requirements. Transfer students must also have a cumulative 2.00 GPA on the combination of transfer credits accepted and credits attempted at UW-Parkside.
- Complete an approved major program of study with the minimum major GPA as specified by the program or department. Usually, the minimum GPA is 2.00 on a 4.00 scale, but some majors require a higher GPA. Students who apply transfer credits to their majors must also meet the minimum major GPA requirement on the combination of transfer credits and UW-Parkside credits. At least 15 credits of upper level course work (courses numbered 300 or higher) must be completed at UW-Parkside. A student may not graduate with an incomplete grade in major course work if failure in that course would reduce the GPA in the major below the minimum GPA.
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Core General Education | 35 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
See the undergraduate policy section for more specific information about Core General Education Requirements. A list of approved courses is available in the General Education program section of the catalog.