This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uwgb.edu.

Political Science

https://www.uwgb.edu/political-science/

(Bachelor of Arts)

Political Science is concerned with the systematic study of political behavior, governmental institutions and policy-making processes, public policies and their implementation, and political values in local, state, national, cross-national and international settings.

The program acquaints students with the structure and operation of political systems; the cultural, social, economic, and ideological context of these systems; the major philosophical questions and relevance to understanding modern political phenomena; and the major methods of inquiry and analysis used in the contemporary study of politics, government and public policy.

Political Science is a major often chosen by students who plan to attend law school. It is useful as well for students anticipating careers in journalism, planning, education, business, foreign service, politics, and public service positions with private and public agencies at the local, state, regional, federal, and international levels.

Political Science majors have entered graduate study in political science, public administration, education, and related fields.  Many students choose complimentary minors, such as Public Administration, Urban and Regional Studies, Environmental Policy and Planning, Communication, Democracy and Justice Studies, and Business Administration.

Students seeking information on teacher certification should contact the Education Office.

 

Major

Supporting Courses12-13
Global Politics and Society
American Government and Politics
Introduction to Public Policy
Introduction to Public Administration
Choose one of the following:
Business Statistics
Introductory Statistics
Social Science Statistics
Upper-Level Courses24
Core Courses
Political Theory
American Political Thought
Comparative Politics
Politics of Developing Areas
Choose one of the following:
International Relations
Foreign and Defense Policies
Choose one of the following:
Congress: Politics and Policy
Political Behavior
Constitutional Law
Choose 12 additional credits from the following list, not taken above:
Constitutional Law
Law and Society
Gender and the Law
Environmental Politics and Policy
Environmental Law
Global Environmental Politics and Policy
German Politics and Society
Contemporary Europe
Urban Politics and Policy
The American Presidency
Community Politics
Congress: Politics and Policy
Political Behavior
Political Science Research Lab
American Political Thought
Politics of Developing Areas
International Relations
Immigration and Immigration Policy
Foreign and Defense Policies
State and Local Government
Senior Seminar/Capstone in Political Science
Internship
Independent Study
Travel Course
Regulatory Policy and Administration
Administrative Law
Public Policy Analysis
Total Credits36-37

Minor

Supporting Courses6
Choose two of the following:
Global Politics and Society
American Government and Politics
Introduction to Public Policy
Introduction to Public Administration
Upper-Level Courses12
Choose four of the following:
Constitutional Law
Gender and the Law
Environmental Politics and Policy
Global Environmental Politics and Policy
German Politics and Society
Contemporary Europe
Urban Politics and Policy
The American Presidency
Community Politics
Congress: Politics and Policy
Political Behavior
Political Science Research Lab
Political Theory
American Political Thought
Comparative Politics
Politics of Developing Areas
International Relations
Immigration and Immigration Policy
Foreign and Defense Policies
State and Local Government
Internship
Independent Study
Travel Course
Regulatory Policy and Administration
Administrative Law
Public Policy Analysis
Total Credits18

Curriculum Guide

The following is only an example of a four-year Political Science degree program and is subject to change without notice. Students should consult a Political Science program advisor to ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information available about a particular four-year degree option.

An example: Four year plan for Political Science Major; Minor in Public Administration
120 credits necessary to graduate.
Plan is a representation and categories of classes can be switched. Check with your advisor.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
POL SCI 101 American Government and Politics 3
First Year Seminar 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
POL SCI 100 Global Politics and Society 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Sophomore
Fall
BUSAN 220
Business Statistics
or Social Science Statistics
or Introductory Statistics
3
POL SCI 340 Political Theory 3
PUB ADM 202 Introduction to Public Policy 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
POL SCI 351 Comparative Politics 3
PUB ADM 215 Introduction to Public Administration 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Junior
Fall
DJS 320 Constitutional Law 3
POL SCI 318 Political Behavior 3
PUB ADM 315 Public and Non-Profit Management 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
POL SCI 316 Congress: Politics and Policy 3
POL SCI 370 Foreign and Defense Policies 3
POL SCI Upper Level Elective 3
Elective 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Senior
Fall
PUB ADM 408 Public Policy Analysis 3
POL SCI Upper Level Elective (could include one counting toward Public Administration minor) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
POL SCI Upper Level Elective (could include one counting toward Public Adminstration minor) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

Faculty

Ekaterina M Levintova; Professor; Ph.D., Western Michigan University, chair

Aaron C Weinschenk; Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee*

Alise Coen; Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Delaware

David J Helpap; Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee*

Elizabeth E Wheat; Associate Professor; Ph.D., Western Michigan University*

Nolan Bennett; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Cornell University

Kaden Paulson-Smith; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison