Best Political Science Programs in Wisconsin for 2027

There's no application for Wisconsin's political science major, so you declare when you're ready. The major is 30 credits. You begin with three courses drawn from three of four areas (international relations, American government, political theory and comparative politics), then add one research methods course such as Political Data Science, Political Choice and Strategy or Introduction to Survey Research. Electives cover the remaining credits, and up to six credits of directed study and the Legislative Internship can count. If you're aiming for Honors in the Major, you'll need a 3.5 GPA in political science and a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis sequence, and thesis applications are due in the spring of your third year.

Research Methods

One course, including options such as Political Data Science and Introduction to Survey Research

Area Distribution

Three courses across three of four areas: international relations, American government, political theory, comparative politics

Honors in the Major

15 honors credits including a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis sequence

Program Sources: Political Science, BA < University of Wisconsin-MadisonPolitical Science, BA < University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thirty-three credits of POSC courses make up the major. You choose three foundations from American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Justice and Power, add one 3000-level course, then take seven 4000-level courses spread over at least three subfields, including political theory. You also take two non-POSC social science courses, such as economics, psychology or cultural anthropology. Students in the Les Aspin Washington Center program can count up to nine credit hours toward the major. A five-year BA/MA lets seniors use some graduate courses toward both degrees. Marquette awarded 49 political science degrees in 2023–24.

Foundations

Three of POSC 2201, 2401, 2601 and 2801

Upper-Level Courses

One 3000-level course and seven 4000-level courses from at least three subfields

Accelerated Option

Five-year BA/MA in Political Science

Program Sources: Political Science, BA | Marquette UniversityPolitical Science, BA | Marquette University

At La Crosse you begin with POL 110, Exploring Puzzles in Politics and Government, then pick nine credits of introductory courses ranging from American National Government to Foundations of Political Thought and Women and Politics. Upper-level work is spread across three of four areas of inquiry, which are American government, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Six credits of methods, skills and experiential learning are required, and at least half must be in political science. Everything ends with POL 494, the Capstone Seminar in Politics and Government. The 36-credit major produced 26 degrees in 2023–24.

Foundation

POL 110 plus nine credits from introductory courses

Areas of Inquiry

Three credits each at the 300 or 400 level in three of four areas

Experiential Learning

Six credits of methods, skills and experiential learning

Program Sources: Political Science Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA) | UW-La Crosse Catalog

Coursework spans American politics, international relations, comparative politics and political theory, with extra attention to research, writing and critical thinking. If law school is on your list, a Law Studies option lets you build electives around constitutional law and legal practice. The department also hosts the International Politics and Foreign Policy Summer Seminar: one intensive week in Milwaukee, then two weeks in Washington, DC. Internships are encouraged for every major, and students aiming for high honors work with a faculty member on a substantial research paper. UWM awarded 42 political science BAs in 2023–24.

Four Core Areas

American politics, international relations, comparative politics and political theory

Law Studies Option

Electives focused on constitutional law and legal practice in society

Summer Seminar

International Politics and Foreign Policy seminar, with two weeks in Washington, DC

Program Sources: Political Science, BA | UW-Milwaukee Academic CatalogPolitical Science, BA | UW-Milwaukee Academic Catalog

Eau Claire’s 36 credits begin with American National Politics, Introduction to World Politics and Introduction to Political Analysis, and end with a Political Science Capstone. In between you need at least one American politics course, one political theory course and two global politics courses. A statistics course such as MATH 246 or 247 must be finished, though it does not count toward the major. Electives can be unusual: Film and Politics, The Politics of Conspiracy Theories, or the Washington DC Policy Seminar. The major comes as a BA or BS and 27 students completed it in 2023–24.

Core Courses

POLS 110, 122, 290 and 480

Distribution

One American politics, one political theory and two global politics courses

Elective Examples

Film and Politics, Politics of Conspiracy Theories, Washington DC Policy Seminar

Program Sources: Political Science, Major - Liberal Arts < University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Academic CatalogPolitical Science, Major - Liberal Arts < University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Academic Catalog

Whitewater’s 34-unit major pairs Introduction to Political Science and American Government and Politics with two skills courses, Political Science Research Methods and Writing in Politics, Government, and Law. Then you take one course from each of five areas: American government, public policy and administration, comparative government, international relations and political theory. Offerings in those lists range from The American Legislative Process and Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy to Black Political and Social Thought and Government and Politics of Japan. An approved minor is required with the major. 16 students graduated in political science here in 2023–24.

Skills Courses

POLISCI 301 Research Methods and POLISCI 302 Writing in Politics, Government, and Law

Five Areas

One course each from American government, public policy, comparative government, international relations and political theory

Minor

An approved minor is required

Program Sources: Political Science Requirements (BA/BS) - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Academic Catalog

Stevens Point asks for a minimum of 40 credits, led by American Politics, Introduction to Global Affairs and a one-credit course called Career Development in Political Science. Political Inquiry and Analysis and Methods of Policy Analysis supply the research skills, and you also take either Minority Group Politics or Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective. At least six credits each come from American politics and global politics lists, and 12 elective credits can include Politics, Art and Film, Radical and Utopian Politics or an Internship in Government worth up to six credits. The department awarded 12 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Courses

16 credits, including POLI 101, 180, 201, 300 and 301

Subfields

At least 6 credits each in American politics and global politics

Internship

POLI 455 Internship in Government, 1 to 6 credits

Program Sources: POLI-BA Program | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Catalog

The St. Norbert major is built on American politics, public policy, research methodology and statistics, closing with a zero-credit Senior Assessment. Beyond those courses you complete 28 credits at or above the 200 level and must take at least one course in each of three fields: public policy, public law and American politics. Debate and advocacy get an outlet in the mock trial team, which brings classroom learning into competitive courtroom settings. The department covers U.S. and international politics through historical and contemporary lenses, with attention to governmental and leadership ethics. 14 students earned the BA in 2023–24.

Required Courses

POLI 130 or 131, POLI 132 Public Policy, POLI 200 Research Methodology and Techniques, and SSCI 224 Basic Statistics

Field Areas

At least one course each in public policy, public law and American politics

Senior Requirement

POLI 499 Senior Assessment, zero credits

Program Sources: Political Science College Major & Minor | St. Norbert College

Wisconsin–Madison starts doctoral students with an introduction to political science as a discipline and profession, then connects empirical methods training to a dissertation proposal research and writing seminar. The program develops depth in two fields while retaining a separate breadth requirement. Available methods span causal inference, formal modeling, Bayesian statistics, and qualitative research. A course outside the department can satisfy the statistical methodology requirement with department and Methods Field Chair approval.

First-Semester Seminar

Political Science as a Discipline and Profession introduces students to the field at the start of the program

Statistical Course Approval

An outside-department statistics course can count with approval from the department and Methods Field Chair

Program Sources: PhD in Political Science

Two preliminary fields drive the degree, chosen from American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, with 32 credits in those fields. A four-part methods sequence from Scope and Methods of Political Science to a Seminar in Advanced Political Science Methodology takes 12 credits, and three more courses must fall outside your prelim fields. You sit written and oral preliminary exams the semester after coursework, and the dissertation prospectus is defended at the same exam. The program requires 54 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s, 27 of them in residence. Most graduate seminars have fewer than 10 students. It awarded 1 doctorate in 2023–24.

Methods Sequence

POL SCI 700, 701, 702 and 935, 12 credits

Prelim Fields

Two of four fields, with a written and oral preliminary exam

Prospectus

Defended during the preliminary examination

Program Sources: Political Science, PhD | UW-Milwaukee Academic CatalogPolitical Science, PhD | UW-Milwaukee Academic Catalog