POLISCI 1130 Introduction to Politics 3 Credits

A survey of the principles of political analysis, covering topics such as the nature of politics, the political experience, decision-making, traditions of politics and comparative political systems.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring

POLISCI 1230 Introduction to American Government 3 Credits

Origin and nature of American federal system, federal and state constitutions, electoral process, structure and functions of federal, state and local government, and individual rights and civil liberties.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring

POLISCI 1430 Current Issues and Democracy 3 Credits

Discussion of the issues of major conflict, the essence of democracy, the nature of technological democracy and its future.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Fall

POLISCI 2360 International Relations 3 Credits

The foundations of national power, the causes of conflict in world politics, and the efforts to deal with such conflicts particularly through international organizations.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring

POLISCI 2430 Comparative Politics 3 Credits

An examination of non-American political systems and the experiences of countries coping with political change. An investigation of models of values, stereotypes, incentives and sanctions within the network of interdependent elements that create a sense of publicness and authority.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1130 or POLISCI 1230
Typically Offered: Spring

POLISCI 2540 Introduction to Public Policy 3 Credits

A survey and review of government public policy and public policy making. The investigation, differing explanations and alternative arguments about what government should and should not do including consideration of various public policies.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Spring

POLISCI 2940 The Political Economy of Race, Gender and Ethnicity 3 Credits

This course uses economic principles to analyze salient issues involving people of color, women, and ethnic minorities. The focus is interdisciplinary, drawing from the fields of business, political science, and others. Pertinent principles and concepts are used to analyze causes and effects of the changing composition of U.S. families, to examine the nature and extent of discrimination within the U.S. economy, and to understand why issues involving race, ethnicity, and gender are of concern to us both individually and collectively.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: ECONOMIC 2940, ETHNSTDY 2940
GE: Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring/Summer

POLISCI 3240 Political Psychology 3 Credits

This course will serve as an introduction to perspectives in political psychology. It will span the field of political psychology, which addresses issues including mass political behavior, attitudes, and ideology, to name a few.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1130 or POLISCI 1230 or PSYCHLGY 1130
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3250 Women, Gender, and Politics 3 Credits

This course will provide students with a foundational overview of the gender and politics subfields of international and American politics. We will take an intersectional look at women candidates, women as representatives, and women as voters. This course will cover not only women, but other genders as well. We will address the differences between men, women, and trans folks in terms of public opinion, voting behavior, candidate evaluation, and political engagement.
Components: Class
GE: Gender Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1230 and POLISCI 3440 or instructor consent.
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3330 American Political Parties and Interest Groups 3 Credits

Interest groups and political parties as forces that mold public policy are examined.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1230
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3340 Modern Japan 3 Credits

Social, cultural, and political history of Modern Japan from the 17th century to the present.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 3950
GE: Global Studies, Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2020 or consent of instructor
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3350 Modern China 3 Credits

Social, cultural, and political history of Modern China from the 19th century to the present.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 3970
GE: Global Studies, Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2020 or consent of instructor
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3440 Social Research Methods 3 Credits

An introduction to social research methods. The course provides a conceptual framework for understanding and interpreting social research as well as designing, conducting, and evaluating research projects.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: SOCIOLGY 3440
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: MATH 1830 and (CRIMLJUS 1130 or SOCIOLGY 1030 or POLISCI 1130)
Typically Offered: All

POLISCI 3520 The Judicial Process 3 Credits

The American judicial process, trial and appellate courts as well as the role of the U.S. Supreme Court are examined. The Anglo-American judicial system is compared with the judicial system of continental Europe.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1130 or POLISCI 1230 or CRIMLJUS 1130
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3530 State and Local Government 3 Credits

The structure and functions of state and local government, implementation of public policy, governmental agencies and administrative services, and city-suburban and metropolitan issues are examined. Special attention is given to the political and policy effects of the dynamic changes taking place in the urban centers in Wisconsin as well as in neighboring states.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3610 British Isles to 1714 3 Credits

The political evolution of the English state and the national development and interactions of the English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh peoples from their origins to 1714.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 3610
GE: Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2010 or HISTORY 2020 or consent of instructor
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3620 British Isles since 1714 3 Credits

The political evolution of the British state and the national development and interactions of the English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh peoples from 1714 until the present.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 3620
GE: Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2010 or HISTORY 2020 or consent of instructor
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3650 Political Theory 3 Credits

The course examines the major contributions of Western normative political theory that underlie contemporary notions of power and political relationships.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1130
Typically Offered: Spring

POLISCI 3710 Democracy and Democratization 3 Credits

A survey of the major debates on democracy and democratization from a Comparative Politics perspective.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 2360 or POLISCI 2430 or instructor consent.
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3720 Politics of the Global Economy 3 Credits

An analysis of the operation and powers of multinational corporations, their methods of influencing the electoral process, and the legislative and executive branches in the United States and abroad, as well as their future role in world economy and politics and development of Third World countries.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 2360
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3750 International Human Rights 3 Credits

This course examines the subject of international human rights primarily in the post-1945 era. The course involves the examination, analysis and discussion of major theories, legal norms, criminal procedures and state and international diplomacy in the human rights field. The course integrates theory and praxis with the case study method.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 2360
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3760 International Security 3 Credits

This course will examine the nature of and response to international security threats during and after the Cold War. These threats will be examined from both a theoretical perspective and a policy perspective. Topics include war, nuclear weapons, democratization, terrorism, economic sanctions, environmental degradation, ethnic conflict, and more.
Components: Class
GE: Global Studies, Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 2360
Typically Offered: EVERY/3RD

POLISCI 3770 Politics of Sports 3 Credits

This course will explore the intersection of sports and politics. We will use sports to better understand political protest, conflict initiation, gender norms, public policy, global governance, and more. The course will take a broad definition of both "sports" and "politics" and will expose students to several methods of Political Science research.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: Sophomore standing
Typically Offered: EVERY/4TH

POLISCI 3780 Constitutional Law 3 Credits

This course examines constitutional law and the political process, judicial review, civil liberties, rights and responsibilities, the role of the Supreme Court in the educational environment and student rights.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1130 or POLISCI 1230 or CRIMLJUS 1130
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 3830 Civil Liberties 3 Credits

The focuses of this course are: law and power and their abuses; law and power in relation to, deviance, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, civil disobedience, and the war on crime; criminal and civil cases, group action.
Components: Class
GE: Social Sciences
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: POLISCI 1230
Typically Offered: Spring

POLISCI 3950 Political Science Field Trip 1 Credit

In this course, students will spend four days exploring the politics and culture of a major American city. They will meet with policymakers, visit historic landmarks, participate in a service project, discuss issues of local and national significance, and experience life in a large urban environment. Students are also required to attend two pre-departure meetings and one post-program meeting during which travel and academic material will be discussed.
Components: Field Studies
Typically Offered: Spring

POLISCI 4120 Modern Russia 3 Credits

Political, social, economic, and cultural history of North Central Asia from the middle of the 19th century until the present time, with particular attention to Russian civilization, and the political evolution from Russian empire, to Soviet partocracy, to presidential republic.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 4120
GE: Global Studies, Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2020 or consent of instructor
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 4460 Modern Africa 3 Credits

Examines the trajectory of African history from the early 19th century to contemporary times. Focuses on three defining moments: the "Scramble" and partition of Africa, the institutionalization of the colonial project, and the struggles and challenges of independence. Emphasis is on African agency and the African voice.
Components: Class
Cross Offering: HISTORY 4460
GE: Global Studies, Historical Perspective
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: HISTORY 2430 or HISTORY 2020 or POLISCI 1130 or consent of instructor.
Typically Offered: Fall

POLISCI 4660 Internship in Political Science 1-8 Credits

Enhancement of the educational experience through placement of a student with a cooperating agency, business, industry or institution. The nature of the assignment, type of experience, number of credits and evaluation procedure will be stipulated in a statement of agreement (learning contract) between the student and the department.
Components: Field Studies
Prereqs/Coreqs: sophomore standing to enroll in this class
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring/Summer

POLISCI 4720 Independent Study and Research in Political Science 1-3 Credits

Supervised individual or team study and investigation of a selected topic.
Components: Independent Study
Prereqs/Coreqs: sophomore standing to enroll in this class
Typically Offered: Fall/Spring/Summer

POLISCI 4730 Trial Advocacy 1-3 Credits

Students prepare both sides of a civil or criminal case for trial playing attorney and witness roles. Knowledge of courtroom procedure and rules of evidence along with skills of teamwork, critical and analytical thinking, and persuasive public speaking are applied.
Components: Seminar
Typically Offered: Occasional

POLISCI 4760 Seminar in Selected Topics in Political Science 1-3 Credits

Presentation of a selected topic normally not of a permanent nature or suitable for a regular course. Besides regular class presentations by students and examinations, a term paper is required.
Components: Seminar
Prereqs/Coreqs: P: junior standing
Typically Offered: Occasional