Programs in Political Science
Political Science is a popular liberal arts major. We have approximately 170-200 majors, and we offer a wide range of courses covering American and Comparative Politics, International Relations, Public Policy, Political Theory, and Public Law. Our courses help student develop their critical thinking and analytical skills, and build competence and confidence in oral and written communication. Former UWSP Political Science majors can be found working in a wide range of jobs: as staffers in the U.S. Senate, environmental lobbyists in Washington D.C., and in managerial positions in federal, state, and local governments. We have a few graduates serving in the U.S. military, teaching in public and private schools, and working in private industry for banks, insurance companies, and other corporations. We also have graduates who are lawyers in private practice, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, and we have had a few graduates who clerked for federal and state judges as part of their legal training.
The department offers small classes taught by a dedicated faculty, and a lot of individual attention and advising. Our faculty come from some of the best Political Science PhD programs, and are engaged in ongoing research projects. The department offers many opportunities for internships at the state and local level, and now offers an internship in the British Parliament in Great Britain. Many of our students become active in local, state, and national politics, and a few go on to work in politics after graduation.
Many UWSP Political Science graduates go on to graduate school in a wide range of fields. Those who choose not to continue their studies find employment in both the public and private sectors, doing everything from serving as policy analysts in the legislature to being middle or high school political science teachers.
Global Citizenship
The department is committed to helping our students become global citizens. Some departmental faculty hold degrees and certificates from top foreign universities, and are active in study abroad programs. About half the faculty have extensive field experience studying, teaching, working, and pursuing research in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. With UWSP International Programs, the department oversees an international internship program in the British Parliament, and strongly encourages students to enroll in semester long study abroad programs to complement their undergraduate education at UWSP.