POLITICAL SCIENCE
Disciplinary Major or Minor - www.uwgb.edu/political-science/
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM:
Michael Kraft, Chair
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.
TIPS FROM THE PROFS:
from Dr. Scott Furlong, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Do an internship! This is such a great way to get practical experience. Also, get involved with the government processes in some way, such as getting involved in community issues. By demonstrating your citizenship you get a firsthand look at how democracy works.
WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MAJOR:
- IS IT FOR YOU? Are you someone who is challenged by the state of things, wants to make a difference, and wants to have a positive impact on society and social issues? Do you want to get involved and try to make things better within your community and beyond? Are you interested in how the government is structured, how decisions are made, and how societal and international conflicts are managed? Then the Political Science program might be right for you!
- A MINOR THING. Majors in Political Science must choose an interdisciplinary minor. Because Political Science is a discipline with applications in many fields, there are many appropriate choices, depending upon a student's individual interests. The most commonly chosen minors are Public Administration, Urban & Regional Studies, Environmental Policy & Planning, Social Change & Development, and Business Administration.
WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MINOR:
Some majors that work well with the Political Science minor are Public Administration, Economics, Environmental Policy & Planning, Social Change & Development, and Business Administration.
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS MAJOR AT UWGB:
- OPPORTUNITY. A particular advantage of the UW-Green Bay program is the opportunity for undergraduate students to gain practical experience. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship. Such experiences are beneficial when entering the job market or seeking admission to graduate and professional schools.
- GUIDANCE. The faculty is highly involved in the students’ education, both inside and outside of the classroom. Students get the personal attention they need. Also, the Political Science faculty members are highly active in their own scholarly pursuits and publish frequently.
SKILLS & ABILITIES GAINED WITH THIS MAJOR:
- KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE. One of the main skills students earn is an ability to critically think through policies, laws, and programs, and then being able to evaluate their purpose and effectiveness. Students will no longer be bystanders of democracy, as they gain understanding of our political system (and others) and how it works.
- LET’S TALK. Students gain excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Communication skills are the most important and sought after skill that employers look for in candidates!
- A BETTER YOU. The overall result of the Political Science program is that students become better citizens, as they gain not only an understanding of the system, but also how to get involved and make positive change within that system.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS MAJOR:
Although there are many opportunities for jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree (mostly entry level), students will find that job prospects are even better for those who have a Master’s Degree. Political Science majors have entered graduate study in political science, public administration, education, and related fields. Use the following as an idea list only, and not a complete list!
The following list represents a few of the kinds of career titles for Political Science majors:
Advocate, Archivist, Attorney, Broadcast Journalist, Campaign Manager, City Manager, Community Relations Director, Congressional Aide, Congressional Research Service, Consultant, Consumer Advocate, Environmental Policy Analyst, FBI/CIA Agent, Foreign Correspondent, Foreign Service Officer, Historic Preservationist, International Business Specialist, International Trade Specialist, Legal Assistant, Legislative Analyst, Lobbyist, Newspaper/Magazine Journalist, Paralegal, Political Pollster, Public Relations, Social Services Administrator, Social Worker, Teacher of Humanities/Social Sciences…
The following list represents a few of the businesses and institutions that employ Political Science majors:
Federal, state, and local government; corporations, law offices; legislators, national and state: Republican/Democratic parties; public interest advocacy groups; campaigns--national, state, county, city; large circulation newspapers, local newspapers, wire services, trade newspapers; intergovernmental organizations and private non-profit groups; public schools, private schools, colleges and universities.
Want to know more about the nature of the work, working conditions, earnings, training, and job outlook? Then check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook @ http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
LINKS TO GRAD PROGRAMS:
- Graduate School Guide. The comprehensive on-line guide to doctoral, masters, and professional programs. http://www.schoolguides.com
- Gradschools.com. The most comprehensive online source of Graduate School Information. http://www.gradschools.com/
- Peterson’s.com. The most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web. http://www.petersons.com/
- Or you can try any of the following search engine sites for information on the graduate school program of your choice! http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.infoseek.com, or http://www.snap.com
LINKS TO WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- The White House. Yes, the real one, where the Pres’ lives! Homepage @ http://www.whitehouse.gov/
- U.S. Library of Congress. Useful information available to Congress and the American people, to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity. Homepage @ http://www.loc.gov/
- U.S. House of Representatives. Information of House operations, committees, task-forces, and so much more. Homepage @ http://www.house.gov/
- U.S. Senate. Information on the history of the Senate, current senators, and the Capitol building, including a virtual tour. Homepage @ http://www.senate.gov/
- United Nations. Protecting human rights, promoting the protection of the environment, helping the advancement of women and the rights of children and so much more. Homepage @ http://www.un.org/
- American Political Science Association. The major professional society for individuals engaged in the study of politics and government. Homepage @ http://www.apsanet.org/
LINKS FOR MORE HELP:
- Visit UW-Green Bay ’s own Political Science homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/political-science/.
- For course listings and descriptions for POLITICAL SCIENCE and other disciplines, check out UW-Green Bay’s Programs of Study page @ http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/undrgrad/programs.htm
- More help is available on-campus at the Career Services Office at SS 1600, 465-2163. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/careers
- Contact Academic Advising at SS 1600, 465-2362. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/advising
- Another service for UW System students on the Web is UW HELP On-Line. This service provides in-depth information on the programs of the UW System. You can find them at @ http://www.uwhelp.wisconsin.edu
Updated 8/08
