Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for the Department of Political Science at UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The Political Science Department fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background — people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. We commit ourselves to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment in our learning spaces and workspaces.
We strongly encourage members of historically underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and first-generation college students to apply. Fellowships are available to assist applicants from historically underrepresented identities, as well as those from any background that might have made educational achievement more difficult. The Graduate School offers admissions fee grants for low-income students and those who participate in selected pipeline programs designed to prepare students for graduate studies (e.g., McNair Scholars and SROP participants). As part of its commitment to the diversity of the graduate program, the Political Science Department also provides admission fee grants for participants in APSA’s Ralph Bunche Summer Institute and Minority Student Recruitment Program. For details and to request the fee grant, contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
To enhance the diversity of the graduate program (and of the discipline as a whole), the Department hosts an annual Diversity Visiting Day for undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds with the interest and ability to pursue graduate study in political science.
We are proud of the mentorship we provide to our students. Students are provided with a first year faculty advisor, given written feedback at the end of the first year, included in Departmental workshops and research groups, and meet with their advisors no less often than once a semester (and often more, depending on their stage in the program). We believe that high standards and careful mentoring contribute to student success. UW-Madison also offers many resources for underrepresented students through the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Funding and the Office of Equity and Diversity.
Current students can access the Graduate Student Department Climate Feedback Form here.
Race-Focused Graduate Courses in Other Departments
The following race-focused graduate courses outside of the of the Department of Political Science may be of interest to our graduate students:
ELPA863: Race, Class, and Educational Inequality | Critically examines race and class inequality in education, including the importance of race and class at multiple levels of analysis, including the classroom and school, as well as the family, neighborhood, and community. | Syllabus
HISTORY 943: Race and Nationalism: Comparative and Theoretical Perspectives | Graduate seminar on historical intersections of race and nationalisms. Explores questions of the origin of race and nationalisms, the position and status of a variety of nationalisms and anti-colonial nationalisms; and the contemporary debates over postmodernism, postindustrialism, postcolonialism, and multiculturalism. | Syllabus
JOURN824: Race, Ethnicity and Media | This course examines key theoretical and empirical readings in the area of race/ethnicity and media. | Syllabus
PSYCH711 (Prejudice Development) and 930 (Prejudice Reduction) | Current topics in psychology course. This course will explore the emergence and development of prejudice across the lifespan. | Syllabus
SOC901: The Sociology of W.E.B. Du Bois | Seminar course, topics in current sociology. W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was one of the founders of American Sociology. This seminar surveys his life’s work. It centers on a close reading of original texts. | Syllabus
SOC922: Researching Race: Current Questions and Controversies | Seminar course, race and ethnic relations. This seminar is envisioned as a “thinkshop” for students who are engaged in or plan to undertake original research on race.| Syllabus
Department of Political Science Diversity and Equity Committee
The Diversity and Equity Committee’s purpose is to build capacity within the Political Science Department to engage effectively in supporting equity and inclusion, contributing positively toward a climate that values and includes all voices. Our goal is to create a work environment that promotes awareness and acceptance of individual differences, fosters mutual respect, and enables students, staff, and faculty to achieve their highest potential.
Associate Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Committee Chair
Nils Ringe, Professor, ringe@wisc.edu
Committee Members
Cassie Chulick, Undergraduate Advisor, cassie.chulick@wisc.edu
Aleisha Lachette, Graduate Student, lachette@wisc.edu
Faye Lux, Department Administrator, flux@wisc.edu
Kathy Kramer, Professor, kathy.cramer@wisc.edu
Clint Rooker, Graduate Student, jcrooker@wisc.edu
Marwa Shalaby, Assistant Professor, marwa.shalaby@wisc.edu
Diversity-Related Events on Campus
- March
- March 22
- March 22
- March 22March Multicultural KickbackHosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and Academic Services6:00 PM, 159 Wisconsin Idea Room, Education Building
- March 22