Political Science Certificate

Certificate Overview

There are many definitions of political science. But whether a definition focuses on the analysis of governmental structures, or influences on voter choice, or the relationship between national governments, or the best form of government, political science, at its core, is about the systematic study of power. Whether exercised formally, as is the case between government and the individual, or informally, as is the case between individuals, it is the systematic study of power relationships that provides the subject matter for the discipline.

Students who pursue a certificate in political science obtain not only an understanding of the workings of government, but they also develop important skills in critical thinking and analysis. These skills make them ideal candidates for careers in law; in government at the state, national, and international levels; in business; in journalism; and in politics. The certificate pairs well with any major and provides political context to many areas of study.

Requirements and Declaration | Advising | Frequently Asked Questions

 

Advising

Alice Hill

Pronouns: she/her

My name is Alice Hill and I am a senior double majoring in Political Science and English with a certificate in Public Policy. I am from the Bay Area, California, but attended high school in British Columbia, Canada! At UW, I have been involved in GOTV campaigns and volunteered as a poll worker at campus polling locations. I spend much of my free time playing rugby, where I am the Captain of the UW Women’s Rugby Team. I am currently doing election research for a UW professor and interning in San Francisco’s City Hall for Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. My academic interests include campaigns, elections, and local government. I am so excited to meet you all!

Sadie Rosenthal

Pronouns: she/her

My name is Sadie Rosenthal, and I am a senior double majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies with certificates in Public Policy and Science Communications. I am originally from Bethesda, MD, outside Washington, D.C. I am the President of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honors Society on campus. I served as an intern with Governor Evers’ re-election Campaign in 2022, in State Assembly Representative Shelia Stubbs’ Office, at a Public Relations Firm, Rational 360, and at the White House. I have also worked as an Advance Associate for the Harris-Walz campaign. I studied abroad this past spring in Florence, Italy. I’m specifically interested in American campaigns and elections, and I hope to pursue a career in politics after graduation. I look forward to working with you all this year!

John Schwartz

Pronouns: he/him

I’m John, a senior double majoring in Political Science and Landscape & Urban Studies.  I plan on working in city design and community development after graduation, so I am currently interning as a planner for a private engineering firm. I’ve worked for the Wisconsin State Senate, interned for campaigns, and interned for a food shelf. Last summer I was hired to work as a camp counselor at an American school in Lugano, Switzerland and really enjoyed the experience. If you have a question or just want to recommend a good social sciences book, feel free to reach out!

Connect with our advisors:

Email

Our peer advisors can be reached via email at peeradvisor@polisci.wisc.edu

Schedule an Appointment

All currently declared students and current UW-Madison undergraduate students interested in the Political Science certificate are welcome to schedule an appointment  with our peer advisors. Advising appointments can be made through Starfish. You can access Starfish from your MyUW dashboard.

The Political Science department is located in North Hall, the oldest building on campus. Due to its age, this building is not accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities and does not have an elevator or accessible restroom. Faculty, instructors, and staff will accommodate those for whom North Hall presents a disability-related barrier to ensure equal opportunity for all students to attend office hours, advising, and other department-related events.

To add the Starfish app:

  1. Login to MyUW
  2. Search for Starfish
  3. Click Add to home for easy access
  4. Launch the app

Please click this link for instructions on how to use Starfish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

I am majoring in Political Science. Can I also enroll in the Political Science certificate?

No, Political Science majors are not eligible to declare the Political Science certificate. If you decide to switch from the major to the certificate, you will first need to cancel the Political Science major.

What is the difference between the Political Science Certificate and the Political Economy Philosophy and Politics (PEPP) Certificate?

Both certificates are housed in the Department of Political Science. Students who enroll in the PEPP certificate will thus take coursework from political science, economics, and philosophy, Students who enroll in the Political Science certificate will take coursework from political science only. More information about the PEPP certificate can be found here. The PEPP certificate is open to students in any major, and the Political Science certificate is open to students in any major except the Political Science major.

Are there any prerequisites to declaring the Political Science certificate?

No. Students can declare at any time. Political science majors are not eligible to declare the Political Science certificate.

If I am declared in the Political Science certificate, can I choose to pursue the Political Science major instead?

Absolutely! Complete the certificate cancellation form, then complete the form to declare the Political Science major. A student cannot be enrolled in both the Political Science certificate and major. If you’d like to talk with an advisor about the Political Science major, you can find more information here.

How many credits is the Political Science certificate?

The certificate requires a minimum of 16 credits from the requirements list. You can view all requirements on our Guide page.

How can I check to see if I already meet some requirements for the certificate?

You can review certificate requirements on our Guide page. You can also run a “What-If” DARS audit for the certificate.

I have not yet taken any Political Science courses. How do I know where to start?

The best place to start the certificate is with one of the courses listed under the “Introductory Courses” section of the requirements list. Choose your course based on the area of Political Science you are most interested in studying. Many of the “Reading and Writing in Political Science” and “Elective” courses have an introductory course as a prerequisite, so it’s important to plan according to your interests. If you’d like to discuss course planning with the Department, our talented Peer Advisors are here to help! You can find information about them and how to schedule on our website.

Meeting Certificate Requirements

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

I have AP credits in Political Science, how many can count toward the certificate?

Up to 4 AP credits can count toward the 16 required for the certificate. Note that 12 certificate credits must be completed on campus. Only a direct equivalent of POLISCI104 or POLISCI120 from AP exam credit can count toward the certificate. Elective credit awarded for a score of a “3” on the AP exam does not count toward certificate requirements.

I have transfer credits, how many can count toward the certificate?

Up to 4 transfer credits can count toward the 16 required for the certificate. Note that 12 certificate credits must be completed on campus. An excess of 4 transfer credits may be applied to specific requirements of the certificate (i.e. a transfer of POLISCI140 and POLISCI347 would be applied toward both the “Introductory Course” and “Reading and Writing in Political Science requirements”, respectively) however the 12 credit on campus requirement would still remain in effect. 

I have study abroad credits in residence from a UW-approved program, how many can count toward the certificate?

Up to 4 credits from a study abroad program can count toward the certificate. Note that 12 credits must be completed on campus. 

I have study abroad credits from the Wisconsin in Washington program, how many can count toward the certificate?

Up to 4 credits from a study abroad program, including Wisconsin in Washington, can count toward the certificate. Note that 12 credits must be completed on campus.

I have a combination of AP credits, transfer credits, and study abroad credits, how many total can count toward the certificate?

Up to 4 credits taken off-campus (this includes AP/IB credits, transfer credits, study abroad credits, and Wisconsin in Washington program credits) can count toward the certificate in total. Note that 12 credits must be completed on campus. An excess of 4 off-campus credits may be applied to specific requirements of the certificate (i.e. AP credit for POLISCI104 and study abroad credit for POLISCI347 would be applied toward both the “Introductory Course” and “Reading and Writing in Political Science requirements”, respectively) however the 12 credit on campus requirement would still remain in effect. 

Does an online course count toward the “on campus” credit requirement?

Yes. Any class taken at UW Madison, whether online or in person, is considered on campus.

How do I get advising for the Political Science certificate?

Our talented Peer Advisors are here to help! You can find information about them and how to schedule on our website.

Something looks off with my DARS report.

There are a couple of situations when the DARS report does not accurately count “on campus” credits. If you encounter this or anything else unexpected on your DARS report, please email an advisor.