DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, AND LAW

There are numerous scholarship opportunities available to students through the university, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the Department of Politics, Government, and Law. To make life a little easier, all of the university's scholarship applications and requirement listings are available online

• Dr. John Kozlowicz Scholarship
• Daniele D. DiPiazza Political Science Scholarship
• The Paul A. Miller Family Endowed Scholarship in Political Science
• Johnson-Richter Political Science Scholarship
• John C. Oh Political Science Scholarship
• Rollins Political Science and Public Service Scholarship
• Institute for Democracy and Civic Engagement

• Politics, Government, and Law Department Writing Award

Course Descriptions

Politics, Government, and Law graduates are prepared to enter graduate and professional schools as well as a wide range of career options, including:

• Business
• State, local, and national government
• International employment
• Journalism
• Law
• Law enforcement and criminal justice
• Lobbying
• Teaching
• Paralegal certificate

International Studies

The interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum strengthens written and oral skills and thereby prepares students for the widest variety of career opportunities. The primary career goal of the international studies major is to provide students interested in either international careers or graduate/ professional training in international affairs with the proper foundation. The globalization of the world economy and the dominance of multinational corporations make the program especially attractive. Students who major in international studies often go into:

• Law, especially international law and international business law
• The Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State
• International business
• Journalism in international politics or current affairs
• Foreign language instruction or translation

Paralegal

Career opportunities include attending law school, legal research activities in a law firm or working in a law-related field such as criminal justice or social work. Since it is quite common for many students to work a few years between obtaining their undergraduate degree and attending law school, the legal studies minor and the paralegal certificate provide employment entry into law firms for a variety of legal responsibilities such as legal research, legal writing, document and other preparation for court cases, and assisting the resolution of legal problems.

Public Policy

Depending on the concentration students choose, the public policy and administration major prepares them for careers in the administrative, legislative or judicial branches of local, state and national governments; business organizations, such as public utilities or defense contractors, which work closely with government; hospitals, charitable organizations and other non-profit organizations; and for law school or graduate school admission.

What is undergraduate research in political science?

Undergraduate research involves a non-classroom, in-depth research project, conducted by an undergraduate student, done with the supervision of a faculty mentor.

There are numerous opportunities within the department of political science to conduct undergraduate research. This provides an opportunity to work on an issue, question, country, or case in a great deal of detail. In addition, conducting undergraduate research allows a student to work more closely in a collaborative and mentoring context with a professor. It is an opportunity that provides skills that a student can use regardless of their future career or educational path.

On top of the academic and collaborative benefits that come from undergraduate research there are tangible benefits, as well. The university can provide grants that support the research, stipends to support students over the summer, and numerous opportunities to present the results of the research. The department provides willing mentors who can ably guide students in their undergraduate research experience. In addition, the department is working on developing a scholarship geared toward participants in undergraduate research.

What sorts of undergraduate research projects have political science students completed?

Lots! Here's a short list of some of the topics that have been covered:

• The Electoral College
• Interest groups in state politics
• Comparative State Budget Crises
• Women in the West Wing
• The Role of Ideology in Foreign Policy
• Media Coverage of Politicians

Where can I learn more about undergraduate research?

Start at UW-Whitewater's Undergraduate Research program homepage. Here, you will find a great deal of information on deadlines, grants, and other opportunities related to undergraduate research.

In addition, you also might have a look at the homepage of the National Conferences of Undergraduate Research (NCUR). NCUR holds an annual undergraduate research conference at which UWW students are well represented.

Finally, have a look at a list of the faculty on the political science website. Perhaps one of them shares a research interest with you. Or you might simply talk to a professor with whom you share a research interest. You might learn something, develop skills that you can use in the future, or decide that you, too, would like to be a political scientist!