Interdisciplinary inquiry in Latin American society and culture.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
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The department at a glance
All recorded grades average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
How grades break down
Grades over time
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
About these statistics
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Fall 2026
Recorded this termcourses with offerings
instructors recorded
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Find your next class
68 coursesHistorical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.
AAE/POLISCI 835 introduces game theoretic analysis tools and their application in political science for formal modeling.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sampleThis introductory survey covers African society, culture, polity, and economy from prehistory to contemporary developments using multidisciplinary perspectives.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of James Delehanty, Neil Kodesh: Workload includes heavy reading and essays or exams, but reviewers note these are manageable if students complete the assigned work.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026AFRICAN/AFROAMER/HISTORY/POLISCI 297
African and African-american Linkages: an Introduction
4 creditsThis course analyzes the retention of African elements in African-American oral, written, and material culture.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sampleAFRICAN/ANTHRO/ECON/GEOG/HISTORY/POLISCI 983
Interdepartmental Seminar in African Studies Topics
3 creditsAn interdisciplinary seminar exploring African societies and cultures.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sampleIntroduction to East Asian civilizations covering China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, and Mongolia from prehistory to the present.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Anatoly Detwyler: Workload involves mandatory attendance and substantial reading, with straightforward quizzes based on those readings rather than complex exams.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores the history, current meaning, and future of the Wisconsin Idea through reflection and dialogue.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleExplores how various schools of feminist thought redefine the political through historical and contemporary theory.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
MACHIAVELLI AND HIS WORLD introduces major works of Machiavelli via close reading in cultural and historical contexts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students must complete all readings before exams and maintain high attendance, as attendance constitutes a large part of the grade.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ILS/POLISCI 363
Literature and Politics
3–4 creditsILS/POLISCI 363 explores the interactions between literature and politics and the role of literature in political systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Philip Bunn: One reviewer noted that Philip Bunn assigned a paper over spring break, suggesting potential workload timing issues.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ILS/POLISCI 463
Deception and Politics
3–4 creditsExamines deception and truth-telling as fundamental political concerns through philosophical explorations from Plato to Rawls.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Daniel Kapust: Reviewers note a heavy reading load, but Kapust covers the material in lecture, making it manageable for those who attend.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Examines issues facing Israeli society and debates in Israeli politics, covering history, institutions, and social divisions.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleExamines the role of communication in American politics, covering political elites, media effects, and communication policy.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sampleIntroduction to the theory and practice of survey research.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Eleanor Powell, Ethan vanderWilden: Workload centers on a large final project and problem sets rather than exams. Coding in R is a significant component, which some students find difficult or unnecessary for their major.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025LAW, POLITICS AND SOCIETY introduces the legal process, exploring law's concepts, problems, reasoning, and the function of courts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The workload includes one easy paper and straightforward tests, with slides posted online and no required lecture attendance, though reading the book is helpful.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2025CRIME AND POLITICS introduces concepts analyzing the criminal legal system from a political perspective, examining government responses to crime.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
POLISCI 104 covers basic institutions and processes of American government, including constitutional structures, parties, interest groups, elections, and policy formation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of John Coleman, Kenneth Mayer, Signe Janoska-Bedi: Students report significant reading requirements and exams that demand specific answers from lectures and textbooks. Some found tests difficult, while others noted that prior knowledge or attending office hours helped manage the workload.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Comparative Politics covering the comparative analysis of political institutions, processes, and outcomes at the national level.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course features weekly readings that some find long and dry, but exams are considered easy if students study lecture materials. Workload includes mandatory attendance, weekly quizzes, and occasional extra credit opportunities.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to International Relations covers major global issues since WWII, focusing on state interactions and analytical tools.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students must attend lectures, complete readings, and participate in discussions to succeed on exams covering multiple choice and essay sections.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026POLISCI 160
Introduction to Political Theory
3–4 creditsIntroduction to Political Theory explores core problems of political life, including obligation, justice, equality, and liberty, through ancient and modern sources.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Michelle Schwarze: Students face dense, difficult readings, but graded assignments like in-class essays and multiple-choice exams are relatively easy, with opportunities to revise essays.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026POLISCI 170 introduces political science research methods, teaching students to develop research questions, design studies, and apply quantitative and qualitative tools.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Jessica Weeks: The course involves occasional short papers and heavy reliance on lectures and memorization. Reviewers report that tests are fairly challenging and getting an A requires extra effort, while projects may be graded toughly.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025An honors introduction to comparative politics focusing on national-level institutional analysis and systematic comparison.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is heavy on readings and features difficult assignments that require significant effort throughout the semester.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Fall 2025 · limited samplePOLISCI 199
Directed Study
2 creditsPOLISCI 199 offers directed study projects for freshmen and sophomores arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Introduction to Political Psychology examines the psychological aspects of political behavior among individuals in various contexts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Jonathan Renshon: Exams are largely focused on the readings rather than lectures.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited samplePOLISCI 274
Political Choice and Strategy
3–4 creditsPOLITICAL CHOICE AND STRATEGY introduces decision analysis, strategic interaction, and voting systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Fall 2025POLISCI 305
Elections and Voting Behavior
3–4 creditsPOLISCI 305 examines the psychological and social drivers of voting behavior, current electoral trends, and the role of voters in governance.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviewers found coursework not too difficult, requiring attendance and attention for good grades.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025POLISCI 311
United States Congress
3–4 creditsCovers principles, procedures, and problems of the US Congress legislative process.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Barry Burden: Exams are tough and require referring to lecture themes that are not present in the textbook.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025POLISCI 314
Criminal Law and Justice
3–4 creditsCriminal Law and Justice covers substantive and procedural criminal law, constitutional amendments, and legal proof using a case-based approach.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Howard Schweber: The workload includes an overwhelming number of readings and three take-home partner exams that determine the grade. Students report that the volume of material is significant and requires careful management.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025POLISCI 315
Legislative Internship
3 creditsPOLISCI 315 is a legislative internship providing practical experience in a legislative office, policy research, and readings on the legislative process.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students report low difficulty and minimal weekly time commitments, typically 3 to 8 hours, consisting of discussion posts and final projects based on internship work.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026POLISCI 330
Political Economy of Development
3–4 creditsPOLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT introduces theories of economic development and examines regional experiences and international factors.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Across course levels
Recorded this termNo released grades for this term.
Recorded offerings over time
Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.