Courses were first taught in political science by University of Minnesota president William Watts Folwell in 1871. The department of political science was established within the College of Science, Literature and the Arts in 1879. In 1906, the department underwent a name change to Economics and Politics. In 1913, the Board of Regents established an independent department of political science, with professor William A. Schaper as professor and chair.
Courses offered early in the department's history included American government, legislative power and methods, political parties, state and local administration, comparative government, government and politics of England and the British Empire, as well as an elementary courses in American constitutional law and international law. The department was home to the Public Administration Training Center from 1945 until 1968, when the Graduate School of Public Affairs was established.
From the guide to the Department of Political Science papers, 1908-1977, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
