Your faculty advisor is listed at the top of your degree audit or Ginny can tell you whoit is. Writing Across the Curriculum or W is designed to encourage better writing through frequent writing. In W classes you will write and rewrite and rewrite. You need to take at least one during your time here, and it need not be in Political Science. For more information on the Scholars program in Political Science, such as how to get into it after your freshman year, check here.
Many classes have prerequisites.
It used to be that prerequisites were treated as suggested classes that a student needed to take another class. Now they are required. The registrar s computer will not let you register if you have not completed the prerequisites. If you think you are sufficiently up to speed to take a course, but do not have the prerequisites, see the instructor. If they agree, they can waive it.