Degree Overview

Political science is both an ancient discipline and one of the most recent social sciences. Political scientists study political institutions, the political behavior of individuals and groups, the formulation and execution of public policy, the relations among statesand countries, and also enduring moral issues, such as what is justice and how leaders should be chosen.

View the specific degree requirements and course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Special Opportunities

The department is a member of the Western Survey Research Center. The center administers sample surveys for both the University and the local community as well as statewide. Survey research is an integral component of a number of courses in the department and offers a set of marketable skills that are much in demand in the private and public sectors.

The department strongly recommends that all majors supplement their classroom education with the practical, hands-on experience of an internship. Students can receive up to 6 s.h. of course credit that can be applied to the major. The department also has established a scholarship fund to subsidize these internships. In recent years, our students have served internships in the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and the Illinois legislature as well as in many governmental agencies at the local, state, and national levels.

Student Activities

Political Science majors and minors are encouraged to join the Associated Students of Political Science, which fosters student involvement in department affairs. There is also a chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honorary society, on campus.

Integrated B.A./M.A. in Political Science

The integrated B.A./M.A. program allows students enrolled in the political science major to complete both their Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in a five year period. The first three years of study will involve the University's general education requirements and undergraduate-level coursework in the major and minor. During their senior year, students will be able to take up to three courses (nine semester hours) that will count towards both degrees. During the fifth and final year of the program, students finish the remaining 21 hours required for the M.A. Students may be eligible for graduate assistantships for their fifth year. Integrated degree students get a jump start on their graduate degree and eventual career. Additionally, students save on tuition and fees, and they can lock in the tuition rate in the graduate catalog from when they first continuously enroll at WIU.

Faculty

Courses are taught by faculty holding doctoral degrees from universities across the U.S., including Georgetown, Northern Illinois University; and the Universities of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Florida at Gainesville, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Texas at Austin. Our faculty members have a wide range of academic specialties.

While most faculty are involved in active research, our primary mission is that of teaching and mentoring, and we take this mission seriously. All Political Science courses taken by our majors are taught by faculty members rather than by graduate students or teaching assistants. Most courses enroll fewer than 40 students.

Contact

• Contact the Department of Political Science and meet our faculty
• Contact our Political Science undergraduate advisor

Major Options

Political Science majors select one of five options within the major:

• Political Science - General
• American Government
• International Relations
• International Relations/Comparative Politics
• Pre-Law
• Public Administration/Public Policy

Political Science - General

The general option provides students with the opportunity to select elective courses in the department from across its disciplinary subfields and flexibility in choosing internships and independent study.

American Government

Students choosing the American Government option study major U.S. institutions such as Congress and the Presidency; the political role of citizens as voters and activists; and the contributions of parties, interest groups and the media. The program prepares the students for many positions in local, state, and federal government as political campaign professionals or with interest groups.

International Relations/Comparative Politics

International relations is the study of the economic, military, and political interactions among states, international organizations, and transnational actors. Comparative politics studies the varied forms of political institutions and behaviors within states around the world. Students who study international relations and comparative politics are prepared to work in federal government agencies such as the State or Defense Department, for international organizations such as the United Nations, for multinational corporations, and for transnational organizations that deal with issues such as human rights or security.

Pre-Law

The Pre-Law option gives students solid preparation in Constitutional law and the key institutions that adjudicate law, such as the Supreme Court. Western political science majors have been admitted to all the law schools in Illinois as well as other elite schools, such as Harvard, the University of Michigan, Stanford, and Georgetown. Our graduates who went on to attend law school work in settings ranging from small, private practices to some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms. Others have become judges, lobbyists, and elected officials.

View more information about the Political Science Pre-Law Option

Public Administration/Public Policy

Students choosing the Public Administration/Public Policy option study political institutions and behaviors and the formulation and execution of policies. Our graduates understand the dynamic world of public policy analysis and administration in the government and non-profit sectors.

Careers

The political science major prepares the student for a wide range of careers, including: administration of national, state, and local government agencies; preparation for admission to law school; urban and regional planning; political journalism; the conduct and analysis of foreign policy; and preparation for graduate study in political science. The departmental adviser has career guides for students interested in law school, graduate study in political science, graduate study in public policy, public administration, foreign affairs, and politics.

Government

The political science major prepares students for many governmental positions, including administrative officer, budget analyst, city manager, city planner, environmental management specialist, criminal investigator, and performance auditor.

Law School

The political science major is a typical component in preparation for the law school career path. Our graduates have been admitted to all of the law schools in Illinois and to many law schools throughout the country, including the University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania, North- Western University and Georgetown.

Teaching

Political science is an integral part of the curriculum of high schools, colleges, and universities. Many of our graduates are teaching at the secondary level, while others, after completing graduate degrees, teach in colleges and universities.

International Politics and Business

For students interested in careers in international and comparative politics and business, opportunities are expanding as countries become increasingly interdependent. Our graduates have been successful in securing positions with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, international organizations, and multinational corporations.

For more information on career opportunities in Political Science, visit the American Political Science Association (APSA) and choose CAREERS in the navigation.