Overview

Political Science students study how governments and politics work, from global politics to urban planning and grassroots activism. The Political Science major develops your critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills, preparing you for a wide variety of careers. Over the last 10 years, over 40% of our majors attend law school or graduate school. Our alumni are leaders in state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, legislative offices, policy research, and the private sector. Political science students are flexible, ready to learn new skills in emerging fields and technology. Our students care--they are already leaders on campus and in our community. They want to make a difference, and we hope you join us!

Why study Political Science at EIU? 

• Gain hands-on experience through internships, government simulations, research projects, and study abroad.
• Take courses to develop your professional career and research skills. 
• Easily add a double major or minor. 
• Earn a BA and MA in 5 years and 1 summer through our accelerated graduate program.
• Be well prepared for law school--Political Science is the #1 major for students pursuing the Pre-Law minor.

Career placement in the last 10 years:

• Local, state, and federal government agencies, including the military and foreign service (27% of graduates)
• Law and legal research (15% of graduates)
• Campaign managers, outreach coordinators, lobbyists, nonprofit leaders, and policy advocates (11% of graduates)
• University professors, administrators, advisors, coordinators, and fundraisers (16% of graduates)
• Finance, banking, insurance, healthcare, and government liaisons (25%)

Degree: BA

Completion time: 40 hours

Internships:

Numerous internship opportunities exist, including Congressional offices and campaigns, law offices, city managers, non-profits, and Washington, D.C. internships. Learn more about internships by going to the main Political Science webpage (www.eiu.edu/polisci) and clicking the internships tab. Students interested in pre-law internships should contact our Pre-Law advisor, Dr. Karen Swenson (kbswenson@eiu.edu), while students interested in all other Political Science internships should contact our Internship Coordinator, John Morris (jsmorris@eiu.edu). 

Resources

- Program Information in EIU Catalog

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