Academics

The Department of Politics and Government has existed as an independent department for close to 50 years.

Majors

Political Science

Offers the greatest opportunities for learning and growth, both as individuals and within the field as a whole.

*Political Science is available as an accelerated program.
Legal Studies

Designed to provide specialized knowledge and skills to prepare students for employment as a paralegal.
Legal Studies: Language Integration

Offers a blend of practical law office skills with language training.
Interdisciplinary Legal Studies

Offers students to build an individualized major with Legal Studies courses by utilizing the University's Interdisciplinary Studies Major.

Minors

Political Science

Study the manner in which people organize, administer, and operate their governing institutions.
Legal Studies

Prepares students for a career as a paralegal in public and private law offices, corporate law departments, and government agencies.
Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies

Designed for students interested in exploring the politics, society, cultures, and economics of countries in the Middle East and South Asia.
Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies

Allows students to examine the causes and prevention of war, as well as the nature of violence, including social oppression, discrimination, and marginalization.
Women's and Gender Studies

Enhances any undergraduate major by integrating a working knowledge of gender issues with the student's field(s) of study.

Graduate

The Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State offers a master's degree in Political Science in order to promote human knowledge and skills in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and service in and about the political dimensions of social life.

M.A./M.S. in Political Science

Promote human knowledge and skills in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and service in and about the political dimensions of social life.
Public Service

Designed for students interested in employment in the public sector, particularly at the state and local level.
Global Politics

Designed for students interested in the increasingly interconnected politics of the modern world.
Applied Community and Economic Development

Is an interdisciplinary program that enables those who are passionate about social change through service to take their careers to the next level.