The Department of Politics and Government is involved in hosting a variety of different speakers on campus, including notables like Noam Chomsky.

Above: Distinguished speaker John Mearsheimer meets wtih grad students after delivering the Bone Lecture.

Below: Renowned democratization scholar Larry Diamond poses with Sandy Roberts after delivering the annual Hibbert R. Roberts Lecture

Graduate Programs

The Department of Politics & Government at Illinois State University, 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.

The Department of Politics & Government graduate program serves several types of students with a multi-track program.  The department offers courses and program options both to students who are planning to pursue further graduate education and to students who, for reasons of career enhancement or of specialized training for employment, are seeking a master’s degree as their ultimate goal.

Program goals:

• Graduates will be familiar with the breadth and diversity of models, approaches, and intellectual traditions within the major. 
• Graduates will be competent in research skills appropriate to his or her research endeavors 
• Graduates will have the ability to read materials carefully and analyze them critically 
• Graduates will be prepared for entrance into Ph.D. programs in Political Science; entrance into law schools; entrance into the public service; or upgrading their credentials in the public service, including international service. 
• Graduates will be able to think critically and effectively express their views in written and oral communication. 
• Graduates will have been provided the opportunity to display and/or present their research at conferences.