Specializations in Political Science

SIUC offers three specializations within the political science major. These specializations are: the Pre Law Specialization, the International Affairs Specialization, and the Public Service Specialization.

Pre-Law Specialization

The Pre-Law Specialization effectively prepares students for admission to law school and subsequent careers in law, business, government, and many other fields.

Certain disciplines, coupled with broader interdisciplinary study, are particularly well suited for preparing students for law careers. Students attending SIUC who plan to go to law school can take advantage of the Department of Political Science's Pre-Law Program of Study by majoring in political science. Political science is traditionally one of the most common undergraduate majors for students planning to attend law school. Participating in our pre-law program will provide you with analytical and substantive background relevant to the study of law and help ensure that you develop the skills necessary for admission to law school.

Political science majors pursuing the pre-law specialization must meet the basic requirements for the political science major including core courses, a minimum of 33 credit hours in political science, three 400-level courses, and a pre-law course sequence.

The department's Pre-Law advisor will assist you throughout your undergraduate years. Many important issues need to be resolved in order to ensure that you complete the program of study best suited to your career interests. Your Pre-Law advisor will help you determine a career focus, select a program of study, prepare and register for the LSAT, and apply to law schools.

International Affairs Specialization

The International Affairs Specialization is designed for individuals interested in careers in the international arena--including work in the Foreign Service; international organizations such as Amnesty International, International Red Cross, and the United Nations; and multinational corporations.

Many students express a desire to do something with an international focus after graduation because they believe the world around them, in all its diversity and complexity, offers opportunity and excitement that are not available at home. They are right to hold this belief. The image of a shrinking world may be a cliche, but it is an accurate one. Nations have become so interconnected that an appreciation of how international issues, events, and cultures affect our lives is now basic to a good education and a key to finding a good job.

Individuals with an education in international affairs may be found working in international business, the Peace Corps, human rights and refugee relief organizations, the Foreign Service, the military, international organizations such as the UN, private foundations, journalism, and education. Many students find that a curriculum with significant international content is exceptional preparation for graduate, law, or professional school as well. Whatever your choice of career or course of study in the international realm, it is likely to involve contact with foreign cultures and analysis of politics within or between foreign countries.

The discipline of political science has always contributed significantly to research and instruction in international affairs. Two of the subfields of the discipline, international relations and comparative politics, deal exclusively with politics beyond our borders. Coursework from these subfields comprises the international affairs specialization, which is a concentration within the requirements of a political science major. The substantive knowledge and analytical skills acquired through the specialization will equip you to face the challenges of an increasingly competitive, globalized economy. Students taking the specialization also are encouraged to engage in multi-disciplinary studies, including foreign language, and may integrate a study-abroad experience into their programs.

Political science majors pursuing the international affairs specialization must meet the basic requirements for the political science major including core courses, a minimum of 33 credit hours in political science, three 400 level courses, and an international affairs course sequence.

Public Service Specialization

The Public Service Specialization is customized for the major who is interested in working in the local, state, or national government.

The public service program of study in political science will provide majors with coursework and experiences appropriate to careers in government and nonprofit organizations. The political science department assists majors throughout their undergraduate years and helps them to complete a program of study best suited to their career interests.

Recent estimates by the Illinois Department of Employment Security project that, excluding hospitals and education, there will be a 10 to 12 percent increase in state and local government employment with about 8,000 state and 23,000 local government jobs being added by 2005.

Political Science majors preparing for public service must meet the basic requirements for the political science major including core courses, a minimum of 33 credit hours in political science, three 400 level courses, and public service subfield requirements. In fulfilling these requirements, majors will have the opportunity to take course in subjects like administrative law, financial administration, intergovernmental relations, public policy analysis and organizational politics. Students must also complete either an interdisciplinary or minor study option.

Under the interdisciplinary option, the student pursuing public service preparation enrolls in courses from various departments and programs throughout the college and university for a total of 15 hours. The interdisciplinary option is completed under the direction of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Under the minor option the student chooses an approved minor program in a field such as Biology (24 hours), Business Computer Science (18 hours), Economics (15 hours), English (18 hours), History (18 hours), Journalism (15 hours), Philosophy (15 hours), or Physics (17 hours).