Political Science is a well-rounded, high-quality liberal arts major that provides a solid basis for intellectual and personal growth, civic participation, and professional success. NIU political science majors have gone on to law and other professional schools; graduate school in political science, public administration, and other disciplines; careers in government; teaching and other types of public service; and employment in the private sector.
The NIU Department of Political Science is committed to quality undergraduate education and has a reputation for excellence in teaching. Unlike many departments at large universities, most undergraduate courses in political science are taught by distinguished full-time faculty who received their Ph.D.s from leading universities. Political science courses introduce students to different modes of inquiry and to a variety of perspectives, while stressing the development of analytic, writing, and quantitative skills.
The availability of different undergraduate "emphases" is a special feature of the program. The department offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in each of four "emphases":
There is a wide selection of courses in these areas as well as in American government and politics, political philosophy, public policy, and statistics. Political science courses allow students to examine timeless questions of justice and democracy and to explore contemporary issues. Among recent course offerings are classes on the mass media in U.S. politics, energy and the environment, women in politics, and biomedical policy. Students interested in the legal system can select courses from one of the most highly developed undergraduate public law programs in the nation. Students interested in world affairs can take classes dealing with various aspects of international relations and the contemporary politics of Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union.