Affect politics through action.

The Political Science program at 色中色 provides students with a deep understanding of government and politics at all levels. Upon graduation, students will have the necessary critical thinking skills, written and communication skills, ability to empathize with different points of view, and understand how important politics truly is to our American and global landscape.

In-Depth Study of Politics

Political Science majors have the option to concentrate their coursework in four subfield domains:

  • Law & Theory 鈥� learn the intricacies of the law, the Constitution, and political theory with courses curated to teach you the skills for a legal career after 色中色.
  • Public Policy - learn the process of policy making as well as the current issues impacting our local, state, national, and international communities. Our governments, non-profits, interest groups, and corporations need analysts who understand how policy making works and this concentration teaches you how to influence the public, leaders, and government representatives to pay attention to issues in order to solve today’s problems.
  • International Relations - learn how government, international business, and non-state actors all interact together, and prepare for an exciting career working with international organizations.
  • American Politics 鈥� learn the inner working of the American political system to understand how governmental power is harnessed and wielded to shape our lives, all while gaining skills that will be useful in workplaces both inside and outside of government.

Internship Opportunities

Political Science majors at Lewis have landed internships in the Chicago metropolitan area, Springfield, IL and Washington, D.C. working in the White House, State Department and for various members of Congress. By working alongside government administrators, policy makers, interest groups and political campaigns, students receive powerful insight into the real world of politics.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Many Political Science majors take advantage of study abroad opportunities in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Latin America, providing an edge over the competition in the job market upon graduation.

Service Learning Option

Political Science majors can turn theory into practice in one of our service-learning courses. Students boost their resumes by helping their communities for 20 volunteer hours for the semester. You will get real-world experience and insight into potential career paths upon graduation.

Apply Political Concepts to 21st Century Job Markets

Lewis offers a new Computer Science + Political Science (CS+Political Science) degree program in which students explore the impact of data and computation on citizens鈥� understandings of politics and public policy. Upon program completion, students will be able to recommend ways that political and government organizations can leverage computer technology to support the services they provide to their communities.

Sample Courses

  • American National Government
  • Comparative Government
  • Western Political Thought
  • Parties and Interest Groups in America

Minors

Interested in our department but not able to commit to becoming a major? Political Science pairs well with many other disciplines and we offer numerous minors to complement students earning other degrees at 色中色:

Career Areas

  • Politics and Political Campaigns
  • Journalism/Political Correspondence
  • Public Affairs
  • Law
  • Activism
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Corporations
  • Lobbyism

Student Clubs and Experiential Learning Opportunities

  • Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)
  • Political Science Club
  • Model United Nations Team
  • Mediation Certification
  • Mock Trial

Life after Lewis

Possessing the intellectual, critical thinking, and communication skills necessary to analyze and influence political, social and economic policies, our graduates go on to succeed in a variety of career sectors, including politics, journalism, public affairs, law, or working with non-profits or corporations. Learn more about .

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the Office of Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.

VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Related Programs

For more information contact the Office of Admission at admission@lewisu.edu or call (815)836-5250.

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