Graduate Program

We offer a well-designed and academically rigorous program that is structured around a common core, an area of emphasis and elective courses. You will develop a broadly informed perspective on the discipline, its multiple substantive issues, theories and subfields. In addition you will choose an area of emphasis that you explore in greater depth. Our goal is to train students in a variety of analytical and research skills in preparation for a broad range of careers in government and public service, teaching, research, law and the private sector.

Master Of Arts Program In Political Science

Our students find that graduate work is both more challenging and more rewarding than undergraduate study. Classes are small, averaging around ten students. This allows for individual attention and student-faculty collaboration on research and public service projects. The program leaves room for internships where students can ÒsampleÓ career options and benefit from experiential learning. Most students complete their formal education with the MasterÕs degree, but some continue their studies in doctoral, law and professional programs.

We offer several M.A. degree options. Students choose one of the following areas of emphasis:

American Government
Comparative Politics/ International Relations
Public Administration/Public Policy

For admissions and course information , please see the WIU Graduate Catalog section for political science (www.wiu.edu/grad/catalog/politicalscience.php). For additional information about WIU graduate programs, visit the School of Graduate Studies website (www.wiu.edu/grad/).

In addition, we offer the Peace Corps Fellows M.A. Degree jointly with the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs. This program is limited to students who have served in the Peace Corps. For more information visit: www.peacecorpsfellows-wiu.org.

The Certificate in Public and Non-Profit Management provides graduate students and working professionals with skills in the areas of administration and public policy, with a focus on management issues in the public and non-profit sectors.

In our newest venture, we collaborate with the interdisciplinary Survey Research Center (www.wiu.edu/wsrc). The Center facilitates faculty and student survey research projects and serves as a resource for teaching.