Academics
- Majors
- Graduate
- Minors
- Legal Studies Certificates
Political Science
Students in Political Science at Illinois State University have some of the greatest opportunities for learning and growth, both as individuals and within the field as a whole. The department provides a variety of resources for its majors, an assortment of different student organizations, small class sizes, and full time faculty teaching all levels of coursework.
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Legal Studies
Students in Legal Studies, a major offered by the Department of Politics & Government, have great opportunities for learning and growth, both as individuals and within the paralegal field as a whole. The Department provides a variety of resources for Legal Studies majors including internship opportunities, small class sizes, as well as full time faculty or experienced practitioners teaching all levels of coursework.
The legal studies curriculum is designed to provide specialized knowledge and skills to prepare students for employment as a paralegal. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. Students preparing for law school should consult with the pre-law advisor to determine which courses are appropriate for them.
Public Service
Public Service is a 32-hour sequence designed for students interested in employment in the public sector, particularly at the state and local level.
Applied Community and Economic Development
The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) sequence is an interdisciplinary program that enables those who are passionate about social change through service to take their careers to the next level. The sequence is designed for returned Peace Corps Volunteers and students with other development experiences (e.g., AmeriCorps, nonprofit work). The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development coordinates these programs for Fellows, who spend an intense year on campus followed by 11-month paid professional practice. ACED Sequence students have a graduate assistantship in the fall and spring semesters on campus prior to field work. Students pursuing this sequence receive a solid and relevant educational opportunity to pursue careers in community and economic development in the United States and around the world.
Global Politics
Global Politics is a 32-hour sequence designed for students interested in the increasingly inter-connected politics of the modern world. The sequence ends in a thesis or comprehensive examination.
M.A./M.S. in Political Science
Political Science
Students in Political Science at Illinois State University have some of the greatest opportunities for learning and growth, both as individuals and within the field as a whole. The department provides a variety of resources for its minors, an assortment of different student organizations, small class sizes, and full time faculty teaching all levels of coursework.
Legal Studies
Illinois State University has been providing quality paralegal education since 1975. The program has been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), placing it among the most prestigious paralegal training programs in the State of Illinois. Our Legal Studies Program provides courses designed to provide specialized knowledge and skills to prepare students for employment as a paralegal. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
The Minor is designed for students interested in exploring the politics, society, cultures, and economics of countries in the Middle East and South Asia. The program provides an interdisciplinary approach for students to explore the socio-political-economic dynamics of countries in this region. The Minor also allows for examination of the impacts of global politics, especially the US foreign policies, on the socio-political-environment of this region. The Minor will prepare students for a better understanding of one of the most volatile and influential regions of the world. Through this structured study of the Middle East and South Asia, students will increase their job prospects in the fields of research, public administration, and non-governmental development organizations
Peace & Conflict Resolution Studies
The minor allows students to examine the causes and prevention of war, as well as the nature of violence, including social oppression, discrimination, and marginalization. Students also learn peace-making strategies to overcome persecution and transform society to attain a more just and equitable international community.
Women's and Gender Studies
The minor in Women's and Gender Studies enhances any undergraduate major by integrating a working knowledge of gender issues with the student's field(s) of study. Women's and Gender Studies employs gender as an analytical category, along with race, class, ethnicity, ability, age, nationality, and transnationality to focus on women's contributions to society and the gender implications of cultural, political, and economic processe
Legal Studies
The Legal Studies program offers two non-degree alternatives for those pursuing a career as a paralegal: the Certificate in Legal Studies with a Bachelor's Degree, or the Certificate in Legal Studies without a Bachelor's Degree.