Political Science - 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 an 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.

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to a master's program must:

• have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
• present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

You may apply to only one of the Applied Community and Economic Development programs at a time.

GPA

You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or 9+ hours of coursework in a master's program.

Coursework

You will need to have successfully completed 15 hours of undergraduate coursework in the Social Sciences.

If you do not meet this requirement, you may still be admitted into the program, but you will be expected to take additional coursework before starting graduate study to remedy designated deficiencies.

GRE

The GRE is not required for the fall 2024 application cycle. However, if you wish to submit your score, use institutional code 1319.

Resume

Upload your current resume to the application system.

Statement of Purpose

Write and upload a two-page statement of purpose. Your statement should address:

• Your motivations for graduate school
• Your career goals
• How this master's degree in your specific academic discipline (anthropology, applied economics, kinesiology and recreation, political science, or sociology) will help you reach these goals
• Any additional information about your interest in our program

Writing Sample

Submit a sample of your academic writing (at least five pages). The paper should demonstrate your research skills.

Recommendation Contact Information

Submit the names and email addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application.

Service Document

Upload one of the following:

• Letter of Service (Applied Community and Economic Development Fellows Program)
• Official Description of Service (Peace Corps Fellows Program)

Assistantship Application

Complete the Political Science, ACED sequence graduate assistantship application, available through the Stevenson Center. Only applicants selected for both admission and the political, ACED sequence graduate assistantship are admitted to the ACED sequence.

Check the job title before applying. An assistantship for anything other than Political Science, ACED sequence will not fulfill the requirement for admission consideration to the program.

Interview

Applicants who submit all materials according to the posted instructions and by the posted deadlines, and whose materials indicate potential for success in their chosen program, will complete a required interview (by phone or in person).

Admission Dates and Deadlines

Graduate Assistantship Information

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

• be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
• be in good-standing
• be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

• monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
• a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
• a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Cost & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

Graduate Coordinator