The diversity of the faculty's intellectual pursuits and concern for students makes these courses interesting and ensures that, whatever the students' interests, from Middle Eastern politics to the American presidency, from the study of environmental politics to political violence and revolution, there is a scholar in the department who can teach the subject to them. Students are encouraged to participate directly in the political process through internships in federal, state, and local government or on political campaigns. UI students have participated in internships with the Idaho state legislature, the Idaho Governor's office. D.C. Other students have interned with local governments throughout the state and for federal agencies such as the State Department, and have worked on political campaigns for candidates for offices at all levels of government. After graduation UI students find that their degree in political science opens the door to a wide variety of careers.
Many students pursue careers in law.
Others attend graduate school and prepare for careers in federal or state governments, as city managers or administrators, or as teachers. Still other graduates find that their knowledge of politics and the skills they acquire to analyze complex institutions are excellent preparation for a career in journalism. Finally, business institutions are employing more and more political science graduates because of their ability to communicate with precision and vigor, their familiarity with large organizations and complex decision making processes, as well as their understanding of how foreign and domestic governmental institutions and U.S. multi-national corporations function in an interdependent world. The B.A. degree emphasizes a traditional liberal arts education including a 16-credit foreign language requirement. The B.S. degree emphasizes methodology and requires increased course work in behavioral research methods.