The Department has an active Internship Program that provides students with opportunities to earn academic credit for work in settings such as government agencies, political campaigns, and law offices. The Department s internship coordinators work with students to identify local, state, and national placement opportunities that enable students to apply their classroom knowledge in practical settings. Mock Trial students participate on teams that take on attorney and witness roles in trials that replicate the realities of the court room. Model Illinois Government students play the roles of state legislators, lobbyists, journalists, executive office members, and moot court lawyers at an annual simulation held in the legislative chambers of the General Assembly. Model United Nations activities include participation in the Midwest Model U.N. wherein students represent the political, policy, and strategic interests of one of the world s national governments.
Students have a range of associations directly related to the study of politics and government.
The Political Science Association sponsors speakers on politics and careers in government, and it meets on a regular basis as a discussion forum for our majors. Sigma Iota Lambda is an honorary society for students interested in law, and its activities include on-campus hosting of judges, attorneys, and law school representatives. Political Science majors take a series of foundation courses to prepare them for advanced courses and for conducting research. Our majors are well-prepared for communicating their work and ideas to others. Most of our classes are small enough to allow for class discussion and debate.