Political Science Program

Knowledge about how governments work and the way in which political decisions affect our lives benefits everyone and is expected by many employers. While few jobs are restricted to political scientists only, an associate's or bachelor's degree in political science is useful in many different settings.

Federal, state and local governments employ almost 16 million people. A political science background is typical for positions such as administrative assistant, budget officer, immigration inspector or intelligence research specialist.

Other typical careers for political science majors include legal services, law enforcement, the survey research industry and journalism, for political candidates and as a public official. Jobs limited to people with graduate training include teaching positions and upper-level administrative jobs.

The job market for political science majors remains good, especially if students enhance their qualifications by acquiring good communication skills, learning a foreign language or gaining expertise in statistics.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 

The following files describe in detail the requirements for this program. They are portable document format (PDF) files that can be viewed and printed with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you may download it here.

Please consult a faculty advisor listed below before beginning your coursework.

Degree

• Political Science, Associate in Arts

When planning your coursework, use the Student Planning Worksheet. Degree information and the worksheet can be found on the following files:
[ Political Science, A.A. Degree, PDF file]
[ Student Planning Worksheet, PDF file]

Course Descriptions

FACULTY ADVISERS
If you are considering this program as an area of study, consult with a faculty advisor in this field. To send an email, click on the name of the advisor you wish to reach:

Chris Goergen
BIC 2053A, (630) 942-2012

David M. Goldberg
BIC 1044B, (630) 942-3722

Carol Riphenburg
BIC 3081B, (630) 942-2670

If you are unable to contact an advisor, messages may be left with the Health and Sciences Division, HS 1220, (630) 942-8331.