Northern Illinois University
Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Master of Arts

Recent M.A. graduates have secured positions with:

• American Medical Association (research associate)
• Amnesty International
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield (claims adjuster)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (analyst)
• Illinois Attorney General's office
• Illinois Secretary of State's office
• Indonesian House of Representatives (elected representative)
• IPSOS North America (account manager)
• Lake Michigan Federation (executive director)
• U.S. Congress (legislative assistant)
• U.S. Department of State (foreign affairs analyst)
• U.S. Foreign Service (foreign service officer)

Graduates pursue careers as financial analysts, research associates, business executives and community college and high school educators. Some M.A. graduates pursue doctoral work. Of these, many remain here; others have earned Ph.D.s at such institutions as Columbia University, Duke University, Florida International University, Fordham University, Harvard University, Pennsylvania State University, University of California Santa Barbara, University of Chicago, University of Illinois and University of Virginia. A smaller number of graduates enter schools of law.

Doctor of Philosophy

Recent Ph.D. graduates have obtained positions at such colleges and universities as:

• Auburn University
• Arkansas State University
• Cameron University
• Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
• Defiance University
• DePaul University
• Dominican University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
• Hampton Sydney College
• University of Minnesota at Mankato
• North Georgia College and State University
• Portland State University
• Rivier University
• Rock Valley College
• University of the Philippines West
• Texas A&M University
• Tulane University
• Wheeling Jesuit University
• University of Dayton
• University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Doctoral graduates seeking careers outside of higher education have obtained positions in business, government and public service as senior research associates and directors, managers and executives for national and international organizations.

Our doctoral program provides opportunities for students to gain teaching experience in a variety of contexts. Its students have established records of presenting papers at professional conferences and publishing articles, and the department encourages student/faculty scholarly interaction.