Overview

Why Choose Political Science at WIU?

The graduate program in Political Science at Western Illinois University provides educational and career opportunities in at least four broad fields: (1) government employment, (2) legal training, (3) teaching, and (4) international relations.

Government Employment – Roughly one-sixth of the labor force in the United States works for the government, either at the local, state, or federal levels. The Political Science graduate program can prepare students for many governmental positions, including administrative officer, budget analyst, city manager, city planner, environmental management specialist, and criminal investigator. In addition, the MA degree in Political Science provides preparation for persons seeking positions with interest groups that represent diverse issues before the government.
Careers in Law – A degree in Political Science is a typical career path component in preparation for law school. Many Political Science undergraduate and graduate students attend law school upon completion of their degrees. Indeed, as a curriculum, students in law schools have long ranked Political Science as the number one most popular major.
Careers in Teaching – Political science is an integral part of the curriculum of high schools, colleges, and universities. Moreover, in most states, courses in American government and civics are mandated in all public and private schools within their respective jurisdictions. It is not surprising that many of our graduates are teaching at the secondary level, while others, after completing graduate degrees, teach in colleges and universities.
Careers in International Relations – For students interested in careers in international and comparative politics and business, opportunities are expanding as countries become increasingly interdependent. Our graduates have been successful in securing positions with the U.S. State Department, the Department of Defense, international organizations, and multinational corporations.

Possible Careers

Budget analyst
Campaign consultant
City manager
City planner
Community college instructor
Elected official
Federal executive
Foreign service officer
International aid worker
Legislative or Congressional staffer
Policy analyst

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Seminar in Organization Theory and Behavior

Public Administration

Seminar in American Politics

Seminar in American Political Thought

Scope and Methods of Political Science

Comparative Government and Politics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2025-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-04-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2026-01-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

IELTS

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PTE Academic

TOEFL^® IBT

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Political Science View 318 other Masters in Political Science in United States

Academic requirements

GPA

2.75

English requirements

IELTS

Schedule an IELTS test!

PTE Academic

TOEFL^® IBT

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Western Illinois University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants for admission to the School of Graduate Studies must hold a bachelor's degree from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate U.S. Department of Education regional institutional accrediting agency.
Applicants usually apply for admission to a degree program simultaneously with admission to the School of Graduate Studies.
If the applicant meets the minimum admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, a copy of the application materials is forwarded to the program of interest for consideration.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

20280 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 676 USD per credit during 12 months.
National

11580 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 386 USD per credit during 12 months.
In-State

11580 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 386 USD per credit during 12 months.

Living costs for Macomb

1100 - 1500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Political Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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