Department of Political Science at EIU

Thank you for your interest in graduate studies in political science at Eastern Illinois University. By earning a Master's degree (MA) in political science from EIU, you will receive an excellent graduate education, improve your future employment opportunities, achieve your advanced educational goals and you will study under an excellent faculty of committed teachers and scholars.

Eastern Illinois University is one of the leading ranked comprehensive institutions in the United States which emphasizes excellence in teaching and research. The Department of Political Science faculty consists of teachers and scholars with excellent reputations for working closely with graduate students. We view close faculty-student collaboration as one of our primary missions. You will study under faculty who prioritize your educational needs. You will also study with faculty who have received numerous teaching and research awards. Our faculty's published research has appeared in the leading journals in political science and international affairs.

By earning a Master's Degree in political science, you will improve your job prospects in the public and private work place. You will gain research, writing and analytical skills that come with advanced graduate study which will make you more competitive when applying for advanced graduate study or for jobs upon your graduation.

For students who wish to continue on in graduate studies in either law school or Ph.D. programs, we have an excellent placement record. Our students have been accepted into institutions such as:

A number of our recent students helped their job opportunities and additional academic prospects through their participation in conferences or by publishing their own research (PDF) and critical analyses. In our program, our faculty will assist you in enhancing your academic record as is demonstrated by our recent graduates achievements. Our graduates have found professional positions in a variety of fields.

To apply for admission into the Political Science M.A. program, complete and submit the online application. International applicants must also follow the admissions guidelines available through International Programs.

All applicants must also submit a personal statement of intent, in which you address why you seek admission into our program. This statement should be approximately 300 words. In addition, you must have two letters of reference, with the accompanying Graduate Reference Letter Form (PDF) (Word Doc).

Your personal statement of intent and the two reference letters must be sent to:

Graduate Coordinator
Department of Political Science
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, Illinois 61920-3099

Your application will require that you send your undergraduate transcripts to:

Graduate Admissions
Graduate School
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, Illinois 61920

If your undergraduate cumulative G.P.A. is less than 3.0, you should submit a GRE score. We would like to see a score above 1000.

Once you are accepted as a graduate student in our program, you may be eligible for an graduate assistantship award, which provides you with a monthly stipend and tuition waiver. In addition, graduate assistants are eligible for summer tuition waivers up to ten credit hours. Our current stipend is $800 per month, and $7200 for the full academic year.

For a fall assistantship award, you must complete the assistantship application by March 1. For a spring assistantship award, you must complete your assistantship application by November 1.

In addition to our departmental assistantships, additional assistantships exists across the university, and the department offers two graduate scholarships in the spring semester.

We have a diverse graduate student body, including a number of international students. We have had students come to our department from all over the world, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Estonia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Japan, Latvia, Romania, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. International students should also apply for the International Student Scholarship, which provides a tuition waiver up to nine hours of graduate coursework.

In our Department, you are able to choose from a variety of graduate courses that can be catered to your academic and professional interests. You may choose from course offerings in the fields of American government and politics, comparative politics and international relations and public administration/public policy.

Besides the courses listed below, you may also take independent study courses, in which you may conduct an intensive research course in an issue area with a faculty mentor. You also have internship opportunities in local, state and national government as well as opportunities in legal internships.

American Government and Politics
PLS 4774 American Constitutional Law
PLS 4853 Contemporary Constitutional Development
PLS 5073 Seminar in Political Behavior
PLS 5153 Cities, Politics and Urban Policy
PLS 5163 Subnational Government
PLS 5173 Seminar in Congressional Politics
PLS 5273 Presidential Politics
PLS 5843 Topical Seminar in Public Policy

Comparative Politics/International Relations
PLS 4823 International Policy Issues
PLS 4933 Ideologies of the Third World Nations
PLS 5023 Proseminar in International Politics
PLS 5033 Comparative Institutional Analysis
PLS 5043 International Political Economy
PLS 5133 Government and Politics of Asia
PLS 5433 Proseminar in Comparative Politics
PLS 5533 Seminar in Political Modernization

Public Administration/Public Policy
PLS 4793 Public Organization Theory
PLS 4873 Human Resource Management
PLS 4893 Government Budgeting and Politics
PLS 5153 Cities, Politics and Urban Policy
PLS 5163 Subnational Government
PLS 5543 Proseminar on Public Administration and Policy
PLS 5843 Topical Seminar in Public Policy

If you choose our thesis option, you must complete 31 credit hours, including your Master's thesis and the oral defense. If you choose our comprehensive exam option, you must complete 33 credit hours, including passing your written and oral exams. More detailed information about each option and other requirements of our Graduate Program are available in our Graduate Student Handbook.

Charleston Illinois, with numerous historic sites and beautiful parks, is an ideal setting from graduate studies. Charleston is a quiet college town of approximately 20,000 people, three hours drive south of Chicago, and two hours drive north of St. Louis Missouri. It is a very affordable, safe place to live, where you will be able to devote your energies to your academic success.

If you have any questions about our graduate program, please contact Professor Ryan Hendrickson by email: rchendrickson@eiu.edu or call (217) 581-2523. You may also call toll free at (888) PLS-GRAD (757-4723). We encourage you to visit campus and meet our faculty. Please contact us with any questions!

On-line application
International Programs
Graduate Assistantship Application