It is not unusual for a local politician to show up at one of professor Robin Johnson’s seminars.
We have organized campus and community discussions on foreign policy, impeachment and elections. We also co-host our campus’ Great Decisions foreign affairs series, which is more than 40 years old.
Founded in 1920, Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college and university students in the United States. It honors academic excellence among all students of political science – majors, minors, or those who take the requisite number of courses. It is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has hundreds of chapters around the country.
Monmouth College’s Alpha Alpha Iota chapter was founded in May of 2002 and is currently advised by Andre Audette, a 2010 inductee to Pi Sigma Alpha.
Why Join?
Students who join Pi Sigma Alpha receive lifetime membership in the honor society. Membership entitles you to wear official honor cords/medallions at graduation, to be recognized at Monmouth College’s Scholars Day, to list your honor on your resume, and eligibility for other opportunities through the national organization, such as scholarships for graduate work, best paper awards, and other leadership activities.
Who Is Eligible?
All students, regardless of major, who have:
Completed at least four political science courses, including at least one upper-division course
Maintained a 3.0 or higher GPA in all political science courses
Completed at least half of the credits required by Monmouth College for their degree
Students who meet these requirements may join at any time by contacting Andre Audette. A call for membership is sent out during the spring semester, when eligibility is verified by the Monmouth College registrar.
During the spring semester, an induction ceremony is held for all new inductees.
Off-campus opportunities
Internships
Our students have interned at the White House; in the US Senate and House of Representatives; in the Illinois General Assembly; in law offices; and in law enforcement.
Semester in Washington, D.C. Emma Hildebrand '20 interned at the White House during summer 2019. She is finishing law school at the University of Notre Dame.
This program is hosted at American University in Washington, D.C. The Washington Semester Program brings students into contact with source materials and government institutions in the nation’s capital. In addition to regular study and a research project, students participate in the “Washington Semester Seminar,” a course consisting of a series of informal meetings with members of Congress and government officials. If you are interested, contact the department chair,professor Andre Audette or the Office of Global Engagement.
Monmouth global programs: study abroad!
Our political science students regularly study abroad. Recent locations have included France, Mexico and Spain. For more information about Monmouth’s Global Programs, contact a faculty member or visit our Office of Global Engagement.
Your professors are active researchers. Sometimes getting involved in a project is as simple as asking them. In recent years, students have worked with professor Robin Johnson to explore political campaign strategies and with professors Andre Audette and Mike Nelson on the link between social behaviors and political parties.
Work on your own projects
Looking for help with your own political science research projects? Here are some places to look:
Policorner.org is a free political internship and jobs platform connecting Monmouth College students with 2,000+ political, legal, and public service internships and career opportunities. Policorner.org allows Monmouth students to create free user accounts, access 2,000+ job listings, filter listings by political affiliation and other relevant metrics, directly message employers, and receive invitations to apply to employer jobs.
To create your free Policorner account and to learn more, visit Policorner.org
