Making Connections and Developing Interests

Having been a part of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice for three years now, I’ve come to realize the wide variety of opportunities for students with various backgrounds and an assortment of interests. My life as a political science major began first with an interest in a political science minor. My first academic interest and true love belonged to mathematics. So, why political science? Well, law school had crossed my mind a few times because I was interested in pursuing a graduate degree of some type and I enjoy a healthy knowledgeable debate; political science seemed like a good fit.

So, I started taking a few political science courses and this public policy internship flyer comes across my desk. This Future Leaders Internship Program allowed students the opportunity to work for a Kentucky state legislator for one session of the General Assembly. Long story short, I was accepted to participate and the internship defined my interest and new found love for public policy. Words can hardly describe this life changing experience.

After a few months of service as a legislative intern, I was left wanting more. I sought out advice from the program creator and coordinator (NKU Vice President Joe Wind and Katie Herschede). I was directed to other opportunities like the Congressional Leadership Program (though Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis’s office) and the Kentucky Center for Mathematics (a statewide center funded by the General Assembly that provides professional development to mathematics teachers across the state).

As these experiences (and others) continued I worked to make connections between my interest in mathematics and public policy.  My dreams of law school faded, I declared political science as my second major, and my interest in educational research and policy developed. My courses in mathematics and statistics, the lessons and major projects from my political science courses, and my experiences with elected officials and a state wide center that works with educators finally started coming together. I made connections between my interests, academics, and experiences in ways I didn’t think imaginable. 

My biggest piece of advice for students considering or studying political science is to make connections between your courses and around your experiences. Ask questions and consider the relationships between academics and work. Make the most of your coursework and don’t limit your opportunities because you think it won’t “fit” with your intended goals or interests. The department has opportunities for students who have interests in everything from international studies, law, political theory, American politics, to organizational leadership, and so on. The connections you make between the courses, students, professors, and experiences you have will broaden your horizons, maybe even in ways you didn’t think possible.

by Jennifer Taylor

Double majoring, life lessons and studying abroad

Question posed: What do you hope to learn from your experiences in college? Had I been asked this question years ago, my answer probably would have been something to the effect of, “I hope to learn as much information about my desired field so that I can have a prosperous career.” Fast-forward to present day, and I can say that I have acquired this knowledge. Double-majoring in Political Science and International Studies with an area of concentration in Pre-Law has afforded me ability to take a diverse body of classes taught by highly motivated and passionate professors. I have taken a variety of courses, ranging from a course concerning the lives of women across various cultures, to a course about Constitutional law in the United States. I greatly enjoy this flexibility!

            My acquisition of knowledge, however, does not stop here. In addition to learning from textbooks, my studies in the political science department have taught me a lot about myself- important life lessons that are applicable in multiple facets, extending far beyond the classroom. These life lessons, in addition to the lessons taught by professors in the classroom, have prepped me for success in any of my future endeavors

Lesson 1: Life Happens. Perfection is not always possible-life happens to everyone. Rather than just letting life happen in silence, I learned that it is monumentally more beneficial to be up front with professors. My experiences with the faculty have been nothing but positive! Faculty members are not as distant as one may initially assume.

Lesson 2: There are always people that have a vested interest in seeing you succeed.  This is especially true about the political science department, in my experience. Through the faculty, I have been exposed to a variety of opportunities, ranging from conferences and study abroad opportunities, to internships. Currently, I am legislative intern in Frankfort, thanks to my advisor suggesting me.   

Lesson 3: Mistakes are a part of the learning process. As an intern in Frankfort, I have been given a plethora of duties that I have never had to perform, using a new system. Have I done everything correctly? No. But I have learned along the way how to better my skill. This has also been made possible thanks to the help of Mr. Joe Wind, Vice President of Government and Community Relations at NKU.

Lesson 4: Move outside of your comfort zone. During the Fall 2011 semester, I made the decision to study abroad in Romania, taking courses in the Faculty of Political Science and the Faculty of European Studies. Back home, the study abroad office in conjunction with the political science department, worked diligently so that I would receive credit for courses taken over there (special thanks to Dr. Weir for writing my letter of recommendation!).  It comes as no surprise how much you learn from living in a country that you know little about and cannot speak the language.  Despite these initial setbacks, I have gained an immense body of knowledge about the Romanian system of government. While there, I took their “Constitutional Law” course, as well as a course of “Philosophy and Foundations of European Thought”. This has given me a truly comparative outlook!

This is Jena waiting for a train in 

Romania

To sum things up, studying in this department has allowed me to gain an amazing connection with the faculty, which has extended far beyond the classroom. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world!

Research, Conferences and Graduate School

Alicia at the Celebration of Student Research 2011

             I entered Northern Kentucky University as a declared Spanish major. I was satisfied with my decision, yet I found myself searching for something else to complement this degree.  I had taken a Political Science course in high school, but my interest in this area of study was reawakened after taking an International Politics course with Dr. Weir my freshman year.  Eventually, I decided to declare a second major in Political Science to gain the experience and abilities I thought would be most beneficial to my future career goals.
        The most rewarding part about being a Political Science major has been the ability to study the topics I am most interested in, while being introduced to new, fascinating ideas and issues.  The diverse course selection has been fantastic in allowing me to study a variety of subjects.  I have been able to focus my studies on Latin American politics, while obtaining knowledge in a variety of fields.
        In my experience, I have found that it is easy to find something that you truly enjoy in most of the courses offered by the department. When taking International Law, for example, I became very interested in the global implications of the Internet.  In researching this topic for a final paper, I found myself geeking out about international cybercrime syndicates and the intricate relations between countries due to social and economic uses of the Internet.  Having classes that are enjoyable, as well as educational, has been a great advantage in helping me accomplish my goals as an undergrad.
        One of the most beneficial aspects of the program has been the opportunity to develop my research skills. By taking two independent study courses with Dr. Reilly to conduct research, I have gained applicable skills and knowledge in research techniques.  The courses were directly related to my personal interests, which made the experience all the more rewarding.  Independent study courses in the Political Science department have allowed me to create a unique undergraduate education that is already proving to be beneficial.
        Last October, I was able to present my research paper from my independent study course at the Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists’ annual conference.  This experience outside of the classroom showed me how my major has truly helped improve my academic skills.  The opportunity to travel and present my own work to professors from different universities was exciting!  I also happened to win first prize for undergraduate Political Science work, which made the experience much more gratifying.
        As I am preparing to graduate in May, I am already seeing the benefits of the education I have received as a Political Science major at NKU.  I have been greatly aided in my accomplishments by the outstanding instruction and encouragement by my professors.  I am ecstatic to say that, as a result, I have recently been accepted by the Political Science Master’s Program at my top-choice university

Why I transferred to NKU!

 I have lived in Campbell County all my life, so at the end of my senior year of high school, I decided to make a change and go to a university away from home. I couldn’t wait for the changes; new school, new city, new everything. I was excited to leave the small “community” where I grew up and become one of many in college. Unfortunately, this did not work out as well as expected. Although I enjoyed my first year of college, I never felt like I really fit in! I couldn’t adjust to the classes in huge auditoriums and didn’t know anyone. I learned a lot, but I wanted to change…. Again! Around this time one year ago, I made the difficult decision to transfer to NKU and move back home. I was very uncertain, and didn’t know if this school would be the right fit for me either.

                I knew when I had my first advising appointment that I had made the right decision in transferring to Northern as a Political Science major. Professor Braden my advisor sat down and spent an entire HOUR, (her lunch hour) helping me. She assisted me by going over all of my class choices, internship possibilities and answered the hundreds of questions I had about transferring. The personal attention I received made me feel safe in my decision to change schools.

                Right now, I am a second-year Junior. With the help of my academic advisor, Dr. Reilly, I will be able to graduate a year early and continue with my education through a Master’s Program in Public Administration with a concentration in non-profit work. I will start my non-profit work during the summer as an intern at Holly Hill Children’s Services. I will be working as a development intern focusing on preparation for their two major fundraising events of the year as well as learning about the grant-writing process. I am already beginning on the path to my future career.

Ever since I made my decision to transfer to Northern, I have not regretted it once. I am in classes with many of the same people throughout the day. The best part is that these classes are fairly small. This allows for professors to learn students by name. This also has given me a better learning experience through participation in active discussions. I get to do what I love to do every single day; talk (who am I kidding, I argue!) about politics!

                 All in all, the best thing about my decision to transfer to NKU was the personal assistance that I received from my Political Science department professors. They all will work hard to ensure that you are receiving the best education possible whether it is in your classes or internships. I am very grateful to the Political Science Department for not only helping me transfer schools smoothly, but also assisting me with realizing my future career goals.