Sociology

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Political Science 

Edward W. and Virginia Mill Award
The Edward W. and Virginia Mill Scholarship was established in 1981 in memory of Dr. Edward Mill, who was Chairman of our Department from 1955 to 1959, and his wife Virginia. In addition to his professorship here, Dr. Mill taught at Long Island University and Occidental College and occupied a number of positions in the United States Foreign Service and the State Department.

The recipient, a junior or senior majoring in Political Science, or a Social Sciences Divisional major whose primary concentration is Political Science, must have completed 20 credit hours in Political Science (or, in the case of transfer students, at least 16 hours at Rockford University), and have an outstanding academic record, both in the major and overall.

Political Awareness Award
The Political Awareness Award was established in 2004 by Helena Milman, an alumna of the Political Science Department who graduated in 1997. Lena came to the United States from Russia, at the age of 15, as an exchange student at Keith Country Day School. Her grasp of English was a bit shaky, but she was fiercely determined to make the best of her new opportunities. While at Rockford University, she attended the Washington Semester Program and was active in Model United Nations and the International Students Association. Following graduation, she worked at a law firm in Chicago. The award that she set up recognizes students who, like its sponsor, have demonstrated extraordinary regard for political thought and political action, and who are free thinkers.

The recipient must be a senior whose GPA is at least 2.4, whose last two years and most of whose upper-level coursework has been taken at Rockford University (including approved off-campus programs, such as Regent’s College or the Washington Semester).

Career Opportunities

Political Science
An undergraduate major in political science provides a good foundation for careers in politics, public administration, international service, law, business, journalism, and education as well as graduate work in the discipline. Political science has long been the traditional major of choice for students who plan to attend law school. While law schools do not require any particular undergraduate major, the study of politics, including courses that make use of legal materials and legal reasoning and that illumine the political context of court decisions, is arguably the most logical and appropriate area for those intending a career in law. Pre-law students should consult with faculty in the program on which particular courses in political science and in other programs would most suitably prepare them on matters having to do with applying to and success in law school. Students interested in political science for the purpose of becoming secondary school teachers should work with the Education Department to ensure that all requirements are met for licensure in Illinois.

Sociology and Criminal Justice
Sociology and Criminal Justice are popular majors or minors for students planning careers in such professions as law, law enforcement, social work, public health, urban planning, community relations, and public administration. Students also will find that numerous courses in criminal justice, management, marketing, business organization, labor relations, communication, journalism, recreation, and nursing draw upon the principles, research techniques and findings of sociology.

Employers frequently look for potential employees with specific skills that are acquired in sociology and criminal justice courses dealing with survey and research methods, statistics, criminal justice, marketing, and population research. With a number of these courses to their credit, students may well find themselves at a competitive advantage with other liberal arts graduates. The breadth of learning from a liberal arts education gives opportunities to develop interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills essential for success in today’s competitive job market. According to the Wall Street Journal, big employers are wooing social science and liberal arts graduates with growing fervor after years of favoring job applicants with technical degrees. Employers find that graduates of schools like Rockford University can look at a variety of problems and apply creative analysis to solving them.

A variety of career opportunities exist for our graduates in both the public and private sector. Our graduates have found employment in a variety of law enforcement/criminal and juvenile justice agencies at all levels and social service agencies. For students who go on to graduate school, professional positions in law, social work, higher education, research, and public policy and administration are available. In addition, undergraduate study in sociology or criminal justice is good preparation for careers in local, national, and international sales and marketing as well as law.

Internship Opportunities

Political Science
The political science program supports students seeking opportunities for off-campus experiences in regular semester or summer internships. In recent years, students have had internships in law offices, on political campaigns, and with the national government.

Sociology and Criminal Justice
The criminal justice and sociology degrees are designed to provide students with a wide range of opportunities including academic internships at local agencies or organizations within the Rockford community and beyond.

Students seeking a sociology degree may choose to complete one, 3-credit academic internship, although it is not part of their degree requirements. Department faculty and advisors assist students with locating appropriate internship placement opportunities. Internships provide students the opportunity to get a “real world” experience in their field of career interest.

Where are they now?

A number of our recent graduates in political science have gone on to law school and careers in law. Others have pursued careers in politics, business, lobbying, public administration, and criminal justice. Other graduates have gone on to do graduate work in political science and related disciplines in pursuit of careers in education and other fields. One alum is currently a foreign service officer in the U.S. Department of State.

Some of our recent graduates in sociology and criminal justice have gone on to do graduate work in sociology, social work, and law. Others have obtained positions in social service agencies, from child welfare to community mental health. Still others occupy positions of responsibility and leadership in criminal justice agencies. A number of probation officers and police officers in Rockford and neighboring communities are alumni of our program. In addition, another alumnus is a federal prosecutor, and many others have gone on to law school. One is even a U.S. marshal.

Helena Milman ’97, after working for two law firms in Chicago, completed her degree at John Marshall Law School.

George Black ’99 is a real estate broker and consultant in the Chicago area.

Tara Der-Yeghiayan ’00 received an M.A. in English language and literature from Western Illinois University, and teaches literature, rhetoric, and American culture at Seattle University.

Kimberly Kosteff ’00 earned a master’s degree at the Monterey Institute of Inter-national Studies and works for a Defense Department contractor.

Aaron Oppenheimer ’00 following his graduation, became Village Manager of Decatur, Mich.

John Gibbons ’01 earned a law degree at Northern Illinois University and is Assistant States Attorney for Winnebago County, Ill.

Jeri Anne Hose Ryan ’02 received a master’s degree from Illinois State University and works for a conservative public interest lobbying organization in Chicago.

Joel Collinsworth ’04 is a substitute teacher in Rockford and runs a computer repair company.

Frank Dyke ’04 is senior account representative for a business equipment company in Rockford.

Matthew Phillips ’04 is AVP of Operations and Global Affairs at Rockford University.

Abide Takou ’04 completed a course of graduate study at Georgetown University, worked for a development consulting firm in Washington DC, and is currently employed at the World Bank.

Rose Dusing ’05 is a Winnebago County probation officer.

Jason Leviskas ’05 pursued a master’s degree in public administration at Roosevelt University.

The discipline of political science helps students develop their minds and, one hopes, also their characters to become decent, responsible, and informed citizens. Aristotle said that political science is the architectonic science because it is concerned with the comprehensive good for human beings. The ordinary citizen has decent opinions about justice and the common good. The educated citizen should move from opinion toward understanding and knowledge, while maintaining good will, sincerity, tolerance, generosity, and fairness. A political education in the liberal arts tradition helps students develop the ability to engage in rational and civil discourse about politics, look at difficult political issues from contrary points of view, and make prudent political judgments based on sound reflection.

The program’s course offerings cover the full range of subfields in the discipline of political science: American government and politics, including constitutional law; political theory; comparative politics; and international relations, including American foreign policy.

The program supports students seeking opportunities for off-campus experiences in regular semester or summer internships. In recent years, students have had internships in law offices, on political campaigns, and with the national government.

An undergraduate major in political science provides a good foundation for careers in politics, public administration, international service, law, business, journalism, and education as well as graduate work in the discipline. Political science has long been the traditional major of choice for students who plan to attend law school. While law schools do not require any particular undergraduate major, the study of politics, including courses that make use of legal materials and legal reasoning and that illumine the political context of court decisions, is arguably the most logical and appropriate area for those intending a career in law. Pre-law students should consult with faculty in the program on which particular courses in political science and in other programs would most suitably prepare them on matters having to do with applying to and success in law school. Students interested in majoring in political science for the purpose of becoming secondary school teachers should work with the Education Department to ensure that all requirements are met for licensure in Illinois.

The Political Science program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Political Science (B.A. or B.S.)
– concentrations: American Studies, Constitutional Studies, Legal Studies, Political Ideas, Politics & Culture, War & Peace
Political Science Minor

Sociology (B.A./B.S.)

The discipline of sociology explores the nature, structure, and dynamics of social life. Students who study sociology will gain a better understanding of social issues that are especially affected by relations among groups, paying close attention to the interplay of such factors as class, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, religious belief, and national identity. The field of sociology looks at how society is organized, where power lies, what beliefs influence our behavior, and how societies have evolved over time. The study of sociology teaches students how to think about individuals, groups, institutions, communities, and societies and how to use the scientific method to ask and answer social research questions using data. Sociology helps students develop their skills in written and oral communication, critical and quantitative thinking, and research and design methods.

The program supports students seeking opportunities for off-campus experiences in regular semester or summer internships.

Sociology majors go on to pursue careers in fields as diverse as business, public administration, social and community services, social research, law, and education.

The Sociology program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Sociology (B.A. or B.S.)
Sociology Minor

Criminal Justice (B.A./B.S.)

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field which prepares students for a wide range of careers in such diverse fields as law enforcement (local, state, and federal), probation and parole, pre-trial services, law, homeland security, fish and game conservation, and public advocacy. Students in this program complete coursework in criminal justice, sociology, and political science. The study of criminal justice helps students develop their skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking and decision making, research and analysis, and social awareness and ethical responsibility.

Students who pursue the criminal justice degree have a wide range of academic internship opportunities to earn credits in fulfillment of graduation requirements while working for a semester in an agency or organization in the community.

The Criminal Justice program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Criminal Justice (B.A. or B.S.)
Criminal Justice Minor

Additional Information

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