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Politics and leadership are natural allies. As you study and experience politics during your undergraduate years, you will have opportunities to change the world around you and develop leadership skills. Whether in the Department of Political Science, across the university, or off-campus, your involvement can start you down a rewarding path of leadership. It’s up to you, however, to take advantage of the opportunities.

Within your political science experience, there are a number of opportunities to make a difference and develop leadership skills. For example, you can take advantage of class assignments to assume a lead role on a group project or activity. Co-op and internship assignments also provide many opportunities to develop leadership skills.  Also, involvement in any of the over 300 student organizations on campus that cover a broad range of activities, from academic to advocacy to recreation, is an opportunity to meet like-minded students and develop leadership skills. The following are several of special interest to political science undergraduates.

  • The Political Science and International Affairs Student Association offers many opportunities to become involved in the academic and extracurricular affairs of the department. Members of the association represent student interests in the department, and they play a key role in sponsoring different events. This organization is open to all political science majors. Contact pisaneu@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved.
  • The Northeastern University International Relations Council is a very active group that supports the Model UN, Model NATO, and Model Arab League as both an extracurricular activity and as courses. It also facilitates student participation each year in several other model events in Boston, Washington, D.C., and other cities. If interested in more information go to the International Relations Council website or email northeastern.irc@gmail.com.
  • Pi Sigma Alpha is an honor society for the political science discipline that students with high GPAs may join. To qualify, they must have completed at least one-half the credits required for the baccalaureate degree; at least 10 semester credits or 15 quarter-credits in political science including at least one upper-division course, maintain a B average in those political science courses, and have an overall GPA placing them in the top one-third of their class. Eligible students will receive a direct invitation to join PSA from the Administrative Assistant, Des C. Porte. Contact d.porte@northeastern.edu with questions.
  • The NU Political Review (www.nupoliticalreview.com) is a student-run magazine started by political science students that, in just a few years, has become a highly regarded publication for editorials, essays, opinions, reviews, and articles on both domestic and international politics. To get involved, contact nupoliticalreview@gmail.com.
  • Students who would like to get involved in party politics are encouraged to join the Northeastern University College Democrats, (contact at neucollegedems@gmail.com); the Northeastern University College Republicans (contact neucollegerepublicans@gmail.com); or Young Americans for Liberty (contact nuyaliberty@gmail.com).
  • Generation Citizen (www.generationcitizen.org) is an advocacy-training organization that trains college students to mentor advocacy groups, especially in high schools. To get involved, email northeastern@generationcitizen.org.

Across the university, there are additional organizations and programs that provide opportunities for involvement and the development of leadership skills.

  • Northeastern’s Student Government Association  https://www.northeasternsga.com/  (twitter @NortheasternSGA; contactsga@neu.edu)
    SGA is a very active organization that supports many student programs and services while also representing students before the university’s administration. The Student Senate is the major governing body. To become a senator, you need a petition signed by fifty students from your college. SGA offices are located in the Curry Student Center.