Student Activities......
The Department of Political Science offers a number of activities for students. Students are encouraged to participate in these as a means of furthering their education, enhancing their professional development, and to have fun.
Model U.N.
The Model U.N. team provides an opportunity for students to experience and learn something about the processes of international diplomacy as they take place within a major international intergovernmental organization. Students play the role of delegates to the United Nations, addressing significant international problems. The Model U.N. team travels to at least one regional event each year. For more information, contact Professor Andrew Conteh at conteh@mnstate.edu.
Public Affairs Institute
The Public Affairs Institute, within the Department of Political Science, exists to offer the University's expertise to regional governments and non-profit organizations. PAI services include policy analyses, feasibility studies, and citizen surveys. We are perhaps best known for our pre-election voter surveys and election day exit polls conducted for WDAY-TV. Other clients have included the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments, the Moorhead Public Housing Agency, the Clay County Sheriff's Department, the Fargo Forum, the Moorhead Police Department, and Becker County. The Public Affairs Institute regularly hires students to work on its research projects. This gives students an opportunity to participate in an actual research project from inception through completion. In the process, students learn more about research, gathering and processing information, and the political process. For more information, contact Professor Philip Baumann at baumannp@mnstate.edu or Professor James Danielson at daniels@mnstate.edu.
Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society. The local chapter is a cooperative venture between the political science departments at Moorhead State and North Dakota State University. New members are inducted in the spring of each year at the annual banquet. Membership is open to all students interested in political science who meet the following criteria:
Have completed at least 15 credits of political science
Have completed at least one 300-level political science course
Have a 3.0 GPA in political science
Have a 3.0 GPA overall
For more information, contact Professor Barbara Headrick at headrick@mstate.edu.