Our department showcases a number of extracurricular organizations and honor societies, where students apply lessons learned in the classroom, and in turn develop interpersonal and team-building skills. Strengthen your resume through establishing connections, networking with professionals in the field, and exercising teamwork towards common goals.

Student Organizations

Model United Nations

Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students represent UN member states and debate current issues on the organization's agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student "delegates" make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure - all in the interest of mobilizing international cooperation to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.

Each year, our Model UN team takes part in the annual American Model United Nations (AMUN) conference in Chicago, IL.

All majors and class years are welcome to join the Model UN Team!

 

Live Ideas Journal

The Live Ideas Undergraduate Journal is a publication of K-State's Primary Texts Certificate program, which is embedded within the Department of Political Science. This connection reflects the department’s long-standing commitment to exploring how intellectual history shapes political and social life.

While any undergraduate student at Kansas State University may submit writing, photography and art to Live Ideas, opportunities to serve as a peer reviewer or editor of the journal are reserved for students enrolled in the Primary Texts Certificate Program. Both the Primary Texts Certificate Program and Live Ideas Journal support student scholarship through writing institutes and scholarships, helping students refine their writing and analytical skills while participating in the broader life of ideas at Kansas State University and its Political Science Department.

The Primary Texts Certificate’s core course, POLSC 420: Primary Texts Seminar, traces how changes in intellectual history affect social and political ideas and actions. The Live Ideas Journal extends this mission by providing a platform for students across all majors at K-State to publish works of original ideas or add to the conversations of existing ideas in creative, unbounded, and meaningful ways.

 

Honor Societies

Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha is the National Political Science Honor Society based in Washington, D.C. The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha is to recognize and promote high academic achievement in the field of Political Science. Each year, Kansas State University's chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha will induct eligible students (with a 3.7 or higher GPA in their core courses) into the national organization.

Students interested in joining should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. John Fliter.

Pi Alpha Alpha

Pi Alpha Alpha is the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. The purpose of Pi Alpha Alpha is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration. Its objectives, such as fostering integrity, professionalism, and effective performance, promote the advancement of quality in the education and practice of the art and science of public affairs and administration. PAA membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs preparing them for public service careers.

Students interested in joining should contact the Director of Public Adminstration, Dr. Ethan Bernick.

 

K-ASPA (Kansas American Society for Public Administration)

The Department of Political Science has an active K-ASPA student organization. Participation is an excellent way of meeting other graduate students and keeping up-to-date with departmental news and events. K-ASPA is expected to foster professionalism among students. The American Society for Public Administration is the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration. It is dedicated to advising the art, science, teaching and practice of public and non-profit administration. ASPA's four core values are Accountability and Performance, Professionalism, Ethics and Social Equity.

For more information, please contact the Director of Public Administration, Dr. Ethan Bernick.