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Government, Philosophy and Society

Group of students and professors at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse
Students and faculty laugh and smile together at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse

The Government, Philosophy and Society Department at USI prepares students to understand the world around them, think critically about complex issues and become engaged leaders in their communities. Through programs in political science, philosophy and sociology, students explore government, law, diplomacy, public policy, ethics, justice, culture and the social forces that shape people and communities. Small classes and dedicated faculty provide opportunities for meaningful discussion, mentorship, research and individualized academic support.

Beyond the classroom, students gain practical experience through internships, research projects, service-learning, study abroad and student organizations such as Mock Trial, the Pre-Law Club, Philosophy Club and Sociology Club. These experiences help students connect what they learn to real-world challenges while building communication, research, analytical, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Sociology students can complete internships and hands-on research projects, while political science and philosophy students have opportunities to prepare for careers in government, law, business, nonprofits, education and other fields. Graduates are equipped to pursue meaningful careers, graduate study or law school—and to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

Degrees and Programs

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Career Opportunities

Our Government graduates have taken jobs at all levels of government and in politics, law, business, nonprofit sector, education, and media. Philosophy majors pursue a variety of careers, such as law, health professions, local, state, and federal government, business, and science. Sociology alumni have worked as leaders in organizations of local, national, and global significance including the Congress of the United States, the Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Indiana state government and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office. Government, Philosophy and Society graduates have also gone on to highly ranked graduate schools and other professional programs, including medical and law school.

Our MPA certificate program gives you the right combination of skills and theoretical knowledge to open the door to a broad range of careers in public sector institutions and non-profit organizations.

USI political science student and faculty member converse at the Vanderburgh County Courthouse
Scholarships

Meet Our Alumni

Casual portrait of USI political science graduate Brenden Davidson

Brenden Davidson '15 Political Science

Lieutenant Brenden Davidson is the Spring 2026 Alumni-in-Residence speaker for the College of Liberal Arts. He is currently serving in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps, assigned as a defense attorney at Defense Service Office West in Bremerton, Washington. Brenden graduated summa cum laude from USI in 2015 with a BS in Political Science. He obtained his JD from The George Washington University Law School in 2024. Prior to law school, Brenden served two tours in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer.

Casual portrait of USI political science and pre-law graduate Rebekah Hamilton '24 in commencement regalia

Rebekah Hamilton '24 Political Science

Rebekah (Political Science major and pre-law minor) attends IU McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis on a full-tuition scholarship. She was an Associate Justice in the Student Government Association, a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, and interned for the USI IT Department. She was the recipient of Brooks Inns of Court Pre-Law Scholarship and David L. Rice Merit Scholarship.

Candid photo of USI political science and public relations graduate Tommy Kautzman '24 with Congressman Brian Mast

Tommy Kautzman '24 with Congressman Mast

Tommy graduated with a political science major and public relations minor. He completed a Digital Communications Summer Internship for the Office of Congressman Brian Mast in Washington, DC in 2022. He had previously been a legislative intern in Washington, DC working for the Office of Indiana State Senator Mike Braun. Tommy got a job as sales representative at Heritage Petroleum.

Professional portrait of USI political science graduate Shane Dearing '07

Shane Dearing '07 Political Science

Dearing was the speaker for the College of Liberal Arts Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of SAIVA AI based in Palo Alto, California, where he occupies a pivotal role in propelling the company toward unprecedented growth and financial success.

Casual portrait of USI philosophy and pre-law graduate George (Robbie) Belt '24 with his law school acceptance letter

George (Robbie) Belt '24

Robbie attends the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He graduated with a Philosophy major and minors in pre-law & psychology. Robbie was the president of the Philosophy and Vegetarian Clubs at USI, and a member of the Pre-Law club and the Mock Trial Team. He was selected Philosophy Student of the Year for 2023 and 2024, and was on the Dean’s list since the Fall of 2022.

Casual portrait of USI political science graduate Justin Homberg '24 in his military uniform

Justin Homberg '24 Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Military Science

Second Lieutenant Homberg graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Criminal Justice and military science. 2LT Homberg has commissioned into the Indiana Army National Guard. He joined the Evansville Police Department as probationary officer.

Professional portrait of USI political science international student Midori Matsuura '24

Midori Matsuura '24

Midori (Political Science major) is an international student from Japan, where she graduated from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2021. At USI, Midori established the Asian Student Union, for which she served as co-president. She received the USI Trustees Distinguished Merit Award in 2023. Midori attends the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.

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Government, Philosophy and Society

(812) 464-1722