Law, Government & International Affairs

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice prepares students for professional and research careers in criminal justice, criminology and related fields by applying multidisciplinary and comparative social science to understand, predict and explain crime and contribute to the development of public policy within urban communities. Using an active learning approach, the School seeks to develop its students intellectually and ethically, while providing them with a keen appreciation for the complexities of crime, and public and private efforts to make communities safer and ensure justice.

Criminal justice careers require investigative thinking, strong writing, and the ability to navigate complex institutional environments. Use Big Interview to prepare for agency and government interview processes, use our cover letter guide to craft materials for public sector roles, and explore criminal justice professional associations in our resources library.

You can also utilize the Library’s Criminal Justice guide for criminology research, case law, and policing data, and more tools like Westlaw Campus Research for federal and state cases, statutes, and codes, the Criminal Justice Database within the Social Sciences Premium Collection for citations and abstracts on crime and policing, and National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts for federal and state criminal justice research.

Resources: Big Interview | Cover Letter Guide | Library Guide

For more information on the Criminal Justice concentration, please visit the department website.

Economics is the study of how societies produce and exchange goods and services to satisfy material needs. Economists analyze the process of economic growth and identify policies that contribute to economic stability and progress. Students examine the sources of economic growth–how societies produce more of what they need. The major in economics is a good foundation for graduate studies in advanced economics, public policy, law, or business.

Economics builds analytical and quantitative skills applicable to policy analysis, consulting, financial regulation, and international development. Use GoinGlobal to explore policy and government roles globally, practice for economics and policy interviews with Big Interview, and explore the American Economic Association in our resources library.

You can also utilize the Library’s Public Policy and Urban Affairs guide for applied policy research and analysis, and more tools like EconLit (EBSCOhost) for the American Economic Association’s database, Statista for exportable economic and policy data, and PolicyFile within the Social Sciences Premium Collection for U.S. and international policy think tank research.

Resources: GoinGlobal | Big Interview | Library Guide

For more information, please visit the department website.

History at Northeastern emphasizes the study of national and regional histories as well as of the global exchanges between nations, regions, and cultures. Experience in conducting original research is a hallmark of the undergraduate program. Faculty research and teaching focus on Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Russia and the Soviet Union, the Atlantic World, the Middle East, and on the histories of race; imperialism and colonialism; violence and war; political and social movements; cultural history; women and gender; and public history. With guidance from their faculty mentors, History majors have won numerous research scholarships. In addition to University-sponsored semester abroad programs, History students regularly participate in month-long summer Dialogues of Civilization courses taught by History faculty in world cities, such as Prague, Istanbul, Accra, Beirut, Budapest, or Beijing.

Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree that covers the major fields in the discipline, with specializations in Law and Legal Studies, Security Studies, International Relations, Public Policy and Administration, Comparative Politics, American Political Institutions, and Identity, Culture, and Politics. In each of these areas, we introduce students to core introductory courses, followed by a wide variety of upper level courses to help you explore key topics and issues in greater depth. Required courses in political theory and research methods develop the leadership skills that enable students to apply this knowledge in their co-op experiences and beyond.

International Affairs is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare undergraduate students with the academic knowledge, cross-cultural awareness, and skills needed to thrive and lead in world society, while also promoting global citizenship and social responsibility.

History, political science, and international affairs prepare students for careers in diplomacy, policy, research, and advocacy. Use GoinGlobal to explore international career opportunities and work authorization requirements, build your professional network through LinkedIn, and use our cover letter guide to craft compelling materials for government and nonprofit employers.

You can also utilize the Library’s Political Science guide for political science scholarship and government research, and more tools like Worldwide Political Science Abstracts for citations and indexing of international political science literature, GovInfo for full-text federal publications across all three branches, and JSTOR for historical and political science scholarship.

Resources: GoinGlobal | LinkedIn | Cover Letter Guide | Library Guide

For more information, please visit the History, Political Science, and International Affairs department websites.

Philosophy is a basic field of inquiry. Its range encompasses ideas and issues in every domain of human experience; and its methods apply to problems of an unlimited variety. The major in philosophy can develop not only philosophical skill and sophistication but also critical thinking and writing abilities that are readily applicable to pursuits in other academic areas, useful in careers far removed from philosophy, and valuable in everyday social and personal life. The study of philosophy can profoundly affect both the thinking one does and the kind of person one is. We offer three approaches to the philosophy major, a minor, and specific graduate courses.

The program in Religion offers students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of religious experience within its social, historical, literary, and political context. Students study specific religious traditions such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism and using a comparative approach they explore themes across faith traditions. Through the major, a student will have the opportunity to study a range of religions and a variety of methods of understanding the key dimensions of religious life.

Philosophy and religion develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and communication skills valued across law, policy, healthcare ethics, and the nonprofit sector. Use SparkPath to connect your values and interests to specific career paths, practice articulating your analytical skills with Big Interview, and explore the American Philosophical Association in our resources library.

You can also utilize the Library’s Legal Studies Research guide for legal philosophy and ethics resources, and more tools like JSTOR for philosophy and legal theory scholarship, PhilPapers for a comprehensive index of philosophy literature, and Westlaw Campus Research for case law touching on bioethics, religious freedom, and constitutional interpretation.

Resources: SparkPath | Big Interview | Library Guide

For more information, please visit the department website.

Sociology is the scientific study of society; it begins with the premise that individuals are affected by the social structures, institutions, and cultural milieus surrounding them. Sociology provides students with the conceptual tools to understand how various features of society affect its members as well as how people create and maintain those same features.

The undergraduate sociology program at Northeastern University prepares students to rigorously analyze the social, political, and economic spheres of society at the local and global levels. Given the varied interests and areas of specialization among Northeastern’s sociology faculty, our program affords students the opportunity to acquire a multicultural and comparative perspective on social life. Our undergraduate offerings cover everything from gender and family violence, to law and criminality, human services, race and ethnicity, social movements, and urban social problems.

Although many of our majors go on to law or professional school, sociology also prepares students for occupations in human services and related health careers; business (sales, marketing, management); criminal justice; the non-profit and government sectors; lobbying, consulting, and citizen advocacy; and education.

Sociology and anthropology prepare students for research, policy, advocacy, and community development roles across sectors. Use Forage to explore adjacent career paths in consulting and social impact, connect with the American Anthropological Association through our resources library, and use our cover letter guide to craft materials tailored to policy and nonprofit employers.

You can also utilize the Library’s Public Policy and Urban Affairs guide for applied social science research, and more tools like Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest) for sociology and related disciplines from 1952 to present, PAIS Index within the Social Sciences Premium Collection for public affairs and policy research, and JSTOR for foundational anthropology and sociology scholarship.

Resources: Forage | Cover Letter Guide | Library Guide

For more information, please visit the department website.