Public Law

Program Requirements

We offer the region's most comprehensive undergraduate public law program, staffed by three nationally recognized scholars (two of whom also hold law degrees) who specialize in the public law field and who have faculty affiliations with NIU's School of Law. We offer a wide range of law-related courses that analyze the structure and dynamics of the American legal system and that employs a diversity of instructional methods (including seminar approaches, the traditional lecture format, the "case method" and online instruction). Beyond the classroom, students have opportunities to participate in Mock Trial competitions and to join NIU's Pre-Law Society.

Course Offerings

We offer a broad range of courses in the field, including:

  • Judicial Politics
  • Constitutional Law I - National Powers
  • Constitutional Law II - Civil Rights
  • Constitutional Law III - Civil Liberties
  • The U.S. Supreme Court
  • Criminal Law
  • Law, Politics and Baseball
  • Mock Trial

If you have any questions about the public law emphasis, please email Dr. Mikel Wyckoff at mwyckoff@niu.edu.

Accelerated Law Degree Program

NIU's Accelerated Law Degree Program offers the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a J.D. degree in only six years, rather than seven. Political science majors in this program declare the politics and governance emphasis, to ensure that they have maximum flexibility to satisfy all major requirements by the end of their junior year. However, accelerated law degree students often choose to enroll in many of the same public law courses (see above) that public law emphasis students take.

Contact Us

Department of Political Science
Zulauf Hall 415
815-753-1011
815-753-6302 (fax)

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday
8 a.m. - noon
1 - 4:30 p.m.

Connect with us on