Institutes and Organizations

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement is dedicated to advancing dialogue about the issues that define our public life. The Institute will provide opportunities for students to participate in its goals of facilitating collaborative, high-quality, nonpartisan multi-disciplinary research and in fostering active and informed citizen engagement in public decision-making and policy-making.

Principal Center for Global Citizenship sponsors campus events and student programming related to international affairs.

The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs provides support for a cluster of related initiatives that together offer students a rich array of learning experiences related to global problems.

The Washington Semester program provides internships in the nation’s capital to a few students each semester. Students interested in careers in public service receive excellent experience in the program.


Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal is a web publication featuring student essays and research papers dealing with topics in the social sciences.


Pi Sigma Alpha is a national Political Science honorary society.