Student organizations provide opportunities to deepen learning experiences, through conversation, events, and support. While there are many organizations students may join at the University of Missouri, the Truman School hosts a variety of organizations for students interested in the fields of political science and public policy.

Mizzou Mock Trial

We are an organization that helps undergraduate students gain experience practicing real trial law. Members get the chance to act as attorneys and witnesses in court while trying a case, complete with affidavits, exhibits, witness testimony, jury instructions, and case law.

As an organization, we meet weekly to help members become acquainted with case materials and prepare their roles. We compete at tournaments throughout the school year to prepare for regional and national competitions.

We begin recruiting members for each competitive season at the beginning of each school year. Experience is not necessary, and we typically hold informational sessions in early September. In the meantime, if you have any questions, email us at mumock.exec@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Association website:

Team Website:

Mizzou Model UN

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote understanding of international issues, including those that are of a political, economic, cultural, and environmental nature. Further purposes shall include providing students with information concerning existing international activities on campus and providing students the opportunity to participate in open forums held for the discussion of international-related topics.

Whether you've done it before in high school or just want to try something new, Model UN has something for everybody and every major. We are a welcoming group of students interested in international affairs, specifically, the United Nations, and how nations and international businesses and organizations interact with one another.

In Spring 2018, the team attended the Midwest Model UN Conference in St. Louis from February 21-24 (www.mmun.org) and the ChoMUN Conference in Chicago over spring break (www.chomun.org).

We will be having information sessions at the beginning of the Spring 2017 semester on January 22, 23, and 25 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Switzler 201.

Regular Meetings for Spring Semester 2018 will be on Tuesday nights, 6:30-7:30 in Switzler 201, starting on January 30.

Association Websites:

Team Website:

Mizzou Debate

The Mizzou Debate team is an organization of students who love debate but, more than that, love the pursuit of knowledge. Debate allows students of all academic backgrounds to learn how to organize an argument and present that argument in a logical, convincing way. This is a club team that, for several years, has been competing successfully in the National Parliamentary Debate Association. In parliamentary debate, debaters are given a resolution, told whether they will argue in favor of the resolution or in opposition to it, and given 15 minutes to prepare. All possible topics are ones that well-educated college students should be able to debate intelligently. It is a format that allows both experienced debaters and those new to debate to thrive.

This spring, the Debate team will be hosting a tournament on campus in February and will be participating in several tournaments around the country. Information about those tournaments will be posted on this website.

Websites

For more information about Mizzou Debate, contact:
Mitchell Herrick, Mizzou Debate President, mth4mc@mail.missouri.edu

 

Association of Mizzou Public Affairs Students (AMPAS)

AMPAS provides graduate and undergraduate public affairs students the opportunity to build relationships and camaraderie through social gatherings and builds on formal studies with academic enrichment activities. Because public service is at the heart of what we do, AMPAS also coordinates philanthropic activities among students and faculty. Examples of this work include raising funds for local charities, participating in community-wide volunteer events, and organizing Mizzou Alternative Breaks outings. Sign-up for the AMPAS Newsletter or their social media Twitter/X, Instagram. 

Graduate Association for the Advancement of Truman Students (GOATS)

GOATS is the student organization for graduate students involved in political science and public affairs PhD programs. It hosts monthly meetings with informational sessions, seminars on health and wellness, professional development activities, and social activities.

Contact Jacob Owen (jacobowen@missouri.edu) for more information. 

Association of Mizzou Public Affairs Students (AMPAS)

AMPAS provides graduate and undergraduate public affairs students the opportunity to build relationships and camaraderie through social gatherings and builds on formal studies with academic enrichment activities. Because public service is at the heart of what we do, AMPAS also coordinates philanthropic activities among students and faculty. Examples of this work include raising funds for local charities, participating in community-wide volunteer events, and organizing Mizzou Alternative Breaks outings. Sign-up for the AMPAS Newsletter or their social media Twitter/X, Instagram. 

Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college and university students of political science in the United States. MU's chapter is Gamma Zeta, was founded in 1955. In 2009, a sister organization, Political Science Club, was created at MU to create a political science community.

We meet every other Wednesday at 6:30pm in Middlebush 212. Throughout the semester, we will meet with political science faculty, hear guest lectures, and discuss relevant political topics. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Cassie Marks at cmmgbz@umsystem.edu.

We welcome students from all majors and backgrounds, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Pi Alpha Alpha

Pi Alpha Alpha is the global honor society for public affairs and administration. Its purpose is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration. Eligible graduate public affairs students are invited to join in their graduating semester.