Academic Resources

Explore Political Science academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.

Curriculum Guide

Political Science Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

Career Resources

Unlock career potential in Political Science! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

Political Science Career and Internship Site

Career Communities

Sample Political Science Internship Sites

Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.

Washington Center Internships

Advocacy

• Common Cause
• Vocal Media
• TurnUp Activism
• She Holds the Key
• Michigan League of Conservation Voters
   

Political Science Internships

Read About Other Political Science Internships

General Information on Internships

Sample Political Science Internship Sites (cont.)

Government & Policy

• Michigan House of Representatives
• Kent County Elections Office
• Michigan Senate
• Ottawa County Clerk’s Office
• United States Senate

Law

• Kent County Legal Assistance Center
• Muskegon Public Defender’s Office
• Kent County Probate Court
• CBH Attorneys and Counselors
• Brink Law Firm
• Stenger & Stenger PC

Non-Profit

• Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
• Bethany Christian Services
• Disability Advocates for Kent County
• New City Neighbors
• A2LA

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

• Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society
• GVSU Law Society
• GVSU Student Senate
• College Democrats
• College Republicans
• Students for a Democratic Society
• Students for Justice in Palestine
• Students of Citizens' Climate Lobby

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.

• GIS Certificate
• Sustainable City and Regional Planning Certificate
• Sustainable Food Systems Certificate
• TalentLink Technical Skills Certificates
• Cook Leadership Academy, Hauenstein Center
• Statistics (PLS BS option)
• Language (PLS BA option)
• Constitutional Law
• Health Policy
• Public Administration
• Writing

Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.

Civic Engagement Center

Political Science Study Abroad Options

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

Learn about the fields of International Relations and Political Science abroad by embarking on your own real life experience abroad. Studying abroad provides you with unique opportunities to build intercultural communication and problem-solving skills essential to success in these fields. Step out into the world and earn academic credit by studying abroad. 

Political Science Study Abroad
Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Scholar Engagement

Political science students engage in research in all upper-level elective courses, and some also engage in research projects outside of class with faculty members. Talk to a current Political Science professor about research opportunities!

The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.

Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE)

Where Alumni Have Landed

Non-Profit

• Diversity Specialist, Human Resources, Meijer Gardens
• CEO, Community Action House, Holland, Michigan
• Database Coordinator, Grand Rapids Community College
• Community Economic Development Volunteer, Peace Corps
• Teacher, Teach For America
• Legal Assistant, Legal Aid of Western Michigan
• International Admissions Counselor, University of Detroit Mercy
• Transitional Foster Care/Refugee Resettlement Assistant – Bethany Christian Services

Advocacy

• Lobbyist, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, Washington, DC
• Campaign Managers, various local, state, and federal campaigns
• Advocacy Manager, HealthHIV
• Associate, Democratic Partners
• Outreach Vice Chair, Michigan Republican Party

Government and Policy

• Financial Specialist, Budget Office, State of Michigan
• District Director, Office of Rep. Bill Huizenga
• Communications Manager, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
• Senior Associate Staff Secretary, The White House
• Senior Legal Counsel, US House of Representatives member
• Chief of Staff, Rep. John Moolenaar
• City Planner, Norton Shores, Michigan
• Elections Director, Kent County, Michigan
• City Manager, Spring Lake, Michigan
• Chief Climate and Energy Strategist, State of Michigan
• Director of Development Services, City of Muskegon, Michigan

Law

• Attorney, Bruman Group
• Senior Legal Counsel, Equinix
• Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase
• Partner, Nichols Kaster
• Assistant District Attorney, Bronx County
• Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Office of the Attorney General

Business

• Marketing Operations Manager, Leverage Marketing
• Product Consultant, Allstate Insurance
• Digital Experience Strategist, Steelcase
• Vice President of Government Affairs, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
• Director of Economic Development, DTE Energy
• Strategy Manager, Accenture

GVSU Political Science alumni have pursued graduate education in a variety of fields, including:

• Master’s in Public Administration
• Master’s in Public Policy
• Law School / Juris Doctorate
• Master’s in Business Administration
• Master’s in International Affairs
• Ph.D. in Political Science

Talk with your faculty mentor about graduate school options! Pre-law students should meet with our faculty pre-law advisor.