Internships, Jobs & Careers

Internships

Why an internship?

Learn through practical experience
Invaluable as a means of professional networking and career advancement
Make connections between regular classroom work and possible profession
Earn college credit
Intern in DC via our affiliation with The Washington Center

Placements

national, state, and local executive and legislative offices
government agencies
political campaigns
party and interest group organizations,
think tanks
judicial agencies
law firms
international business
international non-government organizations (NGOs).

For Employers

If you are interested in sponsoring an internship, please email us at plsdept@gvsu.edu with the following:

Position Description
Estimated hours
Length of Position
How to apply
Contact information

Set Up Your Internship

Internship Syllabus
PLS & IR Internship Syllabus

Experience Matters
See examples of GVSU Political Science internships from each student's perspective at the Experience Matters site.

Contacts

Political Science: Dr. Donald Zinman
Phone: (616) 331-8714; Email: zinmand@gvsu.edu

International Relations: Dr. Polly Diven
Phone: (616) 331-3282; Email: divenp@gvsu.edu

Internship Postings

State Rep. Jim Lilly (R-MI 89th) internship announcement

April 17, 2018

State Rep. Jim Lilly (R-MI 89th) internship announcement

U.S. Senator Gary Peters State Office Intern

March 21, 2018

U.S. Senator Gary Peters State Office Intern Opportunity

Paid Political Campaign Fellowship with Students for a New American Politics PAC Summer 2018

February 26, 2018

Paid Political Campaign Fellowship with Students for a New American Politics PAC Summer 2018

View More Internship Postings

Jobs, Careers, Grad School & Law School

Jobs & Careers

The department faculty work closely with Career Services and students on internships and career advising. Students are highly encouraged to pursue an internship. Capstone professors help senior students to prepare for careers and graduate school. For more information, consult our career guide and visit with your faculty advisor.

Career options

Advocacy
Business
Campaigns & elections
Communication
Criminal justice
Education
Government
International affairs
Law
Non-profit
Public administration and policy

Graduate & Law School

Political science is a suitable major for many graduate programs:

Business
Communication
Criminal justice
Education
International relations
Law (Pre-law information)
Political science
Public administration
Public Policy
Earn a dual degree in political science and law through LEAP. Earn a BA or BS from GVSU political science and a JD from Michigan State University College of Law

For more information:
Pre-law
See the graduate school section of our career guide.

Spotlights

Erin (Meteer) Hendges

Campaign Fundraiser Founds Consulting Firm

Mollie Smith

Student Founds Breast Cancer Awareness Organization.

Mike Kolehouse

Political Organizer Founds Consulting Firm

Reginald Oates

Program Evaluator for Government-funded Programs

Marc Plooster

Budget / Audit Analyst, Ottawa County

View More Spotlights

News

FREE POLITICAL SCIENCE TUTORING!

January 20, 2020

Tutors can help with content questions, study strategies, and exam review. Please visit www.gvsu.edu/tc to sign up & request a tutor. WHERE: Tutoring Center 11015 Residence Drive 201 Kliener Commons Or TBD by tutor at an on-campus location

Professors Richards and Zhao Publish Study of the Chinese Legal System

December 20, 2019

Professors Mark Richards and Yi Zhao teamed up for a research project on how the legal concept of the public figure, central to libel cases in the U.S., has now spread to the Chinese legal system.

DEAN ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT MARSHALS FOR FALL 2019

November 26, 2019

Dean Fred Antczak is pleased to announce that serving as commencement marshals will be Professor Polly Diven of Political Science and Jeff Kelly Lowenstein of the School of Communication.