Kristen Childs
2017 Graduate Uses her IR and GIS Skills after Graduation
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
For Employers
If you are interested in sponsoring an internship, please email us at [email protected] with the following:
- Position Description
- Estimated hours
- Length of Position
- How to apply
- Contact information
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).
Internship Syllabus
For more information
PLS & IR Internship Syllabus
PLS & IR Internship FAQ
Experience Matters
See examples of GVSU International Relations internships from each student's perspective at the Experience Matters site.
Contacts
Political Science: Dr. Laura Schneider
Phone: (616) 331-8988; Email: [email protected]
International Relations: Dr. Heather Tafel
Phone: (616) 331-8511; Email: tafelh@gvsu.edu
Jobs, Careers, Grad School & Law School
Jobs & Careers
The International Relations 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.
- Foreign Service and other government agencies including
- International Organization Program Officer
- Legal profession as Lawyer or Judge
- Lobbyist or Political Analyst
- Public Policy Researcher
- International Sales and Marketing
- Non-Profit or Public Administrator
- Journalist
- International Education Specialist
Graduate & Law School
International relations is a suitable major for many graduate programs:
- Business
- Communication
- Criminal justice
- Education
- International affairs
- International relations
- Law (Pre-law information)
- Political science
- Public administration
- Public Policy
For more information:
Pre-law
See the graduate school section of our career guide.
Spotlights
Autumn Modena
2015 Graduate Founder of RefuTea
Joey Courtade
GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Alumni of the Year
Aisha Espey
Associate Director for both the Global Trade Alert and Digital Policy Alert in Switzerland.
Meghan (Thatcher) Neuhaus
LMI Project Manager for Consumers Energy.
News
Robach attends the National Conference of the World Affairs Council as a Student Scholar
Olivia Robach (PLS and IR double major) earned a scholarship to join student scholars from around the US to attend the annual conference of the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC in November 2025.
Dec 3, 2025
Ozinga Starting Law School at Case Western
IR alum Kyla Ozinga is starting law school at Case Western
Sep 16, 2025
IR and PLS Alumni Starting Law School
PLS, IR and Human Rights alum Taylor Bessinger is attending the University of Illinois College of Law
Sep 12, 2025
Diven Honored with Award
Professor Polly Diven received the 2025 Hillman-Orr Award from the World Affairs Council of West Michigan.
Jun 23, 2025
Events
Elect Her (INT 100 approved)
March 19, 2026 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Running Start, the non-profit organization that runs the Elect Her program, brings campaign training and real-world experiences from currently-elected officials to college campuses across the U.S....
Religious Studies and Human Rights Pizza Night
March 25, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Are you looking for a dynamic minor that will complement your major, help you obtain communication and analytical skills, and make you more marketable to employers? Then come to our pizza night hosted...
Democracy 101: "Strongmen and How to Get Rid of Them" (INT 100/201 approved)
March 30, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for a broad, quick survey of various “strongmen” that came to power more-or-less democratically throughout the past century, then subverted democracy and became autocrats. There...
Drop-In Days of Service
April 3, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Drop-in Days of Service are on-campus opportunities for students to "drop in" and complete service projects for service hours. Click here for additional information
Join or Die Film Screening
April 3, 2026 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Join or Die is a documentary based on the research of political scientist Robert Putnam, exploring the critical role community participation plays in strengthening democracy and improving collective...