Political science majors learn much about politics in the classroom.  However, learning in an applied, "real-world" setting is an important component of education as well.  To that end, the department requires all of its majors to complete an off-campus internship in a position involving government, politics, public policy, and/or law.  The internship is typically completed by students in their senior or junior year.

Students are encouraged to arrange an internship that is conducive to their academic interests and long-term career plans.  They arrange their work schedule and responsibilities with their supervisor, upon approval by the department’s internship coordinator.  Students enroll in PSC 305 Internship Program to receive credit for their work.  This course is different than most as it provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a workplace setting.  Rather than focusing entirely upon classroom lectures and assignments, the internship course seeks to give students the chance to do hands-on learning in a working environment.

The internship ultimately has three primary objectives.  First, the internship provides students who are often exploring various career options with an on-the-job taste of what many careers entail, and to learn from the experiences.  Secondly, the internship allows students to acquire resume-quality experience that will enable them to better position themselves for post-graduation employment and to make personal networking contacts that can lead to future professional opportunities.  Finally, the internship permits students to to make a meaningful contribution to local, state, and/or national organizations who may benefit from the student's labor.  

Most students find the internship to be an extremely beneficial experience.  Many consider it the highlight of the undergraduate career and a significant number are offered a paid position at the completion of their internship.  Students are thus encouraged to take the internship very seriously and to position themselves to take advantage of any opportunities they may encounter.

In addition to the work-hours obligation, the internship course has additional requirements.  Be sure and consult with the internship coordinator before beginning your work. 

For more information, contact the current political science internship coordinator:

Prof. Shannon Jenkins
Email: sjenkins@umassd.edu
Telephone: 508 999-8036