Undergraduate Programs – Job Opportunities
Career Planning and Placement
A major in political science is valuable preparation for many careers.
Here is a brief listing:
- secondary and university-level teaching of government and politics
- law school admission, study and practice
- educational administration at all levels
- federal and state government employment with hundreds of varied management and executive opportunities in areas such as housing, welfare, environmental protection, transportation, equal opportunity programs, budget analysis, manpower training, and drug rehabilitation
- governmental research in universities, libraries, and public affairs agencies
- city management and general administration in planning, zoning, housing, personnel, law enforcement, budgeting and finance, health, and transportation; business and corporate positions in environmental protection, statistical analysis, consumer affairs, and public affairs
- journalism
- executive and public affairs positions with nonprofit research and advocacy organizations
- project managers with domestic or international grass-roots development or refugee assistance organizations
All general career planning, employment information, and placement files are handled by UMass Amherst's Mather Career Center in the Admissions Center at 545.2224. The Career Center also handles internships; contact Jeff Silver at 545.6267. There is also a pre-law and pre-graduate-studies office at the Advising Center in Goodell. The Political Science department also holds occasional information sessions on career and graduate planning, and the Counseling Office has some general career information.
Students interested in secondary school teaching should contact the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) in 104 Furcolo Bldg., 545.0619 for information on teacher certification. Such a program is fully compatible with the political science
Internships
Several types of internships with government agencies (national, state, or local; legislative, executive, or judicial), or other activities that allow students to engage in public service functions, are available to Political Science majors. Students can earn up to 15 hours of credit (three credits for a grade) while working in a position, usually with a government agency or nonprofit advocacy or research organization. Ungraded credits may not be used to satisfy any departmental requirement. Normally, a student must have completed 60 credits, including at least one political science course, and have a 2.5 overall GPA and a political science GPA of 2.8, to qualify for an internship.
More information about internships is available from Laura Reed, the department’s Internship Coordinator (330 Thompson), or Jeff Silver, the Field Experience Program Advisor (Career Services, Goodell Building) and W.E.B. DuBois Library Internship Resources. International and foreign internships may also be available through the International Internship Office, Mount Holyoke College at 538.2256.
