Internships & Careers

Whether you are interested in an internship or beginning your career journey, there are similar tools and supports you may use to search, prepare, and apply for a meaningful experience. An internship or practicum is an opportunity to explore possible career paths and to build professional contacts. It is possible to receive internship credit, but it is not necessary or required. You can meet with an advisor to discuss this process.

The Political Science major does not lock students into one career pathway. Students are well-suited for a variety of jobs at a broad range of organizations. For information about where our recent graduates were hired, please look at our Outcomes Data.

A major in political science is valuable preparation for a wide variety of career fields and academic pursuits, both domestically and internationally.

These include law, business, and corporate positions in environmental protection, consumer affairs, and public affairs; journalism; federal and state government positions in environmental protection, criminal justice, public health, welfare, and transportation; state and local management and administration in planning, zoning, housing, human resources, environmental policy, education policy, law enforcement, and budgeting and finance; positions with nonprofit research and advocacy organizations in human rights, international development, and other concerns; management of domestic or international grass-roots development or refugee assistance organizations; and educational administration.

Our students consistently demonstrate the following versatile skills:

effective communication skills (written and oral)
experience with both independent research and working with a team
strong critical thinking skills
ability to explain complicated policy/ideas in a simplified manner
tailoring communication to a variety of audiences

How to Search

Search Tools and Platforms

Handshake is UMass Amherst’s online platform to explore opportunities and apply to internships and jobs. Your Handshake profile lets you present a full picture of your background and experience to employers. It is never too early to explore Handshake.

Log in and set up profile.
Search for opportunities in Handshake.
Regularly check: Political Science - Featured Jobs + Internships
Questions? Make an appointment with a peer intern or career advisor in the SBS Pathways Center.

Mass.Gov Jobs is the official online platform to find opportunities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

OPAJobs is a comprehensive source of jobs in public affairs, government affairs, policy, public relations and communications in the Washington, DC Area! (Login using: UMassSBS and SBScareers@)

PoliCorner provides job applicants with one of the most comprehensive jobs databases in public service. Applicants can apply directly to jobs, manage and track their applications, message employers, and receive free career advice through the PoliCareer Corner.

UN Talent is a central source of information for careers within the United Nations.

USAJobs is the United States government's free web-based job board for civil service job opportunities with federal agencies.

U.S. House of Representatives Employment Openings provides information for employment in the U.S. Congress.

U.S. Senate Employment Bulletin is published on behalf of U.S. Senate employers wishing to advertise their staff vacancies.

Research and Networking
Some organizations and agencies may have internships posted on their websites. Feel free to research online and apply directly. You may also approach an organization of interest and see if you can arrange an internship with them independently; it does not need to be an established program. It can also be useful to talk family members, neighbors, and friends. They may know of an opportunity in an organization.

Connect UMass is a platform that connects current students with alumni for conversations about careers, mentoring, and professional development. Connect UMass makes it easy for students to log on, set up a profile, and network with alumni who are happy to help you out!

Make Yourself a Strong Applicant

Consider Academic Credit for Internships

Some students choose to receive credit for their internship; however, it is not necessary or required. A maximum of three (3) credits of PoliSci 298 Practicum can be applied to the major. To be eligible for a credited internship, students must have completed 45 credits and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. If you do not meet these standards, you may appeal to the SBS Academic Dean.

You will want to begin planning at least one semester in advance.

Find a Faculty Sponsor - If you want to receive PoliSci 298 Practicum credit, reach out to a Political Science faculty member and ask them to be a sponsor. Adjunct professors and grad students cannot act as faculty sponsors.
Academic Project – To receive credit, you will complete an academic project. You might be asked to complete journal reflections or a few short papers that aim to help you connect your academic life to the internship experience. Students work with their faculty sponsors to determine the scope of the academic project.
Number of Credits – For a credited internship, you will be enrolled in POLISCI 298 Practicum (pass/fail). The number of credits is determined by the number of hours worked at the internship site. (see chart below).
Credit Limit – Students may earn a maximum of 18 internship/practicum or research credits in their entire academic career. If you are planning to pursue a semester-long internship in the future, please check in with an advisor to plan early. (SBS in DC and the Student Legal Services Office internships, for example, require enrollment in 12 internship credits. This means only 6 internship/practicum or research credits may be completed prior.)
Credit Overload - If your internship causes you to enroll in more than 19 credits for the semester, you will need to request an overload with the Petition for Overload Credit. Please keep in mind that you are not required to enroll in the maximum number of credits your internship offers you. For example, if your internship is eligible for 5 credits, you may choose to enroll in 0-5 credits. Please talk to an advisor if you would like help determining what to do.
Cost – For Fall and Spring semesters, internship credits are part of regular tuition (no extra cost for full-time undergraduate students). For Summer and Winter, internship credits are registered through University Plus and are paid by the student, per credit, the same way summer courses are billed and paid for.
Advising - To discuss this process further, please schedule an "internship" appointment with Adrian Grace via Navigate.

Set Up the Internship in SPIRE - Submit an Experiential Learning Request in SPIRE. Please watch this video or follow these written instructions to learn how to submit the Experiential Learning Request.

If you were admitted to UMass in Fall 2023 or later, POLISCI 298 (credited internship) will cover one 200-level course requirement in the major. Any additional credits, beyond three, will be applied to the 120-credit requirement for the University.

Internship credits: 40 hrs. = 1 credit. This is based on a 13- week semester.

CREDITS	HOURS/WEEK	HOURS/SEMESTER
3	9	120
6	17.5	240
9	25.5	360
12	34.5	480
14	40	560

Signature Internship Opportunities

SBS Shadows Winter Break Program
Spend a day at the office with an alum over winter break! Learn about the work they do, their company or organization, and how they got from UMass to where they are now. This is a great opportunity to get exposure to the real world of work, to learn from alums who have been where you are, and to get insight into the different options and pathways that lie ahead for you.

SBS in DC
SBS in DC is a full-semester program, offered fall and spring semesters, that connects SBS majors with UMass alumni working in Washington DC. Students need to apply and be accepted into the program. Participants live together as a cohort in DC and are matched with host internship sites. Students will earn 12-15 credits for the semester and may enroll in a 300-level social science class, engage in professional development, and have networking opportunities with professionals in their fields of interest.

A total of three internship credits (POLISCI 298) will be applied to the Political Science major.

The following 300-level classes have been approved towards the major and may go towards the PoliSci 300+ requirement OR Global Knowledge & Skills Option 1:

US Foreign Policy
International Organizations and International Humanitarian Law
Security and Peace in IR 
Introduction to National Security Policy and the Intelligence Community
Intro to Cybersecurity Policy

The following 300-level classes have been approved towards the major and may only go towards the PoliSci 300+ requirement:

First Amendment
Political Psychology (will not count if already taken UMass PoliSci 329)

The Washington Center (TWC)
The Washington Center (TWC) provides opportunities for students to gain experience, skills, and networking connections, while living and interning in the nation’s capital, all while earning academic credit. Their Academic Internship program includes 3 components: a supervised internship, career readiness programming and an academic course. The program runs semester-long or during the summer.

You may receive POLISCI 298 and/or UMASS 298 internship credit. For more information: Contact UMass Career Services (Barlett Hall, 3rd floor, 413-545-2224) to help you set up this program.

SBS in Boston
The SBS in Boston program offer students the opportunity to spend a semester engaged in internships in Greater Boston alongside academic coursework. Students can apply for one the LEAD programs, or as an independent student interning in the Boston area. Internships have included the Massachusetts State Appeals Court, the Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Office of the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, WGBH, State Street Corporation, The Castle Group, as well as in positions with UMass SBS alums.

Law and Policy Justice (LPJ) LEAD Program at the Charles River Campus
For students who are interested in law, government and social justice-related careers, and want to gain practical experience to become more job-ready and/or better prepared for law school. This program will run in the spring and will take place on the Charles River Campus in Newton, thus providing more access to for-credit internship positions in the Greater Boston area. Students in the program will enroll in the course "Social Justice in Practice: Law, Politics, and Policy" and gain essential knowledge and skills for future legal practitioners, policy makers, public service leaders, and community actors in an increasingly diversifying and globalizing society. Open to all majors. For more information, complete the interest form.

Student Legal Services Office Internship
The Student Legal Services Office (SLSO) is a student-funded law office providing legal assistance to fee-paying UMass Amherst students and student groups. For the legal assistant internship, undergraduate are selected from applicants each fall and spring semester. Interns work up to 34.5 hours per week and receive 12 academic credits for their work. Each legal assistant works under the direct supervision of a professional staff member and the SLSO attorneys and has a range of responsibilities.

Scholarships for Internships