The Department of Political Science encourages all students to consider enrolling for an internship during their tenure at UCCS.  Internships give students a "hands on" experience in the public sector, increasing their appreciation for the complexity of politics, policy making, and the legal system.  The department places students in three types of internships: prelaw internships (PSC 948), legislative internships with U.S. or Colorado legislators (PSC 398), and public agency internships in governmental or non-  profit agencies (PSC 398).  Students who serve as interns may earn up to six hours of credit by enrolling for PSC 398 or PSC 498.  Interested students should contact Professor Jim Null about prelaw, state legislature and other internships.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is not a professional degree.  In the Humanities and Social Sciences, the professional degree is typically the Masters of Arts (M.A.) or the Doctor of Philosophy  (Ph.D.). The Department strongly encourages students to consider post-graduate work; all members of the Department are available to advise students on possible post-graduate study.  Although the B.A. is not a terminal professional degree, Political Science majors are well-positioned for jobs in numerous fields.  It is reiterated that internships are often valuable when competing for jobs.

Political Science majors find positions in local and state government.  Most of these jobs require a B.A. degree, many jobs have civil service status, and are located in agencies of state, city, or county government (law enforcement, the court system, or public administration).  Many Political Science majors also find  employment in the federal government.  The career options in federal service are wide-ranging; from the U.S. Foreign Service, governmental agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, or the Central Intelligence Agency, to staff positions in the United States Congress or the White House.

Political Science majors also find jobs outside government.  Political Science prepares students for careers in private interest groups and associations ranging from the Sierra Club to the National Rifle Association, international organizations such as the United Nations or the Red Cross, and international business via multi-national corporations and non-profit associations.

Political Science also provides a solid foundation for careers in teaching, journalism, and communications.  Of course, Political Science remains a popular major for students bound to law school; combining specific courses in jurisprudence with those focused on contemporary governments/regimes.  Students interested in law, but not law school, often undertake short, post-graduate courses enabling them to become "paralegals" or "legal assistants."

In all of the aforementioned fields and many more, Political Science offers excellent training and preparation.  The proper mixture of internship opportunities and courses ranging from American Politics and Public Administration to International Relations and Comparative Politics, provide a solid foundation for challenging and rewarding careers!  CONTACT: Professor Jim Null, jnull@uccs.edu