Political Science

Placement

There are several opportunities for students and alumni to get assistance in total job search planning free of charge. Some of these include the following:

Career Planning

Assistance with career planning is offered free of charge to students and recent alumni by Career and Student Employment Services. These services include career advising, a career resource center, Vault online career library, on-campus interviewing, employment and internship opportunities posted in BroncoJOBS, employer database, assistance with career search correspondence such as resumes and letters of application, interviewing software "Perfect Interview," career workshops and seminars, annual career fairs, interest inventories such as Focus, and referral to other campus agencies.

Career and Student Employment Services has assigned a career advisor to the College of Arts and Sciences. Her name is Ewa Urban, and she is active in seeking information and resources for all majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her telephone number is 387-2745, and you may also reach her via .

Did you know you could fill out a profile with Career and Student Employment Services to assist you in finding a job? Go to BroncoJOBS. Career and Student Employment Services is located on the first floor of Ellsworth Hall.

Student Employment Referral Service

For job hunting while on campus, the Student Employment Referral Service recruits both on- and off-campus employment opportunities for Western students. It provides information on the Federal and State Work Study Program, off-campus job listings, on-campus job listings, and career related employment and internships. Students may review the jobs listed with the service at BroncoJOBS. The phone number is 387-2725.

Graduate or Law School

Many careers require more than an undergraduate degree. Your undergraduate Political Science degree can lead to admission to law or graduate school. For information on preparing for law school, see our Pre-Law page.

Graduate schools typically offer both Masters and Ph.D. degrees. For most occupations in the political world, a Masters is sufficient. There are specialized Masters degress in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and International Development.

Talk to your advisor early in your student career, even if you're not sure what you want to do yet. If law school or graduate school is a likely option, you should plan ahead. Certain degrees (usually, one of our specialized majors), combinations of major and minor, extra skills, and extracurricular activities can help you build an attractive portfolio.

How can I enhance my career prospects?

The best way you can enhance your career prospects is to do three things. First, think through the options that interest you the most. (Have a talk with your major advisor about this.) Most students have found it best not to be exclusive at this point, but to include any options that are appealing. Second, put together the best overall portfolio you can (see the undergraduate advising page for information on portfolios). Finally, visit the Career and Student Employment Services offices as early in your career as possible.

Where are former WMU Political Science students now?

Employment	Graduate School Acceptances	Law School Matriculation (1996-2004)
Academy for Educational Development (W) Analysis Corporation (W) Defenders of Wildlife (W) International Research and Exchanges Board [IREX] (W) Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (O) Michigan Association of School Boards (L) Michigan Senate (L) Michigan House of Representatives (L) National Center for Youth Law Office of the Inspector General (W) Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] (O) Sterling Corporation (L) Union of Concerned Scientists (W) US Dept of Agriculture - Foreign Service (W & O) US Dept of Commerce (W) US Dept of State - Foreign Service (W & O) US House of Representatives (W) US Senate (W) Wiener & Associates (L)	Aberystwyth University (UK) American University Boston University Columbia University Florida State University George Washington University Georgetown University Indiana University Lancaster University (UK) London School of Economics (UK) University of Essex (UK) University of Exeter (UK) University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Pittsburgh University of Toronto University of Wisconsin, Madison Yale University	American University Boston University Cleveland State University - Marsall College of Law Depaul University George Mason University School of Law Georgetown University Indiana University Loyola University of Chicago Michigan State/DCL New York University Northern Illinois University Roger Williams University School of Law Suffolk University Thomas M. Cooley Law School University of Chicago University of Illinois University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of South Carolina University of Tennessee University of Wisconsin Valparaiso University Wayne State University

(W) = based in Washington, D.C.
(O) = based overseas
(L) = based in Lansing

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