Fellowships, internships, and other opportunities
The major in Political Science is an excellent preparation for careers in law, politics, government, journalism, business, education, and the social services. Graduates of Loyola's program have gone on to attend prestigious professional schools; have won Fulbright, Boren, and Truman scholarships; and have made careers in civil and criminal law, the foreign service, urban planning, banking, marketing, public education, medicine, the military, and many other professions.
About one-half of Loyola's Political Science graduates choose to go on to law school. The major in Political Science is an excellent preparation the study of law. The Department offers a number of courses on constitutional law, the legal profession, and the courts. The internship program includes many placements in Chicago law firms and the court system. Although law school admissions are highly competitive, Loyola's outstanding Political Science graduates have earned admission to the nation's most prestigious law programs.
For further information about career opportunities available to students with a degree in Political Science, we suggest that you consult career resources from the American Political Science Association.
There are dozens of opportunities beyond the classroom for you to explore. To explore some recurring options, use the menu on the right or refer to the list below. Note as well that the Sakai site for political science students includes a section called "Opportunities" where faculty will post opportunities for internships and research sent to them on occasional bases--we do not vet all this opportunities, but offer a space for you to access that information.
Honors
- Students majoring in Political Science may aim to graduate with Honors in the major. Among other things, graduating with Honors in the major requires completion of an additional course PLSC 395. Learn more here.
- Students of Political Science who have completed at least four courses in the department (including a 300-level course) and who have a GPA in those Political Science classes of at least 3.3 may qualify for the Pi Sigma Alpha honors society. Learn more about other requirements here.
Fellowships internal to Loyola
For general information from the Center for Engaged Learning, click here.
- The Rudis Fellowship on the comparative study of constitutions. Applications are due March 1st.
- The Ricci Scholars Programs, a study abroad program. Applications are due November 1st of your sophomore year.
- The Provost Fellowship, which is Loyola's largest and most flexible fellowship. Applications are due March 1st.
- The Social Justice Research Fellowship, which aims to support applied research, highlighting research that does justice, such as research on justice-related issues, research with community-based organizations, and/or research in response to pressing social issues. Applications are due March 1st.
Other opportunities
To prepare for a career after college, the department strongly encourages majors and minors to do an internship. The department has dozens of internship placements available, and these positions have often been a springboard to paid work after graduation.
- Chicago internships
- The Washington DC program and internship, directed by Susan Dimock.
- Study abroad opportunities, such as the Colombia and Ireland programs led by Prof. Melin.
- Consider participating in one of the student conferences sponsored by the department.
You may also consider some of the following opportunities, especially if you are interested in international organizations or a career in law:
Post-graduation opportunities
You may consider staying at Loyola for one more year to graduate with both BA and MA degrees. For more information about our Accelerated Masters Pathway, click here.
Consider applying to some of the United States' most prestigious scholarships such as the Fulbright, the Truman Scholarship, the Boren Awards, or the Marshall or Rhodes Fellowships. Loyola's Fellowship Office has plenty of resources and advice about those scholarships and plenty of others. Check out more information here.
The major in Political Science is an excellent preparation for careers in law, politics, government, journalism, business, education, and the social services. Graduates of Loyola's program have gone on to attend prestigious professional schools; have won Fulbright, Boren, and Truman scholarships; and have made careers in civil and criminal law, the foreign service, urban planning, banking, marketing, public education, medicine, the military, and many other professions.
About one-half of Loyola's Political Science graduates choose to go on to law school. The major in Political Science is an excellent preparation the study of law. The Department offers a number of courses on constitutional law, the legal profession, and the courts. The internship program includes many placements in Chicago law firms and the court system. Although law school admissions are highly competitive, Loyola's outstanding Political Science graduates have earned admission to the nation's most prestigious law programs.
For further information about career opportunities available to students with a degree in Political Science, we suggest that you consult career resources from the American Political Science Association.
There are dozens of opportunities beyond the classroom for you to explore. To explore some recurring options, use the menu on the right or refer to the list below. Note as well that the Sakai site for political science students includes a section called "Opportunities" where faculty will post opportunities for internships and research sent to them on occasional bases--we do not vet all this opportunities, but offer a space for you to access that information.
Honors
- Students majoring in Political Science may aim to graduate with Honors in the major. Among other things, graduating with Honors in the major requires completion of an additional course PLSC 395. Learn more here.
- Students of Political Science who have completed at least four courses in the department (including a 300-level course) and who have a GPA in those Political Science classes of at least 3.3 may qualify for the Pi Sigma Alpha honors society. Learn more about other requirements here.
Fellowships internal to Loyola
For general information from the Center for Engaged Learning, click here.
- The Rudis Fellowship on the comparative study of constitutions. Applications are due March 1st.
- The Ricci Scholars Programs, a study abroad program. Applications are due November 1st of your sophomore year.
- The Provost Fellowship, which is Loyola's largest and most flexible fellowship. Applications are due March 1st.
- The Social Justice Research Fellowship, which aims to support applied research, highlighting research that does justice, such as research on justice-related issues, research with community-based organizations, and/or research in response to pressing social issues. Applications are due March 1st.
Other opportunities
To prepare for a career after college, the department strongly encourages majors and minors to do an internship. The department has dozens of internship placements available, and these positions have often been a springboard to paid work after graduation.
- Chicago internships
- The Washington DC program and internship, directed by Susan Dimock.
- Study abroad opportunities, such as the Colombia and Ireland programs led by Prof. Melin.
- Consider participating in one of the student conferences sponsored by the department.
You may also consider some of the following opportunities, especially if you are interested in international organizations or a career in law:
Post-graduation opportunities
You may consider staying at Loyola for one more year to graduate with both BA and MA degrees. For more information about our Accelerated Masters Pathway, click here.
Consider applying to some of the United States' most prestigious scholarships such as the Fulbright, the Truman Scholarship, the Boren Awards, or the Marshall or Rhodes Fellowships. Loyola's Fellowship Office has plenty of resources and advice about those scholarships and plenty of others. Check out more information here.