Political Science Student Resources

Political Science

Students who major in Politics, American Politics, and International Relations prepare themselves for a variety of career fields in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. There are four essential steps in placing yourself in the best position to compete for jobs in these fields that best suit your interests, values, and strengths. The links below take you to resources related to each of these steps.

Career Exploration

Explore the range of career paths that most naturally follow from your chosen major. Consider what types of academic knowledge and skills – e.g., writing and speaking, foreign language competence, quantitative fluency, etc. – might be expected of graduates entering these fields. Determine whether graduate training is likely to be necessary and, if so, what sort of training. Note that most Drake alumni not only change jobs at many points, but also shift career fields during their work lives.

Experiential Preparation 

Career-related learning takes place not only in the classroom, but also in real-world settings that require critical decision-making. Opportunities to learn-by-doing can take many forms: internships, paid employment, student government, simulations (e.g., Mock Trial), volunteering, participating in student organizations, etc. Drake and the surrounding community offer many opportunities for experiential learning related to your career goals.

Institutes and Organizations

Internships

Drake Study Abroad

Drake Mock Trial

Job Search Tools/Skills

The job search process offers opportunities to familiarize potential employers with the value that you can bring to their organization. To accomplish this, applicants must learn how to best organize and present information about their knowledge, skills, and potential. They must also understand how to find job openings and identify which opportunities present good fits. 

Resume Writing

Cover Letter

Handshake