As a student in the Department of Political Science, you檒l have a number of opportunities to engage with fellow students on campus and within the wider community. Through student clubs, organizations and community and campus engagement initiatives, you檒l have numerous chances to diversify your thinking and create positive change in your community and the larger world. 

You檒l also have opportunities to engage the world far beyond campus, both as a student and as a graduate of the department.

Student Clubs & Organizations

College Democrats participate in both on- and off-campus activities that allow students to learn more about key democratic issues and brainstorm with other like-minded individuals on how to solve those issues. College Democrats hold monthly meetings where they host guest speakers and watch-parties during election season.
College Republicans is a student organization that advocates for Republican/conservative ideas. The goal is to inform and educate students on campus regarding current political issues. This club assists students in the world of politics, networking opportunities and bringing people together for open discussion.
The Migration Club facilitates student engagement with critical issues of social justice related to human flows at the local, national and international levels. As a member of the Migration Club, you will interact with and lead in issues through scholarship, teaching and community engagement. The Migration Club is open to students at the undergraduate and graduate level, with the goal of fostering empathy amongst a collective group of peers, creating bonds between communities and providing a space for safe dialogue regarding migration experiences.
The Model UN Council gets together to debate current events within our council and with councils at other universities.


Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college and university students of political science in the United States. Each semester, students who have fulfilled the national society's grade requirements are invited to join.
The Political Science Club allows for students who are concerned about their community and the world around them to come and discuss issues in an open forum. The club fosters intellectual debate and stimulates curiosity for all those interested in politics. The best way to supplement your coursework is to provide an atmosphere in which you and your peers can debate about esoteric topics and further your thirst for knowledge.

Internships

Internships give you hands-on experience that will help you determine a path to take after graduation.

Through internships in political campaigns, government agencies, public service organizations, businesses and law offices, political science students can earn up to 6 credits during the school year or over the summer. Recent internship sites for 91吃瓜网 political science students have included:

  • U.S. Department of State
  • Pittsburgh Department of City Planning
  • City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation and Performance
  • Office of Congressman Mike Doyle
  • Office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey
  • PA House of Representatives Fellowship
  • World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

Political Science & Law: A Great Combination

Political science offers some of the best preparation possible for law school and legal careers, and the majority of law school applicants are political science majors.

Political science majors who concentrate in law & politics not only get the opportunity to take law introduction courses during their undergraduate career but can also take up to 6 credits of internships at law offices.

Common courses for the concentration include:
  • POSC 214: Politics, Religion & Fundamental Rights
  • POSC 301: Introduction to Legal Education, the Life of Lawyers & the Legal Profession
  • POSC 326W: Constitutional Law & Politics: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
  • POSC 327W: Constitutional Law & Politics: The Powers of Government 
  • POSC 385: International Law & Organization
Students who are not already majoring in political science can pick up a minor in law & politics. A minor is 15 credits of courses that fall under the law & politics concentration. Common courses for the minor include:
  • POSC 203: The American Congress
  • POSC 290: American Political Thought
  • POSC 308: Post Conflict Justice & Reconciliation
  • POSC 326W: Constitutional Law & Politics: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
  • POCS 424: Women & Politics
Undergraduate students are given the opportunity to pick up a pre-law certificate through the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at 91吃瓜网 regardless of their major. The 15-credit certificate will prepare you for law school, graduate public policy and foreign affairs programs, political careers and public service opportunities.
The 3+3 program is a unique opportunity for you to gain early access to law school without a bachelor's degree. Students in the 3+3 program complete all undergraduate requirements in three years, allowing them to apply for law school in their fourth year. In the long run, this means that students in the 3+3 program can complete their B.A./B.S. and their J.D. law degree in six years.

Graduate & Career Opportunities

91吃瓜网檚 Department of Political Science offers excellent preparation for graduate programs in law, international affairs, public policy and business. Majors may take advantage of the 3-3 Early Admissions program to 91吃瓜网 Law School, and the department has an Early Admissions Program with the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public & International Affairs.

National fellowships are also available for students who have completed their undergraduate studies.

Study Abroad

Interested in international politics? Political science students with a passion for international or comparative politics are strongly encouraged to take advantage of 91吃瓜网's many study-abroad opportunities. These opportunities prepare you for a career in our increasingly interconnected world and give you experience in making connections across the globe. 

Contact for more info

Political Science Department