Student Opportunities
Experiential learning is at the core of our political science major, and our students gain meaningful experiences related to politics inside and outside the classroom. There are several opportunities to travel abroad with faculty, often as part of a course, including to Ireland, Ghana, Prague, and more. Students are encouraged to study abroad for one semester or one year, attend conferences and seminars, participate in internships, engage in volunteer work or political advocacy, and more. Political science students also benefit from programming through the Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs and the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture (IRPC), which includes lectures by world-renowned experts, field trips, internships, and short-term study abroad options.
Find the Perfect Opportunity
Internships
- Participate in an internship with the Maryland General Assembly internship program. Intern with a state delegate or on a committee two days a week and receive course credit.
- Complete an internship through the Washington Center Internship Program in Washington, D.C., working with a federal government, political, or non-profit agency.
- Apply for paid internships through the Starr Center for the American Experience’s Explore America Summer Internship Program.
- Arrange your own internship experience through your own connections, or by tapping into the Center for Career Development’s extensive network.
- Apply for funding for internship opportunities, including transportation, food, and housing support.
Research
- Collaborate with faculty on research.
- Discover different types of political science research, from survey work to interviewing, archival research, content analysis and more. Learn how best to research for what you’re interested in pursuing for a career.
- Complete a Senior Capstone Experience (SCE), an independent research project. That project can take one of two forms: a traditional thesis on an applied or theoretical topic, or a self-designed project that presents your findings in a more creative way (ex: design and implement an advocacy campaign or create a documentary).
- Receive department funding for experiential learning and travel opportunities for research.
- Participate in the Model United Nations program. Travel, make connections with students at other colleges, and engage in hands-on learning and debate while broadening your knowledge of international issues. Each year our Model UN team participates in two conferences, regionally in the fall and internationally in the spring.
- Attend conferences and seminars, such as the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) or Friends Committee on National Legislation Spring Lobby Weekend in Washington, D.C.
- Create your own research project. Support, financial or otherwise, is available across campus, including through the Hodson Collaborative Research Program or the Cater Society for Junior Fellows.
To get started thinking about what research you might be able to do at Washington College, review our faculty’s areas of expertise.
Get Involved
Build your résumé and expand your social circle simultaneously by joining clubs, honor societies, and more that help you connect with folks with similar interests.
- The Hodson Collaborative Research Program
- The Libby & Douglass Cater Society for Junior Fellows
- Phi Beta Kappa honor society
- Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society
- Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor aociety
- Clubs: Student Government Association, College Democrats, College Republicans, PoliTalks, the International Studies Council, Model U.N., Latin Student Union, Black Student Union, EROS
Emily Ulizio '25
Middletown, Delaware
MAJORS AND MINORS
- International Studies and Political Science Double Major
- International Economics Minor
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
- Internships at Human Rights Campaign, Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Chamber of Commerce and more
- Leadership Exchange - Comparative Study of Peace, Conflict & Religion
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
- Study Abroad at American Business School in Paris
- Field Hockey, Campus Garden
- “I’ve gotten to know [the professors] over the past couple of years, and they’ve been very supportive in any of my endeavors that I choose to do. I’m just really thankful for them.”
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Bryce Widdoss '26
Quakertown, Pennsylvania MAJORS
- Computer Science
- Political Science
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
- Vice President, Student Government Association
- Tutor, Quantitative Skills Center
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
- One-Week Study Abroad in Ghana
- “I like to program outside of my courses. I like to make games. When I finish a computer science class, I am able to go home and make something new. That’s really valuable to me. The classes are super small, which I like. That's a plus for me. That's why I came here: to talk to my professors. I've had very positive experiences. I go into every single office hour that I can. I try to really maximize the amount of education I can get.”
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