Politics - Career Planning

Students in the Politics Department learn and develop important skills through a multitude of classroom and engaged learning experiences. You learn to make decisions and take a position based on evidence, analyze different arguments, and communicate effectively in speaking and writing. We integrate real-world examples and experience through all our courses, helping you develop familiarity with global and domestic issues, and our study abroad and internship experiences will help you collaborate across different worldviews, cultures, and countries. Our strong advising and connection to engaged learning allows you continuous opportunity for professional development and discernment, helping you to proactively manage your career, civic, and personal goals.

Past Internships done by Majors

• 20th Judicial District Court: Juvenile (Conway , AR)
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Washington, DC)
• Andrea Woods for Circuit Judge (Conway , AR)
• Arkansas Attorney General's Office (Little Rock, AR)
• Arkansas State Capital (Little Rock, AR)
• Brad Hendricks Law Firm (Little Rock, AR)
• City of Hope Outreach (Conway, AR)
• Clarke Tucker for Congress (Little Rock, AR)
• Colibri Center for Human Rights (Tucson, AZ)
• Compassion Works For All (Little Rock, AR)
• Congressman Womack's D.C. Office (Washington, DC)
• DC Bar Foundation (Washington DC, )
• Democratic Party of Arkansas (Little Rock, AR)
• Faulkner County Juvenile Court (Conway, AR)
• Goddard Gunster (Washington, DC)
• Goddard Gunster (Washington, DC)
• Swab and Stall (Tulsa, OK)
• The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities (Washington, DC)
• The Borgen Project (Seattle, WA)
• The Clinton Foundation (Little Rock, AR)
• U.S. Embassy Kathumandu (Kathmandu, Nepal)
• Whitmer and Worrall (Washington, DC)
• Women's Foundation of Arkansas (Little Rock, AR)
• Woodrow Wilson Intl. Center for Scholars (Washington, DC)

All members of the Politics Department are happy to talk with students about graduate school and career opportunities available to students who major in Politics.

You may also find the “What can I do with this Major” database helpful. Click the image above to access the site. Then view relevant majors, such as:

• Global Studies
• Law
• Political Science and Government
• Public Administration
• Public Relations

At the time of graduation, our majors indicate the following immediate plans:

• About 25% plan to start a full-time job and another 10-15% plan to start a part-time job
• About 30-40% plan to enroll in graduate or professional school
• Around 20% plan to do pursue service or military opportunities

Graduate and Professional School Options

Politics majors pursue graduate study in a variety of fields:

PhD Programs

• Political Science, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Political Science PhD, Pennsylvania State University
• Joint PhD and JD, University of Texas-Austin

Law Programs

• Juris Doctor, Vanderbilt Law School
• Juris Doctor, University of Arkansas-Little Rock Bowen School of Law
• Juris Doctor and MA in Security Studies, Georgetown University
• Juris Doctor, University of Cincinnati College of Law
• Juris Doctor, Georgetown Law
• Juris Doctor, Washington University
• Juris Doctor, University of Kentucky

Public Affairs Professional Degrees

• Community Planning, Auburn University
• Master of Public Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Master of Public Administration, University of Arkansas-Little Rock
• Master of Public Affairs, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas
• Master of Urban Planning, Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development, University of Southern California
• Master of Public Administration, American University
• Masters of Public Administration, Middlebury Institute of International Relations
• Masters of Public Administration, The George Washington University
• Master of Public Policy, Indiana University

International Affairs Professional Degrees

• International Peace and Conflict Resolution, American University
• International Security, University of Denver
• Juris Doctor and MA in Security Studies, Georgetown University
• Master of Global Policy Studies, University of Texas
• Master of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University
• Masters of Global Policy, The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin

Other

• Educational Studies, The Johns Hopkins University
• MBA, HHL Leipzig
• MS in information security policy and management , Carnegie Mellon University

Occupations of Recent Graduates

Early career examples (students graduated since 2010)

• Policy Analyst, Mayor's Office of New York City
• Policy Analyst, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
• Data Analyst, Federal Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas
• Researcher/Writer, Apptegy
• Researcher, PBS Frontline
• J-1 Program Administrator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Attorney-Advisor, US Dept. Of Commerce
• R&D Systems Research and Analysis — Global Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation, Sandia National Laboratories
• Transportation Planner, HNTB Los Angeles, CA
• Senior Digital Strategist, Veracity Media
• Assistant Director, Professional Education, Environmental Law Institute (DC)
• Communications Manager, Chemonics International (on assignment in Kabul, Afghanistan)
• HR Specialist, Department of Navy
• Strategic Planner, ASDA'A Burson, Cohn & Wolfe (Amman, Jordan)

Mid- and advanced career graduates (graduated before 2010)

• Class of ’98: Senior Attorney, Arkansas Attorney General’s office
• Class of ’07: Producer with Frontline
• Class of ’07: Chief of Staff for Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)
• Class of ’07: Attorney at USAble Life
• Class of ‘06: Attorney, Brooklyn Defender Services