The Government & Politics major combines philosophical and scientific concerns in its overall program as well as in specific courses. It emphasizes broad areas such as political development, policy analysis, social justice, political economy, conflict, and human rights. Using information from the University of Maryland graduation survey, we have compiled details about GVPT majors, such as their post-graduation adventures.
Use this information as a place to start exploring your career interests. Review additional resources below and on the Feller Center's website.
Explore Career Paths
Start Planning
Related Titles & Work Areas
Job Titles:
- Assistant Federal Content Manager
- Assistant Legislative Correspondent
- Campaign Manager
- Chief of Staff
- Communications Director & District
- Economic Research Analyst
- Federal Audit Associate
- Field Director/Organizer
- Finance Assistant
- Government Account Representative
- Government Relations Assistant
- Legislative Aide
- Legislative Correspondent
- Legislative Director
- Management Trainee
- Policy Analyst
- Program Analyst
- Proposal Specialist
- Public Policy and Government
- Relations Analyst
- Public Policy Specialist
- Regional Field Director
- Regional Organizing Director
- Research Assistant/Associate
- Researcher
- Visa Restrictions Program Assistant
Organizations:
- Angela Alsobrooks for County Executive
- Baron Public Affairs, LLC
- Delegate Jazz Lewis
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Reserve System
- Fors Marsh Group
- Howard County, MD Government
- Leadership Connect
- Lift Up Houston PAC
- Maryland Democratic Party
- Maryland General Assembly
- Maryland Republican Party
- Montana Democratic Party
- National Security Agency
- National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service
- States Attorney’s Office
- U.S. Dept. of Energy
- U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
- U.S. Dept. of Justice
- U.S. Dept. of Justice Office of the Inspector General
- U.S. Dept. of State
- U.S. Dept. of the Treasury
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- For political internships, there will be times of the year when Congress is not in session. August is a recess month; November & December of an election year can also be very slow. Fall and spring are generally less competitive than summer, thus giving some students an opportunity to stand out.
- Review FirstHand's Career Guide to Government Jobs and Politics, Public Policy, and Activism Jobs for industry information and entry tips.
Job Titles:
- DC Conservation Advocate
- Development Assistant
- Environmental Justice Coordinator
- Fundraiser
- Global Health Coordinator
- Office Assistant
- Political Assistant
- Program Associate
- Project Leader
- Public Outreach Officer
- Stakeholder Relations Associate
- Student Advocacy Coordinator
Organizations:
- Audubon Naturalist Society
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AASS)
- Alliance to Save Energy
- Critical Relief for Children Inc.
- DC SAFE
- East Side House Settlement
- FHI 360
- Generation Hope
- J Street
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Save the Children US
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- Review FirstHand's Career Guide to Nonprofits for industry information and entry tips.
- Learn more about Careers in Human Rights - legal, law enforcement & social services organizations.
Job Titles:
- Archivist
- Assistant - Middle East and North Africa
- China Power Project Intern
- Data Assessor
- International Affairs Specialist
- International Cooperation Analyst
- Interpreter
- Mishelanu Program Manager
- Program Analyst
- Program Coordinator
- Research Assistant
Organizations:
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- Chemonics International
- Creative Associates International
- Foundation for Law and International Affairs
- ICF International
- International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
- Israeli-American Council
- Middle East Policy Council
- Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Japan
- Open Data Watch
- Pakistan Ministry of Health
- Provincial Government of Sucumbios – Ecuador
- Tahir Institute for Middle East Policy
- Turkish American Steering Committee
- U.S. Agency for International Development
- Westat
- World Bank Group
- World Resource Institute
- Explore organizations working in the field of Humanitarian, International Relations, or International Development
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- Language skills are important in this field; consider minoring in a language
- Networking and internships are crucial in this field
- Quick overview of careers in International Affairs
- Review tips for researching career tracks with the U.S. Department of State
- International Affairs Career Panel event notes
- Diplomacy career paths and tips
- Human Rights career resources
- Tips from alumni for breaking into the field
- International development tips for starting in the field
- Pursuing a career of international service: Options to gain experience for underrepresented students
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Background Investigator
- Case Assistant
- Conflicts Information Specialist
- Government Relations Analyst
- Immigration Paralegal
- Investigative Specialist
- Investigator
- Legal Administrative Assistant
- Legal Assistant
- Legal Secretary
- Paralegal/Paralegal Specialist
- Police Officer
- Program Analyst
Organizations:
- Covington & Burling, LLP
- DePanfilis & Vallerie, LLC
- Edwards Neils, PLLC
- Funk & Bolton, P.A.
- KaiserDillon, PLLC
- Law Office of Luis C. Diaz
- Madison Associates
- Morrison & Foerster, LLP
- New York County District Attorney's Office
- Ocean City Police Dept.
- Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia
- Quinn Emanuel
- Seyfarth Shaw, LLP
- Steptoe & Johnson, LLP
- Trombly & Singer, PLLC
- U.S. Department of Justice
- White Marsh Law Firm
- Wiley Rein, LLP
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- Important qualities/skills generally include: communication, interpersonal, organizational, research, analytical, speaking, problem solving and writing skills.
- Apply for internships. Gaining experience in the field will test your interest and demonstrate interest to law school programs.
- Review FirstHand's Career Guide to Law and Criminal Justice Jobs for industry information and entry tips.
- Law school/internship/jobs tips & resources
Advice from UMD Alumni:
Job Titles:
- City Year Corps Member
- English Teacher (Korea)
- Intramural Research Training Award
- Mikva Fellow
- Peace Fellow
- Peace Corps Volunteer
- Spring Fellow
- Teaching Assistant Program in France
Organizations:
- AmeriCorps
- Council on International Educational Exchange
- First Focus
- National Institutes of Health
- Oceana
- Peace Corps
- TAPIF
- The Advocacy Project
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- Apply early; applications are sometimes open one year before the start date.
- Demonstrate interest in the population or area of the fellowship through your past experiences on your resume.
- Fellowship opportunities
- Gap year programs
- Pursuing a career of international service: Options for Underrepresented Students
- Fellowships in international development and foreign affairs
Job Titles:
- Accounting
- Administrative Assistant
- Analyst/Associate Analyst
- Auxiliary Reporter
- Branch Financial Consultant
- Business Process Analyst Associate
- Business Risk Analyst
- Communications Coordinator
- Consultant
- Content Marketing Manager
- Creativity Consultant
- Cultural Assistant
- Customer Care Specialist
- Donor Relations Assistant
- Editor
- Financial Advisor
- Global Strategy Analyst
- Government & Public Sector Advisory
- HR Business Partner
- Junior Professional Associate
- Labor Relations Analyst
- Mid and Major Gifts Coordinator
- News Associate/Producer
- Operational Support Technician
- Operations Analyst
- Political Sales Coordinator
- Portfolio Management Officer I
- Production Assistant
- Project Manager/Associate
- Quality Assurance
- Recruitment Coordinator
- Reporter/Photojournalist
- Researcher
- Senior Account Executive
- Staff Assistant
Organizations:
- Abt Associates
- Amazon.com
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Ashoka
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Breakthru Beverage Group
- Bully Pulpit Interactive
- CBS This Morning
- Consero Group
- Cornerstone Research
- Deloitte
- Epic Systems
- Ernst & Young
- General Dynamics Information
- Goldman Sachs
- Technology
- Ketchum
- Keystone Fireworks
- KPMG
- Laurel TV
- Lockheed Martin
- McKlinley Advisors
- Morgan Stanley
- NCC Media
- New Era Real Estate Investments
- Northrop Grumman
- Oxfam America
- PNC Financial Services
- Prevalent, Inc.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- TD International
- Under Armour
- Voice of America
- Washington Business Journal
View more organizations and position titles.
ENTRY TIPS:
- Important qualities/skills generally include: analytical, communication, creativity, decision making, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- When you first start, you are mostly a generalist, so be open to learning from colleagues and joining any training opportunities.
- Diversify your experiences – there is not just one clear cut path to consulting.
- Prepare for case interviews. When interviewing, tell a compelling story, communication skills, logical thinking, and a genuine interest in the topic you are working on. For detailed tips, visit FirstHand’s Interview Practice Guide: Case Interviews.
- Review FirstHand's Career Guide to Business Administration Jobs, Consulting and Consulting Jobs.
Review current internship & job openings in Handshake.
Start Exploring Career Titles
Use the sample job and internship titles (mentioned above) to start exploring career paths. The links below provide a short overview of the positions. Review more career areas related to this major and tips to succeed.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, a career title dictionary
- O*NET Online, the nation's primary source of occupational information
- Career assessments: FOCUS2. Skill Inventory, etc.
- Terrapins Connect, talk with professionals working in the field through UMD’s alumni network
- Federal positions by major, research career titles with the federal government related to your major
- Vault Career Guides, browse 100’s of industry guides to gain inside tips
- Leveraging AI for your career exploration
- Review additional resources for Government, Policy, Law & International Affairs by the University Career Center.
Feller Center offers: Alumni & Employer Industry Panel Notes sample topics below
- Foreign Affairs Panel - Career Shuttle to DACOR
- Careers in International Affairs Panel
- U.S. Intelligence Community Internship Opportunities for Students
- U.S. Department of State Careers- Diplomacy & Civil Service
- Center for Strategic & International_Studies
- And more
Resources: Career Planning
USAJobs | Current openings in:
Application/Exploration Resources:
- Application tips, tips for state and federal positions
- Explore career options and openings in politics
- Careers in Annapolis State Government
- U.S. House of Representatives: Careers In Congress Panel Notes
- Identify organizations and issues of interest: U.S. and public policy issues by country, Think tanks based in Washington, D.C.
- Visit FirstHand’s Guide to Politics, Public Policy, and Activism Jobs for detailed tips.
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy: attend DC events, programs and fellowships (membership required for some events).
- Tips for breaking into the field of Public Policy, UMD Panel Notes
- Careers in Think Tanks, UMD Panel Recording
List Openings:
Policorner: openings in Politics, Law, & Public Service. BSOS students may create a free account
Tom Manatos, internship & job openings for government and political positions-paid for by the Feller Center in BSOS
- Events - learn more about the field of IA (hosted by APSIA)
- Work areas in international affairs, by APSIA
- International Affairs/Development Directories Resources: highlights IA resources, blogs, and organization listings
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy: attend DC events, programs and fellowships (membership required for some events).
Explore organizations working in the field of
- Humanitarian
- International Relations
- International Development
- Diplomacy, career paths and tips
- UMD Event notes for International Relations (access via Box)
National Security
-
Professional association: IN NETWORK is a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area-based non-profit organization committed to informing, inspiring, and innovating futures in national security. Through workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship, IN NETWORK seeks to inform, inspire, and innovate futures in intelligence and national security. Join for free. Read more.
Planning for Graduate School
Sample graduate programs UMD GVPT students have attended. Around half of GVPT majors who pursue additional education after graduating apply for a JD program.
Law Programs:
- Cornell University
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Temple University
- University of Baltimore
- University of Maryland, Baltimore
- University of New Hampshire
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia
Graduate programs:
- George Washington University, Medicine and Political Science
- Georgetown University, Public Relations/Corporate Communications
- Johns Hopkins University, Government and Politics
- Ohio State University, Political Science
- University of Baltimore, Public Policy
- University of Exeter, Business and Management
- University of Maryland, College Park
- Public Policy
- Education
- Applied Economics
- Arabic Studies
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Political Science
- Yale University, Epidemiology
Application tips from the Feller Center
- Questions to consider before applying
- Application timeline: stay on track with your graduate school application
- Tips for completing the application
- Graduate School listing, LASC & Law School Prep Resources
- Comparing Public Policy, Intl Affairs, and Public Admin Degrees
Market Skills Developed: GVPT Major
Skills lead to jobs. Which skills do you possess?
- Assess your skills, abilities, interests, and values and explore how they relate to career options.
- Skills inventory - get started identifying your unique assets.
Sample list of skills developed in class by Government & Politics majors.
- Accumulating and interpreting information
- Analytical skills
- Contending analytical and theoretical approaches
- Oral and written communication
- Presentation
- Proactive and display initiative
- Quantitative methods
- Research
- Understanding of basic political science concepts
Skills lead to jobs. Which skills do you possess?
- Careers and Skills related to GVPT Major
- Assess your skills, abilities, interests, and values.
- LinkedIn Learning skill based videos.
Highlight your skills in your application materials.
Gain Experience
Internships are a great way to try out an interest, regardless if they are directly related to your major. Employers tend to favor job seekers who have had an internship in the field they are hiring for.
Sample internship sites and titles:
- Counterterrorism Research Intern, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
- Data Entry Intern, Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy
- Drug Enforcement Task Force Intern, U.S. Attorney's Office
- Drug Task Force Intern, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
- Homicide Unit Intern, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office
- Intern and Clerk, Chester County Office of the District Attorney
- Intern Investigator, Public Defender Service
- Intern, DC Pretrial Services
- Intern, Greenbelt Police Department
- Intern, International Community Corrections Association
- Intern, Office of the Attorney General
- Law Enforcement Apprentice Program, Montgomery County Police Department
- Legal Advising Intern, Staines Magistrates' Court
- Legislative Intern, Maryland General Assembly
- Manhattan Special Victims Squad Intern, New York City Police Department (Manhattan Special Victims Squad)
- Office Assistant/Firearms Examiner Assistant, Montgomery County Police Department
- Research Intern, Justice Policy Institute (Research)
- Student Analyst, U.S. Department of Justice
- Student Intern, State Attorney's Office of Montgomery County
Sample list of opportunities: Feller Center's Find an Internship page
Highlighted Resources:
- UMD Department of Government and Politics: Student Opportunities
- Tom Manatos, internship & job openings for government and political positions-paid for by the Feller Center in BSOS.
- Political Internship & Job options/tips.
- Legal Internships: Create your own.
GVPT Internship Directory: Obtain leads on organizations who recruit GVPT majors for their internship openings.
BSOS Students Gain Experience Through:
Build Connections
After researching career paths, consider talking with people working in your field of interest to gain inside information. The links below provide sample events where you may be able to meet professionals in your field of interest. Use these opportunities to learn more about your field of interest, establish new networking contacts, and informational interviews.
- Career Events for BSOS students
- University Career Center Event Calendar
- Terrapins Connect, is an online platform that allows students’ virtual access to UMD alumni who have volunteered to share industry specific information, conduct resume reviews, etc.
- Use LinkedIn to locate alumni & recruiters
- Intern for a Day, matches students with professionals working in a field of interest to shadow for the day or offer informational interviews
- Get contact information: Employer & Industry notes for BSOS majors
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, DC events (membership required for some events)
- IN NETWORK, join to attend in-person and virtual events surrounding national security careers. Through workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship, IN NETWORK seeks to inform, inspire, and innovate futures in intelligence and national security.
- Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), attend events to learn about international affairs careers and research graduate programs
- DEM LIST, a free calendar and resource information connecting Democrats nationwide
