Experiential Learning
At VCU, Political Science students don't just study politics--they experience it firsthand.
Our experiential learning opportunities connect classroom study with real-world practice, helping students apply their knowledge, develop career-ready skills, and become active participants in civic life. Through internships, study abroad and away programs, faculty-led research, field trips, and micro-experiences in politics and governance, students engage directly with the institutions, leaders, and communities that shape our world. Explore how you can turn your academic interests into meaningful action and professional growth.
Research
The Department of Political Science provides plenty of opportunities to engage in and present research.
Internships
Political science students at VCU are offered internships with a variety of organizations across a wide range of politically-relevant fields.
Study Abroad
Consider furthering your study of political science and gain insight into comparative political systems and peoples’ perceptions of those systems by studying abroad for a semester.
We are happy to share another fabulous interview in our Adventures In Experiential Learning series, an ongoing effort to connect students to professionals in the field, giving them firsthand exposure to career pathways across a range of areas in political science. Executive Director of the Virginia Public Access Project, Chris Piper, is our guest this time and political science major, Erik Hansen, is an excellent host. In this interview, you will hear about the unique and important non-partisan work of VPAP, some of the opportunities and challenges of doing this work in such extraordinarily partisan times, how Mr. Piper's political science major here at VCU shaped and prepared him for this work, and, as always, pro-tips for majors interested in pursuing this exciting path!
The Institute for Democratic Empowerment and Pluralism
The Department of Political Science is home to the Institute for Democratic Empowerment and Pluralism. Our community of affiliated faculty, students, staff, visiting scholars and invited guests cultivates dialogues about how democracy works, how it is under threat and how it can be strengthened. We seek to advance students’ experiential education and career prospects through partnerships with public and private sector organizations working to bolster democracy’s foundations.