Real-World Learning
We provide our students with transformative learning experiences that promote active and engaged citizenship, domestically and globally.
VCU’s Department of Political Science uses its unique position on an urban campus located in the state capital and just a short distance from Washington, D.C. This means research opportunities and hands-on service learning are the norm for the department.
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.
Check out our recent interview with State Department Diplomat-in-Residence, John Dinkelman, and VCU Political Science major, Renuka Karami. This interview is part of 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. In this interview, you will hear about various paths to working for the Department of State and in Foreign Service, the timeline and process for hiring, what life is like in the field, and pro-tips for majors interested in pursuing this exciting path!
The Institute for Democracy, Pluralism, and Community Empowerment
The Department of Political Science is home to the Institute for Democracy, Pluralism, and Community Empowerment. 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.