Internships & Opportunities

The College of Liberal Arts encourages undergraduate students to participate in internships to prepare for their future careers. Students can apply the core skills they learn in their degree programs—how to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively—in real-world professional settings. 

The college actively collaborates with Temple’s Career Center and employers across a range of fields and industries to help cultivate professional development opportunities for its students. Additionally, Temple’s location in Philadelphia allows students to pursue internships across an array of organizations in the region.

Explore how an internship can help expand your opportunities after graduation. 

Department Internships

Temple’s Political Science Department helps students secure experiential internships to prepare them for careers after graduation. Student placements have included

  • the city of Philadelphia,
  • law firms and local prosecutors' offices, 
  • political campaigns,
  • public interest groups, and 
  • state legislative and congressional offices.

Public Service Internship Opportunities

Students can participate in public service internship opportunities through the Public Service Cooperative. Temple’s faculty, students and alumni have a long tradition of public service. Temple offers four distinct, credit-bearing internship opportunities for undergraduate students on the local, state and federal levels. 

Students interested in public service can work part time in Philadelphia in either city government or competitive political campaigns. Full-time internship programs are available in Pennsylvania’s capital city Harrisburg, or in the nation’s capitol, Washington D.C.

Harrisburg Capital Semester

Started in fall 2009, Temple University sponsors an internship semester each fall and spring semester in Harrisburg in association with Temple’s Harrisburg Campus. Students can explore government affairs, policymaking and implementation firsthand while studying full-time and staying on track to graduation. The Harrisburg semester allows students to receive 6 to 9 credit hours of internship along with a 3-credit Research Preparation course. Learn more about the Harrisburg Capital Semester. 

The Washington Semester

The Washington Semester places students in internships in our nation’s capital through close collaboration with The Washington Center. Students work in government institutions such as the House of Representatives, and in public organizations focused on the arts, business, environment, international relations, journalism and other fields. Develop connections, take courses and gain professional development during your internship. Enrollment in the program includes a financial stipend. The Washington Semester allows students to receive 15 CLA credits during the fall or spring, or 12 credits during the summer. Learn more about the Washington Semester. 

Contact the Internship/Program Coordinator, Sean Murphy for inquiries at seanmurphy@temple.edu.

Careers

The skills gained from a liberal arts degree are highly relevant in today’s rapidly evolving world. Apply the experience and knowledge acquired in the Political Science BA program to your professional pursuits across many organizations and industries, including academics, cultural institutions, government agencies or the social sciences. The versatility of this program’s curriculum helps you graduate with valuable skill sets sought by many employers. 

Temple’s Political Science BA is an excellent foundation for graduate study. Students often pursue master's degrees in business, international affairs, law, public policy and public administration.

Graduates pursue careers such as 

  • diplomacy 
  • education,
  • government affairs,
  • lobbyists,
  • policy researchers,
  • political consultants and 
  • political correspondents.

Career Services

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