Opportunities and Activities : University of Dayton, Ohio

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Department of Political Science offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage the world around them, gain practical experience and prepare for success after graduation.

Internships

Contact Daniel Birdsong for questions or additional information about political science internship programs. Current students can find additional information on Porches.

Undergraduate Internships

We encourage students to further their education outside the classroom through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. Students can greatly benefit from completing at least one such experience during their undergraduate experience. Academic credit is available to students who complete internship experiences in the broadly defined areas related to politics, law and criminal justice and national security.

Why participate in political science internship programs?

In today's marketplace, students must implement a multi-prong approach to differentiate themselves from their peer competitors and to demonstrate to employers that they are prepared and ready to succeed in their chosen professions. In order to be most competitive in their transition from college to the workplace, political science, criminal justice and security studies and pre-law students should consider completing an internship.

How are these opportunities meaningful?

Learn about, connect into and become involved in real challenges facing communities.
Test academic concepts and theories on real world issues.
Gain insight into politics, public policy, criminal justice and legal systems– effectiveness and real world impact.
Test your interests and expand career options.
Develop strong problem solving skills.

In addition, intern students can use the program to network with professionals, identify mentors and cultivate professional relationships.

MPA Internships

Practical work experience is an important part of our MPA students’ education. An internship is not required of all MPA students, but is highly encouraged for pre-service and early career students.

We collaborate with employers who are interested in providing practical work experiences that take place throughout the year, either on a full-time or part-time basis. MPA students participating in these experiential learning opportunities can enroll in MPA 595 to earn up to 6 semester hours toward elective coursework.

Students interested in finding an internship placement and/or earning credit for an internship should contact Daniel Birdsong before beginning an internship and enrolling in MPA 595.

Legal Internships

UD's pre-law program assists students in pursuit of internships and volunteering opportunities with law firms, judges offices, public law and public interest agencies, giving them practical, real-world experience before graduation.

Dayton2DC

Dayton2DC is an annual opportunity for University of Dayton students to engage with professionals and gain practical advice about starting and navigating a career in D.C.

Explore Dayton2DC

Statehouse Civic Scholars

Statehouse Civic Scholars is a summer residential internship opportunity in highly desirable offices in state government located in Columbus, Ohio.

Explore Statehouse Civic Scholars

Dean's Summer Fellowship Program

Work with a faculty mentor on your self-directed research project as a Dean's Summer Fellow.

Explore the Dean's Summer Fellowship Program

Stander Symposium

This annual campus-wide forum showcase academics excellence and recognizes student learning and their various accomplishments.

Explore the Stander Symposium

Mock Trial

Mock Trial is a competition in which undergraduate students present a jury trial before practicing attorneys and judges. Mock Trial requires not only superior presentation skills, but also a dedicated work ethic and a hungry competitive edge.

Current students can find additional information on Porches.

Law School Preparation

The UD Law Fair offers students interested in attending law school an opportunity to discuss their future with law school representatives from around the country.

If you are planning to take the LSAT and want to maximize your score, consider taking one of the LSAT prep workshops offered at UD.

The Inside-Out Prison Program

The Inside-Out Prison Program challenges crime, justice and social stereotypes by facilitating meaningful conversations between individuals inside and outside of correctional facilities.

It goes beyond reevaluating basic notions of justice, providing outside participants with insight into correctional life and allowing incarcerated individuals to contextualize their experiences.

Omega Phi Delta and Alpha Phi Sigma

UD criminal justice majors can take learning beyond the classroom by joining Omega Phi Delta and Alpha Phi Sigma. Membership in Omega Phi Delta is open to any and all students; it was recently recognized as a top student organization on campus. Alpha Phi Sigma is an honor society limited to majors and minors in criminal justice studies.

Members of both groups are involved in community, regional and national criminal justice events, such as the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and others.
The organizations sponsor community, social and guest speaker events.
Both groups are involved in impactful and engaging volunteer efforts within the community of Dayton.
A number of federal government agencies will place Alpha Phi Sigma members one pay grade above entry level upon hiring.

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