Our MA with Cooperative Internship option blends rigorous academics with on-the-job experience, fast-tracking your path to a high-impact professional career. 

Graduate students admitted to the cooperative internship stream typically complete their program within 12 months, in addition to a work term. The program is designed to  provide students with practical work experience in public policy, research, advocacy, and public administration, to prepare them for upper-level careers of public service, broadly construed. 

Students pursuing the expected program of study will complete two semesters of course work intended to provide them with a basic background in Political Science research. During these semesters they will also work with the HSS Cooperative Education Office to secure a 12-16 week co-operative internship at a host organization. 

Formal Program Requirements

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Students choosing the M.A. with co-operative internship must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours in political science graduate program courses of which 12 credit hours must be attained from POSC 6030 (6 credit hours), 602A/B and 6670. Further courses beyond the minimum number may be required, depending on the background and needs of the student.

For their final semester, students must identify and secure a 12 to 16-week co-operative internship in a position that is approved by the co-op office. In the months prior to the start of the work term students work closely with the Academic Staff Member in Co-operative Education and participate in a series of professional development activities to support the job search process.

Co-operative internships are normally paid, although compensation can vary. Students submit a series of short assignments during the work term and receive a grade based on the assignments and work term performance. The timeline from completing coursework to securing employment and completing the internship is approximately 12 months, plus an additional 12 to 14 weeks, roughly following the sequence in the diagram above. 

Program Information

The internship program is overseen by the HSS Cooperative Education Office. For further information on this program, please contact the co-op office.

Employers who have been approached to hire a graduate student, who are actively recruiting students, or who are already working with our cooperative MA program, will find all the information they need to participate in the program here.