Cohort and Career: Cross-Class Bonds and Foreign Policy Professional Development

Students choose political science classes and majors because they want to have an impact “in the arena,” but often they lack the personal and intergenerational links that allow them to rapidly plug into policy and advocacy networks to learn the craft of politics. Internships and mentoring matter to give students an advantage over equally resume-qualified competitors for scarce positions, but university career centers often lack the granular knowledge and credibility to coach students for success. This paper outlines a model for development, using small groups and developing alumni connections in a single class, that have created career pathways for dozens of students already over just the last four years. Building on insights from within the national security community on relational credibility, the model describes how practices in class design keep former students linked into the activities of current students, enabling them to advocate for those current students when seeking positions.