Strong Foundations: A Holistic Approach to Political Science Career Preparation

This paper presents a scaffolded approach within our political science program designed to prepare undergraduates for successful careers. Our strategy integrates coursework with experiential learning opportunities to develop critical thinking, writing, public speaking, and civic engagement skills. The program progresses through carefully sequenced courses paired with co-curricular activities, including Model UN and Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature participation. Students then advance to targeted internships with state and local governments, applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. The culminating senior seminar focuses on post-graduation preparation and reflection. We examine the specific components of our scaffolding approach, assess its impact on student outcomes, and share implementation insights. Our goal is to inspire other political science programs to adopt similar strategies for preparing graduates across public, political, private, educational, and non-profit sectors.