Political Science in Practice: Applied Research Projects as Career Preparation

Curricular activities can bridge the gap between political science education and its application across professional fields. This study introduces a seminar final project format that modifies the traditional academic paper with diverse, real-world outputs, such as public policy white papers, lobbying memos, or long-form journalism. This innovative approach achieves three goals: fostering active learning, sharpening research skills, and providing professional preparation by simulating practical uses of political science. To ensure rigor and equity across formats, the project follows a milestone-based structure, guiding students through iterative submissions, including a research question, argument, and data plan. Drawing on evidence from two quarter-long Stanford University seminars, I assess the strategy’s impact using student surveys, interviews, and classroom observations. The findings indicate that this assessment format offers a valuable professionalizing experience, equipping students with the tools to apply political science insights effectively in varied career paths.