Eisenhower Institute
Gettysburg College’s institute for public policy offers many programs at its Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. locations, including the Undergraduate Fellows program through which students gain hands-on leadership experience.
Internships
Our location near four metropolitan areas, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and state capital Harrisburg, Pa., opens up an enviable range of opportunities.
Off-campus study
Gettysburg offers more than 30 affiliated study abroad and domestic programs, plus more than 100 other options through collaboration with other organizations. Many U.S.-based programs — such as the Washington Semester in the nation's capital — are especially valuable for political science majors.
Katerina Krohn ’17
Environmental Studies and Political Science double major
Read about Kat’s study abroad experience in Athens
Ashley McNeill ’17
Political Science major and Sociology minor
Read about Ashley’s study abroad experience in London
Audrey Bowler ’16
Political Science major and Peace & Justice Studies minor
Read about Audrey’s study abroad experience in Cuba
Mira Bragg ’15
Political Science and International Affairs - double major
Read about Mira’s study abroad experiences in Aix-en-Provence and India
Christina Jones ’15
Political Science and Globalization Studies - double major
Read about Christina’s study abroad experience in India
Political Science Honors
Political Science majors with a major GPA of 3.70 or higher in the spring of their senior year will graduate with Honors in the Political Science major. Junior Political Science majors with a major GPA of 3.70 or higher in the spring of their junior year will be invited at that time to apply for the Jacober Scholars Honors program. Students who complete the Jacober Scholars Honors program during their senior year will be recognized as having received Honors with distinction.
The Jacober Scholars Program
In the winter of 2020, the Gettysburg College Political Science Department unveiled its new honors track—the Jacober Scholars Program. Each Jacober Scholar will work closely with a faculty mentor to produce a significant piece of original research in a subject area of the Scholar’s choosing. Political science majors with a major grade point average of at least 3.7 are eligible to apply during their junior year. Application information will be distributed during the first half of each spring semester.
Center for International Experiential Learning
Through experiential learning and immersive international travel in conflict-affected regions, CIEL inspires critical thinking and creative engagement to counter division and polarization. CIEL is not affiliated with Gettysburg College, but political science majors and other Gettysburg students who are interested in studying conflict are encouraged to apply. For more information about this summer opportunity, contact Professor Kevin Pham, an assistant professor in our department and advisory board member of CIEL, at kpham@gettysburg.edu.
Grants and fellowships
Grants and fellowships of interest to students of political science are available. Also, Gettysburg College makes it a priority to assist qualified students in seeking Rhodes Scholarships and other competitive awards.
Pi Sigma Alpha
is the national honorary in political science. The College chapter is Nu Psi. Junior and senior majors in political science in the top third of their graduating class with grade point averages of 3.0 overall and 3.2 in a minimum of four departmental courses are invited to join the Nu Psi chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha.