Please ask Political Science faculty for the names of people you might contact. Counties, cities, and townships have shown a parallel growth both in the scope of their responsibilities and the size of their work force. Solving local housing, zoning, public safety, welfare, and traffic control problems challenges most local jurisdictions. The technical nature of many of these problems has led to the growth of staffs in even small towns and cities. These staff positions are often those for which political science graduates are well qualified.
Associations are alliances of individuals with one or more common interests.
There has been an explosion of interest group activity since 1960. There are now more than 14,000 associations incorporated in the United States. Typically, professional governmental affairs staffs of interest groups have liberal arts backgrounds. An internship with an executive agency or congressional office would make the applicant's resume attractive to most associations. A number of Alma graduates work for interest groups and are available to discuss interest advocacy work with students.