Policy Studies Careers
A Master of Arts in Policy Studies degree leads to career options within public, non-profit, and private sectors. Graduates of the program often become:
- Policy Analysts or Researchers
- Program Managers or Evaluators
- Public Administrators
- Non-profit Executives
- City or Community Planners
- Government Affairs Officers
- Policy Advocates
Other graduates go on to complete further graduate education. The Master of Arts in Policy Studies prepares students for doctoral programs by emphasizing liberal arts skills such as critical thinking, research and analysis, writing and speaking, philosophical and ethical analysis, and historical and cultural understandings.
Read about some of our alumni, where they work now, and how earning an MA in Policy Studies contributed to their career success.
Resources for Current Students
The IAS Graduate Office is available to assist students in locating career opportunities related to Policy Studies and their particular areas of interest. To discuss options or schedule an appointment, contact Lisa Olason at (425) 352-3136 or lolason@uwb.edu.
The UW career system offers numerous resources, many of which are graduate-specific:
- UW Bothell Career Center - Our campus career center provides a variety of job-search services, including workshops on resume and cover letter writing and interviewing, individual advising sessions, employer information, and career fairs. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these free services while enrolled in the program.
- GradStudents webpage - The UW Seattle Career Center hosts a graduate student webpage featuring a variety of workshops and events open to all UW graduate students.
- GradStudentCareerEvents listserv - Sign up to receive four emails each month about upcoming graduate student events and resources.
- GradStudentJobs listserv - Sign up to receive periodic emails about internships and jobs suited specifically for graduate-level students.
- Simpson Center for the Humanities - Sign up to receive a weekly events email offering a broad range of opportunities to enhance student learning and professional development.
- Husky Career Network - The UW Alumni Association offers current students complementary access to a searchable nationwide database of alumni volunteers offering networking referrals and information about their field. Husky Career Network lists more than 5,000 graduates who are willing to provide information on their industries, organizations, and job functions, to discuss their own career paths, and to offer suggestions to students and fellow alums considering similar careers or career transitions.
Resources for Policy Studies Alumni
The UW Bothell Career Center offers a variety of services to help alumni explore options, build skills, and connect with employers. Throughout the year, the UW Bothell Career Center and UW Seattle Career Center offer numerous free workshops and events to support alumni in their career journeys. Please note, while the majority of services are available to alumni free of charge, there is a nominal fee for career counseling appointments and access to HuskyJobs, the UW's online job and internship database.
Policy Studies alumni may join The UW Alumni Association to access a variety of career support options, including Husky Career Network, a searchable nationwide database of alumni volunteers offering networking referrals and information about their field.