Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics

Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

The Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics works to provide students with opportunities that introduce them to the world of practical politics, government and public service. Each semester the institute facilitates internships with government, political and advocacy offices in  the Los Angeles metropolitan area and beyond. The institute also offers a variety of programs and panels that provide students with access to government officials, policy and campaign experts, and industry leaders. The institute partners with a variety of student organizations to sponsor numerous panel discussions and programs that bring prominent political and governmental leaders to USC to speak to small groups of students in an informal setting. In the spring, the institute organizes the Cerrell Seminar in Political Leadership, and a trip to Sacramento where USC students meet with legislators, lobbyists, and members of the media to discuss important issues in state politics. 

Von KleinSmid Center 263
(213) 740-8964
FAX: (213) 740-3167
Email: unruhins@usc.edu
dornsife.usc.edu/unruh
Director: Robert M. Shrum

Chief of Staff: Kerstyn Olson, MA

Programs

Political Student Assembly

The Unruh Institute of Politics works closely with the Political Student Assembly (PSA). PSA was formed in January 2006 as a division of the Student Affairs Program Board and seeks to actively involve students in campus, state and national political issues.

Directed Government and Political Leadership Internship

Students volunteer to work in one of over 500 political and governmental offices throughout the Los Angeles area, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., enabling them to gain firsthand political experience. As interns, students acquire basic political understanding and skills in government, campaign, media or advocacy organizations. Through their assignments, students have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the many ways in which people are important to politics and politics to people.

By gaining hands-on experience in government and politics, student interns develop real-world political and job skills to assist them in their future careers. Many talented interns are fortunate enough to secure full-time employment based upon their internship experience.

In addition to the traditional internship experience, the Unruh Institute offers a Research Internship and a Civic Engagement Internship. The Research Internship gives students an opportunity to do real-world, hands-on research for an organization. Students will conduct original fieldwork, interview policy experts, review academic and policy reports, and use other forms of primary and secondary research. The Civic Engagement Internship provides students with an opportunity to teach civics and the value of voting in an area high school over the course of the semester.

Students participating in the institute’s internship programs enroll in POSC 395 Directed Governmental and Political Leadership Internship , for 2 to 8 units. Students can enroll in POSC 395  during the fall, spring or summer. In the summer, students can apply for institute-sponsored fellowships to help defray tuition and living expenses.