Exploring careers in policy
Careers in policy span academia, industry, government, and non-profits. Depending on your sector, your work could look very different:
- Government & Non-profits: Researching for think tanks, advocating and writing legislation on Capitol Hill, or informing policy and operations in the military and governmental departments.
- Industry: Consulting for firms, advising corporate strategy, or ensuring business compliance.
- Academia: Teaching or conducting research that directly informs policy decisions.
Example job titles
- Legislative Assistant
- Research Professor
- Science & Technology Policy Fellow
- Chief Policy Advisor
- Policy Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Research Staff
Academic pathways
What to study as an undergraduate
Pick the major(s) that you’re most excited about, even if it’s a STEM course, as this will likely align with your policy areas of interest. Many alumni enter careers in policy directly from undergraduate school with a vast range of majors including Political Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Latin American and Latino Studies.
Masters and PhD programs
If you’re interested in getting an advanced degree, consider a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) or Master’s of Public Policy (MPP) or PhD programs that focus on your specific interests within policy.
MIT programs combining policy and science to tackle social challenges:
- Technology and Policy Program (TPP)
- Master’s in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP)
- IDSS Social and Engineering Systems PhD
- DUSP Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP)
Check out this listing of graduate programs with public affairs specialties from U.S. News & World Report to explore programs with a policy focus.
Build experience & network
Get involved at MIT
Explore policy hands-on by joining these MIT programs, student groups, and labs:
- MIT Washington Office
- MIT Washington Summer Internship Program
- Science Policy Initiative
- Graduate Student Council External Affairs Board
- Policy Lab
Connect with alumni
MIT alumni in policy have worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, in think tanks such as Brookings and RAND Corporation, and at research institutions like the National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI).
How to find alumni on Alumni Advisors Hub:
- Filter by organization: Political Organization / Think Tanks / Civic & Social Organization
- Filter by industry: Government – Public Policy / Think Tanks / Legislative Office
- Keyword search: Type “policy” in the search bar at the top
Job and internship search strategies
Federal, state, and local governments recruit throughout the year, with summer internships posted in the winter. Some student hiring programs, such as the Pathways program, have recruitment cycles more aligned with the academic calendar. There are fellowships and scholarships available for students interested in working in government, so inquire with agencies and departments about what may be available.
Job and internship boards
See Social impact, policy, & law job/internship search sites for a list of sites you can use to search for internships and jobs.
Applications for federal policy roles should be made through formal portals like USAJOBS, and often require resumes in a government-specific format. Additional search sites include Go Government and Public Service Careers.
