Career Paths and Job Titles
Careers in policy span academia, industry, government, and non-profits. Options in academia can include teaching or conducting research that informs policy. Industry careers might involve working for consulting firms and businesses. Government and non-profit careers could include doing research for think tanks, advocating and writing legislation on Capitol Hill, and informing policy and operations in the military or other governmental departments.
Some job titles include Legislative Assistant, Research Professor, Science & Technology Policy Fellow, Chief Policy Advisor, Policy Officer, Policy Analyst, and Research Staff.
MIT alumni in policy careers 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).
What to study if you’re interested in a career in Policy
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. Pick the course that you are most excited about, even if it’s a STEM course, as this will likely align with the areas of policy work that you are most interested in.
If you’re interested in getting an advanced degree, consider degrees such as the Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) or Master’s of Public Policy (MPP) or PhD programs that focus on your specific interests within policy. There are Master’s and PhD programs such as MIT’s Technology and Policy Program (TPP), the Department of Economics’ Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP), the IDSS Social and Engineering Systems, and DUSP’s Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP), which combine policy and science to tackle social challenges. Check out this listing of graduate programs with public affairs specialties from U.S. News & World Report to explore programs with a policy focus.
Job and internship search tips for roles in the government
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 often fellowships and scholarships available for students interested in working in government, so inquire with agencies and departments that interest you about what may be available.
Applications 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.
The second AI Policy Forum Symposium convened global stakeholders across sectors to discuss critical policy questions in artificial intelligence.
By Terri Park | MIT Schwarzman College of Computing | June 28, 2022
Members of the public sector, private sector, and academia convened …
Adapted from Kelley Karnes, Council on Graduate School (original article here)
The Graduate Research and Development (GRAD) Caucus launched in July. This new bipartisan caucus in the House of Representatives was formed to address the needs and issues of graduate …
“Experience” Hands-On Diplomacy as a U.S. Foreign Service Intern.
Spend two summers in an experiential-learning program designed to expose undergraduate students to U.S. diplomacy and the work of the Department of State. Established in 2014, this merit and needs-based opportunity is available to …
NAGELA NUKUNA MBA ’22 HAS ALWAYS FELT THE PULL OF TWO DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES—tech and policy. In her view, they merge more practically than one might think. “Implementation is so important in policy. Technology expands access and opportunity and helps …
Senior Max Williamson uses his background in computer science to tackle public policy issues in his home state and on a global scale.
Read the full article on MIT News.