The Power of Partnerships: Exploring the Relationship between Campus Career Centers and Political Science Departments

Given the growing emphasis on career preparation in higher education, career centers play important roles on today's college campuses. The literature has focused on the reasons students use career services, but it has not addressed the vital linkage between career centers and academic departments. Using a survey of 279 political science department chairs, this study explores the factors that best explain the strength of the relationship between political science departments and campus career centers. After investigating a host of characteristics, we show that close ties between career centers and departments are more likely at smaller colleges, in departments where professors advise students ( as opposed to departments with only professional advisors), and in departments that incorporate career preparation into the curriculum. We conclude with recommendations for establishing a more collaborative partnership between career centers and political science departments.