The Political Science Association: Your neighbourhood political science students’ new best friend
By Anna Maxwell, September 30 2025—
The University of Calgary’s Political Science Association (PSA) is kicking off the year with a renewed focus on helping students build connections and strengthening the department’s presence on campus and beyond.
“The PSA is a non-partisan organization at the University of Calgary,” said Jersey Magtangob, a fifth-year student in the concurrent arts and education program, and the club’s vice-president internal. “We’re representing the Department of Political Science, but we’re open to everybody joining us.”
The association’s roots stretch back more than 50 years, giving it a longstanding presence at the university.
This year, the club’s programming will revolve around three pillars: social, professional and academic. Socially, it plans to host mixers to connect students and faculty. Professionally, the association is planning panels like last year’s event on government careers, which brought together policy analysts from all three levels of government. Academically, they recently helped launch Insights, an undergraduate political science journal.
“[The journal is] an opportunity for students in the entire political science program — political science and international relations — to be able to showcase their analytical skills and their success in academics,” Magtangob explained.
In the coming months, the PSA wants to focus on outreach to first-year students.
“So that they’ll know we’ll be there for all four or five years of their degree,” Magtangob said. The club is hosting a first-year mixer on September 26, alongside plans for a potential public policy panel and an alumni networking night.
Alumni engagement is also a continued priority for the veteran club.
“Some of our alumni have gone on to work in business, oil and gas and other fields,” Magtangob noted. “We want political science students to see they don’t have to be lawyers or teachers or work in government.”
For members, the association provides opportunities across multiple areas.
“Not only do you gain meaningful connections in terms of friendships, but you’re able to gain our connections to people working in government, law firms and other fields. With the PSA, you’ll be able to work on your career development a little quicker and get more resources compared to if you weren’t joining,” said Magtangob.
Magtangob also said the PSA’s mission is rooted in representation, not ideology.
“One thing I really want to emphasize is that we are a non-partisan organization. We’re open to everybody, no matter your year, your major or your political party. We’re here for you, and we just want to provide in any way we can.”
Membership is open to all students regardless of major. Students can get involved by following the PSA on their Instagram and visiting its Linktree.