Students evaluate the development and effectiveness of different political systems and consider how these systems can provide for citizens and support values like order and freedom. The work of market researchers often involves surveying consumer reactions to potential or current products and services. They need to learn how to juggle a caseload of patients, work with local and national resources, and conduct evaluations to assess whether a particular intervention is working. If youre wanting to apply to jobs for political science majors right out of college, then you may find positions in government offices or in certain nonprofit organizations or NGOs. in Comparative Literature from the University of California - Berkeley and a B.A. A bachelors in political science may open even more doors if you go on to get a masters or professional degree, which could qualify you to work as a professor, political scientist, or lawyer. Building a web of scholars and professionals in the field starts with your education. You may decide to pursue a bachelors degree in political science if it fits with your personal interests and career goals. [2022 Guide]. Social media marketing can be on a political campaignor notbut it requires those analytical skills, Birmingham says, along with the ability to communicate and persuade. Political science is unique in that it combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and information. Senators, assembly members, representatives, and other elected officials at all levels of government hire assistants to help them to carry out their duties. Since political science allows you to hone wildly varied capabilities, your first step is to find the three or four skills that you excel at and enjoy the most. Keith has a Ph.D. and a M.A. MyDegreeGuide.com. In an entry-level program coordinator role, the job responsibilities can vary, but encompass everything needed to execute and run a particular initiativefor instance, the rollout of a new capital campaign to raise much-needed funds. Copyright 2007-2021. Many students may want to pursue these areas as a career whether in terms of research, advocacy, or direct action but don't know how to get started. In some cases, you may earn upwards of $100,000. Among them are college affordability, racial equity, gun control, and climate change. Depending on your concentration, you may learn more about either the US constitution and systems of government or about foreign political systems. You may research or consult on political systems or political trends, or you may perform public policy research, advocacy, and consulting work. An advanced degree in political science may qualify you to teach political science classes in community colleges or universities. Intended to lead to a doctorate, but can replace work experience for professional advancement. There are political science positions in the fields of business, government, teaching, public relations, social policy, and more. These analysts study particular groups that pose a threat to security, and analyze patterns of leadership and popular support. Financial analysts analyze trends, reports, data, sales, and other facts to evaluate past performance and help support decisions for the future. This subfield specifically looks at how systems diverge and align to discover general laws and theories. Majoring in political science means learning about theories of government and competing systems of government. You could be coordinating events, writing communications materials, doing administrative work, working with other professionals, organizing an agenda, or otherwise doing project management in service of that capital campaign. Your position might not have been invented yetthats how much things are changing.. They recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, as well as raising money to fund the campaign. Combining a political science degree with a professional degree in law is a strategic foundation for working as a lawyer, a legislative analyst, or as an elected lawmaker. This could be incredibly relevant work for a poli sci major: Youre working in government on important cases and projects. These workers may survey potential voters to discern their reaction to a candidate and the basis of their opinion. Your job could also include organizing other elements of a media coverage strategy, such as videos, blog posts, social media, or other digital content. If you're pursuing a career as a public servant, an MPA could be preferable to a master's in political science. You may also become a political science policy analyst. Political science careers include work in government, political campaigning and lobbying, teaching, nonprofit leadership, journalism, and public policy research and advocacy. Yes, a political science degree is worth it for many students. They use political savvy in other areas of the law as well. Over the past decade, the growing importance of data analysis has led to the emergence of a fifth subfield in political science. There are so many internships that are not posted, which is why you should reach out directly to employers, Birmingham says. With additional work experience or education, you may pursue any number of intriguing careers. Like political science majors, policy analysts must devise a sound thesis and build a persuasive argument for or against the adoption of a particular policy initiative. Home What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree? It can springboard a career in politics and policy, nonprofit work, business, media, or education. Internships also allow you to experience working in specific areas of interest, such as state governance, international relations, and immigration policy. She has given hundreds of interviews on the topic for outlets including The New York Times, BBC News, and LinkedIn. Youd potentially start as some sort of aide, administrator, coordinator, or other entry-level position and work your way up to the head of a campaign, but you dont necessarily need an advanced degree to get there. Legislative assistants respond to constituent inquiries and help to resolve problems of citizens within their jurisdiction. Many attorneys work for governmental agencies where the political science graduates knowledge of political structures is beneficial. Meets basic requirements for some entry-level positions at agencies, nonprofits, and companies. All political science degrees, whether an associate degree or Ph.D., fall under social sciences. They help draft and edit the language for bills, and assess the legal precedents for pending legislation. Since a great deal of political theory has roots in philosophy and public advocacy, you will typically learn a lot about the ideological origins of competing political systems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientist jobs are projected to increase by 5% as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations between 2018 and 2028. Political science is actually underrated as a practical major, Birmingham argues: Its one of the most adaptable and versatile credentials for undergrads because it covers a variety of skills and topics: critical thinking, research, analysis, presentations, and discussion. Social sciences are usually considered a "soft" science, compared with a "hard," objective science like chemistry or physics; however, political science is becoming increasingly data-driven. Political scientists may work in government.
Political science graduate students study advanced political theory, conduct original research, and work to enter the broader political conversation by publishing their findings. You could be working with individuals trying to get visas or with a nonprofit to get laws passed to combat the climate crisis. Students study human nature, citizen behavior, and the moral purpose of government, learning from a mix of ancient Greek philosophers and modern political theorists. Theres a leadership component to poli sci, Birmingham says. There are many political issues that are vital to college-aged students. Staffers use the ability of the political science major to study current political issues and assess voter reactions to a candidate's platform. A master's degree in political science can prepare you to earn a Ph.D. or to perform research at nonprofit or public sector organizations. According to Census Bureau data from the 2018 midterm elections, voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds jumped 16% from 2014. Lawyers working for political figures, interest groups, and lobbying firms use the legal research skills developed by political science majors to conduct research about legislative and policy issues. Did you know that close to half of the members of the US Congress hold law degrees? If you are interested in studying areas of law, government, and political institutions, then you may want to consider exploring accredited online political science programs to find the one that best fits your personal career goals. The current academic market is full of graduates vying for a limited number of academic positions, and outside academia, the public policy world comes with its own set of professional challenges. But you cant beat it in terms of direct impact on underrepresented and disadvantaged people. Political consultants may also work for public interest groups and help them to formulate strategies for advancing their causes. Students learn about the American political system, with its unique presidency, congress, courts, and state politics; they also delve into American policies and political ideas, and explore the role of mass media. If you didnt work with quantitative analysis in your poli sci degree, you might have to supplement here with financial coursework or other relevant experience. BA or BS degree-holders can enter the job force or continue their education with graduate school or law studies. If you find yourself struggling to qualify for the best jobs or you want to explore alternate career options, you may find internships beneficial for resume-building, career exploration, and professional networking. This work would then prepare you to enter the field as an agent or support the organization in an operational or management capacity. Many of the career paths open to political science graduates deal directly with textual analysis, data crunching, and persuasive communication. Political theory, philosophy, economics, behavior and institutions, security, peace and conflict, race and ethnicity, thesis. While as a course of study political science focuses on systems of power and governance, the practical abilities and thought patterns rehearsed in class are applicable beyond just politics. As a political scientist, you might also seek work in elected government. The course of study for a BS in political science typically includes mathematics and statistics. Advanced political theory, quantitative research, modeling, statistics, dissertation. This last question can help you better understand issues of importance to you and help you narrow down the field of possible next steps., Then, you match industries and job descriptions to those abilities and passions. If you pursue an advanced degree in political science down the road, a masters or law degree may qualify you for postsecondary teaching jobs, for jobs with a law firm, or for research and analysis work in a number of settings. They help set standards for elections and monitor proceedings to make sure that student rights are upheld. You may conduct public opinion survey analysis for political campaigns or public relations firms. Political science deals directly with the philosophy and practice of political systems, but the skills developed through political science courses are applicable to an array of industries.
Many colleges offer undergraduate and graduate programs in public administration, while others offer public policy programs or combine public administration with business administration. This subfield covers a spectrum of global matters, such as war, trade, finance, development, and national security. Compared with political science, public administration is less theoretical and more pragmatic, with a bigger focus on organization, conduct/ethics, and budgeting. Previous to freelancing, she worked in education and higher ed, and loves helping students make important academic decisions. According to PayScale, political science majors can start out earning $50,000-$70,000 as research analysts, program and account managers, and marketing professionals. A political science degree may also act as a foundation for professional or advanced degrees that may qualify you for higher paying careers. You could be a trial lawyer, defending clients in civil or criminal cases. With a traditional or online bachelors in political science, you may qualify for some jobs right out of college. Critical thinking is vital to evaluating the platforms of political parties and the impact of leadership changes. Average salary: $51,585Salary range: $35,000$79,000This job can encompass anything and everything around running social media accounts for a business, nonprofit, person, or group. And what does the world need you to be? Reporters often investigate news topics, find and interview news sources, and broadcast or write news reports. Policy analysts rely on strong critical thinking, writing, and research skills as they formulate statements about the nature and impact of proposals for public policy. Political science majors study the role of survey research and opinion polling in campaigning. 
They learn how public policy is formulated and the impact of policy on the social and economic status of the populace. Seek out early job and internship experiences as much as you can. Working directly with patientswho might vary from students to seniors to military veteranssocial workers address a wide variety of social issues that individuals may be facing and serve as advocates from an educational and occupational (and sometimes medical) standpoint. Through in-depth credit for prior learning guides and accelerated degree tips, we want to help you realize your dream of finishing college in less time! In this field, you'll study concepts of ethics, justice, and democracy; learn about systems of government and political behavior; and apply theory to current political events. Findsocial media managerand other social media jobs on The Muse. As a political science major, you may develop insights into political systems and constitutional law as well as skills in writing, communication, and analysis. Public relations representatives influence public opinion about their clients based largely on placing stories with the media. 
The competition in political science is real, but for driven individuals, there's always opportunity. In addition, knowledge of foreign languages used by potential terrorists helps analysts to investigate potential threats. As a political science major, youll learn about lawmaking, political institutions, legislative policy, political trends, and public opinion. They can have a particular beat (or focus)such as a particular election, candidate, or topicor simply take on general assignments across political topics. The aptitude for, and love of, debate make law an intuitive fit for a poli sci major. A bachelors in political science may be a good fit for you if youre excited about social policies or political philosophy. Average salary: $85,920Salary range: $51,000$158,000 The skys the limit on what you could do with a law degree, which may be why law school is such a popular track for poli sci majors. You might need to come up with ideas for content; write captions for posts; take photos; respond in real time to questions from users, constituents, or customers online; share and promote services or content; grow the accounts followers; and otherwise engage with an audience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, political science degree positions involve research and public policy analysis, law and politics, teaching, public relations, and public nonprofit leadership.