Many students are drawn to political science because we ask big questions that matter to today's society. How can we best promote democracy? Why do people vote the way they do? What are our modern security threats, and what policies work best for countering them? What feasible options exist to help us better address climate change? By studying the causes of political problems and the structure of governance, political science provides the tools to help students identify the source of these problems and the means to find solutions.
Some of our majors focus in American politics, studying such topics as parties and elections, public opinion, the courts, or interest groups. Others are more interested in global politics, specializing in the related fields of comparative politics and international relations. Our international-themed courses include classes on the politics of Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Russia, as well as topical courses on terrorism, foreign policy, conflict, international political economy, and international organizations.
Besides being an interesting field, political science offers solid training that can help you become a leader in an ever-changing job market. A political science degree combines skills in oral and written communication, history, statistics and quantitative analysis, and research literacy, and this combination of skills is one of the reasons that research by the career networking website LinkedIn listed it as #6 in its list of top 10 most versatile majors. Considering the average person will change careers 5 to 7 times in their life time, an adaptable major is a definite benefit! It is no surprise that political science is second only to economics as the most economically valuable major in the social sciences, and is tied with fields like chemistry and geosciences in regards to median wage earnings. Our field is also one of the top 10 most popular undergraduate majors for millionaires around the world, with graduates representing the fields of investment banking, law, lobbying, and consulting.
Our variety in skills training and course work allows our students to design their degree in a way that best appeals to their interest and helps prepare them for one of the many career paths for political science majors, including:
| Lawyer or Legal Assistant Non-Profit Organizer Campaign Manager Polling/Survey Analyst City Planner State Legislator Political Consultant International Development Worker |
Researcher for Gov't Agency or Think Tank Journalist CIA Analyst or Agent Diplomat Intelligence Officer Conflict Mediator Corporate Advisor FBI Agent Congressional Office Staff |
And if that's not enough, the American Political Science Association has an even more extensive list of possible careers for people who receive a bachelor's in political science.
Students in other fields may find that adding a political science degree makes them more marketable on the job market. Communications and political science is good preparation for a political journalist or press secretary, and a double-major in political science and biology, chemistry, or another of the sciences will be more successful working on scientific policy-making.
If you are considering graduate school, students who go on to earn a Masters or PhD in political science are sought out for their advanced analytic skills, often finding employment as researchers or consultants for federal, state, and local governments, management and consulting firms, social advocacy organizations, research and development companies, and colleges or universities.
Additional References:
- Best Careers for Political Science Majors. 2018. Retrieved from https://www.bestcolleges.com/careers/political-science-majors/
- Carnevale, Anthony P., Jeff Strohl, and Michelle Melton. 2014. What's It Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors. Retrieved from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce at https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/whatsitworth-complete.pdf
- Hill, Catey. May 20, 2019. 10 versatile college majors that eliminate the need to decide early on a career path. Retrieved from MarketWatch at https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-most-versatile-college-majors-in-america-for-those-who-cant-decide-on-a-career-2019-05-20
- Jacobs, Peter. 1 November 2013. The 10 Most Popular College Majors For Millionaires. Retrieved from Business Insider at http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-most-popular-majors-for-millionaires-2013-10