What Can You Do With A Political Science Degree?: Career Opportunities And Tips

Do you have a political science degree and wondering what you can do with it?

This article will expose you to the career opportunities available to you and how to make the most of them.

Read till the end.

Table of Contents

What Does A Political Science Degree Teach You?

The goal of political science is to teach you how power is used in various contexts.

The field is divided into four primary subfields or areas of research.

The first category involves party politics, elections, the branches of government, state and municipal government, public policy, social movements, and other political and governmental issues.

Another one is comparative politics, a discipline of political science that examines topics that are comparable in other nations and seeks to understand how regional variations in culture, development, social structures, and political systems affect how politics are conducted globally.

Then international relations covers topics on international institutions, transnational organizations, and the function of norms and law in international politics. It also investigates the connections between nations in the international system.

Another category is the political theory and it focuses on normative issues like justice and legitimacy in politics.

It does this by studying the development of political theory and by attempting to add new ideas to existing conceptions of well-known subjects.

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Where Can A Political Science Degree Take Me?

Your political science degree will expose you to a variety of fields such as governance, international relations, academia, public policies, etc.

Graduates of political science can investigate questions of power, conflict, and justice as well as the actions of world leaders.

You’re also empowered to examine the history, political structure, and operations of governments to find out techniques for better governance.

You can also choose to specialize in a particular subfield of political science after completing the required core courses in each discipline.

What Skills Do I Gain From A Political Science Degree?

In addition to your political science degree, will gain a lot of life skills such as communication, empathy, analysis, etc.

Some of these skills include:

Strong communication ability in both writing and speaking
Approaches to politics and government that combine theory and practice
How to successfully handle criticism and opposing viewpoints
The ability to think critically and analyze situations in order to solve difficulties

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What Are The Career Opportunities In Political Science?

There are a lot of career opportunities available to you in political science.

Some of the jobs you can do with your political science degree include:

1. Public Administration

Public administrators are in charge of providing the community with the services it needs, and a large portion of what they perform supports the government’s everyday operations.

Since public administrator roles can be found at the federal, state, and local levels of government, the extent of the services may vary depending on the level of government associated with the post.

However, the fundamentals of what a public administrator does are the same regardless of level.

In various phases of the policy cycle, those in these roles coordinate specific government operations and the policies that go along with them.

These steps involve developing, implementing, executing, and monitoring the policies to make sure that they can achieve the desired goals with the greatest efficacy.

2. International Affairs Specialist

The study of international relations is a social science that focuses on the interactions between various nations.

Experts in this field manage diplomatic, political, and economic ties between one country and another.

3. Journalism

Journalists conduct research, create news stories, features, and articles, then edit, proofread, and file them.

Their works are broadcast on radio and television as well as in print and online newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals.

A qualification recognized by the National Council for the Training of Journalists is necessary for the majority of jobs (NCTJ).

4. Law Enforcement

You can work as an officer of the state police, or a law enforcement agency from a county, township, city, or village that is in charge of enforcing the state’s criminal laws and preventing and detecting crime.

5. Teacher/Professor

Since civics and government courses are required of both high school and college students, careers in teaching can be rewarding in the field of political science.

You can normally become a high school teacher if you have a bachelor’s degree in political science and the relevant local or state licensure.

If you have a degree in political science, you could be able to work as a political science instructor in community colleges or universities.

6. Lawyer Or Judge

There are several ways that lawyers impact our daily lives.

They are involved in everything from house purchases to wills to criminal defense and prosecution.

Your political science degree can give you an edge in studying law.

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7. Legislative Staff Member

You can be a legislative assistant (LA) to assist a lawmaker by researching, developing, and monitoring legislation that is still in the works.

8. Lobbyist

Lobbyists are professional advocates who work to sway political decisions on behalf of people and organizations.

This campaigning may result in the introduction of fresh legislation or the revision of already-enacted rules and regulations.

9. Political Analyst

Political scientists and analysts both research the genesis, evolution, and functioning of political systems.

They investigate and evaluate political movements, administrations, ideologies, policies, and international relations.

10. Politician

A politician is someone who participates in party politics or who holds or is running for public office.

They propose legislation, support, reject, and create policies to rule the nation and, by implication, its citizens.

11. Public Policy Researcher

A public policy expert is tasked with the major role of identifying the effects of newly suggested policies.

They gather evidence highlighting the issue before beginning to assess a public policy. This may entail conducting surveys, obtaining professional opinions, and looking into particular instances of the issue.

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12. Campaign Manager

A campaign manager coordinates a political campaign’s operations, including fundraising, advertising, opinion research, voter turnout (with direct contact with the public), and other activities directly supporting the efforts.

12. News Correspondent

Correspondents are in-person news reporters or journalists.

They provide news to television channels, newspapers, and radio stations while frequently operating from remote locations and foreign nations.

As opposed to reporters, correspondents add their own ideas to the news story and write about what they see as it happens.

They might provide this information via written materials, voice recordings, or videos.

13. Social Service Worker

Social service workers provide counseling, community services, and social support programs to help clients deal with their personal and social issues.

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14. Speech Writer

A speechwriter is a person who is employed to compose and prepare speeches that will be delivered by another person.

Many senior-level elected leaders and executives in the public and business sectors hire speechwriters.

Having a political science degree will help you stand out in this field.

15. Human Relations

The primary goal of the human resources manager is to manage people.

Because most employees participate in politics at various levels of an organization, whether consciously or unconsciously, one must deal with corporate politics while working in the Industrial Relations field.

A political science degree will help you thrive in this field.

16. Urban And Regional Planner

Knowing about public land policies and governance will help you as an urban and regional planner.

You can help with the development and use of land, environmental protection and stewardship, public welfare, and the design of the urban environment, including air, water, and infrastructure that enters and exits urban areas, such as transportation.

17. Non-Profit Organizations

A growing number of political science students are choosing the NGO (non-governmental organizations) pathway as a substitute for attending law school.

Most likely, any introductory political science course will inform you of the significant impact NGOs have on world affairs.

There are an estimated 1.5 million NGOs headquartered only in the United States, which gives you some idea of their potential political impact.

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What Is The Highest Paying Job In Political Science?

Some of the highest paying jobs in political science include:

Lawyers.
Political Scientists
Judges and Hearing Officers
Urban and Regional Planners
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
Paralegals and legal assistants etc.

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Conclusion

Politics classes teach you more about how to think and perform professionally than many careers do, but most importantly, they teach you how to be an engaged and accountable citizen.

Aristotle, a well-known Greek philosopher, referred to politics as the “queen of the sciences.”

For us, studying politics scientifically and methodically entails more than just figuring out how to use power and authority.

You will also learn about our democratic rights and how to hold politicians responsible for their actions as citizens, both at the local and potentially even global level.

Thus, getting a political science degree is more about developing your critical thinking skills than it is about being a politician.

You will be ultimately equipped with a wide range of promising job alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Political Science Degree

Is a degree in political science worth it?

Yes, political science is worthwhile for many people.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the life, physical, and social sciences are expected to expand by 5% over the next 10 years.

So political science is worth it both financially and career-wise.

Is political science a good major?

Yes, political science is a good major.

It prepares students for employment in practically any field, including business, finance, consulting, government work, foreign service, and teaching.

It also enhances your analytical reading, research, analysis, and writing skills.

Is a BA or BS in political science better?

None of them is better than the other, they just focus on different things.

A B.A. typically includes a larger representation of disciplines, whereas a B.S. is more concentrated on science and math.

Are political science majors in demand?

Yes, political science is in high demand now.

Political scientists’ employment is expected to increase by 9% between 2020 and 2030, which is about average for all occupations.

Also, there are expected to be 700 opportunities on average for political scientists over the following ten years.

What Can You Do With A Political Science Degree?: Career Opportunities And Tips

What Does A Political Science Degree Teach You?

Where Can A Political Science Degree Take Me?

What Skills Do I Gain From A Political Science Degree?