What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree?

What can you do with a political science degree?

The short answer: pretty much anything.

Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. A poli sci major won’t qualify you to become a five-star chef or Olympic figure skater. But political science IS an extremely versatile bachelor’s degree when it comes to political science job opportunities. Why is a political science degree worth it? Because the knowledge and skills you’ll gain in a great political science program will serve you well in virtually any professional setting.

We’ll talk more about exactly how that happens, but first, here’s a list of a few political science career options that will give you a taste of some jobs you might enjoy after earning a political science degree.

Why study political science

Positions in politics and government are the most obvious choices for political science grads. Law-related jobs are also popular choices among the political science student population. (However, you don’t need a political science degree to go to law school, and you don’t necessarily need to attend law school to pursue a law-related career.)

You could also use your political science degree as a springboard into any number of nonpolitical, nongovernmental fields as well, from business to finance to the arts.

You might find yourself working for an advocacy organization, a corporation with a significant global footprint, or a variety of other employers.

Politics/government positions

• Political campaign manager
• Political campaign staff
• Chief of staff
• Communications coordinator
• Intern/volunteer for a political campaign or issues-oriented not-for-profit organization (this may be a good fit for you while you’re in high school or earning your degree)
• Legislative assistant or aide
• Lobbyist
• Media strategist
• Political consultant
• Policy analyst
• Pollster or public opinion officer
• Political scientist
• Diplomat
• Government offical

Other fields

• Attorney
• Consultant
• Diplomat
• Intelligence analyst
• International affairs professional
• Journalist
• Market research analyst
• Political science professor
• Professor
• Public relations specialist
• Social media manager
• Business executive

Get the picture? The sky’s the limit when you’re considering what to do with a political science major. Recent political science graduates of North Central College, for example, include:

• Assistant state’s attorney
• Federal government relations manager
• Associate director of global operations
• Community resource coordinator
• Lawyers in private and public practice
• Professionals in public and private international organizations
• Staff members of state and congressional legislators
• College and graduate school professors

It’s important to note that some of these political science careers may require graduate study – a master’s degree, doctorate, or other graduate degree program like a law degree. If you decide to continue your education in a political science graduate program, you’ll have the chance to take a deeper dive into the subfields and issues you find most interesting.

What will you learn as a political science major?

You may be questioning how it’s possible that a single field can prepare you for so many different types of political science jobs. It all comes down to the skills you develop in the process of earning a political science degree.

You’ll fine-tune your writing and research skills and develop a talent for analyzing everything you hear and read. You’ll become adept at taking a big idea and breaking it down into smaller pieces so that you and others can understand and evaluate it. As you discover how to make persuasive arguments supported by facts and evidence, you’ll hone your presentation and critical thinking skills and collect tips and tricks for influencing people. All of these skills are going to be valuable to you in virtually any field you pursue.

In addition, you’ll learn about topics that will help you not only to better understand the world … but also to engage with that world. You’ll relate politics to important issues like climate change, racial justice, human rights, and global inequity. You'll gain vital methodological skills that bring a scientific approach to pressing global problems. The international elements of North Central’s program will prepare you to operate successfully in a globalized world, no matter what career path you select. In fact, many students pair a political science major or minor with a more skills-based major, like business or accounting.
 
“Whether you take a single introductory course or complete the major, your academic training in political science will prepare you to successfully navigate the world around you and engage your democracy in a meaningful way,” explains Bill Muck, professor and chair of North Central College’s political science department and coordinator of the institution's global studies program. “A degree in political science can prepare you to make a difference.”

To get a sense of how you can make those connections with the world, check out the Topics in Politics lecture series (also known as TIP Talks) offered by North Central’s political science faculty. Here are just two examples on YouTube: The Politics of Touch and Pseudoscience and American Democracy.

What is a political science degree?

You might be surprised by the content and approach of your political science courses. "Political science is a social science, so we use both qualitative and quantitative data,” explains Meghan Steinbeiss, an adjunct political science instructor at North Central. Steinbeiss is also a 2013 graduate of the program. “Some students are surprised to learn that political science research utilizes the scientific method just like biology, chemistry, or physics."

Bill Muck agrees. “Our political science students learn to think like scientists while they’re here. But some of them arrive on campus thinking that political science is the equivalent of cable news. They tell me, ‘I love politics. I watch CNN and Fox all the time.’ And that’s great ... but we take a different approach here. We bring a scientific and methodical approach to politics. This isn’t about punditry or opinion disconnected from facts. It’s about understanding and engaging in the world in a scientific way.” He adds: “They'll learn about data analysis and quantitative methods. They’ll learn how to read a regression, how to crunch numbers.”

In fact, you don’t need to be particularly interested in politics to enjoy political science. That’s because the field is all about how power is obtained and distributed. You’ll learn how individuals and groups influence government decisions and world affairs. You’ll explore topics like liberty, equality, justice, and the ways societies organize and govern themselves.