What Can You Do With a Political Science Degree?

According to Census Bureau data from the 2018 midterm elections, voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds jumped 16% from 2014. Non-presidential elections typically don’t draw people to the polls, but young adults’ political engagement is on the rise. Even though more are interested in politics, few are knowledgeable about it.

There are many political issues that are vital to college-aged students. Among them are college affordability, racial equity, gun control, and climate change. 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.

This is why prospective college students eager to make an impact on the world should consider majoring in political science. 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.

Political science is a versatile degree. It can springboard a career in politics and policy, nonprofit work, business, media, or education. The research, communication, and data analysis skills acquired in the study of political science also have wide applications in both the private and public sectors.

Becoming a political scientist, or someone who analyzes and proposes policy, usually requires at least a master’s or doctoral degree. With a BA or BS (each has slightly different course requirements), graduates can land an entry-level administrative, communication, or analyst job with a public sector organization, business, or nonprofit.

Political science is also one of the traditional majors for undergraduates on their way to law school.

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.

While some college programs divide the subject in different ways, political science traditionally contains four subfields.

Over the past decade, the growing importance of data analysis has led to the emergence of a fifth subfield in political science.

All political science degrees, whether an associate degree or Ph.D., fall under social sciences. 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.

A bachelor’s degree in political science can be earned as either a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS). The categorization and ability to choose your degree type vary among schools. If both options exist, their requirements will be slightly different.

The course of study for a BS in political science typically includes mathematics and statistics.

Public administration — a related but distinct field to political science — prepares students for civil service work in the public and nonprofit sectors at the administrative level. Sometimes considered an offshoot of political science, public administration puts policy into practice.

Compared with political science, public administration is less theoretical and more pragmatic, with a bigger focus on organization, conduct/ethics, and budgeting.

Many colleges offer undergraduate and graduate programs in public administration, while others offer public policy programs or combine public administration with business administration. A master of public administration (MPA) and master of public policy (MPP) are both considered professional degrees, similar to an MBA for business executives or a JD for lawyers.

If you’re pursuing a career as a public servant, an MPA could be preferable to a master’s in political science. A bachelor’s degree in political science is also considered a good springboard to public administration programs at the graduate level.

Political science majors work in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Some apply their training directly to politics and policy, but the hard and soft skills developed through a political science curriculum can lead to diverse career paths.

Many of the career paths open to political science graduates deal directly with textual analysis, data crunching, and persuasive communication. 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.

Political science is a versatile degree that can apply to many professions. Whether you pursue a career in politics and policy or translate your analytical and communicative skills to the private sphere, the degree’s potential return on investment can be quite high.

A bachelor’s degree in political science meets the qualifications for a wide variety of entry-level, white-collar positions that deal with administration, communication, and/or data.

According to PayScale, political science majors can start out earning $50,000-$70,000 as research analysts, program and account managers, and marketing professionals. As with other majors, salaries and career possibilities for political science degree-holders can be enhanced with advanced education.

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. However, career prospects will vary depending on whether you pursue political science as a career or as a launchpad for other job opportunities.

A successful career in politics and policy takes a lot of networking, perhaps more than any other career track. Building a web of scholars and professionals in the field starts with your education. Professors can offer valuable industry connections, and peers may become coworkers and competitors.

Completing an internship after graduating college is generally essential to securing a political science job. This is especially true in political hubs like Washington, D.C., and New York. Internships also allow you to experience working in specific areas of interest, such as state governance, international relations, and immigration policy.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Internships, particularly paid internships, often lead to full-time jobs. Political interns can find a career foothold in many industries, such as education and technology. Work experience at places like MSNBC, the U.S. Congress, or Amnesty International can help poli/sci majors land their first full-time jobs in media, politics, or nonprofit work.

While political scientists perform vital work at many agencies and organizations, most work for the federal government. The organizations that employ political scientists tend to promise secure, well-compensated careers, but the reality is that the number of qualified candidates is projected to exceed the number of available positions.

Demand for political scientists in federal government, political organizations, lobbying firms, and labor unions will generally keep pace, but political scientists can expect to face fierce competition for jobs in the coming years.

Political science is unique in that it combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and information. While a bachelor’s degree in political science prepares students for entry-level jobs in business and administration, it also imparts skills that can be leveraged to enter a host of other fields, such as media or marketing.

If you’re passionate about working as a political scientist, you should consider graduate school, which can prepare you to do research in an academic or public policy setting.

Political science graduate students study advanced political theory, conduct original research, and work to enter the broader political conversation by publishing their findings.

A master’s in political science can prepare you to earn a Ph.D. or to perform research at nonprofit or public sector organizations. With a doctorate, you can become a professor or assume a senior role at a think tank or government agency.

However, it’s important to note that, as with many professions, political science is a competitive field. 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.

The competition in political science is real, but for driven individuals, there’s always opportunity.