|
Career
Ops Home Page
|
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Resources for Careers in Political Science
Do you want to major in
political science? What will you do
with your degree? What careers
might you be qualified for with a political science major?
According to the American Political Science Association, “political science majors acquire skills in writing, communications, and analysis that are critical to a liberal arts education. A liberal arts education prepares students to think independently, with tolerance for others and concern for current affairs.” A political science student might focus on American Government, Foreign Policy, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, or Constitutional Law. There are even more specifically defined concentrations, such as Welfare Policy or Environmental Policy.
The study of political science prepares a student to pursue a variety of careers, both in the public sector and in the private sector.
What can you do with a major in political science?
Are you interested in pursuing a legal degree? Political science is a common major for students who intend to complete a law degree. Check out this website for information on law schools and the LSAT (the standardized test required for admission to all law schools that are members of the Law School Admission Council): http://www.lsac.org/
Do you want to use a political science degree to teach at an institution of higher education? The vast majority of political science majors are employed by universities and colleges. Most positions in higher education require the terminal degree (a Ph.D.). Check out the authority on positions in higher education, The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/jobs/
Do you want to work in the public sector? The following websites list government jobs in a variety of fields—at the local, state, and federal levels:
http://careersingovernment.com
Are you interested in a career with a specific federal agency? Try these federal websites for information:
http://www.cia.gov
(The Central Intelligence Agency)
http://www.defenselink.mil/
(The Department of
Defense—Civilian Jobs)
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea
(The U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration)
http://www.fbi.gov/
(The Federal Bureau of
Investigation)
http://www.state.gov/
(The U.S. Department of State)
Would you like to use your political science degree to work for a research institution? Look at these two websites:
http://www.heritage.org/
(The Heritage Foundation—formulates conservative public policy)
Have you checked your local newspaper for job opportunities requiring a political science degree? Bookmark this website which searches these major newspapers for career opportunities—The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Florida Sun: http://www.careerpath.com
Life with a political science degree wouldn’t be complete without this last website: