Political Science which includes the study of governments and politics is both an old and a new field. In a sense the discipline was founded by the ancient Greeks. However, in using scientific methods to collect and analyze data, it is barely 50 years old.
Political science is very useful. Any citizen should have a basic understanding of politics. A good background in political science can lead to a variety of careers in the world of business and government. Certain careers require extensive training in political science.
The American Political Science Association reports that projections for occupations often selected by political science graduates are "generally encouraging." The Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the following projections for job growth or decline over the 1999-2006 period.
Hiring needs of government are difficult to predict. Given the political climate large increases in government jobs are not likely. However, politicians are not known for eliminating large numbers of government jobs or agencies.
While a majority of lawyers engage in private practice, they can also be found as salaried employees of corporations, labor unions, trade associations and government.
The federal government includes a tremendous variety of jobs in the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has current information.
State and local governments have grown in the past decade. The increased professionalization of positions in administration and in legislative branches makes them more attractive to college graduates.
With the recent increase in interest group activity, there are now more than 14,000 associations chartered in the U.S., 30 percent of which are located in the Washington, D.C., area. Ninety percent have at least one staff person involved in lobbying, and larger associations may employ fifteen or more.
Private nonprofit organizations operate internationally in a wide variety of areas. International business, banking and finance offer opportunities for both generalists and specialists.
Perhaps up to one-third of political science graduates have found employment in business. Political science graduates may be found in marketing, personnel, advertising, public relations, banking and finance.
A political science background could be seen as almost a prerequisite for effective journalism. There is a close overlap in skills, especially writing and analysis. An understanding of government, politics and power seem essential. The job market is tight and competitive but there is opportunity for those with ingenuity and persistence.
Political science shares its place in the social studies curriculum with many other fields. Those seeking positions at this level should look to a more multi-disciplinary approach. Careers in teaching, in educational administration and in curriculum development are worth considering.
Most of the jobs in the profession of political science are in college and university teaching. Some jobs are found in research organizations. An advanced degree in political science is virtually a prerequisite for any of these positions.
The Undergraduate Bulletin specifies the requirements for every degree. The B.A. degree is designed primarily for students interested in going to law school or to graduate school in political science.The B.S. degree (non-teaching) has four different areas that can be selected as a specialty.Area A: Theory and Methods area is designed for students interested in gathering, structuring and manipulating political data. Many career options would be furthered by this track including work for interest groups, campaigns, parties, govern- ment, non-profits and large businesses.Area B: International Relations and Compare- tive Politics has similar job opportunities as the separate degree listed below, but is' only a concen- tration rather than a complete program.Area C: Public Law, Policy and Administration track is oriented toward working for federal, state or local government. Graduate work in public administration improves the chances of procuring a job in the public sector.Area D: Institutions, Process, Behavior and Participation allows students to prepare for other career goals such as working in a variety of positions in politics, government and related areas.The B.S. (teaching) Social Studies with a political science core is good preparation for secondary teaching. It involves political science core, other social studies courses and education courses.The B.S. and B.A. in International Relations are designed to prepare students for employment in any of many types of international organizations. These degrees are administered by the political science department and involve 15 credits of required courses and 27 credits from several other disciplines. This degree (B.A. or B.S.) also requires 8 credits of a foreign language.
Analytical skills such as statistics and familiarity with computers are extremely helpful to most political science majors. The political science major should give serious consideration to an appropriate double major or minor. This will enhance one's professional opportunities. It is extremely important that the students frequently consult his/her advisor about career options, university courses and appropriate second majors and miners. This also makes it possible for the advisor to write a more complete letter of recommendation when needed. Students should also search out the career information available from the Political Science Department, Career Development, publications and from the web.
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