What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree?

A political science major examines election results, investigates current events, and measures how public policies impact different communities. While a political science degree may seem limiting in terms of career opportunities, programs provide students with many transferable skills that can be utilized in a wide variety of different roles.

Before you start applying to colleges that offer political science programs, there are several important factors you have to consider. This guide will help in further exploring what this degree covers, the type of job roles available, and how to select the right college.

Should I study for a degree in political science?

When you earn a bachelor’s in political science, you gain a healthy collection of in-demand job skills. These include research abilities, critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills. As a result, a political science graduate isn’t simply restricted to a future career in politics. These skills mean you could succeed across a variety of fields, ranging from nonprofit businesses to jobs within the government.

To strengthen their knowledge and experience in a certain field, majors can opt to go for a concentration like environmental politics, foreign policy, and global politics. Certain programs will also provide hands-on experience via internships, while many colleges will even assist with job placement.

What can I do with a political science degree?

Once you have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science, there are many career paths you can pursue. Below are several examples of jobs with a political science degree, which also highlight the type of pay that’s available.

Political scientist

One of the most obvious paths to take is a role as a political scientist. Along the same theme as the degree curriculum, a political scientist analyzes political systems, which includes studying their development, policies, and overall operation. These professionals can work within government or on political campaigns.

On average, a political science salary is at a healthy $122,220 annually. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the job outlook for this profession is anticipated to increase by 6% between 2019 and 2029.

Survey researcher

A survey researcher is responsible for designing surveys and conducting these to gauge public opinion. Their work also revolves around analyzing the data from these surveys, as well as producing reports about the results. These professionals work for the likes of research firms, government agencies, political campaigns, and polling organizations.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals the median pay for survey researches is $59,170 yearly. This role, however, is expected to decline slightly in terms of opportunities – the job outlook is at -4% for 2019-2029.

Legal assistant

A legal assistant is someone that works directly for lawyers and other professionals within law. They are effectively a support channel, where they write documents, organize materials, and conduct legal research. Professionals may also decide to explore a role as a paralegal.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, legal assistants and paralegals receive an average yearly wage of $51,740. Between 2019 and 2029, these roles are projected to grow by 10% in terms of job outlook.

Market research analyst

A market research analyst looks at the market, studies it, and gains valuable details about the sales potential of a product or service. Strong analytical skills are a necessity. Market research analysts can be found working for political organizations and government agencies.

Using recent statistics, the median annual wage for market research is $63,790. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports this profession is going to experience significant job growth over the next decade or so. Between 2019 and 2029, the job outlook is predicted to expand by 18%. This makes it one of the most enticing political science careers for graduates.

How do I select the best college?

Now you have a strong idea about the type of college you want to study at for your degree. Yet once you have put together that initial shortlist, you ultimately have to settle on one.

When doing this, you have to weigh up different facets. The political science program itself is one of the obvious big points, but you also have to analyze the location of these colleges, living costs, and so much more. Another major factor is the college’s campus.

To find out what you need to know about a particular campus, simply use CampusReel. This platform features over 15,000 videos and counting, and they’re all produced by real students on campus. As a result, they offer all the content you could possibly need about dorms and campus life.

You can sign up for a free CampusReel account today.