Hello, everyone! I am Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review, and today we are covering
that oft-repeated question when it comes to college majors:
What are you going to do with that?
Let’s drill down further, because today, my friends, we’re going to talk about
your poli-sci major. Maybe you majored in political science because you are fascinated
by global affairs, public policy, and current events. As a political science
major, you get to learn about systems of government and political behavior, and how
to apply political theories to current events. And you are far from alone. With nearly
42,000 total undergraduate degrees awarded in 2019, political science is a fantastic field
for students looking for a service-oriented career that combines research and advocacy.
It’s also a multipurpose degree that equips you with strong research,
communication, and data analysis skills applicable to careers in both the private and public sectors.
It’s also a growing field. Upon earning your political science degree,
you’d join 3.8 million professionals with degrees in the social sciences.
While all of this sounds amazing, I know what you’re about to ask! What in the world can I do
with a degree in political science? And the answer is plenty!
Like many social science degrees, political science is a versatile major.
Upon graduation, many political science majors pursue roles in law, politics, and government,
while others build enriching careers in the nonprofit sector, media, consulting,
financial services, business, and education! Speaking of which, let’s discuss some of the
most popular ENTRY-LEVEL jobs for political science majors.
Public Relations Coordinator — As a PR coordinator,
you’ll put your writing skills to work writing and editing press releases,
managing media contact lists, and monitoring press coverage. This is a great fit for majors
interested in media, as you’ll learn firsthand how to use media to shape public opinion.
Social Media Manager –– In today’s digital world, public opinion is also
greatly influenced by social media! Politicians, nonprofit organizations,
political parties, and interest groups all need digital-savvy social media managers to monitor
the views of constituents and their overall audience. In this role,
you’ll help develop social media campaigns and strategies to monitor and shape perception.
Nonprofit Program Coordinator — As an entry-level program coordinator,
you’ll help further the mission of a nonprofit by coordinating events, writing outreach materials,
organizing program agendas, and assisting with project management. If you’re passionate
about a particular cause and making a meaningful contribution, this is a role worth considering!
Legislative Assistant –– As a legislative assistant, you’ll take on a variety of
responsibilities related to legislation, including writing, editing, and tracking legislation,
serving as point of contact for constituents, and drafting speeches and talking points. This is a
great opportunity for those looking to work with elected officials and advocacy groups.
Now that we’ve covered a mere handful of the entry-level roles available after graduation,
let’s discuss some of the career paths available to you should you pursue an advanced degree.
While you certainly don’t need an advanced degree to have a rewarding career,
many political science majors choose to pursue master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees
to prepare for roles in academia, law, and executive leadership. So,
let’s review what you can do with these degrees. Law school is a popular track for political
science majors––and fun fact, political science is one for the most popular majors amongst law school
applicants each year! No surprise since similar to political scientists, lawyers are also interested
in studying legal systems, conducting research, and doing a significant amount of reading
and writing! Not to mention, a law degree offers a variety of career paths––some quite lucrative!
You could develop legislation at the local, state, or national level as a lobbyist. You could work
as a corporate lawyer drafting contracts and establishing a corporate governance framework
for corporations. You could also work as a legal advocate for at-risk populations or issue-based
organizations within the nonprofit sector. In a nutshell,
you’ll have an array of options available to you.
Many political science majors also go on to pursue master’s programs, such as a Master of
Public Administration (or MPA) to specialize in a particular area of political science––like
Nonprofit Management, Public Policy Analysis, Urban Development, and International Relations.
MPA graduates often find meaningful work as managers in both the public
and private sectors, including as a City Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of a city;
Charity Director managing organizational fundraising efforts; Human Resources
Director developing hiring strategies and employee policies, and Campaign Manager
overseeing fundraising, volunteers, and media requests for a political candidate.
More than 700 people also pursued doctorates in political science in 2019. As a PhD student,
you’ll spend several years learning in small classes with experienced faculty mentors, while
putting together a dissertation and completing original research. A PhD or doctoral program
is a great path for those looking for a career in academia, specifically as a researcher, professor,
and scholar at universities, think tanks, consulting firms, and government institutions.
So if you’re wondering: What can I do with that degree? The answer, my friends, is a lot.
If you’re planning to major in political science,
leave us a comment and tell us what you love about the field!
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