For those who are considering a Master’s degree in political science and who are wondering if this is going to be a wise career move, it will really depend on what type of career you want to have in the future. For those who are looking for a career as a legislative analyst, a foreign service or immigration officer, a political commentator or campaign manager, or as business analyst this would be a great degree to have. The requirements to get this degree are going to first start with an undergraduate degree in political science.

Should you pursue Master in political science?

You can find many different undergraduate degree programs for political science at the state level colleges, along with private universities as well. You are going to study many different things throughout the program, including human rights, world politics, public budgeting, policy analytics, financial management, international development, democratization and more. The program that you choose is going to target the classes that will best satisfy for your areas of interest, and the classes will prepare you for the jobs that you want to obtain. You must have good grades in the undergraduate program to get into the Master’s degree program.

For someone who wants to go into a job in the legal system or who wants to become a lawyer, or who wants to pursue a high political career, the best option will be to go to law school after the undergraduate level degree is completed, and again the student is going to have to have great grades to accomplish this. The college of law examination is also going to have to be taken, and this will require a lot of preparation and studying. This is a great degree for someone who is interested in political science, and a master’s degree will help you get a better job in the future.

More articles: Careers in Political Science

There are so many different colleges that are offering undergraduate political science programs where you can get a political science degree. For those who are wondering what college is going to be the best choice, the first place to start looking is at state colleges, and also at colleges that have a law program in their graduate level colleges. There are advantages to going to a great school to get your undergraduate degree, especially if you’re looking to continue on with a law degree or master’s degree in political science.

Getting the best political science degree from best colleges.

There are many sites that you can check the rankings to see where they stand compared to the other colleges with this degree. This allows you to see which colleges are the best, and also which are going to be the most competitive. For a school that’s highly competitive to get into, this means that it’s going to be top notch and a degree earned from there is going to give you more credibility than getting a degree from a no name school that has no recognition. You always want to make sure that the school that you choose is an accredited school and recognized by the government and different educational boards.

Normally the state level colleges anywhere are going to offer some of the best educations around, along with the Ivy League schools and some other institutions as well. Look for schools that have high hiring rates after graduation as well, because this shows that the school produces top notch employees for employers. Before you apply to a school be sure to check it’s accreditations, its rankings, it’s graduation rates and also the employment rates after graduation to ensure that this is going to be a good school for you to reach your political science goals and career aspirations.

More articles: Entry Level Political Science Careers

Political science jobs are usually plentiful within the private and public sectors, making it relatively easy for individuals to secure advanced or entry level political science careers. This makes the major a very popular one at many colleges and universities. Several high paying political science careers that are sought by many people but only offered to the cream of the crop. These are the jobs to which many college students aspire to pursue.

One of the most exciting high paying political science careers is working for the CIA. The agency recruits for several analytical positions, including intelligence collection analyst. Intelligence analysts compile relevant information from various sources and analyze it to create an objective assessment in written or oral form. The final product sometimes ends up in the hands of senior advisors or the President. Starting salary range for this position is approximately $50,000 to $100,000 or higher based on level of experience.

Intelligence collection analyst is one of the highest paying political science jobs.

When a graduate holds a masters in political science careers, he or she could potentially assume some high paying positions such as those management-level positions within the government or as a private sector corporate officer or director. Those who wish to assume high paying political science careers as professors should go on to complete their Ph.D. Other advanced level jobs in the field include working as a lawyer, consumer advocate, or chief of staff. Many entry level positions are designed to lead to more skilled roles. For example, an individual can work as a paralegal prior to attending law school.

International relations careers include working for the Foreign Service of the United States in one of the American embassies abroad or at the U.S. Information Agency or State Department in Washington, D.C. Competition is fierce for these positions that pay around $90,000 annually. Of the 12,000 people who recently took the selection exam, only 200 were chosen. The Defense Department, CIA, and National Security Agency also hire individuals interested in international relations careers.

A mid career position for an international relations officer can have a salary up to $90k annually.

Jobs with non-profit organizations are historically not the highest paying. However, an individual working as an executive director with a non-profit organization can earn between $65,000 and $90,000, depending on experience and size of employer. These careers allow individuals to lead organizations that lobby the government for important changes.

High paying political science careers are ranked in the top 50 wage-earning positions in the country. Political scientists work in government, for private companies, or in the educational or non-profit sector. Those who are the best at what they do are selected for the most financially attractive positions and earn an average of $100,000 per year.

After graduating with a political science major, some students go on to pursue their graduate degrees. An advanced degree may provide students with a competitive edge when applying for certain positions but it is often not required for most political science jobs. Masters in political science careers include education, research organizations, law, and governmental staff roles.

Though a Ph.D. is usually required to teach on a college or university level, a master’s degree is often sufficient for employment at a community college. Masters in political science careers in education include professor, adjunct instructor, and department researcher. Some individuals take positions as professors and use the tuition reimbursement benefit to pursue their Ph.D. degree. Upon receipt of this degree, they move on to high paying political science careers at some of the top universities in the nation.

Graduates are encouraged to go for Master degree for political science major.

The need for research within this field is never-ending. Political systems and populations become more diverse and complex by the year and skilled professionals are needed to gather and analyze relevant data. Survey research institutes and professional research organizations hire individuals with graduate degrees and task them with this important work. Grant-funded institutions also have job opportunities for individuals with graduate degrees. Positions may be permanent or offered on a contract basis, providing the individual the opportunity to work for multiple clients.

The government has a wide variety of masters in political science careers. These include working on the staff of committees of state legislature or Congress, in agencies of executive branches, or for other governmental organizations. Working in government is the choice of many people seeking entry-level work within the field but it is also an excellent option for those with a graduate degree. They may assume a management role within an agency or department.

Graduate programs in this field usually prefer or require that students have an undergraduate major in the field. Languages, statistics, economics, and computers are other skills acquired during the course of study that are viewed favorably by graduate school admissions officers. Work experience in fields like urban planning may also help individuals gain admission to the best graduate schools.

There are many other masters in political science careers available within the private sector and government. Graduate students should explore other opportunities and research salary ranges to determine which jobs spark their interest. Careers for those with graduate degrees are financially rewarding and involve a higher level of expertise than entry-level positions.

The political science major is offered by most of the larger colleges and universities in the U.S. It is the study of government, public policy, and political behavior, systems, and processes. Within the field are several subfields, including theory, ideology, philosophy, economy, analysis, international relations, and comparative politics. The political science careers salary ranges vary depending on these areas of specialization as well as level of experience.

Those who have interest in American politics, international issues, and topics like civil rights, the environment, and healthcare often pursue careers in political science. During their studies, individuals learn skills that can be applied to employment in local, state, or federal government, business, law, nonprofit, journalism, electoral politics, research, and teaching. Some students even go on to pursue international relations careers.

Lawyer, paralegal and a law firm administrator are all high paying political science jobs that you can consider.

Political science careers salary ranges are often lowest for those who work in the non-profit sector. Though the pay for these jobs may not be excellent, they enable workers to gain valuable experience and often serve as the foundation for a future career in politics. After gaining some experience with non-profit work, some people go on to serve as consultants. They use lessons learned to help other entities achieve success in related endeavors.

One high paying political science careers is that of a lawyer. Students must attend law school following college and then pass the bar exam in order to practice law. Those who wish to work in a legal environment in another capacity should consider becoming a paralegal or managing a law firm. Both of these careers involve specialized study that is less intense than law school. Though these careers do not pay as well, they each have very respectable starting salaries.

There are plenty of goverment jobs for political science graduates who are have just graduated from college.

Government work is a popular choice for those considering work in this field. Civil service is characterized by a wide political science careers salary range because so many job opportunities exist. Upon graduating from school, an individual can accept a position as a legislative aide, government agency worker, or analyst. Most-qualified graduates will be prepared to assume a director role with a government program.

Anyone who is interested in how the government functions and enjoys collaborative work may find this field of study interesting. With such a wide range of political science careers salary and job opportunities, graduates are bound to find something rewarding. Many positions serve as the foundation for others, allowing incumbents to quickly increase their visibility within the field.

College graduates will be pleased to know that there are numerous entry level political science careers that they can pursue. Since the political science major falls under the umbrella of liberal arts, these students are qualified for nearly any entry level position. Analytical, communication, and research skills learned during this course of study are the primary components of many jobs, making these individuals easy to train.

Undergraduate courses cover topics like international relations, political theory, American government, and comparative politics. These qualify graduates for public and private sector political science jobs. Some of the most popular entry level political science careers involve working for the government. Numerous opportunities exist at the local, state, and federal level. Graduates interested in government work may find themselves living in the nation’s capitol or in another large city.

CIA Intelligence Specialist is one of the most sought after careers for political science.

Careers working for the federal government include Congressional Research Service researcher, CIA intelligence specialist, Secret Service member, and civilian consultant for the Department of Defense. Though many of these are located in Washington, D.C., some are based in other areas of the country or the world. These coveted jobs are extremely difficult to get and require that students have an outstanding GPA, internship experience, excellent analytical and communication skills, and a wealth of extracurricular activities.

Doing an internship can also help individuals decide whether government work is on their list of potential careers in political science. Some students may realize that they wish to work for a smaller government agency, such as a local or state government. They may serve as an assistant to a city or county manager, staff member for a legislative committee, county commission, or city council, or a director of a state program. Taking courses in public administration and local and state government will be helpful.

Most graduates will often work as election campaigners to gain job experiences.

Working on campaigns and elections is another of the entry level political science careers sought by graduates. This job requires a familiarity with campaigns, elections, interest groups, political parties, and American government. By volunteering for a local party or campaign, students can make themselves visible for a paid position during a future campaign. Though campaign management careers are cyclical, polling and consulting firms have year-round positions.

Graduates can also find entry level political science careers with an interest group or corporate political action committee. Individuals who are passionate about certain issues are often drawn to these jobs. Nonprofit organization lobbyist and policy analyst are among the other private sector opportunities for students pursuing this field of study.

While some careers in political science only make use of political knowledge, others require a combination of different knowledge and skills. People who have interest in political science jobs other than working for the government or going to law school should explore these. By double-majoring, students can qualify themselves for many of these roles.

One of the popular entry level political science careers is working as a news analyst. The job is similar to that of a news reporter, correspondent, or journalist. Incumbents gather information about newsworthy events on all levels of the political scene, from local to international. They then prepare stories about these happenings and provide them to the public in written or oral format. Students interested in this career should double-major in journalism or English.

Those who enjoy working in the private sector and dual-major in business may pursue careers in political science that place them in a consulting role or working in a public affairs department for a corporation. Most consultants need several years of work experience to be effective but some consulting firms do hire recent graduates. Working in a public affairs department for a national or international company provides individuals with direct exposure to the consumer marketplace.

Being a lawyer may not be the career of choice but that does not mean an individual wishes to exclude jobs in the legal field. A person who dual-majored in pre-law may enjoy a role performing research and preparing documents as a legal assistant. When lawyers handle cases that are politically-based, they look to individuals who have an interest in politics. A career as a paralegal is another possibility for people with basic legal knowledge.

Lobbyists promote their cause with the government and this sometimes difficult and thankless job can be very rewarding. Lobbyist assistant is one of the entry level careers in political science and is a stepping-stone to a career as a lobbyist. Assistants conduct research, compose letters to political figures and the public, and run errands. The experience gained in this fast-paced role serves an individual well in the lobbying career.

Individuals with a predisposition toward teaching others often pursue education-related careers in political science. With a master’s degree, they will be qualified to teach at most community colleges, while a Ph.D. is usually needed to become a four-year college or university professor. These are a few ways that a political science major can be combined with another subject area to prepare a person for a rewarding career.

Political science careers are very rewarding and exciting careers. It’s a popular career that requires determination and hard work. Most universities and colleges offer political science course work. Students majoring in political science have a variety of careers to choose from. Political science careers can range from jobs with government to law to non-profit work.

People interested in the way how organizations are funded, how government is run, how public services are provided and how the legal system works are excellent candidates for careers in political science.

The following are some guidelines for people who are interested in political science careers. If you are looking forward to pursue a career in political sciences, the following paragraphs outline some careers with a political science degree.

Non-Profit Work

Non-profit work is one of the fields in which a political science careers graduate can opt to pursue. Even though nonprofits or community organizations may not pay so well, the experiences gained from working at these organizations are immensely valuable and they are poised to be a stepping stone for political science graduates to gain entry into politics in future.

Moreover, by understanding how our society and government works, these young political science graduates are able to contribute a great deal to our society by working for groups that encourage good deeds and causes.

Law

Among the careers in political science, the law ranks the highest in terms of popularity. Students majoring in political science can opt to become a lawyer provided a passing grade on the bar exam and an additional three years of graduate degree are obtained. For political science graduates who don’t want to pursuing a law degree, they can choose to manage a law office or become a paralegal.

Consultation Work

Political science careers also include consultation work. In general a political science professional will choose to be a consultant after certain amount expertise had been obtained throughout his or her career. But there are certain consulting firms are hiring fresh political science graduates. Even though these particular fresh graduates have no prior work experiences, they are top academic achievers and posses excellent recommendations from their academies. Some of this consultation work is highly competitive and requires the smartest brains in this career.

Government Work (Civil Service)

Most entry level political science positions are available in government sectors. Political science graduates can choose from a wide range of civil service jobs such as government program directors, legislative aids, political science analyst and government agency workers. These positions are mostly available in capital cities. The experiences gained from working at government agencies are highly valuable and are extremely useful in leading to a high paying job in later stage of the careers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, political science careers are interesting careers that can be very rewarding. If you like to work with people and are interested in the way how our society functions, political science careers are probably your best bet. All in all, political science careers are highly recommended and worth pursuing.

Political science careers include a wide variety of jobs. Most people will think that the only choice for students majoring in political science is to work for the government. You might be surprised by the many options available to recent political science graduates. The following are some popular entry level positions for political science major graduates.

Legal Assistant

Political science major graduates often find work in law firms where they are hired as legal assistants. The tasks of a legal assistant involve doing research and writing papers for lawyers. Lawyers who work on politically related cases particularly prefer to hire political science graduates who are interested in politics. Ability to multi task, strong written and verbal communication skills as well as a passion for research are some of the necessary skills required as a legal assistant.

Lobbyist Assistant

Another popular entry level job for political science graduates is the lobbyist assistant. The job responsibility of a lobbyist assistant include helping lobbyist with writing letters, doing research, running errands and not excluding running around to get coffee. Even though the work of a lobbyist assistant is tough and the job is at the lowest rung on the lobbyist ladder, lobbyist assistant is a great entry level political science job that are not only rewarding but also satisfying. The experiences gained as a lobbyist assistant are highly valuable when you are trying to move up the lobbyist ladder.

Legislative Staffer

Legislative staffer is a highly sought after entry level job among political science graduates. Legislative staffer normally works in a government sector for elected representatives in the legislature. Legislative staffing positions are hard to come by and the number of positions is usually limited. Moreover, the nature of the work for legislative staffer is tough and it usually involves irregular working hour. It’s easier to get the job if you have political connection or if anyone working in the government would recommend you for the position. In the long run, legislative staffer is a rewarding position and it’s one of the highest paying jobs for political science careers.

Political Campaign Organizer

Political science graduates with strong organizational skills and willingness to go above and beyond will do well as a political campaign organizer. This entry level position is an ideal starting point for your political science careers. Tasks such as organizing a campaign for door to door canvassing and making phone calls are the daily routine of a political campaign organizer. The work of campaign organizing is a very hands-on type of work which requires running around a neighborhood. As a result, the career of a political campaign organizer can be very strenuous as it requires long working hour and sometimes you have to work in the weekend. Even though it’s tough work, the connection you make while organizing campaign will be invaluable as you move up the career ladder.

News Analyst

News analyst is also one of the hot entry level jobs in political science careers. A news analyst is like a journalist, news reporter or a correspondent. The responsibility of a news analyst is to prepare stories and gather information about events on all levels, from the state to international stage. Essentially, news analysts assemble important information about world events, often political in nature, and present it to the public in an accessible way. A candidate with double majors in political science and journalism is a better fit as news analyst.

Summary

In summary, there are a variety of entry level political science jobs available for fresh graduates. What you need to do is to look around and make the right contact. All in all, political science careers are wonderful and challenging careers. They are rewarding careers that are fulfilling. You will be making impacts to the society in your political science careers.

There are actually more career options than you might have thought for political science major. Political science careers are not limited to only government jobs, law firms or being a professor. There are a variety of opportunities exist for political science graduates. The education background and skills of a student will determine the type of jobs and careers that he or she will be pursuing.

The following are some guidelines to help you to identify the career options for political science major.

Skills and Passion in Political Science

1. If you have passion about how the government works and how the society functions and coupled with an analytical mind as well as strong writing skill, a major in political science is certainly a perfect fit for you. These skills are not only applicable in political science careers, but also in a wide range of other careers.

Civil Service for Political Science Graduates

2. Jobs in government or politics are usually the starting point for some political science graduates before climbing up the corporate ladder. For examples, campaign organizers, legislative staffer and lobbyist assistant are just some of the popular entry level jobs that are highly sought after by political science graduates. Therefore, if you are fresh out of colleges with a degree in political science, these are ideal positions for you to gain invaluable experiences to advance further in your careers.

Advantages of Government Positions

3. Working in government sectors is always beneficial especially when you are an aide to an elected representative. You will gain assess to government policies, affairs related to decision making and constituent business. The experiences gained at government posts are always helpful in moving you up the careers ladder. Therefore, the best thing to do while holding a position as a civil servant is to build up your political contacts which can be utilized later in your political science careers to get recommendations for propelling yourself as an elected office or to get an appointment to a management position in a government agency.

Beyond Government Work

4. Local, state and federal government work is not only the option for political science careers. Other positions such as non-profit agency directors and corporate public affair officers are also popular alternative to government work. In addition, careers in education, consulting and journalism are all possible choices. Therefore, all you need to do is to look around and explore whatever options are available.

Going to Graduate School

5. A political science degree may not be enough if you are looking for management level opportunity in government. Advance level position such as a directors or corporate officers may require a master degree in order to have better chance of being promoted. Therefore, you are highly recommended to go to graduate school to obtain a master degree or even a PhD.

Moreover, a master degree in political science can also serve as an excellent preparation for teaching or research careers in academic institutions.

Double Degree in Political Science

6. A double in degree in political science involve both a political science degree and a degree in other field of study such as journalism or business. The advantage of doing this is that a student who combines a business degree with a political science major might find employment as a consultant or in corporate public affairs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, political science careers are not limited to government work and they are literally many options available such as a corporate officer, legal assistant or a journalist. At the same time, a career with the government is not only useful in gaining experiences in political science but also in building political connections to some big shots. Most entry level political science careers are available in government sectors. As such, you are recommended to start off your political science careers at government agencies or departments.