What Can You Do With Your Political Science Degree? | College & Careers | The Princeton Review

Summary

Rob Franek from The Princeton Review explores the versatility of a political science major, highlighting its relevance in diverse careers like law, politics, and nonprofit sectors. With nearly 42,000 degrees awarded in 2019, the major equips graduates with research, communication, and data analysis skills. Entry-level jobs include Public Relations Coordinator and Legislative Assistant, while advanced degrees open paths in academia, law, and executive roles. The video encourages political science enthusiasts to share their interests in the field.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Political science is a popular major, with nearly 42,000 undergraduate degrees awarded in 2019.
• 🌍 This major provides a strong foundation in research, communication, and data analysis skills, applicable to both private and public sectors.
• 📈 The field is growing, with political science graduates joining a workforce of 3.8 million professionals in social sciences.
• 👩‍💼 Graduates can pursue careers in law, politics, government, nonprofit, media, consulting, financial services, business, and education.
• 📰 Entry-level jobs include Public Relations Coordinator, Social Media Manager, Nonprofit Program Coordinator, and Legislative Assistant.
• 💡 A political science degree is versatile, opening doors to various roles in advocacy, research, and policy-making.
• 🏛️ Law school is a common path for political science majors, leading to careers as lobbyists, corporate lawyers, or legal advocates.
• 🎓 Pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) can lead to management roles in public and private sectors, such as City Manager or Charity Director.
• 📚 Doctoral programs in political science prepare graduates for academic and research-oriented careers, including professorships and think tank roles.
• 🌟 The video encourages political science majors to share their interests in the field and subscribe for more college and career insights.

Q & A

What is the focus of a political science major?

A political science major focuses on learning about systems of government, political behavior, and how to apply political theories to current events, with an emphasis on global affairs, public policy, and current events.

How popular is a political science degree in terms of undergraduate degrees awarded?

Political science is a popular major, with nearly 42,000 total undergraduate degrees awarded in 2019.

What are some of the skills that a political science degree equips students with?

A political science degree equips students with strong research, communication, and data analysis skills applicable to careers in both the private and public sectors.

What types of careers can political science graduates pursue?

Political science graduates can pursue careers in law, politics, government, the nonprofit sector, media, consulting, financial services, business, and education.

What is the role of a Public Relations Coordinator in the context of political science?

As a Public Relations Coordinator, political science graduates use their writing skills to write and edit press releases, manage media contact lists, and monitor press coverage, shaping public opinion through media.

How does a Social Media Manager's role differ from a Public Relations Coordinator?

A Social Media Manager focuses on monitoring and shaping public opinion through digital platforms, developing social media campaigns and strategies, as opposed to traditional media-focused roles like a Public Relations Coordinator.

What responsibilities does a Nonprofit Program Coordinator have?

A Nonprofit Program Coordinator helps further the mission of a nonprofit by coordinating events, writing outreach materials, organizing program agendas, and assisting with project management.

What does a Legislative Assistant do in relation to legislation?

A Legislative Assistant takes on responsibilities related to legislation, including writing, editing, and tracking legislation, serving as a point of contact for constituents, and drafting speeches and talking points.

Why do many political science majors choose to pursue advanced degrees?

Many political science majors pursue advanced degrees to prepare for roles in academia, law, and executive leadership, enhancing their career options and professional qualifications.

What career opportunities does a law degree offer to political science majors?

A law degree offers political science majors a variety of career paths, including developing legislation as a lobbyist, working as a corporate lawyer, or as a legal advocate for at-risk populations or issue-based organizations within the nonprofit sector.

What is the significance of a Master of Public Administration (MPA) for political science majors?

An MPA allows political science majors to specialize in areas like Nonprofit Management, Public Policy Analysis, Urban Development, and International Relations, leading to meaningful work as managers in both public and private sectors.

What opportunities does a PhD in political science provide?

A PhD in political science prepares individuals for careers in academia as researchers, professors, and scholars at universities, think tanks, consulting firms, and government institutions.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Exploring Political Science Majors

Rob Franek from The Princeton Review introduces the topic of political science majors, emphasizing its relevance and versatility. He discusses the appeal of the major, which includes studying government systems, political behavior, and applying theories to current events. Franek highlights the popularity of the major, with nearly 42,000 undergraduate degrees awarded in 2019, and positions it as a service-oriented field that equips graduates with strong research, communication, and data analysis skills. The segment also touches on the growing field of social sciences, where political science graduates join a workforce of 3.8 million professionals.

05:01

📈 Career Paths for Political Science Graduates

The script delves into the career opportunities available to political science majors, emphasizing the versatility of the degree. It outlines entry-level jobs such as Public Relations Coordinator, Social Media Manager, Nonprofit Program Coordinator, and Legislative Assistant, each role leveraging the skills acquired during the political science studies. The segment also discusses the benefits of pursuing advanced degrees, like law school, Master of Public Administration (MPA), and doctoral programs, which can lead to careers in academia, law, executive leadership, and other specialized areas. The video encourages viewers to consider the variety of paths open to them with a political science degree and invites them to share their interests in the field.

Keywords

💡Political Science Major

A political science major is an academic program focused on the study of government, political systems, political behavior, and public policies. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a versatile degree that prepares students for careers in various sectors, including law, politics, and public service. The script mentions that political science majors learn to apply political theories to current events, which is a key aspect of the major.

💡Service-Oriented Career

A service-oriented career is one that emphasizes helping others, often through roles in public service, non-profits, or advocacy. The video script points out that political science is a fantastic field for students seeking such careers, as it combines research and advocacy, indicating that the skills gained through this major are well-suited for making a positive impact on society.

💡Research Skills

Research skills refer to the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information systematically. In the video, it is mentioned that a political science degree equips students with strong research skills, which are applicable to a wide range of careers. This implies that political science majors are trained to critically evaluate data and use it to inform decision-making processes.

💡Data Analysis

Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to extract useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making. The script emphasizes that political science majors develop data analysis skills, which are crucial for understanding complex social phenomena and informing policy decisions.

💡Public Relations Coordinator

A Public Relations Coordinator is a professional who manages an organization's relationship with the public, often through media relations and communication strategies. The video mentions this as an entry-level job for political science majors, highlighting the relevance of their communication and writing skills in shaping public opinion.

💡Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager is responsible for overseeing an organization's presence on social media platforms, creating content, and engaging with the audience. The script identifies this role as a key position for political science graduates, emphasizing the importance of digital media in influencing public opinion and the need for professionals who understand both politics and social media strategy.

💡Nonprofit Program Coordinator

A Nonprofit Program Coordinator is involved in planning, organizing, and implementing programs for non-profit organizations. The video script suggests this as a career path for political science majors who are passionate about social causes, indicating that the major's focus on public service aligns well with the mission-driven nature of non-profit work.

💡Legislative Assistant

A Legislative Assistant supports lawmakers by researching, drafting, and tracking legislation, as well as managing constituent relations. The video script includes this role as a potential career for political science majors, showcasing how their understanding of government and policy can be directly applied to assist in the legislative process.

💡Advanced Degrees

Advanced degrees, such as master's, professional, or doctoral degrees, are higher levels of education beyond a bachelor's degree. The video discusses how political science majors might pursue these degrees to specialize further or prepare for careers in academia, law, or executive leadership, suggesting that the major provides a strong foundation for advanced study.

💡Law School

Law school is a graduate program that prepares students to become lawyers or legal professionals. The script notes that political science is a popular major among law school applicants, due to the shared interests in legal systems and the skills required, such as research and writing, which are also emphasized in the study of political science.

💡Master of Public Administration (MPA)

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a graduate degree that focuses on equipping students with the skills to manage organizations, particularly in the public sector. The video mentions that political science majors often pursue an MPA to specialize in areas like Nonprofit Management or Public Policy Analysis, indicating that the major provides a solid background for leadership roles in public service.

Highlights

Political science is a versatile major that prepares students for service-oriented careers.

Nearly 42,000 undergraduate degrees in political science were awarded in 2019.

Political science majors develop strong research, communication, and data analysis skills.

Graduates join 3.8 million professionals with degrees in the social sciences.

Versatile political science degree opens doors to careers in law, politics, government, nonprofit, media, consulting, financial services, business, and education.

Popular entry-level jobs include Public Relations Coordinator and Social Media Manager.

Nonprofit Program Coordinators help further the mission of a nonprofit organization.

Legislative Assistants work with elected officials and advocacy groups on legislation.

Advanced degrees can lead to roles in academia, law, and executive leadership.

Law school is a popular choice for political science majors, with many career paths available post-graduation.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs specialize in areas like Nonprofit Management and Public Policy Analysis.

MPA graduates often work as managers in both public and private sectors.

PhD programs in political science prepare students for careers in academia and research.

In 2019, over 700 people pursued doctorates in political science.

Political science majors have a wide array of career options available to them.

Encouragement for those planning to major in political science to share their interests in the field.

Transcripts

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!

As always, thanks so much for watching! Please  subscribe to our channel for all the latest,  

greatest updates about college, careers,  

study tips, and a whole lot  more. See you here the next time!