What Jobs can I get with a Political Science Degree?

Dr. Emily Maiden

11 Jan 202112:40

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video outlines job opportunities for political science graduates, aiming to debunk the myth that majors mainly become politicians themselves. The host shares that many pursue careers as teachers, lawyers, government analysts, and military officers. She then connects how a political science background aids careers from international trade specialists to directors of nonprofits to Google market researchers. Ultimately, she stresses that these degrees open diverse doors into public service, explaining how someone leveraged their knowledge to help underrepresented patient populations as a pediatric surgeon.

Takeaways

😊 There are many potential career paths for political science majors beyond becoming a politician
📚 Common careers for political science grads include teaching, law, research/analysis, lobbying, public policy, and military leadership
🎓 The analytical and communication skills learned as a political science major are broadly applicable across industries
🌎 International affairs roles like democracy officers and environmental specialists leverage political science knowledge
🏛 Many political science majors work in government agencies and congressional offices in supporting roles
📈 Jobs in marketing, facilities management, and non-profits also utilize political science capabilities
😮 Some political science majors transition successfully into less expected fields like medicine, librarianship and tech
💡 The interdisciplinary nature of political science allows graduates to combine it with other fields and specialties
🔍 There are ample online resources listing potential political science careers to explore
🤔 The key is keeping an open mind about transferable skills and career possibilities

Q & A

What is the main misconception that the speaker wants to clarify about political science degrees?
-That having a political science degree means you want to become a politician. The speaker clarifies that most politicians do not actually have political science degrees.
What are some common career paths for those with political science degrees?
-Some common careers include: teachers, lawyers, political analysts, researchers, lobbyists, working in political offices, and military officers.
What does the speaker mean when she says the 'sky is the limit' for careers with a political science degree?
-She means there is a wide range of possibilities for careers, even unexpected ones, and you can create the future career you want with a political science degree.
What is the purpose of the speaker listing out actual jobs people she knows have with political science degrees?
-To give real-life examples of the breadth of careers available to show the flexibility of the degree, counteracting feelings that there are limited options.
What government office does much of the actual day-to-day work, rather than the elected official?
-Senate and House offices. The speaker explains staffers do the majority of work running the offices due to elected officials' busy schedules.
What transferable skills does a political science degree provide?
-Skills in research, data analysis, critical thinking, writing, public policy, and more that can be applied in many fields.
What was an unexpected career path mentioned for a political science major?
-Becoming a pediatric surgeon, using political science to inform a focus on underserved communities.
What resources does the speaker recommend for learning about political science careers?
-Articles and links about top careers for political science majors that she said she would provide in the description.
What experience does the speaker have that informs her perspective?
-She has a PhD, is a professor, has interned in a political office, and knows many people with political science degrees in various careers.
What main takeaway does the speaker want viewers to have about the versatility of political science degrees?
-That there are diverse career options, and you can create the career you want with a political science degree as your foundation.

Outlines

00:00

😊 Debunking the myth that political science majors want to become politicians

Dr. Maden debunks the common myth that political science majors aim to become politicians. She explains that ironically, not many politicians have political science degrees. She suggests it would be beneficial if more politicians were grounded in political science concepts. She then lists some common career trajectories for political science majors - teachers, professors, lawyers, analysts, researchers, lobbyists, working for political offices, military officers.

05:02

😃 Examples of real jobs held by political science graduates

Dr. Maden scrolls through her social media to identify real people she knows with political science degrees and lists their current job titles. These include trade specialists, legislative assistants, election monitors, congressional committee staff, attorneys, fundraising specialists, environmental health specialists, facilities management focusing on sustainability, anti-trafficking non-profit directors, democracy officers, environmental specialists, prison education program directors, pediatric surgeons, teacher recruiters, librarians, deputy directors, government accountability analysts, tech company market researchers, refugee nonprofit coordinators, university administrator, Army JAG Corps members.

10:03

😌 Conclusion - many possibilities with a political science degree

Dr. Maden concludes by stating that the list of jobs demonstrates the myriad possibilities available to political science graduates. She encourages viewers to create the future they want and notes they may find themselves in unexpected but fulfilling careers. She hopes this video shows the breadth of opportunities enabled by the degree.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡political science degree

A political science degree refers to an undergraduate or graduate academic degree focused on the study of government, politics, political theory, political science research methods, and often other related fields like international relations or public policy. In the video, the narrator discusses the wide range of career paths and jobs that are possible with a political science degree.

💡politician

A politician is someone who has a career in politics, often by holding political office and serving as an elected official in government. The narrator clarifies that contrary to popular belief, most politicians do not actually have political science degrees, and that having a political science degree does not necessarily mean you will or should become a politician.

💡public opinion polling

Public opinion polling refers to survey research and data analysis conducted to assess and measure public opinion trends on political issues, candidates, policies, etc. The narrator gives the example of election polling and notes that political science research methods are useful for designing, conducting, and analyzing public opinion polls.

💡lobbyist

A lobbyist seeks to influence political decisions and policies by advocating on behalf of a specific interest group or organization. The video mentions working as a lobbyist as one potential career for someone with a political science degree.

💡legislative assistant

A legislative assistant provides support and assistance to a legislator such as a Member of Congress. They conduct research, track legislation, handle correspondence, etc. The video gives the example of several people with political science degrees working as legislative assistants.

💡public sector

The public sector refers to government agencies and organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. The narrator notes that many political science graduates end up working in public sector jobs for the government in a variety of roles.

💡foreign service

Foreign service refers to diplomatic and consular programs and agencies that represent a country's interests internationally. The video mentions a political science graduate working as an international trade specialist in the foreign agricultural services.

💡non-profit organization

A non-profit organization operates for social causes or to provide public services rather than seeking profit. The video gives examples of political science graduates working for or even directing various non-profit organizations.

💡undergraduate degree

An undergraduate degree is a bachelor's degree typically completed in 4 years. The narrator notes that most of the political science graduates she profiles only have undergraduate degrees in political science before moving into their various careers.

💡interdisciplinary studies

Interdisciplinary studies refers to academic programs or research drawing from multiple disciplines. The narrator gives the example of a student double majoring in music and political science to later pursue cultural diplomacy, showing the potential for interdisciplinary studies.

Highlights

Debunks the common misconception that political science majors mainly go into politics or become politicians

Notes most politicians do not have political science degrees, sometimes to their detriment in understanding key concepts

Lists commonly repeated careers for political science grads: teachers, professors, lawyers, analysts, researchers

Mentions working as a lobbyist or political staffer as additional options

Emphasizes political staffers do most of the actual work running a political office

Notes political science combined with ROTC can lead to becoming a military officer

Says opportunities are wide ranging by listing real jobs held by graduates

Includes international trade specialist, legislative assistant, election monitor overseas

Further lists attorney, fundraising specialist, environmental health specialist

Other roles cover democracy officer, prison education director, pediatric surgeon

Additional careers span librarian, marketing analyst at Google, refugee nonprofit youth coordinator

Says political science trains versatile skills applicable across sectors

Encourages creating your own career path aligning interests and political science background

Concludes opportunities wide open, can end up in unexpected but rewarding directions

Reiterates political science degree equips graduates for diverse, impactful work

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What is the main misconception that the speaker wants to clarify about political science degrees?

What are some common career paths for those with political science degrees?

What does the speaker mean when she says the 'sky is the limit' for careers with a political science degree?

What is the purpose of the speaker listing out actual jobs people she knows have with political science degrees?

What government office does much of the actual day-to-day work, rather than the elected official?

What transferable skills does a political science degree provide?

What was an unexpected career path mentioned for a political science major?

What resources does the speaker recommend for learning about political science careers?

What experience does the speaker have that informs her perspective?

What main takeaway does the speaker want viewers to have about the versatility of political science degrees?