by
Imed Bouchrika, Phd
Among public and private organizations, political science degree majors stand out for their deep understanding of organizational dynamics, human relations, as well as the political and institutional laws that govern business organizations. A political science degree provides every student with exceptional analytical skills and is a good career choice for those who are keen on joining the public sector.
The demands of a political science degree, however, might not appeal to every incoming higher education student. In most instances, political science degree majors are interested in pursuing public sector positions. These individuals typically have a deep interest in the affairs of the state, government, and international relations.
The life of a political scientist is given to public service, deep research, engagement with international collaborators, in addition to the necessity of wielding the quantitative tools of the discipline. In this article, we will walk you through the definition of political science degree, requirements, costs, and occupational outlook, among others.
In the matter of political science definition, it is the systematic exploration of forces that constitute a polity, from governments, political parties, political factions, and interest groups at the local, state, national, and international levels. At the core of this discipline is the need to determine how these forces dynamically change their behavior and strategies over time in order to gain power.
As a distinct scientific discipline, political science uses the descriptive model in order to analyze, assess, and predict the interplay of power groups within the scope of its study (Annual Reviews, 2003). This is a departure from the original conception of political science along the normative lines, which was at its ascendancy among political thinkers and philosophers dating back to ancient times (Almond, G. A., 1966).
Modern political scientists have to embrace a multidisciplinary approach, using ideas from psychology, economics, law, public policy, and foreign relations to determine how political entities try to gain voice and power.
Political scientists are expected to be well-grounded in the classical thought that historically defined it. From there, they would have to have a deep understanding of the political ideas, ideologies, policies, institutions, processes, strategies, and behavior behind political groups, classes, diplomacy, law, government, and war. As such, it encompasses the psychological, cultural, and societal factors that mutually influence the operation of the whole organic polity.
A political science degree can lead you down several career paths. Most of these paths are along local, state, national, and international power corridors where similarly oriented people can be seen determining the fate of their respective spheres of influence via legislation, executive orders, legal reviews, and submission of position or policy papers. Steeped in the traditions of history, comparative foreign policy, political theories, policy concepts, and principles of governance, political scientists are well equipped to contribute to high-impact research involving data management, assume positions of political influence, or lead in the lectures and discussions of a formal academic setting.
A four-year bachelor’s degree in political science can cost anywhere from $10,560 for public in-state colleges to $37,650 for private schools. A master’s degree starts at $8,950 on average for in-state students and goes for as much as $42,030 for private colleges. A doctoral degree, meanwhile, may cost $11,440 for students residing in the state and rises to $25,0083 for out-of-state students. Private schools charge, on average, $44,910.
The figures cover only political science degree tuition and related fees. If you add the room, board, and other costs, the figures will consequently go higher.
| Type of Online Associate Degrees | Concentrations |
|---|---|
| Online Associate of Arts | Concentration on humanities and social sciences |
| Online Associate of Science | Concentration on science or technology courses |
| Online Associate of Applied Science | Concentration on vocational training |
A degree in political science is absolutely worth it. This is more so if you are drawn to participating in the well-being of humanity in general and your locality in particular. This is through work as an elected official, appointed seat, member of a policy advocacy organization, and the like.
In many instances, political scientists consider the high-stake relevance of their work more decisive than monetary considerations, though money comes with the territory. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates, for example, that political scientists are among the highest-earning professionals anywhere, with median annual wages of $125,350 in 2020.
Contributing to decisive, meaningful, and insightful policymaking is a huge reward for most political scientists. Wary of political strife that typically undermine weak states, they venture into research that could contribute to healthy national development.
In recent times, for example, this is clearly demonstrated by research into the U.S. population’s perception of government effectivity in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Research into that territory is crucial in informing national, federal, and local executives in reaching out to the population and implementing actions for the interest of all. As a side note, it weakens the power base of fake news propagandists who constantly threaten to undermine the people’s trust of their political leaders.
“The Public’s Perception of Government Officials’ Communication in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic” by Shaniece Bickham and Diane Francis (2021) surveyed adult online respondents regarding credibility perceptions and trust across government levels (local, state, and federal). “A comparison of overall response success among the three government levels revealed that about 70% of respondents found the local response to be extremely adequate or somewhat adequate and 75.53% agreed that the state response as extremely adequate or somewhat adequate. In terms of the federal level, about 71% of the respondents found the response to be extremely inadequate or somewhat inadequate. Overall, most of the survey respondents (68.57%) agreed that their trust in government prior to the stay-at-home order influenced their credibility perceptions about the information they received about the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrarily, over half of the respondents (51.83%) agreed that they continue to trust the government across levels to provide necessary information about public health issues.”
Why is this study important? The authors of the Sage Journals study themselves stated it effectively: “Results from the study showed that trust in government prior to a crisis played a significant role in whether the public would deem information credible during the said crisis…. The findings of this study contributed to advancing SCCT because if government officials can have positive relationships in place with target audiences at the onset of a crisis as SCCT posits, they will be able to shift their primary focus to crisis management.”
This kind of study gives you a distinct taste of what awaits you at the end of your studies. There is financial rewards in the discipline, yes, but if contributing to bettering political life appeals to you, then this matters more.
There are a number of political science degree jobs to look forward to after college. Graduates can choose from public work in government institutions, nongovernmental organizations, political foundations, research organizations, high-profile think tanks, rights advocacy groups, and foreign service.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientists can look forward to a 6% average employment rate of their profession from 2019 to 2029 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). This is 2% above the national average growth rate expected of all professions that stands at 4%.
The 6% average growth rate is equivalent to 7,400 open positions by 2029. In terms of employment by industry, the distribution is shown by the chart below.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Occupations awaiting graduates of political science degrees are among the prestigious and the most lucrative out there, both for entry-level and high-level ones. The median annual wage for political scientists, for example, was $125,350 in May 2020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). The lowest 10% earned around $63,840, which is notably higher than the average for all occupations at $41,950. The highest 10% earned $170,800, which is among the highest for all occupations.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
As with standard disciplines, political science degree types range from an associate degree, a full bachelor’s degree, and the graduate-level master’s and doctoral degrees. The courses on offer and time it takes to finish each varies for each one.
Average time to complete: 2 years
An associate degree in political science introduces you to the basic concept of government and its functions. Further on, it expands to the subject of formal laws and the workings of ruling institutions. The objective is to give you a good idea of how political forces influence one another.
The associate degree in political science also gives you a good picture of political lobbying, which is a defining characteristic of modern democracies. As well, it will give you a good roundup of the types of political organizations and the cultures that conceived them.
Expect to learn about the history and evolution of governmental rule, along with general education units, which give you the flexibility to pursue a formal bachelor’s degree later if you decide to pursue it. You can avail of an associate degree in political science from community colleges, which gives you more freedom to choose your school.
Entry-level jobs: lobbyist, consultant, legislative aide, high school teacher
2. Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science
Average time to complete: 4 years
The bachelor of political science degree combines introductory concepts and the standard courses in the world of government, politics, public policy, international relations, and legal fields. To pass the degree program, you are expected to complete the 120 credits required.
As a student of a bachelor of the political science degree program, you are expected to acquire insights into the emergence of complex global political dynamics. Race relations. social justice movements, and foreign policy are key topics that you should have a solid grasp of.
The bachelor’s degree program in political science serves as your formal stepping stone to a master’s or Ph.D. degree in political science.
Entry-level jobs: policy analyst, public relations specialist, social media manager, research analyst, political consultant, political campaign staff
3. Master’s Degree in Political Science
Average time to complete: 1-2 years
A master’s degree allows you to pursue a specific area that specially interests you. By narrowing down your focus, you are expected to gain mastery of the subject and publish your findings for wider dissemination.
Under the program, you can choose from many areas to master. Among them are international relations, contemporary thought, policy impact, law, and ethics. If you intend to get into law school, a master of political science degree should go well with your undergrad qualifications.
As a graduate degree program, a master in political science degree should have you exploring how the balance of power works among the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. It will let you delve intimately into the ways governments exercise their power, how they react to social movements, and the grounds for power and authority among modern countries.
High-level positions: government affairs director, campaign director, judicial administrator, diplomat, political scientist, urban policy planner
4. Ph.D. in Political Science
Average time to complete: 2 years
This program is the typical route for students who see themselves immersing and thriving in the academe. Graduates can expect to receive the proper credentials to teach classes on government and politics at the college level.
The Ph.D. typically requires advanced coursework that involves the submission of a book-length dissertation, teaching programs, and comprehensive examinations. Evidently, these suit students who are inherently leaning on classic scholarship and possess an affinity for the discipline.
Doctors in political science can be expected to make a lifelong dedication to writing about the dynamics at play among the power factions of a polity. In the process, they lend insights and deeper analysis through years of study and introspection.
High-level positions: political scientists, professor, college/university director, dean, research fellow
In general, admission to a political science degree program requires candidates to have finished high school or GED. With those, they must pass the admissions test. Selective colleges and universities may also require a recommendation letter, a minimum GPA, and additional coursework in specific subjects. To be sure, inquire with the school that you have in mind so you can prepare the political science degree prerequisites beforehand.
Application
This is typically an online application. You must provide information about your educational history and relevant experience, where applicable. You might want to check out Common App, which lets you complete one application to apply to more than 700 colleges.
Proof of Graduation
This could be in the form of a high school diploma, transcript of records, or a letter from a school official using the school letterhead stationery. Make sure that the details are correct, including your name and date of graduation or completion. These papers are typically obtained from the office of the school’s registrar.
Transcript
Most colleges only require your high school transcript, which you could request from your high school registrar’s office as noted. When requesting this official document, you should indicate if it’s a final version of your transcript, as it could take some time for secondary academic institutions to complete all the graduates’ transcripts for an academic year.
Coursework
Colleges and universities have different core course requirements, so make it a point to verify this with the school you intend to enroll in. Some schools require incoming freshmen to pick from a list of courses in order to prepare them adequately for their major. Additional courses are also typically counted toward the major, including microeconomics or macroeconomics, history, and statistics.
Other Requirements
Mind, too, that the more selective colleges would ask for stronger high school academic performance than indicated by the core coursework. These might be in the form of Honors courses, IB, and Advanced Placement.
Research Skills
Much like other social science majors, political science degree skills are rooted heavily in research to contribute to the discipline and provide insights to policymakers. Students and graduates of political science must possess a sharp eye and nose for interesting or crucial research leads. They are expected to pursue them with dedication and professionalism, getting in-depth with the available information and applying critical thought and methodologies to turn them into useful additions to the human body of knowledge.
Communication Skills
Political scientists are expected to contribute to professional scientific publications, speak in public, and engage with various professionals and dignitaries all over the world. For these reasons, political science degree majors must hone their writing and public speaking skills, as well as properly read people’s body language and expressions. In the field of diplomacy, these skills are very critical.
Data Analysis Skills
Data analysis skills come to bear when political scientists have to face mountains of data as most professionals do nowadays. Population sampling, extensive exit polls, and other largescale surveys require political scientists to be comfortable with mathematical and statistical skills. All of these contribute to sound data analysis skills.
A well-charted political science degree would have you eye a specific field to specialize in. Your professional credentials would improve tremendously if you show mastery of a single line of inquiry, with support from closely related fields. In political science, you are looking at a range of possibilities from various areas of research.
For bad or for good, the world is run by people who occupy national and international seats of power. You will often read or hear that the world is going that way or this way. Amidst these, you might discover that world concerns sing to you. If that is the case, you will find that the political advocacy you are rooting for is best served by the discipline that is specifically structured to approach this kind of calling. If you go further, you will see that advocacy covers fields that are critically connected to one another. In most cases, you will find the areas connect to the following specializations in the discipline (Political Science Major Tips, 2014):
Academic political science degree programs and international relations do not currently require any professional or programmatic accreditation. Their graduate-level counterparts, however, are regionally accredited. you can check out the CHEA website or the ED’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to verify that the institution you are considering is properly accredited or not.
It’s long been established that lower student-teacher ratios allow students to perform better on many metrics (Spallino, J., 2016). With fewer students, educators have more opportunities to attend to the individual needs of students, even allowing for one-on-one sessions.
Source: Univstats, 2021
In the United States, the average student-teacher ratio is 14.41 students per teacher. That is not so bad, hovering around the best numbers seen among private schools 12.3 students for four-year degree programs. Two-year programs at public schools average 10.8 students per class, which is better than other degree programs.
You should inquire about financial aid and scholarship from the school you are considering to take your political science degree. Many colleges and universities offer these to students with varying types of qualifications. For ones outside your target school’s offering, consider the following programs:
Among the disciplines offered by colleges and universities worldwide, some require a personal assessment and deep introspection. A political science degree is among them. The discipline thrusts you into a world where every idea matters, especially in the current state of the world.
The quantitative methodology has gained solid ground in the discipline throughout the years. It reflects the fact that policymakers now must base political decisions on hard data. Musings are good but don’t expect to make a dent in power corridors if you don’t have the numbers to back them. The world needs solutions that work, not appear beautiful on paper.
Whether you are working directly for the government, policy think tanks, your research output will soon find its way to public consciousness. When this happens, you must be prepared to discuss or defend your views against fellow practitioners in the field and those whose lives will be affected by your output.
In brief, a political science degree can throw you into the limelight in an instant. This is a good thing if you intend to occupy positions of power or want your voice to be heard. The world always needs a new approach to managing this planet, its people, and its resources.
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by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
