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Careers in Political Science

The liberal arts training in Political Science allows a student to explore a number of career avenues. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 1994-95 edition of Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that "employment of social scientists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005....Graduates of all social science fields are expected to find enhanced job opportunities in applied fields due to the excellent research, communication, and quantitative skills they develop in school. Government agencies, health and social service organizations, marketing, research and consulting firms, and a wide range of businesses seek social scientists."

Some career areas include:

Law--Although there are no specific undergraduate requirements for admission to law school other than high grade-point-average and high LSAT scores, Political Science continues to be the most popular major for potential law students, garnering almost 20 percent of the seats in law school. SFA has a very active pre-law support program with the pre-law club and moot court teams. The SFA Pre-Law Advisor is located in the department for advising for all students in all majors.

Education--Certification in Government is available for students interested in high school teaching credentials. A specific course of study is required as preparation for the ExCET certification exam.

Government Employment--Almost 20 million people are employed in positions in federal, state, and local government. According to Careers in Government (1994), government hires more than 1,000 people a day for a wide range of specializations. Students majoring in Public Administration are given the opportunity to intern with area government agencies which enhance their employment potential.

Business--A large number of Political Science graduates have traditionally found employment in the business sector of the economy. Students may consider choosing a minor in general business, computer science, management, marketing, economics, etc. which will be compatible with their future interests in the business community.

Journalism--A Political Science major can provide substantial expertise and analytical and communications training if a student is interested in print or broadcast journalism. A former SFA Journalism-Political Science major has been a Washington, DC reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

Graduate School--Graduate education beyond the SFA bachelor degree is available in programs for master's or doctorate degrees at other universities. Advanced degrees are required for community college or university teaching positions. In addition, there are many specialized professional programs in public administration, public policy analysis, international relations, and political campaign management.