Should You Study Political Science If You Want a Government Job?

 

Studying political science can be extremely beneficial if you’re interested in getting into government service at some point during your career. The most popular reason to study political science, however, is to land a job with the United States federal government, but what about all the other branches of government? If you want to work for state or local governments, do you need to take political science courses? And how about international politics? Do you need a degree in that as well? How does studying foreign languages fit into this equation?

 

A brief intro to political science

Over time, political science has evolved from being a comparative study of governments to an in-depth analysis of political institutions and processes. The field is heavily interdisciplinary, drawing on history, sociology, economics and anthropology. Some courses might focus on international relations or domestic politics; others might be more theoretical in nature. Many students take classes in law or public policy alongside their political science coursework.

 

Examining the nature of political science

Understanding political science can help you get ahead in politics, but it may not necessarily be useful for getting government jobs. In fact, studying political science may actually hurt your chances of landing a position in government! Let’s take a look at what exactly political science is and why you might want to study it if you have an interest in learning about current events and world affairs.

 

A closer look at how political science affects your career

Although there are no hard-and-fast rules, political science can be helpful in finding your first job or helping you move up in your career. Read on to learn more about how political science impacts government jobs.

Sometimes people choose political science because they have an interest in current events and want to know what is happening behind closed doors in government.

 

Understanding the expectations of employers

Many students want to work for government agencies and, as a result, enroll in political science classes. However, not every student is aware of how their courses align with real-world requirements for government jobs. That’s why it’s important to understand what your professors are teaching you so that you can better prepare yourself for your future career.

 

Checking out ways in which you can improve your chances

Many government jobs are available in fields such as education, information technology, and foreign service. With so many options to choose from, it’s important to make sure you are investing your time and money wisely. Here are some ways that political science majors can improve their chances of getting hired by Uncle Sam.

 

Reviewing undergraduate level political science courses

Almost every undergraduate political science program in North America and Western Europe emphasizes skills such as: critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, research and public speaking. These are all things that will help you succeed in any job, including government jobs. However, many programs also focus on specific topics relevant to government work (such as international relations), so it’s important to ask yourself what your interests are before choosing a major.

 

Where does it leave you?

While political science is well regarded as an education for government employees, it’s also useful in other careers. The knowledge and skills gained in studying political science are highly transferable and can be applied in many areas of work. For example, with its focus on research and critical thinking, political science could help you succeed in any career that requires you to evaluate information or make decisions based on data.