 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Learn about Graduate & Professional School
|
|
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE? Overview Overview Hopkins offers a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts or dual Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts degree in International Studies. The broad range of courses about politics and government in the political science department support the interest of students who wish to have a major in one of these areas or in Social and Behavioral Sciences. 3 Additional studies in the allied fields of anthropology, history, philosophy, and economics further prepare students to become sophisticated theoretically4, and courses in statistics and computer science will prepare students for practical experiences.5 Faculty guided independent research and internships are incorporated into the program to provide opportunities to apply theory to individual interest areas. These practical experiences prepare students for careers that focus on today's political and public policy challenges and for advanced study in Political Science and Public Policy.6Political scientists study and develop political theories, and examine and pursue the practice of politics. The description and analysis of political systems and behavior (the origin, development, operation, and the interrelationships of political institutions) are used to formulate and develop theory.7 Careers in political science are based on the practice and application of theory and pursued on behalf of Federal, state and local government, in the legal field, and through work in politics.8 An undergraduate degree in Political Science provides a foundation for a variety of careers outside of government and political work. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide-range of skills and experiences; the writing, presentation, critical thinking, and analytical skills political science students will obtain are marketable in any profession. Political Science provides a foundation for a variety of careers, including preparation for Law School and advanced study in the social and behavioral sciences. It is a broad and diverse field, in which many careers require hands on experience in addition to a bachelor’s degree. A political scientist with a bachelor’s degree who chooses to work in government could conduct research or shape public policy, and those who are interested in politics can pursue careers working for a public interest advocacy group or serve on the staff for local, state, or national official.9 Law school is not a requirement for Political Scientists who are interested in law; they can work for Federal, state, and local government law enforcement offices: the United States Department of Justice, state departments of Justice and the District Attorney’s office, respectively. Lawyers and those in the leadership roles of law enforcement are required to have a juris doctor. The three major areas within Political Science are Government, Politics, and Law. Within the areas some specializations include: Government: Foreign Service/Foreign Service Officer Foreign service officers report on developments within the political and economic frameworks and analyze these developments within social conditions and agricultural trends.10 Intelligence/Intelligence Officer The gathering and analysis of information to advise or otherwise aid government organizations pursue specific objectives. Intelligence officers may be members of the armed forces, police officer or other law enforcement agencies or a civilian intelligence agency.11 Public Policy/Policy Analysts Governments develop policy, or industries of ideas12 to address public issues such as education, crime, environmental protection, energy, and fiscal responsibility. The three key parts to public policy are: the issue to be addressed, the group addressing the issue and the policy, which is the final course of action.13Scholars and researchers are the policy analysts who work for private organizations or the government to develop policy. Public Administration Public administration is work by civil servants to execute policy in the framework of a governing body. These civil servants, or public administrators, work at Federal, state, and local levels to oversee services to and for civic bodies. Constituent service and overseeing the operations of a local government are some of the jobs that comprise in public administration.14Urban/Regional Planning Urban planning tries to determine future needs of the population in a given area and helps local officials meet the infrastructure needs of the community. Urban planners recommend locations for schools and roads and suggest zoning regulations for private property; the intent is to minimize social, economic, and environmental problems. Urban planners, who are also called community or city planners, develop plans for the growth of urban, suburban and rural communities within a region. 15 Law Public sector legal assistants and paralegals conduct research, maintain reference files and analyze legal material for internal use, and collect and analyze evidence used for agency hearings. They perform additional tasks similar to those performed by lawyers, but are not permitted to give legal advice or present cases in court.16 Lawyers Lawyers act as both advocates and advisors for various areas of the government, and argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government. Within government offices and agencies, they draft and interpret legislation and laws and establish and pursue enforcement policies. Some work for at the Federal level, investigating cases for the U.S. Department of Justice. Others work for State attorneys general, prosecutors, and public defenders in criminal courts.17 Politics
Political Campaigns are organized to influence the decision making process of a group. Electoral campaigns for individuals or for a policy question are the most common examples of campaigns in democracies. Legislative Official This individual aids an official through efforts to develop legislation, complete research, and arrange committee hearings and meetings. They also interact with external entities through meetings with lobbyists, responding to requests for information, and the preparation of memos and reports. Many political science graduates work in fields outside of government, politics, and law including work in non-profit management, business, journalism, broadcasting, and education.20
The outlook for careers in political science is projected to grow over the next few years and will require political scientists to have a breadth of knowledge and experience. Political scientists should be prepared to use their knowledge of political institutions for social and non-profit organizations and political lobbying. Although there will be a greater demand for political science research to address an increased interest in foreign affairs, immigration and environmental issues, actual positions for political scientists, especially in the Federal government will become more competitive. Bachelor’s degree political scientists will have the best prospects and will be eligible for research, policy, and marketing positions that do not specifically advertise for political scientists.22Undergraduate coursework in political science includes a broad range of studies in social sciences and real world experiences that support the development of skills necessary for work in the field, including23
Political Scientists need to be able to think logically and methodically and possess strong written oral and communication ability in order analyze complicated issues and to present research findings internally and to the public. Political Science researchers who are interested in organizing and conducting public opinion surveys and interpreting the results as part of their work will need a great knowledge of mathematical and quantitative research methods.25 To gain these skills, pursue courses in Mathematics and Statistics.26 Employers of political scientists value the practical knowledge gained through internships and volunteer experiences.27 Political Scientists who are interested in working for election campaigns or in pursuing and elected or appointed position should be prepared to work extensively as a community volunteer or with a campaign while in college.28 Also, pursue more specific career preparation strategies depending on the area of specialization in which you are interested. For example, political science students who are interested in positions in Federal, state, and local government should be familiar with the application process and timelines.29 Hopkins Political Science alumni go into a variety of career fields. Since 2003 the Career Center has surveyed recent graduates about their academic and career plans 6 months after graduation. Here is a summary of their responses. Hopkins Alumni in Political Science Evelyn Jerome Alexander, Partner/CFO, SJA Strategies inCircle - a professional and social networking site for Hopkins students and alumn where you can identify alumni by career field, major and orgnaization. LinkedIn.com -a professional networking site where you can identify Hopkins alumni. Join the LinkedIn Johns Hopkins University Alumni Group to add over 4000+ alumni to your network. The Career Center is here to help you navigate the graduate school search process. Click here for guidelines and preparing for Graduate School and Professional School. For information on the specific programs, the best people to talk to are the experts in your field you wish to study, faculty members and graduate students in that specific discipline. We strongly encourage you to talk with your advisor and other faculty members with whom you have a good working relationship. This will also help when you request letters of recommendation. The Career Center has a handout to guide you in asking for letters of recommendation. Professional Associations and Honor Societies Endnotes: 1 Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science Overview 3 Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science Overview 4 ibid 5 University of Tennessee Knoxville Career Services “What Can I do With This Major?” 6 Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science Overview 7 University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Affairs Career Center “What Can I Do With A Major In Political Science?” 8 Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science Overview 9 University of Tennessee Knoxville Career Services “What Can I do With This Major?” 10 The University of Texas Austin Career Exploration Center “What Can I Do With A Major In Government?” Booklet (.pdf) 11 ibid 12 Johns Hopkins University Career Center Public Policy, Think Tanks, & NGOs Career Profile 14 The University of Texas Austin Career Exploration Center “What Can I Do With A Major In Government?” Booklet (.pdf) 15 Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008 – 2009 Edition, United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 16 ibid 17 ibid 19 ibid 20 University of Tennessee Knoxville Career Services “What Can I do With This Major?” 21 Johns Hopkins University Career Center Public Policy, Think Tanks, & NGOs Career Profile 22 Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008 – 2009 Edition, United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 23 Johns Hopkins University Office of Academic Advising Majors and Minors: Political Science 24 University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Affairs Career Center “What Can I Do With A Major In Political Science?” Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science Overview University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts Career Services Careers by Major: Government 25 Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008 – 2009 Edition, United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 26 University of Tennessee Knoxville Career Services “What Can I do With This Major?” 27 The University of Texas Austin Career Exploration Center “What Can I Do With A Major In Government?” Booklet (.pdf) 28 University of Tennessee Knoxville Career Services “What Can I do With This Major?” 29 Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008 – 2009 Edition, United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics |
 |
||||||||||||
|
