Careers & Internships

Although political science is within the liberal arts tradition and therefore does not have a vocational focus, a wide variety of career opportunities are available for the political science major. Some graduates opt for careers as professional politicians or as political campaign managers. Others choose legal careers by way of law school, while still others pursue careers in public service in the United States or abroad. Some political science majors pursue a scholarly career by completing M.A., M.P.A. and Ph.D. programs. Many graduates go into the private sector, while others opt for careers in journalism, labor relations, or social work. A growing number of students choose to follow a career in international business by combining work in political science and international relations. This route requires language competence, experience in foreign countries, and generally involves graduate work in some field of international business.

You can obtain, from the Director of Undergraduate Studies, a useful booklet entitled Careers and the Study of Political Science: A Guide for Undergraduates, which discusses career opportunities.