Majoring in Political Science
Dec 30, 2022Choosing your college major can be stressful. After all, when you come right out of high school, it’s hard to determine what exactly is the most important subject to you–and what you might want to do for the rest of your life. Here at Clark College Consulting, we want to help make that decision a little easier.
If you’ve ever thought about a career in government or are simply interested in how governmental systems work, then a political science major may be for you. It may sound complicated on the outside, but it’s wise to learn about your country–and rewarding, too.
What is Political Science?
In short, political science is the study of politics. It’s a social science that seeks to understand the power and the exercise of power in governments and other institutions across the globe.
Typically, a political science major is divided into four different classifications: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Each different type of classification focuses on a different element of politics. If you are a political science major, you will most likely be asked to choose one of these concentrations to choose from when you get further into your studies.
The American politics concentration focuses solely on the American political system. This concentration solely focuses on party politics, the electoral system, and the function of local, state, and the federal government within the United States. Comparative politics focuses on issues outside of the United States and how different cultures, religions, social structures, and types of government affect those issues.
The international relations concentration studies how different governmental systems in different countries work together and relate to one another. It looks at the role of different countries’ laws on the international stage. Finally, the political theory concentration focuses on justice and legitimacy in politics, as well as trying to understand the theory behind the formation and execution of laws.
If you’re a political science major (or looking to become one), this summary may seem a bit daunting. However, your college admissions coach will be able to guide you through the process and break it down to a point where you can feel comfortable in your choice!
Would a Political Science Major Be Good for Me?
There are several reasons why a political science major may be the best choice for you. Your college admissions coach may talk through this with you, but three big reasons why this may be the right choice are:
You Like Government and Politics
The most obvious reason that your college admissions coach may steer you in the direction of a political science major is because of what you’re interested in. If you're fascinated by politics and how governments work, then a political science major may be what’s right for you.
Another reason why your college admissions coach might lead you toward a political science major is that many jobs for political science majors fall within government, politics, and legislation. If you’re fascinated by government and politics, then this might be the ideal career.
You’re Fascinated by International Affairs and Relations
International affairs and relations are some of the most intricate yet interesting focuses in political science. Trying to understand the complexities of how countries interact with one other, how their governments work in tandem with each other, and how each country’s policies may affect their relationships with other countries is something that takes a lot of time and dedication to understand in full.
If you’re fascinated by how these relationships work, then a political science major may be just what you’re looking for. There are a considerable amount of jobs for political science majors in international relations, whether that be from non-profit organizations that bring aid or wanting to work in an embassy or consulate.
You Want to Prepare for the Right Graduate Study
Sometimes, a political science major is just a means to an end. It’s a way for you to get your foot in the door in understanding how other fields work–like law, history, or economics. Having a deeper understanding of how the political systems around the world function can give you the leg up that you need to retain the information in these graduate studies more thoroughly.
Wouldn’t it be a benefit to understand where the laws are coming from before you study them in law school, or why there are certain economic policies in place before you go on to do a graduate study in economics? It’s a great jumping-off point for those who want to do their best to prepare.
What Skills Does a Political Science Major Obtain?
The skills that a political science major can obtain during their tenure as a student are invaluable to their career going forward. Any career or college admissions coach would tell you that political science majors provide a plethora of skills like writing, research, speech and debate, analyzing speech or texts, and more.
These types of skills are perfect for those who wish to go into fields of politics, education, history or archaeology, economics, and more.
What Kinds of Jobs do Political Science Majors Have?
For a political science major, the possibilities are endless. If you’re a political science major, then the doors for you are open wide to nearly every type of job–including those in business, finance, education, law, journalism, and of course government and politics.
No matter what field you’re working in, there’s a high probability that one of your coworkers may have been a political science major. This is because the skills that political science majors take away from their classes are valuable in practically any kind of setting, governmental or otherwise.
What Is a Political Science Major’s Typical Schedule?
Your college admissions coach will tell you that a political science major’s schedule is nothing to sneeze at. In addition to the general education courses that you will be required to take per your college’s curriculum, you’ll also need to adhere to the political science major requirements.
Before you begin your studies, you will need to choose a concentration to focus on: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory. First you will take a set number of classes, usually nine or ten, as general, overarching political science classes.
Once those are completed, then you will begin truly focusing on your concentration. You will take classes that are only about your political science concentration, to give yourself more specialized knowledge about what you’re most interested in. Finally, many colleges will have you take a final seminar or capstone class as your last class in the series.
In short, the political science major requirements aren’t too different from a typical college major, except for picking a concentration. However, this is used to help you figure out what is best for you and how to make the most out of your education before you graduate.
Let Clark College Consulting Help
Here at Clark College Consulting, we want to help you get the most out of your college experience. Let our college admissions coach assist you in making the best decision for you and your college career.
If you’re interested in letting us help you determine your college options, whether it is political science or not, contact us today!
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