How to Make a Sure-Shot Career in Political Science

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Career in Political Science

Aristotle defined Political Science as a practical science constantly working on the happiness of people. It is a subdivision of social science that describes the need, functions, and responsibilities of government bodies at the national and international levels. History, Public Administration, Public Policy, Sociology, Geography, Economics, and International Relations are essential parts of this field. Hence, the list of careers in Political Science is quite long. Let’s discuss how to make a career in Political Science and a list of political science careers you can pursue in this blog!

What is Political Science?

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In simple words, Political science deals with the study of political institutions, or of the principles, organization, and methods of government. It is also regarded as an analytical study of political institutions, or of the principles, organization, and methods of government. It includes topics such as: 

  • Political Theory
  • Public Administration
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Public Laws
  • Public Policy 
  • Social Work 

Politics is more difficult than physics.” – Albert Einstein

Why Pursue a Career in Political Science?

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A student pursuing higher education in political science helps them to delve deeper into issues relating to the nation. A degree in Political Science can lead to powerful careers in state and local governments, law, business, international organizations, associations, and non-profit organizations (NGOs), campaign management and voting, journalism, elections politics, research, university, and college education. If world politics and the politics of your nation excites you then you must consider a career in political science as:

Make a Difference: A career in political science allows students to initiate change in policymaking, analysis as well as at the academic front. It is a great opportunity to make a major difference in society. Students can be a part of jobs that look after the issues of government, society, and public policies. 

Lead the Nation: A career in Political Science is meant for changemakers and leaders. Political science is a gateway to job profiles like diplomats, bureaucrats, policymakers and politicians. There are many instances where one has to lead and take charge. These jobs are high-profile and stakes can be as high. You could be the leader of a district, a city, the state, or the whole nation.

Unparalleled Experience – The list of Political science careers are endless, students can enter unique fields which may not be a regular 9-to-5 job with the same responsibilities every day. Students no matter which career path they choose will face a unique situation every day that will never bring monotony into your job. Also, you will have to be ready to face various cases that will educate you in every field there is.

Prestige and Power: Most job profiles in political science careers are of great eminence. They are prestigious, powerful, and honourable positions. For instance, Being a public servant brings you right into the eye of the people and society’s perspective towards you can bring a lot of prestige to your position. As a journalist, you must commit to truth and free speech or as a diplomat, you will be responsible for managing the affairs of your state in a foreign country. Being approachable is the biggest quality and is desired by people as it allows them to voice their concerns freely and openly.

Skills Required  

Before we get into a list of political science careers. It is important to identify the right skills that are required and are quintessential to make an outstanding career in political science.

  • Communication Skills
  • Research Acumen
  • Proficient Writing Skills
  • Creativity
  • Planning and Development Skills
  • Logical reasoning 
  • Organizing people / ideas
  • Developing research designs and models
  • Programming and systems analysis
  • Utilizing survey research methods
  • Developing data
  • Analytical Skills
  • Interpreting data
  • Presenting ideas and data clearly
  • Influencing and persuading people / groups
  • Mediating / negotiating conflicts
  • Public speaking
  • Critical listening

Must Read: Scope of Political Science

If you wish to pursue a career in political science, then the following list of famous courses will help you out in building your career in political science in the near future.

Level Popular ProgramsCourse DurationAverage Fees 
Undergraduate (UG)BA Political science 
BA (Hons) Political Science BA Public Administration 
BA Economics, Public Administration and Political Science 
BA LLB in Political Science 
3-5 years  INR 5,000- 80,000
Postgraduate (PG)MA in Political Science 
MA (Hons) Political Science
MA Rural Development and Governance
MA in Urban Policy and Governance  
MA Public Administration
MA in Politics (International Studies) 
2 years INR 10,000- 80,000
PhD/ Doctoral (PhD)PhD/ M.Phil in Political Science
PhD in International Relations and Politics 
PhD in Public Policy
PhD/ M.Phil in Public Administration 
1-5 years INR 10,000- 1,50,000

Political Science Subjects

  • Understanding Political Theory
  • Constitutional Government and Democracy in India
  • Political Processes in India
  • Political Theory-Concepts and Debates
  • Perspectives on Public Administration
  • Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
  • Perspectives on International Relations and World History
  • Global Politics
  • Public Policy and Administration in India
  • Political Processes and Institutions in Comparative Perspective
  • Classical Political Philosophy
  • Modern Indian Political Thought
  • Colonialism and Nationalism in India
  • India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalising World
  • Dilemmas in Politics

Also Read: Complete List of Popular Political Science Courses

Best Universities Abroad for Political Science

If you wish to build your career in political science and aim for doing your undergrad and postgrad from abroad, then below is the list of top 20 leading universities from across the world that are providing quality education and courses in the field of political science.

QS World
University Rankings (Politics & International Studies) 
UniversitiesLocation 
1Harvard University US
=2Princeton UniversityUS
=2Sciences PoFrance 
4University of OxfordUK
5The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)UK
6University of Cambridge UK
7Stanford University US
8The Australian National University Australia 
9Yale UniversityUS
10University of California, Berkeley (UCB)US
11Columbia University US
12Georgetown University US
13National University of Singapore (NUS)Singapore
14University of California, San DiegoUS
15King’s College London UK
16University of California, Los Angeles US
17University of Chicago US
18SOAS University of London UK
=19Freie University Berlin Germany 
=19Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)US

Best Universities in India

If you wish to pursue your undergraduate from India and then aim for pursuing higher education from abroad then the following Indian colleges and universities will help you to kickstart your career in political science 

NIRF Ranking 2020UniversitiesCity 
2Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)Delhi 
3Banaras Hindu UniversityBanaras 
8Manipal Academy of Higher EducationManipal 
10Jamia Millia Islamia University Delhi 
11University of Delhi (DU)Delhi 
15Birla Institute of Technology & SciencePilani 
34Tata Institute of Social SciencesMumbai 
37Amity University NoidaNoida 
51Guru Nanak Dev UniversityAmritsar 
52University of JammuJammu 

Career In Political Science: A Pool of Choices

Political Science Careers
Source: https://www.ecu.edu/

If you are still confused regarding what career path to opt for in the field of political science after successfully completing your higher education then here we have provided a list of different career options that you might choose from to kickstart your career in political science. 

  1. Advocate/Organizer
  2. Budget Examiner or Analyst
  3. Banking Analyst or Executive
  4. Career Counselor
  5. Congressional Officer/Committee Staffer
  6. Civil Services (Indian Administrative Services, Indian Foreign Services)
  7. Journalist
  8. Political Scientist
  9. NGO
  10. Legislative Assistant
  11. Secretary to government departments 
  12. Human Rights Activists
  13. Legal Adviser to Political Parties
  14. Election and Campaign Manager
  15. Teacher/ Professor 
  16. Politician 
  17. Policy Analyst
  18. Public Relations Specialist
  19. Public Affairs
  20. Research Analyst
  21. Penologist
  22. Psephologist
  23. Mediator
  24. Foreign Service Officer
  25. Corporate Manager
  26. Immigration Officer
  27. Research Analyst
  28. Lawyer
Job ProfileJob DescriptionAverage Starting Salary in INR
Policy AnalystA policy analyst thrives to achieve in-depth knowledge about a subject and is responsible for evaluating the merits of a policy and how it will impact the masses. This career in Political Science is a popular choice and involves extensive research and analytics.5-6 lakhs 
Legislative AssistantLegislative Assistants responsibilities include providing written and verbal assistance to coordinate with ongoing political activities like policy issues, legislation, brief scripts for campaigns, etc.3-5 Lakhs 
Public Relation SpecialistA Public Relation Specialist is expected to prepare persuasive stories to influence the opinions of the public using media. They simply draft attractive lines keeping in mind the current affairs. When the time arrives, they often organize press conferences and other events to compel the media towards their ideas.4-6 Lakhs 
Market Research AnalystAs the name suggests, a market research analyst usually analyzes how consumers are reacting to a particular party.  They run polls and research campaigns to get an idea of what people are thinking and what their perspective is to certain members or parties.3-5 Lakhs
Political ConsultantA political consultant advises political parties on how can they gain more attention, support, and votes from the citizens. They suggest ways to brand and fix up the damaged image of the party.4-6 Lakhs 
AttorneyMany lawyers work for lobbying firms, political figures, and interest groups to conduct research based on policy and legislative matters. They shape up and express ideas on behalf of their client to get an agreement on a particular stance from the major decision-makers.3-5 Lakhs
Intelligence AnalystIntelligence analyst works for latent agencies of the government. The most famed agencies include the National Security Agency and the CIA. As an intelligence analyst, you will write reports based on your findings and present them in front of your agency.3-5 Lakhs 
JournalismPolitical graduates who have an inclination towards the radio, film, television, and any other media often choose this field. Journalists who have majored in political science are able to make a report on the current international and domestic policy. They prepare reports so that the people can judge whether a certain policy is right for them or not.  1-3 Lakhs 
University Professor/ Teacher Political graduates who have an inclination towards reaching politics or political science as a subject or any of its branches such as international law, world politics, public administration often choose this field. One can be a professor of Political Science at a University or College. For that, you should have a degree in B.Ed/M.Ed in order to teach in any University/College/School1-2 Lakhs 
Civil Services There are 3 types of civil services post under UPSC in India namely: All India Civil Services, Group ‘A’ Civil Services, and Group ‘B’ Civil Services. A political science graduate may further opt for becoming a civil service officer by clearing the UPSC Examination. The most popular civil services are Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), and Indian Foreign Services (IFS).6-8 Lakhs 

FAQs

What job can I get if I study political science?

After completing political science, candidates can opt for a number of professions such as-
Law, Marketing, Elections and Psephology, Politics, Public Relations, Policymaking, Journalism, Writing, Academics and more.

Is political science a good career?

A political science degree can help you start a career in diverse fields. Students can work with governments, international organisations, NGOs, marketing and corporate firms as consultants, academicians, policy advisors, legislators and lobbyists.

What is the highest paying job in political science?

The highest paying job in political science is that of a Politician or Lawyer. Both professions are amongst the highest paying professions in the world.

What are the 4 fields of political science?

The four major fields in political science are comparative politics, political theory, international relations and public administration.

We know that choosing the right university and the right career for yourself can be confusing and is challenging as well. That is why Leverage Edu is here to resolve all your queries and to provide you with a step by step guide that will make you land at the university of your choice. We know you have it in you and we are here for you to hone out the best possible leader that you can be. Book your free session with us right now!!

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2 comments
  1. I am currently working as a educator and have a post graduate degree in political science. I am Looking forward tp start my career in political science without leaving my job. International relations is my area of interest.

  1. I am currently working as a educator and have a post graduate degree in political science. I am Looking forward tp start my career in political science without leaving my job. International relations is my area of interest.