This guide contains only a partial list of occupational titles and career fields that may be of interest to students considering a political science major.  In addition to the skills and knowledge gained through your college course work in this major, you may also need to acquire career related work experience, additional work related skills and/or additional education.  Some of the occupations require an advanced degree to enter the field.

After you have identified possible occupations of interest to you, it is important to investigate the nature of work; education and training requirements; skills and special talents needed; types of employers; future trends and employment outlook related to each of these careers.  We have set up links to internet sites that provide detailed descriptions of these occupations.  You may also want to research these occupations by reading the books and literature available in the Philadelphia House Career Resource Library,  by talking with individuals working in the career field and by contacting related professional associations.

This guide also provides information about obtaining related work experience including links to possible internships. However for the best information on current, local internships contact Sally Cardenas, Director of Internships and Community-Based Learning at 562-464-4533 or email her at scardenas@whittier.edu.

Career Options

Note: (2) refers to second informational link for occupational title

Typical Employers

Advocacy groups, archives and libraries, banks, chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, consulting firms, courts and correctional institutions, government agencies, historical societies, labor unions, law firms, military services, newspapers and magazines, non-profit organizations, political parties, public opinion research firms, public relations firms, regional planning councils, research firms and social service agencies.

Liberal Arts Related Occupations
(click here for more career options)

Marketable Skills Associated 
with a Political Science Major

• Critical thinking and analytical writing skills
• Planning and organizing
• Analyzing and evaluating evidence and data; ability to interpret social, economic and political data
• Analyzing organization behavior and evaluating individuals in their roles
• Researching skills; effective use of libraries and other research materials and methods
• Ability to communicate ideas to others
• Ability to read and write articulately and analytically
• Aptitude for leadership
• Ability to work well under pressure

Getting Career Related Work Experience

To be competitive in today's job market and to improve your qualifications for graduate school, gaining career related work experience while you are a college student is very important.

Career related work experience can include various forms of paid and volunteer experience (i.e. internships, some work study positions, summer or part-time jobs in your career field of interest, possibly fellowships, and some volunteer positions)

Political Science Related Internships

Sources of Career and Employment Information

Career Information Links

• Social Science Career Information Links
• Links to Professional Associations

Employment Information Links

• Business Employment
• Government and Public Affairs Employment
• International Employment
• Law and Law Enforcement Employment
• Nonprofit and Social Change Employment

Graduate School Resources

• General Graduate School Resource Links

• Social Science program links

• Government and Public Administration program links

• Law program links