Political Science is an ancient discipline that has evolved and adapted to current societal needs. A major in Political Science and Government will teach you about political and government principles and how they affect our educational system, workplaces, and communities. This is a diverse major that covers a lot of information using scientific and humanistic perspectives. Issues will range from voting behavior to revolutions to public policy. You may also look at politics outside the United States and explore issues from different regions around the world.
Some of the classes you can expect to come across are comparative government, United States foreign policy, contemporary political ideologies, gender and politics, legislative process, public policy analysis, political theory, and judicial processes.
Concentrations in this major include: American Government and Politics (United States); Canadian Government and Politics; and Political Economy.
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Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Political Science & Government Degrees in the United States
#20Most Popular Major
47.7kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
In 2021-2022, political science & government was the 20th most popular major nationwide with 47,686 degrees awarded.
This year's Best Political Science & Government Schools ranking compares 591 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom political science rankings further below.
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Requirements for Getting a Degree in Political Science & Government
Your studies will involve a lot of research papers and group projects mean to teach you strong writing and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to cooperate with others. Class discussions and presentations will also be part of your work. Be prepared to analyze an issue from multiple points of view, as well as defend your own opinions. You should be confident and ready to provide data and examples to back up a point.
Students will also need to be flexible and work under pressure to meet deadlines or participate in heated debates. You should be comfortable utilizing different research methods to find and analyze data and come to conclusions. Research will include everything from ancient philosophy to current ideas on homeland security.
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Prior Education for a Political Science Program
political science & government degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic political science & government program qualifications, to serve in some political science careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Political Science & Government Degree Types
There are various different levels of political science degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in political science & government to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a political science degree varies depending on the program.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to political science, with approximately 41.0% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to political science tend obtained the following education levels.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree
44.4%
Bachelor’s Degree
25.8%
Master’s Degree
20.5%
Post-Master’s Certificate
3.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)
2.2%
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About 67.1% of workers in careers related to political science obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in political science & government have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which political science career you choose.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In Political Science Graduate
AverageNumber of Jobs
$38.7kAverage Starting Salary
8% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Political Science and Government is a broad major that prepares graduates for a number of different occupations. The most obvious choice is working for the government or becoming a politician. However, you can also become a political consultant, diplomat, or lobbyist. Working in congressional research is another option. This degree also prepares you to go into graduate studies in business or law.
Growth Projected for Political Science Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your political science degree? Political Science & Government careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to political science & government.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Managers
1,071,700
8.0%
Political Science Professors
23,400
10.4%
Economists
22,600
6.1%
Economics Professors
18,300
10.9%
Political Scientists
7,500
2.7%
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How Much Money Do People With a Political Science Degree Make?
Recently graduated political science & government students earned an average of $38,654 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $16,884 to as high as $96,306. As you might expect, salaries for political science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Political Science Careers
Salaries for political science & government graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers political science grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Economics Professors
$117,180
Economists
$116,020
Managers
$115,590
Political Scientists
$115,300
Political Science Professors
$99,480
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Getting Your Political Science & Government Degree
With over 2,458 different political science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased political science school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Political Science & Government
by our College Data Analytics Team
