How to Become a Political Scientist

political scientist

Table of Contents

1. Overview: Job Responsibilities, Salary, and Common Requirements

2. A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Political Scientist

3. What Does a Political Scientist Do?

4. Signs You Should Consider Becoming a Political Scientist

5. How Do You Become a Political Scientist?

6. What are the Knowledge and Skills Needed to be a Political Scientist?

7. Popular Schools and Colleges in the U.S. for Aspiring Political Scientists

8. Scholarships for Political Science Study Programs

9. How to Get a Job as a Political Scientist

10. Learn About Geographic and Location Pay Differentials

11. Make Your Resume Stand Out

12. Ace Your Political Scientist Interview

13. Top Online Courses for Aspiring Political Scientists

Overview

Job Responsibilities

  • Research political systems of US and its foreign relations.
  • Gather and interpret data from various sources such as public opinion surveys and polls.
  • Create and test political theories.
  • Assess the effects of laws and policies on the government, businesses, and citizens.
  • Keep abreast of the current political events and issues.
  • Make forecasts on political trends, economy, and society.
  • Share findings through reports, public presentations, or publications.
  • Teach political science in universities.
  • Prepare legislative proposals for governmental use.
  • Advise government officials, civic bodies, research agencies, political parties, and the media.
  • Do a media commentary regarding a public policy and political issues.

How Much Does a Political Scientist Make?

Political Scientists made a median salary of $122,220 in 2019. The best-paid 10 percent made $164,210 that year, while the lowest-paid 10 percent made $60,960.

political-scientist-median-salary-bell-graph

Common Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, or other related fields
  • Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) or in Public Policy (MPP)
  • A Doctor in Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Similar Careers

Anthropologists and Archeologists

Economists

Geographers

Historians

Market Research Analysts

Policy Analyst

Postsecondary Teachers

Sociologists

Survey Researchers

Urban and Regional Planners

Common Skills

Law and Government

Research writing

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Logical reasoning

Decision-making

Creativity

History and Archeology

Sociology and Anthropology

Political Theory

MEDIAN SALARY

$122,220 per year
$58.76 per hour

JOB OUTLOOK

6%

NUMBER OF JOBS

7,000

A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Political Scientist

Political scientists are social scientists who study political behaviors impacting the federal government. They specialize in various aspects of politics to understand how policies and laws affect the government, economy, and citizens. Serving as part researchers, part analysts, and part forecasters, political scientists, have a lot of things on their plate.

The job growth for political scientists is expected to increase by up to 6% in ten years in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is as fast as the average for all other occupations. If you have always been interested in becoming a political analyst, now’s the time to pursue it.

What Does a Political Scientist Do?

Political scientists conduct in-depth studies about the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They analyze the federal government structure, operations, and its entities. Also, political scientists may utilize the use of public polls, surveys, election results, and other public documents to their analysis. 

The typical duties of a political scientist include the following:

  • Research political systems of US and its foreign relations.
  • Gather and interpret data from various sources such as public opinion surveys and polls.
  • Create and test political theory.
  • Assess the effects of laws and policies on the government, businesses, and citizens.
  • Keep abreast of the current political events and issues.
  • Make forecasts on political trends, economy, and society.
  • Share findings through reports, public presentations, or publications.
  • Teach political science in universities.
  • Prepare legislative proposals for governmental use.
  • Advise government officials, civic bodies, research agencies, political parties, and the media.
  • Do a media commentary regarding a public policy and political issues.

Signs You Should Consider Becoming a Political Scientist

To become a political scientist, you will have to undergo a painstakingly long process of education and experience. Well, how do you know you can survive all these to land success in this career? You have to evaluate your capacity to know if you fit the role. Here are some telling signs that show you can thrive in this career:

You are more interested in politics than anyone you know.

Have you been interested in politics for the longest time you know? You care about the government so much that you always find yourself dissecting the latest political issues. This is the first sign to knowing you can carve a career in the field as you are engrossed in the whole aspect of political systems.

You are highly critical in terms of government issues.

Are you always on the lookout for the political issues that impact the whole country? If so, that’s a strong demonstration of how much you seek to understand the political aspects of things. As someone looking to make a career out of political science, your responsibilities heavily deal with government issues and engagements.

People ask you about your political opinions.

Having shown your love for politics, people around you may have come up to you and asked some political opinions. They trust your guts because they know you are fully aware of the ins and outs of politics. 

You have been asked at least once if you are planning to run for office.

Do you frequently get questions about running for office? You might have plans for that, but the common denominator of entering the world of politics lies there. You are being asked because you display great intentions of improving the political systems. That trait will land you places in this field.

You are good at writing institutional studies.

One of the common projects a political scientist does is writing research that deals with the current government, economy, and social trends. If you are capable of writing such in-depth studies, you can expect a good career turnout. Writing is one of the fundamental responsibilities you need to fulfill in order to be successful in being a political scientist.

You are excellent in research.

A huge chunk of your responsibilities will fall under the umbrella of research. You need to conduct tons of research to come up with conclusions, evaluations, and data analysis. Political scientists frequently conduct research, and you have to be adept at it. You can totally nail this job with those excellent research skills.

You are not bored with history.

A handful of those research you will do is based on past happenings. You will be looking into various issues that have impacted the current trends in order to forecast the next political trends. If you are one who takes pleasure in diving deep in history, you can expect an exciting job ahead of yours.

You love to study.

To qualify as a political scientist, you will undergo several years of education and experience working in the field. You must be dedicated to striving to expand your knowledge as the discipline demands it. And if you have never had a problem studying various subjects, you will enjoy a job as a political scientist.

political-scientist-discussion

How Do You Become a Political Scientist?

When pursuing a career as a political scientist, you have to go through a series of requirements before you qualify for the role. To know how you can land the coveted role, here’s a breakdown of what you need to complete:

1. Earn a degree in Political Science.

You can score an entry-level career that can advance to being a political scientist when you have completed a 4-year degree in Political Science. The degree provides a good foundation for those who want to pursue a career in the government and education sector. It offers a good background for Politics, Public Administration, Research, and Journalism, which are all essential upon advancing to the field.

2. Obtain your master’s degree in public administration (MPA) or master of public policy (MPP).

These are required to initially land a political scientist role. Having a master’s degree demonstrates advanced knowledge in several disciplines. You have the option to choose the area of interest you want to pursue. The common courses include research methods, policy formation, program evaluation, and statistics. 

3. Do related internships and volunteer work.

Before applying for a doctorate program, you will have to consider taking related internships and volunteer work. These will provide you a higher chance of getting accepted.

4. Obtain a Ph.D. program.

Most political scientists have a Ph.D. under their belt. Ph.D. holders specialize in one of the four primary subfields of political science, which include national politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. A Ph.D. program gives you more opportunities than non-holders of a Ph.D. 

What are the Knowledge and Skills Needed to be a Political Scientist?

To be successful in this career, you will need to instill the knowledge and skills that make a political scientist competent. These are those qualities that make one thrive in this career:

Analytical skills

Political scientists often conduct both qualitative and quantitative research to find out underlying issues and particular effects of public policies. You have to be highly analytical in terms of the whole process, which includes collecting, assessing, and interpreting data to come up with conclusions.

Communication skills

For every profession there is, communication skills always play a vital role in fulfilling duties. To be more precise, you will be working with several other researchers when conducting studies and writing reports, so you need to develop a good relationship with them. Also, you will have the task of disseminating your findings through presentations and reports, which will require you to speak to an audience.

Creativity 

Not necessarily in an artistic way, but political scientists have the responsibility of finding new ideas to explore in terms of research. You must be up to date with the latest political subjects to identify new topics you can take a look into.

Critical-thinking skills

Political scientists are critical thinkers. They make use of their sharp critical thinking skills to fulfill their duties. Considering the fact that political scientists handle a handful of studies, you have to make use of logical reasoning to draw up conclusions.

Inductive reasoning

Your ability to combine pieces of information to form conclusions is vital in your research. Without the sharp eye for seeing relationships among unrelated points, you cannot conclude a study.

Law and Government

The foundation of subjects you are going to study, knowledge in government in the law and government is essential. As you have acquired years of education, you are expected to be familiar with the laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and democratic political process.

History and Archeology

The knowledge in history provides an advantageous point in being a political scientist. You will need to look back on the past to evaluate the past political trends and previous issues that affected the current political happenings. 

Sociology and Anthropology

Political science is a branch of social sciences. You need to be knowledgeable in group behavior and dynamics, the social trends and influences, and the history of humans and their origins.

Find out 2021’s best universities that offer a degree in Political Science in this list by College Factual:

  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University
  • Columbia University in the City of New York
  • Yale University
  • Georgetown Washington University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Duke University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Princeton University
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Notre Dame
  • New York University
  • University of California – Berkeley
  • Bowdoin College
  • Cornell University
  • Boston College
  • Colgate University
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • American University
  • Brown University 
  • John Hopkins University
  • University of Maryland – College Park
  • Emory University
  • University of Michigan – Ann Harbor
  • University of Rochester
  • University of California – Los Angeles
  • Amherst College
  • Northeastern University
  • The University of Texas at Austin
  • Villanova University
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Williams College
  • Trinity College
  • Bucknell University
  • Hamilton College
  • Catholic University of America
  • University of Chicago
  • Boston University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of Virginia – Main Campus
  • Franklin and Marshall College
  • Wake Forest University
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Syracuse University
  • Southern Methodist University
  • Texas A&M University – College Station
  • Barnard College
  • Florida State University
  • Connecticut College

Scholarships for Political Science Study Programs

If you are keen on applying for a scholarship with Political Science as your major, you are in luck as there are tons of programs to choose from. Here’s a list of the Political Science scholarships you can take in the United States in your journey to become a political scientist. 

Undergraduate Scholarships for Political Science

Graduate Scholarships for Political Science

Institutional Scholarship for Political Science

Political Science Scholarships for Minorities

political-scientist-forum

How to Get a Job as a Political Scientist

So, where do you find a job as a political scientist? Most political scientists who have Ph.D. are working as professors at universities, while all that are left work for the government, businesses, research firms, and more. To help you find your next career opportunity, here are some ways to guide you:

Ask your professors.

If you are interested in teaching as a profession, you can ask your professors or previous teachers for a referral. Teaching Political Science or Public Administration is a good choice for a political scientist like you. There is a high probability that you can find a job through personal connections like your previous professors who can attest to your expertise.

Look at professional journals.

One of the best resources for a career opportunity is a professional journal that relates to your field. This kind of publication includes various job listings related to your field. Keep up to date with these journals to find a good career that suits your interests.

Check your LinkedIn account.

Your LinkedIn account serves as an effective way to source job opportunities. Add your personal connections that include your previous professors, co-workers, mentors, and other professional acquaintances to keep tabs on them. Also, remember to keep your profile updated for a chance to attract recruiters who can directly offer you career opportunities.

Apply directly to organizations, businesses, universities, and government agencies.

You can also directly inquire to your preferred companies or firms to find out any job vacancy. You can check out their online job listings or call their office for any opportunity that can be yours.

Browse through online job portals.

The most convenient way to find a job is by browsing through online job portals. These platforms offer you a wide array of options that are just a click away from you. You can check out these popular online job portals to help you find your next job:

Learn About Geographic and Location Pay Differentials

Earning an average of $122,220 annually, political scientists receive quite impressive pay. But wages still differ based on the area you are in. Here is a list of states that have released data about the annual mean wage of political scientists working in their area:

State2019 Mean Annual Wage
Virginia$130,070
New York$127,660
District of Columbia$123,940
Massachusetts$109,060
Pennsylvania$106,590
Washington$99,040
State2019 Mean Annual Wage
Florida$98,710
Arizona$98,510
Texas$89,310
California$79,600
Maine$76,790
Illinois$71,920

Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Make Your Resume Stand Out

A well-crafted resume increases your chance of getting hired. Make sure you put some effort into writing your resume. It is the first thing that potential employers see after all. Boost your employability by striking a good impression through a polished resume.

Here are some helpful tips for creating an impressive resume:

1. Keep it neat and sweet.

A neat-looking resume is more enticing to look at rather than a cluttered resume that screams “boring.” Keep everything concise but sweet enough to allure the employers of what you have in store for them. Do not have a full-blown summary of what you did; instead, put items in bullet form to prove a point. You will just have to provide additional support to the interview.

2. Place a strong career objective.

A career objective is one of the essential parts of your resume. Your potential employer wants to know what your career outlook in life is, so ensure you place one that speaks your vision. Keep it brief but well-stocked with the information that includes your plans in the coming years.

3. Include your published writings.

One of the best assets you can showcase in your resume is the number of studies you have done in the past. You are more likely to have published a few of your writings, and this gives you an advantage if you list them down on your resume. 

4. Highlight your educational attainment.

You have spent an ample amount of time specializing in the area of interest you are in. Make that count and highlight your educational background to demonstrate your knowledge in the field.

5. Mention the professional associations you are affiliated with.

The professional associations you are in give you a boost whenever you apply for a job. This displays your perseverance to explore the field and build connections for career growth. Ensure you put them in to receive that extra points. 

Here are some of the professional associations you can include on your resume:

  • American Political Science Association
  • Association for Political Theory
  • International Political Science Association
  • American Sociological Association
  • Domestic and Regional Political Science Associations:
    • Great Plains Political Science Association
    • Midwest Political Science Association
    • National Capital Area Political Science Association
    • National Conference of Black Political Scientists
    • New England Political Science Association
    • Northeastern Political Science Association
    • Pacific Northwest Political Science Association
    • Southern Political Science Association
    • Southwestern Political Science Association
    • Western Political Science Association
    • Western Social Science Association
  • State Political Science Associations

Ace Your Political Scientist Interview

And you are down to the last step on securing your dream job! Make sure you are more than prepared when you come in for an interview with your potential employers. Review ahead and get familiar with the questions that may be asked to you.

To help you get acquainted with the common questions asked to political scientists, here are a few of those and the proper way to answer them:

1. Which research method are you more comfortable doing? Qualitative or quantitative?

This is a question to test your adeptness in both research methods. You are expected to be good at both as you are often doing various studies over the course of time you are working.

Answer this question by stating which method you have more experience doing. However, it is important not to steer clear of the other method you did not mention. Instead, you should elaborate on how both research methods are important in fulfilling your job, so you don’t see any problem working on both research methods.

2. Tell me about a time when you had to report a complex subject to stakeholders. How did you make sure everyone understood your content?

A huge part of your job is making presentations for your findings. You will have to share it with stakeholders, politicians, the public, or the media. You have the responsibility of breaking down complexities into understandable pieces of information.

Share an experience that shows you were able to conquer an instance that involves presenting research. Describe how you ensured everything is laid out in a simple manner for ease of understanding.

3. How do you keep updated with the latest developments and happenings in the political sector?

As someone who specializes in the realm of politics, you should always be up-to-date with the current events and happenings that concern the government, policies, and its impact on the state and citizens. The employer wants to know how you keep yourself abreast of this information as they are vital in your job.

Provide an answer that enumerates your various platforms to source out news and updates in the latest political engagements of the country. Don’t forget to add your continuous learnings from the history which impact the current and future trends in the political sector.

4. How do you analyze data and come up with the best solution to a political problem?

This is a question to test your data analysis skills. As you are dealing with several pieces of research on your plate, you need to develop a good set of analytical skills. You are to follow the process of gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to come up with your findings. You will also have to formulate political theories and test them to prove them successfully.

5. Have you ever published your findings? How did it go?

This is the employer wanting to know more about your published studies. Share your whole experience from finding the concept, collecting data, getting the findings, writing the whole thing, publishing it, and presenting it to the bigger mass. Be able to provide how it was received by the public and those who took benefits from it.

Top Online Courses for Aspiring Political Scientists

Sharpen your skills in political science by taking these top online courses

Check out these courses from Skill Success to help you jump start your career as a political scientist.

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