Infographic Transcript
Do you want to have a better understanding of government, legislation and current events?
A degree in political science can give you all of this, plus the field has a wide variety of career paths that fit any professional goal.
Interested in a career in Political Science?
Build on your undergraduate degree and learn the skills you need to successfully work as a political scientist.
Explore DegreeA Day in the Life of a Political Scientist
Political scientists research social issues and policies, monitor current political trends and forecast future ones, among other tasks. Most jobs in the field require a master’s degree, which teaches you to think as a problem solver.1,2 What does this career look like on a daily basis, though?
Responsibilities of a political scientist include: 3
- Research social issues and policies
- Develop political theories
- Monitor current events
- Forecast future political trends
- Present findings, either in a meeting or through publication
7 a.m. Over breakfast, you skim today’s headlines and make sure to pay close attention to the political pages. Listening to podcasts on current events and politics while commuting to work helps you get a jumpstart on the work day.
3 % – Expected job growth for a political scientist position in the next ten years.3
9 a.m. At the office, you prepare notes for a presentation you’ll be giving on your research. As a political scientist, you get to develop and test political strategies, and you’re excited to discuss what you’ve learned about the voting habits of people in your area.
1 p.m. You receive a call from a news outlet asking for a quote on a breaking news story on the passing of a much-anticipated piece of legislation. You provide clarity and context to a situation that may have confused the news outlet’s audience.4
2 p.m. Your office needs to know what constituents think of the current local election, and you’ve been tasked with finding the answer. You analyze responses to a survey the office conducted last week and write a draft of the preliminary results.
$114,290 – The average salary for a political scientist. 3
4 p.m. A local political candidate needs to deliver a speech at a campaign event, and you’ve been given the assignment to write it. You’ve been researching the concerns of the people in that region for days, and you’ve crafted a speech that will address the issues you know the audience finds important.
5 p.m. The end to another fulfilling day of work. You tidy your desk and pack up some papers – making sure to grab the edited draft of an article you’re writing with a colleague. Political scientists are, at their core, academics; it’s important to maintain publishing status to bolster reputation and reestablish authority in the field.
If this day sounds ideal to you, consider pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration at Aurora University. Political science opens a wide range of job opportunities, and graduates can pursue careers in business, education, law, journalism, communications, government or politics. Build on your undergraduate degree and learn the skills you need to successfully work as a political scientist.
Sources:
1https://aurora.edu/academics/
4https://www.myplan.com/
