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What Can I do With a Degree in Political Science?
Career Center Library Resources
The Career Center Library has a variety of resources to help students explore potential career fields. These resources include information about typical responsibilities, qualifications, career paths, job outlook, salary, and related careers.
Career-Related Books for Political Science Majors
- 100 Jobs in Social Change
- The Best Jobs for the 21st Century
- Making a Living While Making a Difference
- Careers in Focus: Government
Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portland su and pass code: 3w9n
- Legislative Chief of Staff
- Congressional Aide
- FBI Special Agent
- Association Director
- U.S. Senator
- Lobbyist
Internet Sites with Career-Related Information for Political Science Majors
- What Can I do with a Major in...Political Science — Lists related career titles for political science majors. From the Career Services Office at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina.
- Political Science — Lists potential job titles, places of employment, and skills for political science majors. From the University Career and Employment Services at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
- College Majors and Career Opportunities: History & Political Science — Lists related occupations and types of employers. From Career Services, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
- What Can I do with a Major in...Government? — "This is a list of job titles and job descriptions of entry-level positions for which graduates with a B.A. in government might be hired." From the Career Exploration Center at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
- Major: Political Science — Lists potential job titles and answers frequently asked questions about a major in political science. From the Academic Advising and Career Development Center, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
- Political Science: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.
Students who major in political science develop skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: research, analysis, writing, oral presentation, critical thinking, synthesis, and problem solving. Students and alumni may find employment in business, government, nonprofits, social services, and educational institutions depending on their skills and experience. Internships or relevant part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding employment.
The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested political science majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for political science majors. This list does not reflect current openings.
- Basic Rights Oregon — Communications Coordinator
- Calypte Biomedical Corporation — Business Development Analyst
- Cascade Policy Institute — Director of Sponsor Relations
- City of Beaverton — Coder Services Program Manager, Economic Development (CDBG) Project Coordinator, Program Coordinator - Office of the Mayor, Project Planner
- City of Portland — Community Service Aide II, Commissioner Staff Representative
- City of Vancouver — Human Rights Specialist
- Comcast Corporation — Government Affairs Professional
- CTL Management, Inc. — Management Trainee
- Knowledge Learning Corporation — Public Policy Advocate and Reseacher
- League of Oregon Cities — Intergovernmental Relations Associate
- Metro/MERC — Senior Public Relations Coordiantor
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Operations and Policy Analyst 2/Fiscal Analyst and Cost Recovery Coordiantor
- Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) — Project Delivery Training Program Coordinator
- Oregon Environmental Council — Environmental Economics Research Assistant
- Oregon Food Bank — Public Policy Advocate II
- Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) — Associate Director of Government Relations
- Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) — Operations and Policy Analyst 2
- Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division — Prinicpal Contributor 2 - Outreach, Education, and Training Coordinator
- Perot Systems — Business Analyst
- Portland Development Commission — Senior Housing Manager/Housing Policy Planning Development
- Seattle-Northwest Securities — Public Finance Associate
- State of Oregon — Operations and Policy Analyst 2, Fiscal Analyst
- Trexler Climate + Energy Services, Inc. — Research Position
- TriMet — Transit and Land Use Integration Director, GovermentAffairs Executive Director, Public Information Representative
- US Department of Labor — Equal Opportunity Specialist (SCEP)
- US Department of Veterans Affairs — Management Analyst
- US District Court-Oregon — Director of Operations
- Washington State Department of Revenue — Revenue Agent 2
- Placement Report: Political Science Ph.D.s and ABDs on the Job Market in 2001-2002 — From the American Political Science Association.
- Careers in Political Science — Links to articles on academic job searches. From the American Political Science Association.
- For Students Considering Law School — From Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Division of Political Science — Portland State University
