A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required to work as a political scientist in the United States. Over majors in other disciplines, a major in political science, international relations, pre-law, or public administration is highly recommended; some universities also offer degree programs in homeland security. Higher education, on the other hand, should not be the sole focus of your career preparation. Volunteer work on political campaigns and involvement in grassroots organizations can greatly increase your employment opportunities. Serving on political debate teams, holding an office on a Sister City International committee, and publishing works on current events are all activities that can help you on your way to becoming a political scientist.
Because of the need to publish papers and books on the current political economy for members of the public who are seeking viewpoints from those who are not in government offices, anyone pursuing a career as a political scientist must have excellent writing and analytical skills. If you want to be a political scientist, you’ll also need strong research skills and a thorough understanding of history. This is because people in this field frequently serve as advisers to politicians, public officials, and CEOs of large for-profit and non-profit corporations.
The college coursework you take as part of your preparation to become a political scientist usually gives you some leeway in selecting electives from the United States’ higher education system. It’s a good idea to take history, advanced writing, and analytical skills classes. Some political scientists concentrate on issues relating to corporate administration, while others focus on issues relating to their country’s internal politics or foreign policy. The preparation you put in to become a political scientist will be influenced by your specialization.
Learning a foreign language and the culture of the people who speak it is considered extremely important, especially if the written works you will regularly publish deal with a foreign country. A civil service exam is required for some political scientist jobs in the United States government. Writing for professional journals and news magazines, as well as working as a research analyst for a large corporation, are other options. Keep in mind that many political scientists work in jobs that do not explicitly state “political scientist.”