Jobs and Careers
for Political Science Majors


Political science is a diverse and dynamic discipline. Students develop numerous skills applicable to any job, including communication, research, analytical ability, planning and development, and group work. Majors are well prepared for careers in a wide range of areas, including government (at the international, federal, state, and local levels), nonprofit organizations, business, law, academia, journalism, public service, law enforcement, campaigns and elections, public relations and advocacy, journalism, and education.  

According to Keri Gardi, Assistant Director of Careers Services at KU, 85 percent of recruiters who visit Kutztown are looking for students from any major.

Please check out the following career resources:


Key Career Sites

(Multipurpose sites for career and job information)

Know Yourself: Career/Personality Assessment Resources

 It's amazing how many people find jobs doing things they love to do.  To find such a job, you must first know yourself, your personality, your likes and dislikes and your marketable skills.  There are a number of resources listed below that you can use to help you better define yourself in terms of your job search and career interests.  Before using any of these tests, please check out the Seven Rules for Taking Career Tests, by noted career advisor Richard Nelson Bolles.  You may also wish to review the Fairy Godmother Report On Test & Advice Sites (also by Bolles) and Quintessential Careers' Overview of Online Career Assessment, Online Career Assessment Review and Career Assessment Do's and Don'ts.

You will need to have a Username and Password to use Focus.  You must get these from Career Services.   Students may email Career Services (including your full name, phone number, and Social Security number) and your Username and Password will be sent back to you.

Know Your Options: Career Resources on the Internet  

Know Your Presentation: Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews

Know the Market: Job Resources on the Internet

Your best resource in seeking employment is networking--contact with people who know people who are in a position to hire you.  According to a recent study by Drake Beam Morin, a New York consulting firm, 61 percent of management level hires were the result of networking, and only 6 percent from internet sites.  The websites of specific companies or organizations are probably the best source of online job information. Internet job sites can, however, be a valuable source of information, and some do lead to job offers. But keep in mind that for many jobs, employee referrals are the number one source of how people get hired. (Wall Street Journal, January 2, 2002, p. A7)

Graduate and Professional School

Graduate School

Law School

Examples of Careers in Political Science...

Investment Officer CIA, Advanced Concepts Staff, Office of Research and Development
Program Evaluator Newspaper Special Events Coordinator
Director, Division of Policy Studies Publishing Company Account Executive
Public Affairs Research Analyst Corporate Manager of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs
Senior Criminologist Deputy Secretary for Administration, State Welfare Department
Plans and Review Officer, USIA Labor Relations Specialist
Assistant Deputy Secretary to Governor Financial Consultant
Private Foundation Program Director State Senator
International Research Specialist Corporate International Analyst
Senior Editor Vice President, Account Group Head
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Survey Analyst
State Department, Director of Policy and Coordination U.S. Army, Strategic Planning Specialist
Veterans Administration Adjudication Unit Chief City Housing Administrator
Associate Research Director, Advertising Firm Publisher
City Housing Manager Mayor's Office, Legislative Coordinator
Advisor to Chairman of State Energy Commission U.S. Supreme Court, Judicial Fellow
Attorney Senior Advisor, Department of Treasury
Corporate Senior Advisor for Governmental Relations Investigator, OPM
City Project Coordinator Vice President, Market Research
Librarian Director, Public Affairs
Federal Commission Senior Policy Analyst Corporate Economist
State Department Officer Research Supervisor
Director of Political Information Products Manager of Political Programs
Campaign Finance Analyst Chief of Staff, Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Executive Director, Special Interest Association U.S. Senate Office, Legislative Director
Consultant Director, County Economic Development Office
County Clerk Senior Employee Relations Analyst
Administration and Policy Development US House of Representatives, Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant in State Sales Tax Bureau Principal Program Evaluator
Assistant Budget Examiner Political Commentator
Minister for Development Director of Regulatory Compliance
Management Analyst Journalist
University President President, Research Consulting Firm
FAA Personnel Officer Director, Intelligence Operations
City Office of Planning and Community Development, Staff Assistant Press Officer, US Embassy
Credit Research Manager Governor's Office, Director of State Operations
Traffic Courts Coordinator US Congress, Staff Assistant
Deputy Secretary to Governor County Treasurer
Corporation's State Legislative Issues Manager Vice-president, Governmental Affairs, Engineering Vice-president / Account Executive
Director, Cost Containment, Insurance Company HUD, Senior Legislative Specialist
Member of State Assembly State Chief Purchasing Officer
Foundation President Director of State Archives and History
Library of Congress, Specialist Bank Vice-president, International Division
State Personnel Officer Senior Public Opinion Analyst
Supervisor, State Department of Education Bank Issues Analyst
County Councilmember Systems Analyst
Deputy Manager, Political Risk Insurance Division City's Coordinator of Federal and State Aid
Television Network, Director of Surveys Assistant District Attorney
Information Manager, Corporate Planning Department Transportation Specialist
Chief, State General Government Services Office Mathematical Statistician
Commissioner, State Department of Human Services Assistant Chief of Police
Publishing Company Account Executive Juvenile Justice Specialist, State Department of Justice
Corporate Public Affairs Advisor Marketing Research Supervisor
US Consulate, Principal Officer Corporate Information Manager
Chief, County Bureau of Labor and Training Issues Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Division




This page was designed and is maintained by Glenn W. Richardson Jr. of the Department of Political Science at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and was last updated on September 8, 2003.  Please e-mail any comments, suggestions or reports of broken or outdated links to richards@kutztown.edu. Thanks!