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Political Science

Major Information

Political Science is the study of government and focuses on its structure and function and the necessity for human social order.  Political Science study attempts to provide the student with a better understanding of political parties, interest groups, international relationships, justice, and power.  Political Science trains students to be observers of political behavior in their home country and around the world. The Political Science major affords students the opportunity to gain expertise in five areas of specialization: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and Pre-Law.

General Information

Degree(s) Offered:

  • Bachelor of Arts: Political Science
    • Concentration in Law and Politics
    • Concentration in Global Security Studies
  • Paralegal Certificate
  • Master of Arts: Social Science

Sample Occupations

  • Administrator (Community, Development, Contract, health services, Higher Education, Policy)
  • Ambassador
  • Arbitrator
  • Archivist
  • Budget Officer/ Analyst
  • Campaign Assistant
  • City Clerk
  • Customs Worker: Agent, Inspector, Staff Assistant
  • Demographer
  • District Program Manager
  • Environmental Occupations
  • Executive Analyst
  • Financial Analyst
  • Financial Manager
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Government Affairs Director
  • Intelligence Specialist
  • Job Analyst
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Legislative Analyst
  • Lobbyist
  • Management Analyst
  • Military Officer
  • Newspaper Writer/ Journalist
  • Personnel & Labor Relations Manager
  • Policy Analyst
  • Political Consultant
  • Intelligence Specialist
  • Job Analyst
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Legislative Analyst
  • Lobbyist
  • Management Analyst
  • Military Officer
  • Newspaper Writer/ Journalist
  • Personnel & Labor Relations Manager
  • Policy Analyst
  • Political Consultant

Sample Work Settings

  • Archives
  • CIA
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Children & Family Services
  • Civic & Taxpayers’ Associations
  • Consumer Affairs Office
  • Correctional Institutions
  • Court System
  • Defense Department
  • Department of Commerce
  • Drug Enforcement Agency
  • Economic Development Agencies
  • Educational Institutions
  • Employment Offices
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • FBI
  • Federal Labor Relations Board
  • Grassroots Orgs.
  • Health & Human Services Depts.
  • Healthcare Agencies
  • Historical Societies
  • Housing & Urban Development
  • Law Firms
  • Libraries
  • Magazines/News
  • Market-Research
  • Media Companies
  • Non-Profit Agencies
  • Political Action Committees
  • Political Party Headquarters
  • Public Relations Firms
  • School Boards
  • Social Service Agencies

Sample Employers

  • The Borgen Project
  • CASA
  • City of Savannah
  • Clary Political Consulting
  • Community Action for Improvement
  • Consumer Technology Association
  • Office of the State Attorney
  • Georgia Department of Community Affairs
  • Georgia House of Representatives
  • Georgia Chamber of Commerce
  • Georgia Southern University
  • Google
  • Governor’s Office
  • League of Arab States
  • Ogeechee Judicial Circuit
  • The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Perkins & Associates Political Consulting
  • Social Security Administration
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Senate

Connecting Majors, Skills, and Occupations

  • View learning outcomes associated with your major in the Georgia Southern Academic Catalog:

Georgia Southern Academic Catalog

  • Explore the connection between occupations and skills in O*Net:

www.onetonline.org

  • Use Handshake to upload your résumé and explore internships and jobs. For more information:

www.georgiasouthern.edu/ocpd

Internet Resources

To explore values, interests, and skills:

FOCUS 2 bit.ly/focuscareer

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – $18

http://students.georgiasouthern.edu/career/s tudents/assessments/

To explore occupational outlooks and salaries:

National Compensation Survey

www.bls.gov/ncs/

Salary.com 

http://salary.com 

Professional Organizations

American Foreign Service Association

www.afsa.org

International Political Science Association

www.ipsa.org

American Political Science Association 

www.apsanet.org

National Foreign Trade Council

www.nftc.org

Georgia Southern Student Organizations

Political Science Club

Student Alliance of International Affairs

Professional Tips

  • Complete an internship relevant to your area of interest.
  • Gain various volunteer experiences.
  • Consider partnering with a faculty member for additional research experience. 
  • Join student organizations and obtain leadership positions.  SGA would especially be beneficial.  
  • Consider a study abroad opportunity.

Résumé Tips

  • Bachelor of Science: Political Science OR Law and Society.
  • Include relevant experience, including internships.
  • Include volunteer experiences, including any campaign experience.

Last updated: 7/1/2013