Do politics fascinate you? Are you motivated to understand governmental problems and how you can affect change?
Working in politics and policy for a private company, government agency, or the nonprofit sector puts you in that arena. A bachelor’s degree in political science is a key step toward meaningful problem-solving in many of today’s industries.
An online bachelor’s degree in political science is a flexible degree option that can be the foundation or beginning of career opportunities in more than just government politics. You can leverage your degree to prepare for law school, an international diplomatic career, or even corporate policymaking.
What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Political Science?
In broad terms, political science bachelor’s degrees offer students skills in communications and data analysis as they study politics and modern governmental policy. Basically, it is learning how to identify problems and analyze what is and what isn’t working. It’s also learning how to collect data to formulate solutions for those problems. Political science degree skills are needed in nonprofit groups, government agencies, and private businesses. Developing a global perspective on all three of these sectors, empowers political science majors to affect change. Political science majors can use their degree to prepare for law school and graduate studies.
How Much Can YouEarn With an Online Bachelor’s in Political Science?
With a bachelor’s degree in political science, graduates can explore a career as a paralegal, law enforcement officer, fundraising manager, and several other similar roles. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, paralegals earn about $52,920 annually. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers’ salaries range depending on whether they work in a major metropolitan city or rural areas. In 2020, they made about $67,290. Fundraising managers made $118,430 with five-plus years of experience and educators in political science earned about $67,360. And finally, reporters and political news analysts earn about $49,300 annually. Political scientists generally start with a bachelor’s degree. But if your ambition is to work as a political scientist, you will need to secure a master’s degree in the field.
What Is Required For an Online Bachelor’s in Political Science?
Pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in political science requires a high school transcript. Typically a GPA of 2.75 or above and either an SAT and/or ACT submission are required. Political science degrees can be a flexible springboard for a career in a variety of fields. So, many programs will offer focuses or concentrations to customize your degree options. If you envision stepping into politics upon graduation, an internship with political candidates, fundraising firms, public relations firms, or lobbyist agencies is highly recommended. Industry contacts are key to political career success. Universities that offer real-world experiences and co-op opportunities can help graduates pave the way for a successful career.
What Are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Political Science?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page
Best Online Bachelor’s in Political Science FAQ
Is a political science degree a good undergraduate choice for students considering law school?
The precursor of every law degree is a bachelor’s degree in some field of study. It could be engineering, business, liberal arts, or a number of other majors. So, is a bachelor’s degree in political science a good choice for students preparing for law school?
Simply put, political science coursework lays the foundation for all of the major skills needed to be a successful lawyer. The degree focuses on courses with an emphasis on law and the courts, in both the U.S. political system and international political systems. To effectively understand policy and community impacts, knowledge of law and politics is key. In addition, the skills of research, critical analysis, policy crafting, and effective communication are honed in a political science degree program. According to Jeffrey Stone in a New York Times article on “The Importance of Law School,” he emphasizes that being a lawyer demands a “rigorous, self-critical, creative, and emphatic mindset.” He also argues the need for a broad knowledge of a variety of interconnected subjects. These are elements that are at the core of a political science bachelor’s study.
How does political science affect healthcare and education?
Studying and understanding political science requires skills in research, analysis, and policy creation. Understanding local, state, national, and international economies is crucial to effectively impact our world for the better. Reference.com emphasizes that political science issues absolutely include healthcare, education, housing, and jobs. They are all critical social areas. Understanding how our communities are affected by those issues helps us formulate better plans and responses to existing needs in those areas.
Whether graduates leverage their political science degree to directly impact public policy, or they take it into their workplace, it offers the skills, knowledge, and perspectives to make a difference. Political science builds experience working with diverse communities. It helps to develop a community-view approach to problem-solving. Our healthcare, jobs, education, housing, roadway infrastructure, and economy are intertwined. Making decisions with that interconnected relationship in mind benefits each of those areas.
A bachelor’s degree in political science offers the broader global skills you need to have a community-centered perspective on economics and policy. The degree program prepares you for work in:
- think tanks
- law firms
- corporate policy
- political campaign management
- intelligence agencies
- and nonprofit organizations
Review the universities detailed below to find the program and specialization that fits your interests and commitment. Concentration opportunities and programs that offer internship credits can give you potential opportunities immediately following graduation.
