Any political science majors here? I'm thinking of changing mine...

[FreedomAngel82]

Right now I'm a music major and there is stuff you can do with that but not much. I don't want to teach and my second love is politics. I'm such a political junkie. I believe I'm almost done with all my general classes and than I transfer to the local university downtown (now I'm going to a community school). I was wondering if there were any political science majors here and what could you tell me of your experience? What type of classes did you have to take with your major? This next term (spring 06) I'm taking precalculus, sociology and US History. I was thinking of changing my major next term which will be the fall. How long did it take you to get your degree and what is it you do now? Thanks in advanced. To the mods if you think this should be moved to the lounge or something like that I apologize and it's cool with me.

[malaise]

1. Why don't you just check university programmes

since most are on the web. You'll have to do Introduction to Politics, American Politics, some philosophy courses, statistics, research methods, comparative politics and so on. Sociology is helpful and precal will help with maths and stats. I did a Pol Sc. minor in my first degree, but have two graduate degrees in Pol.Sc.

[AUYellowDog]

2. I'm a communication major but doing a poli. sci. minor

I think that opens up alot more doors than just a poli. sci. major would. By my understandings, the main things you can do with a poli. sci. major are teach or get your masters in public administration or something along those lines. I guess it all depends on what your grad. school plans are. Due to financial and GPA reasons, graduate school isn't an option for me. My suggestion: Make good contacts and get involved with the College Democrats of America or your school's College Dems chapter and use those to get involved. Goodluck.

Brandon

[sweetheart]

3. Economics

Econmics is political science. If you learn econometrics and a sound knowledge of neoliberal economics, you will be armed better than any
politician to argue the issues of political science. You'll need to debunk friedman, to study why keynes and galbriath evolved in their
views and why.

Or... consider a foreign university, like economics in kiel germany, or the London School of econmics.

The religion of politics has given way to an unspoken religion of corporatism.
corporatism must be studied from the inside, as it does not allow any alternate propaganda to
report on its misdeeds, nor does the corporate states of corporatism.

[HillDem]

13. I'm an econ major

at the University of Michigan. And you're right about everything.

Although a good hybrid of economics and political science is public policy. You could look into that.

[Greyhound]

4. I've been curious about that program myself. What can you do with a

poli-sci degree? Seems most Poli-Sci majors get their law degree.

[Perky]

5. I majored in PoliSci

Because I was a political junkie too. It was what I wanted to learn aboput not necessarily even what I wanted to do with my life.


ANd truth be told I have been a Telecom Consultant vor the last 22 years rather than anything remotely related to my mahor,


My adviice is that if you want to do methjing in polotocs and government when you get out... Major in Public Administration or Public Policy or maybe Soicolgy and get the minor in Polisci.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Thanks for all the advice

I love politics and would love to get involved even if it's just behind the scene stuff. I'm not really a public speaker and I don't think I would do well running for any type of office. I believe I'm almost finished all my major general classes and have a few other things I have to take after this term. I'm doing more and hopefully will get through all the stuff I'm taking now. Do colleges help you get internships and things like that or do I have to do that on my own?

[Neil Lisst]

6. It's a good major, but you have to know ...

... it's not a marketable degree. Unless you are planning on going to law school, grad school, or into the military, it's not a major that is helpful when getting your first job out of college. Of course, neither is music.

The starting point is WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE?

A political science major is as good as most majors in terms of teaching you something you need to know, but it has its down side. Prospective employers will know that a PS major likely means you're a political person, and some don't like that.

College is about learning how to learn. It's just a starting point, not a finishing point. I think you could do worse than a PS major. Why not major in both music and PS? It's not that hard, and it gives you more options. Do you want to teach music? If not, your music degree won't help you much in the job market.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Right now I'm torn between

music and politics. I'm not a public type person since I sometimes get shy but I'm better than what I used to be. With music you can do things in the industry like working in the recording studio and the like. I am a singer/songwriter but I want to have something to fall back on since I don't want to teach music. I'm not the teaching type. I used to want to do that but now days not so much. What would it mean to have both degrees in music and politicial science? :shrug:

[sweetheart]

9. hence "economics"

You'll get all your polysci thrill AND be employable afterwards!

[DELUSIONAL]

15. Some Pol Sci majors are working as congressional aids

My husband's god daughter first started as a congressional aid on the state level (NY) and then moved on to the Federal level. She's worked for several Congress critters -- unfortunately she's hard core GOP and I have nothing to do with that branch of the family.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Music Majors are marketable

Though usually you want an education component to it. It is much harder to work with a pure performance major after graduation.

[Neil Lisst]

14. I agree that if one wishes to teach, music offers positions.

But even so, it's a hard life for any grad today who does not graduate with either a teaching certificate or a readily marketable skill. It's not going to help you get a job in any field except music.

[malaise]

12. I partly disagree

You have a point re a first degree in Pol.Sc. but if you do a graduate degree in Pol Sc., an MPhil or PhD., your marketability depends on your thesis and you can research the politics of anything including the politics of music.

[Cats Against Frist]

11. I have a degree in poli sci

(amongst others), and, at the time I got it, I majored in journalism, as well. The combo of the two is a great double major. Poli sci is a major best paired, I think, like with economics, or journalism/PR, or education. If you're into political activism, campaigning or union organizing, a poli sci major might help. Otherwise, as far as I've seen, it is marketable in no other area, except for teaching, and preparation for law school.

It is interesting, though. Usually, universities offer a wide range of classes, and I took almost all of mine in the politics of race, nonwestern politics and womens' politics. Be aware that you will most likely have to take a Constitutional Law class and 1-2 classes on empirical research methods, which involve statistics and mathematics.