Careers in
Political Science: Government Service
Federal Government: Federal employment
generally offers excellent entry level salaries, job
stability and good benefits. There are opportunities
in the federal government throughout the country.
The job prospects in the federal government are
expected to rise rapidly in the next several years,
both to replace retiring workers and to meet the
needs in certain expanding fields, particularly
defense, intelligence and homeland security. Some
positions, particularly at the management level and
those involving foreign affairs analysis, may
require additional graduate training (see the
Graduate School link on our website). Examples of
possible careers include: researcher,
Congressional Research Service; foreign service
officer or public affairs specialist, Department of
State; intelligence analyst, Central Intelligence
Agency; tax inspector, Department of the Treasury;
management auditor, Department of Labor; staff aide,
Congressional Committee; program analyst,
Environmental Protection Agency; budget analyst,
Department of Commerce; program officer, Department
of Education; technology manager, Department of
Homeland Security. For further information visit
the websites of the specific agency or branch of
government you might be interested in, or see: U.S.
Government Office of Personnel Management,
www.usajobs.opm.gov
State
and Local Government: States, counties and
municipalities around the country are increasingly
responsible for overseeing such issues as housing,
education, health, public safety, welfare, and
transportation. As state and local government handle
more of these complex issues, they are increasingly
looking to hire those with diverse skills and
knowledge in the public policy and management area.
The various “emphases” offered in the Public
Administration major help students gain the greater
expertise of a particular policy area, while
methodology and statistics courses sharpen the
skills needed to analyze the data upon which policy
decisions are made. Many positions in this field are
in the civil service, and offer competitive salaries
and benefits as well as job security. For additional
options students can visit the website of the
department’s Program on State and Local Government (weblink
address). Examples of possible careers in this area
include, personnel director, state energy
department; city project coordinator; city planner;
senior criminologist; labor relations specialist;
legislative coordinator for the mayor; county
treasurer; county budget examiner; purchasing
officer for a state, county or municipal government;
juvenile justice case worker; city manager;
supervisor of welfare-to-work program.
