Political Science, BS
Grow your knowledge of governmental systems and the ways political forces shape our world as you prepare for a future career in business, politics, finance, teaching and more with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hilbert College. Customize your education to fit your interests and goals with elective courses and the opportunity to participate in an internship related to political advocacy. In the process, you will begin to clarify your own political philosophy and acquire the tools to help you become a more informed and engaged citizen.
What Can You Do With a Political Science Degree?
Hilbert’s political science degree can be the credential you need to get your start in a broad range of potential careers—not only in politics, but also in business, research, education, law, communications, intelligence and journalism. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranks “political scientist” at #13 on its list of Best Social Service Jobs (and #89 on its list of 100 Best Jobs overall), largely due to the wide variety of jobs available to those with a political science background.
Whether you aspire to enter a professional field directly or use your political science degree as the foundation for advanced study leading to an MS or PhD, our Bachelor of Science in Political Science program can serve you well.
Benefits of a Political Science Degree
Political science originates from Greek and Roman discussions on governance and the creation of a just and harmonious social order. The contemporary field of political science builds on these ideas by examining the theories that shape our perspectives on government and how political leaders exercise authority on local, national, and international levels. Political scientists explore concepts such as ideology and power to explain the decision-making processes, rules, and laws that characterize the relationships between political institutions and their citizens.
A background in political science offers many advantages. As part of a well-rounded education that fosters skills in critical thinking, analytical reading, research, analysis and communication, political science prepares students well to work in many fields.
Why Choose Hilbert College for Your Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science?
At Hilbert, we embrace our students as family and do everything we can to propel them to success academically and socially. As a student in our political science degree program, you will enjoy:
- Expert faculty with extensive experience
- Small class sizes that guarantee you face time with your professors
- The opportunity to participate in an internship related to political advocacy
- Academic skills workshops, one-on-one tutoring, learning strategies instruction and academic counseling to help you perform at your best
- A dedicated Office of Career Development providing resources, knowledge and strategies to help you achieve your career potential
- More than 25 student organizations, clubs and honor societies, plus intramural and club sports
- Full immersion in a culture of giving back to the community through service learning
Customize Your Political Science Degree With Our 4+1 Program
Hilbert’s unique 4+1 BS/MPA program lets you earn your bachelor’s degree in political science and your master’s in public administration in five years, saving you up to two semesters of graduate school.
Students are admitted to the graduate program after completing all undergraduate degree requirements, without the need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and begin taking graduate courses during their final year of undergraduate studies. Learn more about the MPA program.
Careers With a Degree in Political Science
A bachelor’s degree in political science can open the door to a variety of career opportunities, including:
- Political scientist
- Policy analyst or researcher
- Political consultant
- Legislative director
- Agency administrator
- Think tank fellow
- Sociologist
- Economist
- Public relations specialist
- Journalist
- Market researcher
Additional studies at the graduate level can open up even more pathways to senior positions—and higher salaries.
What Is the Typical Salary for Bachelor’s in Political Science Degree Graduates?
The political science degree program at Hilbert College can help you build a foundation to pursue any of a number of careers in the field. The following are median salaries for some of those roles:
Median Annual Salary: $122,510*
Median Annual Salary: $80,400**
Median Annual Salary: $92,910*
Median Annual Salary: $105,630*
Median Annual Salary: $62,800*
Median Annual Salary: $48,370*
*Salary, growth and job numbers info based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Salary info based on data compiled by Payscale
Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of political scientists will grow 6% between 2021 and 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Yet political science degree holders enjoy diverse opportunities to work in fields well beyond politics. Other careers political science graduates can pursue include lawyer (projected 10% job growth), paralegal and legal assistant (14% job growth), post-secondary educator (12% job growth) and public relations specialist (8% job growth).
Political Science Degree Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Political Science curriculum offers students the opportunity to fashion an individualized and interdisciplinary course of study that focuses on the development of critical skills for analyzing political structures and systems. Topics such as civil liberties, globalization, human rights, American foreign policy, international relations and terrorism all feature prominently in our coursework.
Students are required to complete 120 credits, distributed in the following manner: the Hilbert Blueprint sequence; public speaking; two courses in English; one course in religious studies; six major courses; five General Education courses; and 22 courses from the major, liberal arts, and general electives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates of Hilbert’s Bachelor of Science in Political Science program may pursue any of a variety of rewarding careers, each offering competitive salaries and growth potential. Jobs available to political science degree-holders include political consultant, policy analyst or researcher, sociologist, economist, journalist and market researcher.
The median annual salary for professionals holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from a U.S. higher education institution was about $70,000 as of December 2022, according to Payscale.
Most students complete our political science degree in four years or less. Full-time students with eligible transfer credits may be able to complete the program sooner. In addition, Hilbert offers the innovative combined bachelor’s/master’s program, a “4+1” plan that lets students earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master’s in Public Administration in five years.
Students in our political science degree program benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum in which they can gain key skills in high demand among employers. Graduates are prepared for a wide variety of academic and professional paths, including graduate studies in political science or related social science fields and opportunities to pursue careers in political leadership and activism; law; education; national security; intelligence; communications; foreign service and more.
Contact Us
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Megan Burke Witzleben
Chair, Division of Arts and LettersProfessor
