Politics is your passion. Turning it into a career is in ours.
A degree in political science opens doors to an array of impactful careers, where your understanding of political systems and critical thinking skills are highly valued. You could delve into policy research, shaping legislation and contributing to informed decision-making, or embark on a career in international relations, where you might work as a diplomat, forging connections between nations and navigating global challenges. A degree in political science can also pave the way for roles in law, journalism, public relations, or even government administration, where you can influence positive change at local, national, or international levels.
In the Department of Political Science, you can choose to align your coursework with your career goals through our career pathways. The pathways include Law, Justice, and Politics; Public Policy and Political Action; Global Engagement; Politics and Business; and Environmental Politics and Policy.
We’ll then help you go from the classroom to your career, through hands-on learning such as real-world internships and support from LAS Career Services.
LAS Career Services and their network host thousands of employers at on-campus career fairs each year, and they can connect you with potential employers and professional schools. Our career services staff offers a career prep course called Professional Career Preparation (LAS 2030) to help you launch your career.
What can I do with a political science degree?
As a political science major, you’ll have the skills to succeed in diverse career paths. Our graduates work in state, local, county, and federal government; international relations; political campaigns; securities firms; banking, health care, and many other fields. Understanding politics is also good preparation for advancing into management and leadership roles, both in the public and private sectors.
Political science majors are also well-prepared to create competitive applications to law school. The majority of Iowa State pre-law students are political science majors. If you are interested in law school, our Law, Justice, and Politics career pathway offers coursework to prepare you for the academic rigor and intellectual life of law school.
Because the political science major is flexible, you can also merge your passions and plans with a second major or minor. For example, consider adding a major or minor in a. foreign language to pursue a global career. Or you could earn a science communication certificate to build expertise in discussing complex policy positions with the public. Our advisors can help you explore unique pairings.
