Anyone out there studied Political Science?

[jhawk]

Hi all,

After my bicycle tour reaches its conclusion, I am giving some serious thought to going to University and studying Political Science, or a related field. I'm curious as to whether any of you have studied Political Science, or a related field? (International Affairs, that kind of thing). I'm also curious as to what kind of jobs one can have with a Poli. Sci degree, and whether any of you are currently operating in that field (having obtained a Political Science degree?

Obviously, the courses will likely be different between North America and the UK. but I thought I'd ask the question here.

Any thoughts/suggestions and/or comments are welcomed. Feel free to reach out via PM also.

Thanks all!

Jack.

 

[Cubist]

Well, I graduated in 1987 with a Modern Languages and Politics degree, and joined the police. ......

More currently, my son looked at the politics options at a couple of unis. Politics and international affairs appeared quite vocational. Hull for example arranged parliamentary internships in the third year, and one of their course branches was based on military affairs, so its a broad spectrum.

 

[vernon]

Is there a careers service in Canada that you can use for advice? The universities themselves should have online information available such as this from Leeds university's Politics and international Studies Department

http://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/assets...ate/POLIS_Undergraduate_Brochure-2016_web.pdf

And career pathways from Warwick University's Politics and International Studies department

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/beyondpais/careers/examples/

You might be better off looking for appealing careers and seeing which qualifications will facilitate entry to them than looking for appealing courses and dealing with the subsequent career opportunities.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Back in the late 80s I graduated with a degree in Political Science and Social Policy. Most of what I studied would probably now be History rather than Political Science

I was thereafter offered the following jobs: Army Officer (RCT), Prison Officer, Officer in RHKP, Police Officer - there's an "officer" theme here...I opted for the last option but left after 8 years and later returned to university to study for a Masters degree in Social Work, and continue to work in that area at a senior management level.

After graduating with PSSP degree I did also consider journalism (and got as far as being accepted for a post-grad in Glasgow), as well as a further degree in law, and was also offered the opportunity of undertaking PhDs in International Relations and Soviet Politics; I decided against further study as, aged 21, I went and travelled a bit. It was on my return from travelling, 2 years later, that I was offered the above listed jobs.

 

[vickster]

A colleague of mine did, we do pharmaceutical market research (I have a languages degree)

Another friend did, she is a researcher for a recruitment consultancy

I expect it's the sort of degree that can lead to many careers, most won't have much if anything to do with the content of your degree, but it will have equipped you with skills you use in that job.

 

[vernon]

I'm doing an OU degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the mo. Feel free to send me a PM I'm happy to share my experiences with you.

But don't ask about work experience as @User14044 has no intention of having any postgraduate employment - he's a lazy Kant.

 

[vernon]

Hume are you talking about? I'm not any run of the Mill philosopher.

Did I Russell your feathers?

 

[Drago]

Well, I graduated in 1987 with a Modern Languages and Politics degree, and joined the police. ......

More currently, my son looked at the politics options at a couple of unis. Politics and international affairs appeared quite vocational. Hull for example arranged parliamentary internships in the third year, and one of their course branches was based on military affairs, so its a broad spectrum.

I'm the opposite, I joined the Dibble then did my undergrad in Planetary Studies and my Postgrad in celestial mechanics (partly because I love astronomy, partly to shut up my parents who were disappointed I joined the Army instead of going to Uni) but with time on my hands looming I'm thinking of doing International Relations at postgrad.

 

[Cubist]

A humour so sharp and Nietzsche could cut yourself.....

 

[Haitch]

I've spent the last 10 minutes trying to make a pun out of Ludwig Wittgenstein and failed miserably

Yet Witzenstein was quite a joker.

 

[Globalti]

During year three of my modern languages degree course I went to Grenoble University for five months where I was supposed to enrol in a "Science Po" course. The first lecure was two hours in French on "The theory and concept of fetishism according to Marx and Freud".

None of it made much sense and since we didn't have to pass any exams we spent the remainder of the stage messing round with a bunch of very hospitable Iranian students who were there learning nuclear stuff at the invitation of the French Government....

 

[Markymark]

I seem to remember when I went to uni it was almost law to become a lefty, political expert....until we all left, got jobs and became cynical, selfish tories!!

 

[Arrowfoot]

@jhawk if Politics and Political Science is your area of interest, its best to pursue a post grad i.e. Masters in that field after your initial degree. The general degree or even 2:1 and above is not likely to lead you down vocations that require Political Science as core or main competency. The general degree can be undertaken in most Universities. For the post grad, seek advice as some Universities in a number of countries are outstanding and they are all Tier 1 in World ranking. Qualifications from them tend to open doors even before you complete your programme.It is also good to do French during your degree course as a 2nd main stream language. It is a great asset when applying for jobs with Supranational Organisations such as the UN.

The vocations are generally in Analysis, Research, Consultancy, Intelligence Services and Academia. Except for the last area, the rest are typically low profile, behind the scenes but the remuneration is great, lots of travel and exciting as politics is fluid. The nature of work is supporting Govts, think thanks, MNCs, supranationals and investment funds. Large NGOs and Charities are also clients but their Board of Governors tend to reach out when they are in a crisis or when it too late. Sub themes within this line of work is Country Risk Assessment, PEP identification in countries companies etc, scenario planning, currency and commodities movement, particularly USD and Oil, Green movement, Terrorism are examples.

For advice, best to avoid career counsellors who typically have a superficial understanding of most mainstream vocations, their entry requirements, salary scale etc but depth in a high specialised field is not expected to be within their grasp. Best to identify an academic whose PHD in Political Science is from a tier 1 university. Preferably someone that consults for Govt. MNCs etc.

ps. Here is a bit of trivia. Canadian Nationals who are specialise in this field at international level are well sought after as they considered more neutral and less likely to get into bed with the Americans like to Aussies and us Brits.

 

[Markymark]

GaryA forgot the latter part... he's remained a student Socialist Worker at heart...

If you're not a socialist when you're young you have no heart. If you're not a conservative when you're older you have no brain....or so they say.

 

[Cubist]

There was a lad in my tutor group at Sheffield who was from Bexhill (iirc). Bearing in mind this was Sheffield in 1983-1987 he remained staunchly Tory in his views and comments, no mean feat in the setting. He was pretty accomplished in presenting an alternative view to the Right On types and held his own surprisingly well. He was treated with friendly respect by our tutors, who admired his courage if nothing else.