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Careers for Political Science Majors & Minors

What can you do with a degree in Political Science?

Political science majors advance their skills with analytical thinking, written and oral communication, research, and using data and evidence to support arguments. These skills prepare political science students for a variety of careers and leadership roles.

Many political science graduates put their skills toward careers in areas such as government, NGOs and nonprofit organizations, law, business, consulting, journalism, teaching, and more.

Political science graduates also frequently pursue graduate degrees in law, policy, business, and international affairs, in addition to political science and other social sciences.

Sample Alumni Job Titles

Sample Alumni Employers

  • Legislative Assistant

  • Campaign Manager

  • Political Researcher

  • Program Officer

  • Data Scientist

  • Government Relations Manager

  • Advocacy Director

  • Legislative Analyst

  • Law Clerk

  • Tribal Climate Liaison

  • U.S. Department of State

  • Office of Management and Budget

  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  • Pew Charitable Trusts

  • King County

  • Amazon

  • Paypal

  • DC Bar

  • NYC Administration of Children's Services

Alumni Profiles

Read what some our political science alumni are up to, and see the political science graduates among the College of Arts and Sciences spotlighted alumni.

  • There's a Job for That! - Take a quick quiz (only three questions!) to learn what College of Arts and Sciences alumni with similar interests have done since graduating.
  • UW LinkedIn — See career trajectories of UW graduates who studied political sceince as well as other fields.
  • Department LinkedIn — Network with other UW political science students and alumni

Internships

See our List of Internship Opportunities to search for an internship, or learn more on our Internships Page.

Internships are a crucial step in your path from college to career. Why are internships so important?

Internships help you realize what you do and do not like. You may have an idea of what job you would like to have after you graduate, but do you know what the day-to-day work involves? An internship is a great opportunity to work in the type of job you are interested in, to see if you actually enjoy the daily work of the job.

Employers value internships.Research has found that internships are the top credential employers care about. An internship can set you apart from other applicants and give you valuable experience to help you get a job after school. It is a good idea to research what type of internships are valued in the career field you hope to go into.

You network and meet people in the field. While some people do get jobs by applying to postings online, many jobs come from networking with people who work in that field. People you work with at an internship, from your supervisor to other interns, are great people to know when looking for a job. Tools like LinkedIn can help you keep in touch with those people after your internship ends.

Career & Job Resources

University of Washington offers diverse resources to help students build the skills to launch their careers:

  • C21: Center for 21st Century Liberal Learning — Offers immersive learning experiences, partnerships both on campus and in the community, and a network of mentors to help guide students in the College of Arts and Sciences on the pathway toward selecting a major and preparing for a career after college.
  • Career & Internship Center — Educates and supports students as they explore and choose academic majors and career options, obtain and reflect upon career-related experiences, and develop professional presence and essential skills for workplace success.
  • Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center — Coordinates and connects students to community-based experiences in and around Seattle.
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