Careers

Career Opportunities in Political Science

Political science majors pursue careers in a wide range of fields: law; government; business; diplomacy; international development; non-profit organizations; campaign management; journalism; education; electoral politics; research; and more. Recent data show that the salaries of political science graduates compare favorably to those of graduates in many other social sciences. As political science majors progress through the suggested Academic Plan of Study they are encouraged to take courses from the lists below based on their career interests.

Suggested Courses for Law Careers

Political science is one of the most common majors for people who want to become lawyers. In addition to the required courses, political science majors who are planning to attend law school are encouraged to take the following law-related courses:

POLS 3114 Constitutional Law and Policy
POLS 3115 Civil Rights and Liberties
POLS 3116 Judicial Process
POLS 3117 Gender and the Law
POLS 3137 International Human Rights
POLS 3162 International Law
POLS 3175 Philosophy of Law
POLS 3400 Internship in Political Science (many students intern with local law firms)

In recent years, with assistance from lawyers in the Charlotte area, we also have offered special courses on the following topics: Taxation in America, Environmental Policy and Law, and Political Campaign Finance Law and Applications.

In addition to courses in political science, pre-law students should consider courses in business, criminal justice, economics, English, history, mathematics (especially statistics), philosophy, psychology, sociology, and communication studies, among others. They also may be interesting in joining the Pre-Law Society and meeting with our departmental pre-law advisor, Dr. John Szmer.

Information for a Legal Studies minor

Some political science majors may be interested in a Legal Studies minor. Information can be found at http://legalstudies.charlotte.edu/. You can also contact Dr. John Szmer for more information about the minor.

Suggested Courses for Political Careers

Some political science majors are interested in working on political campaigns and perhaps running for office themselves someday. In addition to the required courses for the major, these students are encouraged to take the following courses:

POLS 3103 Public Opinion
POLS 3105 Voting and Elections
POLS 3108 Social Movements and Interest Groups
POLS 3109 Political Parties
POLS 3119 State and Local Government
POLS 3121 Urban Politics and Policy
POLS 3400 Internship in Political Science (many students intern on political campaigns)
POLS 4110 North Carolina Student Legislature

Periodically, we draw on the expertise of campaign professionals in the Charlotte area to offer special topics courses on Political Campaign Management and Political Campaign Finance Law and Applications. These courses provide first-hand insight into the logistics of running a political campaign.

Suggested Courses for Government and Policy Careers

Many political science majors want to work for government agencies or to be involved in some other way in policy development and implementation. In addition to the required courses, political science majors who are interested in policy careers are encouraged to take the following courses:

POLS 2120 Introduction to Public Policy
POLS 3119 State and Local Government
POLS 3121 Urban Politics and Policy
POLS 3124 U.S. Domestic Policy
POLS 3125 Health Care Policy
POLS 3126 Administrative Behavior
POLS 3132 Comparative Public Policy
POLS 3400 Internship in Political Science (many students intern with a government agency)

Many political science majors who are interested in policy-related careers move on to the UNC Charlotte Master in Public Administration Program, which emphasizes the development of administrative and analytical skills in the following areas: non-profit management, urban management and policy, arts administration, emergency management, and public finance.

Suggested Courses for International Careers

Many political science majors are interested in working on international issues, whether based in the US or overseas. Some want to pursue careers in the U.S. State Department or the United Nations, while others would like to work with international non-governmental organizations involved in relief and development. Some students are interested in human rights and advocacy organizations.

Students who are interested in international careers broadly are encouraged to take the following thematic courses:

POLS 3135 Terrorism
POLS 3137 International Human Rights
POLS 3151 International Political Economy
POLS 3152 International Organizations
POLS 3157 American Foreign and Defense Policy
POLS 3162 International Law
POLS 3163 Introduction to Model United Nations
POLS 4163 Advanced Model United Nations

Students who are interested in working in a particular region of the world are encouraged to take relevant regional courses and to learn one or more languages spoken in that region:

POLS 3143 African Politics
POLS 3169 African International Relations

POLS 3148 Chinese Politics
POLS 3165 East Asia in World Affairs

POLS 3141 European Politics
POLS 3153 European Union

POLS 3144 Latin American Politics
POLS 3155 Latin American Political Economy
POLS 3164 U.S.-Latin American Relations

POLS 3133 Middle East Politics
POLS 3166 Politics of the Islamic World

Political science majors who want to pursue international careers should consider studying abroad and completing an additional major or minor in one of the following areas: Africana Studies