B.S. in ChemE + PhD in PoliSci?

Graduate School Law School
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<p>Hi, this is not law specific, but related, I can find no better board to post it. </p>

<p>I am a sophomore in undergrad right now, and my major is chemical engineering in undergrad, because I think the chemical engineering curriculum gives one a good understanding of all major branches of sciences and topics within engineering, on the applied side of things of course. </p>

<p>However, while I am good at science, and do like science, I think my interests lie more along the lines of policy. I don't think I want to go into law however, it seems like that's what most science people opt to do if they go into this area, they get a JD and go into patent law. </p>

<p>Is it possible to get into a good graduate political science program with a science background, given that I take some core political science classes during undergrad, and I will probably be able to do some policy related research with one of the professors here, because while I haven't taken too many classes in this field, I do possess substantial self-learned knowledge in modern politics, especially in terms of East Asia politics, and Sino-U.S. relations. I am Chinese American btw, and I have been involved in debating forever.</p>

<p>If I were to get a PhD in polisci, I would focus on political issues that are complemented by my Chemical engineering background of course, such as defense, arms proliferation, pollution (global warming), energy shortage, safe and ethical handling of hazardous material, or petroleum related stuff. </p>

<p>Also, if I do obtain this educational background, what kind of work would I be able to find? Would I be able to work as a poli sci professor in academia, even though my BS is in engineering? Would I qualify for political think tank or advisory positions for government agencies or corporate enterprises, maybe big chemical companies or investment/consulting firms? </p>

<p>Thoughts? I realize this question is probably too specific, and I doubt anyone is in a similar situation.</p>

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<p>Ask in the grad school forums. I don't think anyone here can help you.</p>

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<p>Very nice and thought out post. Go for it. What you want is possible, and I think you know what's what.</p>

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<p>My suggestion: get a master's before the Ph.D. It's probably easier to get into a master's for poli sci, then you can demonstrate your ability there. I do not know whether or not you could go straight to a poli sci PhD from where you are.</p>

<p>Why not take poli sci as a second major? I doubled in chemE and a liberal arts major - and pretty much did it all in junior/senior year. </p>

<p>Take some environmental science/environmental engineering courses. Try to work with a professor whose interests match your own.</p>

<p>Consider a Fulbright, if you have the grades. </p>

<p>Drop an email if you would like to talk engineering to policy via the JD.</p>

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<p>
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Why not take poli sci as a second major? I doubled in chemE and a liberal arts major - and pretty much did it all in junior/senior year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sorry I forgot to mention this because my school doesn't allow double majoring.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Also, if I do obtain this educational background, what kind of work would I be able to find? Would I be able to work as a poli sci professor in academia, even though my BS is in engineering? Would I qualify for political think tank or advisory positions for government agencies or corporate enterprises, maybe big chemical companies or investment/consulting firms?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hey, why not? Consider John Kotter. His bachelor's degree is in EECS from MIT. He then later got his doctorate in management at Harvard Business School, specializing in organizational culture and leadership, and he stayed at HBS to teach, becoming a full professor at age 33. Businessweek once ranked him the #1 leadership guru in America. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.johnkotter.com/bio.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.johnkotter.com/bio.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Or consider Vernon Smith. His BS is in EE from Caltech. He then got a PhD in Economics from Harvard. He won the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on behavioral economics. </p>

<p><a href="http://economics.gmu.edu/faculty/vsmith.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://economics.gmu.edu/faculty/vsmith.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Maybe the most relevant example for you is Eugene Skolnikoff. He got bachelor's and master's degrees in EE from MIT. He then got a PhD in political science from MIT, specializing in foreign policy. He then became a professor of political science at MIT for the last 41 years (the last 8 as emeritus). </p>

<p><a href="http://web.mit.edu/polisci/faculty/E.Skolnikoff.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.mit.edu/polisci/faculty/E.Skolnikoff.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>In case anybody is wondering whether MIT has a 'good' political science department, I would point out that it was ranked 10th in the latest USNews graduate ranking. I think a #10 ranking is pretty darn decent. I'm sure a lot of poli-sci grad students wish they could get into the 10th ranked program out there.</p>