I’m currently going to a community college for my first semester of college because I was differed from Michigan State University until the spring semester. I haven’t picked a major yet but I’m interested in Political Science or International Relations. I’m really interested in history, culture, international affairs and geography. I’m wondering if Political Science or International Relations would let me find a job that deals with these subjects? What jobs are out there? I’ve read up on the Foreign Service, but that is a long shot. What is a practical expectation when it comes to finding a job in the field I like and the requirements needed? I’ve been told that International Relations is kind of pointless because it narrows down what you learn where as Political Science basically covers the International Relations major. I also have some questions for those of you who currently go to James Madison at MSU. I did’t pick James Madison as a major when I applied can I start next fall on the James Madison track or is it too late? How many people are turned away from the school? How difficult is the program? I know I asked a lot of questions but any info you can give is very appreciated.
Be aware that very few people with a bachelor’s in political science go on to work in a clearly political science job.
On the lower part of the Students Review dot com website page on the salaries for political science majors (Salary by Major, then Political Science) is a list of actual occupations that 46 political science majors went on to do (with or without subsequent education). The list should be unbiased as far as political science jobs vs. non-political science jobs (though it would tend to exclude people who are doing so badly they would not indulge in an online survey). A wide array of good jobs is in the list, but of the 46 people only 3 may be currently working in the field of political science: a legislative analyst, a teacher and a professor. (I say “may be,” because it is not specified what the latter two are teaching.)
At http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor’s_Degree%2c_Political_Science_%28PolySci%29/Salary is another list which similarly should not be biased vis-a-vis political science. This list, though, I believe refers to people whose highest degree is a bachelor’s in Political Science. This list includes paralegal, (legal) administrative assistant, executive assistant, operations manager, relationship manager and software engineer. ("Relationship managers “communicate with other businesses, clients, customers, vendors, communities, etc.”)