<p>^^</p>
<p>If you want to teach at the college/university level, a Masters is the extreme bare minimum. Considering the glut of poli-sci PhD holders in the academic marketplace from what I heard from poli-sci PhD graduates from elite/Ivy institutions, you really need a PhD to be competitive to teach at most college-level institutions, including community colleges. Also, if you’re going this route, you should pick up at least one foreign language depending on your research topic. </p>
<p>If you’re thinking of K-12, you may want to check with the school district/private schools whether they’d accept someone with a poli-sci masters. You may also need to pick up an M.ED at an Ed school to be certified to teach full-time in some states…including NY. I recalled reading how a Harvard graduate who had serious issues trying to teach in the NYC public school system even after getting an educational Masters(Mandatory for full-time teachers in NY state public schools) because her undergrad degree was East Asian Studies rather than a more “traditional field” like English, history, etc. Something to think about. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in working in government policy groups or NGOs, the Masters in public policy sounds like a better bet.</p>