The Military
Political science degrees can also lead to excellent careers in the U.S. military. In order to be an officer in most branches of the armed forces, you must hold a bachelor’s degree, and although the military does not specify what that degree must be in, political science provides future military officers with the knowledge of world affairs and domestic politics that help sharpen their analytical skills.
As the Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz wrote, “War is the continuation of politics by other means.” The military is ultimately a tool of foreign policy that is placed under the control of a civilian, elected leadership. Being able to understand not only the history of international affairs and its effect on military doctrine but current events is crucial to understanding the role the military plays and what it’s capable of doing. For example, an understanding of the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East can be important but so is understanding how other militaries have fought terrorist insurgents. This is part of the reason that military history is often a required class for ROTC cadets in college.
Sometimes, in the course of duty, troops will be asked to work with soldiers from other states, the United Nations, or NATO. Often, international soldiers come to American military schools for additional training, and this is a tool for furthering relations with those states. Cooperating with individual soldiers from other places may be easy, but often, dealing with the foreign military machinery may be hard. An understanding of those countries and their geopolitical situations will ease those situations and further American military and diplomatic goals.
The Bureaucracy
Not only are there fifteen major cabinet departments in the federal government, but there are countless smaller agencies and offices that deal with everything from getting Social Security checks out on time to regulating the stock market. If there is something you’re interested in, chances are there’s a bureaucracy that’s involved in that policy area. You can be a federal agent with the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; or the Drug Enforcement Agency. You can be in the diplomatic corps of the Department of State or a doctor in Veterans Affairs. While many of these jobs may require more specialized education, there are any numbers of interesting jobs available.
The first stop when looking for a job with the federal government is the website USAJobs.gov, which provides an updated list of positions available and maintains an application system you would use to apply for those positions. (USA Jobs will be covered in further detail in Chapter 3.) USA Jobs provides a quick reference list of jobs available by major in college, and while political science does appear on the list, there are a number of other related career paths you can also consider:
— Business or commercial law
— Community planning/development
— Economics
— Global public policy
— History
— International trade, finance
— International relations
— Humanities
— Administration
— Statistics
— Urban planning
What is intriguing about many of these positions is that you don’t have to live in Washington, D.C., to pursue a career in the federal bureaucracy. Many agencies have offices located throughout the United States at which you can find appointments. Larger communities will often have Social Security offices, or if you live near a military post, you can find jobs on base or with the VA.
One line of bureaucratic work that you may find interesting is that of regulatory work. Examples of regulatory agencies include the Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC), which oversees banks and the stock market; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates environmental issues; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), whose responsibilities include approving prescription drugs and overseeing food preparation and labeling; and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates airports and airlines. The main purpose of regulatory agencies is to take the laws that have been passed by Congress and turn them into actual workable rules that industry must follow. Not only do regulators write these rules, but it’s also up to them to investigate compliance with and enforcement of them.
Another example of interesting and exciting work can be found in the U.S. Foreign Service. The Foreign Service comprises the diplomats carrying out U.S. foreign and diplomatic policy around the world. An understanding of languages, cultures, and customs is requisite, but being a Foreign Service officer provides you with the opportunity to travel throughout the world and be stationed at one of hundreds of embassies or consulates, actively contributing to the mission of the United States at home and abroad. You can specialize in a functional area, like politics or economics, or in a geographical area, depending on your experience and education. Becoming a Foreign Service officer is a demanding and rigorous process, with the Department of State looking for those individuals who possess a wide array of knowledge and significant international experience. While there is no specific educational requirement to become a Foreign Service officer, a degree in political science can provide the political and economic background that is often tested in the Foreign Service Exam. Participation can lead to a fulfilling career, with the top echelons of the Foreign Service often serving important and high-placed diplomatic roles throughout the world.
Jobs in the bureaucracy, especially in the federal civil service, provide lots of room for career advancement. Once in, you can compete for higher pay and promotions, and if positions are available, you have the option of moving to different areas. Although bureaucrats are often maligned, these types of jobs are necessary for the everyday functioning of American government. It might seem boring, but the jobs these bureaucrats are carrying out can be exciting and rewarding.
Peace Corps
Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps is an esteemed volunteer program that provides needed assistance throughout the world in areas ranging from health and agriculture to economic development. With almost seven thousand volunteers serving worldwide, the Peace Corps is an attractive postcollege option but can be quite competitive to get into. There is no general application for the Peace Corps; instead, potential volunteers apply for specific positions in designated countries. This allows potential volunteers to choose which projects interest them the most and which projects they can most directly benefit. Most volunteers serve in a two-year program, but quick-response teams are also open to past volunteers. A political science degree can provide excellent preparation for a stint in the corps, as understanding global dynamics, institutions, and development are key when participating in Peace Corps projects.
Lawyers
One profession often crosses the boundary between public and private: the law. Not only can you practice in private, lawyers are in demand in the public sector. While being a lawyer in court is what usually comes to mind when you think about the law, there are plenty of other positions for lawyers in the government. Lawyers can be used when crafting and creating legislation, when analyzing legal implications for policy, and for interpreting and implementing legislation.
The most obvious place for lawyers in government is the Department of Justice, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes. However, most bureaucracies have legal departments whose responsibilities include analyzing legislation, writing regulations, ensuring that all laws are being