Is Political Science a Wasted Major?

[wolfsbane]

Naturally, one must assume that any major is viable within the realm of Academia as there are countless colleges and universities which constantly require individuals, either willing to forgo the many perks of the private sector or who are otherwise inclined, to take up the task of educating a new generation of professionals in their field.

With that said, I pose the question of political science as a viable major outside the walls of our educational institutions.

I'm simply looking for a general consensus, a feel for what is the prevailing wisdom, and perhaps some insight from anyone who has been there, done that. If you have such insight or are, yourself, a political scientist, please share what your experience has been, tell where you have attended school, degrees you hold, as well as anything else you think might be of use to anyone considering political science as a major.

My hope is that this dialogue might aid others in their decision to pursue this field, inform them as to what exactly we do, and perhaps redirect motivated thinkers towards the most efficacious routes.

Thanks! Happy?

[Drunken Irishman]

1. I have a Political Science Major.

I might go into education with it. I haven't decided yet.

[Sanity Claws]

2. I wouldn't do it again

I earned a BA in PoliSci. I also have an MA in PoliSci from Columbia and then went to law school.
Political Science is more ephemera than science. A lot of the analysis we covered concerned the cold war and similar topics which are wholly irrelevant these days. History would give a better overview of related topics, IMHO.

[BeatleBoot]

3. I like paragraphs

They split the shit up that you type on your screen so that people don't have to hold a ruler to their monitor in order try to follow what you're trying to say.

[wolfsbane]

4. JFY

Habit.

[taterguy]

5. Study what you want in college and try not to think about its impact on your future

This is your chance to grow.

Take advantage of it.

Who knows what the future holds but enjoy yourself while you've got amazing opportunities.

Sorry to go all granola on you but that's how I feel.

[Synicus Maximus]

6. It is at least as good as my history degree.. Oh wait a minute

that hasn't been much help at all. But a degree is a degree even if they are useless.

[tularetom]

7. "Political science" itself is an oxymoron

In my experience it is only useful as an undergraduate major in preparation for graduate work in public administration.

In and of itself, it doesn't lend itself to any career path.

But that's true of a lot of degrees.

My neighbor has a bachelor's degree in philosophy. She is a lawyer. Go figure.

[CBR]

8. Well I used my POSC BA to get a MA in Public Policy. nt

[etherealtruth]

9. I'm not sure I believe there is such a thing as a wasted major

I do believe that some majors are far more marketable than others.

People with far less marketable degrees than I have, have been far more successful ($$, satisfaction ... ) than I am .... follow your heart.

[Captain Hilts]

10. No. It's about methodology. It's more than reading the newspaper every day. nt

[MineralMan]

11. Whatever your degree, it is your own personal drive that

will make you a success or not.

I have an M.A. in English, for pete's sake. With that, I've been a magazine writer, a computer programmer and software company owner, and a mineral specimen dealer. The degree didn't matter a damn for any of those things. Nobody asked. Nobody cared. It was what I did that made those different things work.

A degree is just some representation that you are capable of learning. I've never met anyone who was qualified to do anything because of a Bachelor's Degree in any subject. Seriously.

[marmar]

12. It was one of my two majors......

I don't regret it one one bit.

[DailyGrind51]

13. Not as a prelude to an MPA or a JD!

[niyad]

14. as I have told people who have questioned my polisci degree--it enables me to observe the disease

called politics with some level of understanding. it also helped when I was a lobbyist (no, not THAT kind--the kind who lobbies for things like women's rights, peace, etc.)

however, the batshit crazy that passes for the political scene these days is something else entirely.

[SheilaT]

15. Just get a degree.

It's astonishing how many jobs require a degree for them even to look at you, regardless of other experience or skills. Not having one closes a lot of doors. Having one opens them.

[tekisui]

16. PoliSci is not a waste. For undergrad, follow your interest.

The reality is that a Bachelor's doesn't go terribly far these days, regardless of the major. PoliSci is a good major, though. ANd, can lead to advantages of knowledge and critical thinking. Then, think about grad school of law school. Good luck!

I am a polisci major and LOVE it.

[Citizen Kang]

17. I have a BA in Political Science

Now I work in real estate.

It was a fun degree to obtain but unless you are going into law school, government or politics, I don't recommend it.

[UTUSN]

18. IT is wasted, along with MY majors English-History. TYPING is better. n/t

[KonaKane]

19. Yes.

Take it from someone who majored in it until they wised up. The only thing that a degree like this might really help you with is maybe if you want to teach history in the public k-12 system, or lick envelopes and filter emails for some up and coming challenger to your town mayor.

[Ildem09]

20. I am a Political Scientist

If you actually want to do something to better society do not become one. however, if you want to understand how things work and why people act in certain ways and the nuts and bolts of the whole thing, then certainly join up.
We tend to be a very self-important and elitist group of folks, especially when we try to explain things, I've ran into it here on DU, there is just a cognitive disconnect between academics and common folks.
STAY AWAY from history, they like to pretend the are a science, but since we use the scientific method we have a bit more claim to the fact. I dont know what the commenter above gripe was.. Sure we cover the Cold War but in the greater context of Realism V. Neo-liberal insitituionalis. My coursework included courses on Ideologies of the Global south, Terrorist thought. Radical political thought. and Post Modern Politics. But I'm an IR kid so things might be different

[thelordofhell]

21. Do people major in Business Ethics?

[bridgit]

23. It is an area of gathering interest

http://ethics.berkeley.edu/disciplines/business.html

[bridgit]

22. If you end up working for the other side it will be

[Hippo_Tron]

24. A better question is if a Political Science PhD is a waste

Aside from things like Engineering and Architecture, an undergraduate major doesn't really get you a job in a specific field anymore. One could be just as good in politics with a BA in English Literature as they are with a BA in Political Science so long as they are into politics.

As far as actual political science (at the graduate level) I do think it is extremely useful outside the university walls. For example, if somebody asks me a question such as "why do states go to war with each other" there is obviously no simple answer to that question and there are actually many answers. However, if asked that question I usually give a brief overview of Jim Fearon's 1995 paper "Rationalist Explanations for War" because it is IMO the best explanation to that question, in general.

I think the problem is that too many political scientists don't do a good job making their work relevant to those outside of the ivory tower and often I feel like it's only the rock stars (Fearon among them) who do.