Political Science PhD Jobs
Earning a Ph.D. is a huge accomplishment, no matter what the subject. Becoming a Ph.D. holder in the political science field offers the added benefit of a variety of employment opportunities. Political science PhD jobs vary almost as much as the topics included in the degree program. Anyone who believes career options are limited should think again because various jobs are available for these individuals.
According to a CIRGE study of close to 4,000 PhDs in various fields, most subjects sought employment as professors. However, the variety of sub-disciplines in political science results in a strong presence in non-academic areas. While those studying political theory mainly went on to work in academia, others who studied international relations, public administration, or comparative politics pursued non-academic careers in related fields.
Political science PhD graduates are not limited to only being a lecturer or professor.
The researchers found that since 1992, the number of PhDs awarded in political science has continued to increase. This illustrates that the major continues to be timely and though many more men pursue education in this field, close to 25 percent of those in the study were women. When they completed their degree, 72 percent of respondents planned to become professors. Seven percent wanted to work in non-academic administration, while four percent wanted to be an academic researcher and an equivalent number wanted to pursue non-academic research.
These individuals used multiple sources during their job search, the most common being job openings in newspapers. Other resources included advice from faculty, existing professional contacts, and advice from a PhD advisor, which they reported was most useful. Many students reported that faculty strongly encouraged them to pursue academic careers but did not report their reasons for doing so.
PhD graduates in political science are certainly having a bright future when it comes to employment.
Ten years later, 55 percent of those studied were tenured educators and seven percent held tenured track positions. While slightly fewer women were tenured at Research I institutions, women were a larger proportion of the faculty at comprehensive, non-PhD granting institutions. Thirty percent worked in government, business, or non-profit sectors or for international agencies. Of those, 11 percent held a management or executive role, five percent worked in research roles, and 11 percent performed other duties.
Unlike graduates in subjects like humanities, political science PhD jobs include employment outside of academia. In this restricted job market, those who hold a PhD in political science are more marketable than some of their counterparts. This is good news for those who fear there will not be enough positions for educators or who would like to pursue a different career path.
