Careers - #349 - POLITICAL SCIENTIST

Political Scientists are concerned with political behavior and the origin, development, organization, and operation of government and other political institutions.

Conduct research to formulate political theory as well as to solve practical political problems in areas such as governmental institutions, public law & administration, political party systems & institutional law

Consult with government officials, civic bodies, research agencies, political parties, private businesses, and others

* Calculators	* Charts & designs
* Computers	* Reference books & materials
(with Internet access)
* Teaching aids (chalkboard/overhead projector/film/videotape player)

051.067-010 POLITICAL SCIENTISTS study the origin, development, operation and interrelationships of political institutions or governments. They study the phenomena of political behavior and develop political theory.

Political Scientists may specialize in a general area of political science theory such as international relations, comparative political institutions, or U.S. political institutions. Some Political Scientists specialize in a particular type of political institution in the politics of a specific time period. Also, many Political Scientists are actively involved in international, national, and local political processes.

Political Scientists work under a variety of titles as assistants to individuals who are seeking or hold public office, for political parties, or for other employers. Legislative assistants, for example, conduct research, draft legislation and speeches, attend committee meetings, and assist legislators with campaign duties.

Press secretaries work for specific political officials. They prepare and review news releases concerning those officials and respond to requests from constituents, the news media, and others.

A political science background is helpful to prepare for the job of campaign manager. Campaign managers run the day-to-day operation of a political campaign for those who seek political office. These managers supervise volunteers and paid campaign workers, make speeches, plan campaign schedules, and handle finances.

Political Scientists who conduct opinion polls on candidates for political office as well as on other issues are known as pollsters. They are employed by political parties as well as by private research firms.

Lobbyist agents try to persuade legislators and other public officials to take positions favorable to the interests of the firm, association, union, political party, medical or health organization, governmental agency or other group for which they work.

Political Scientists may also serve as a link between civil service agencies and the legislature. Legislative liaison officers represent governmental agencies and, along with legislators and their staff, help to shape proposed legislation affecting their agencies.

Other positions held by Political Scientists include field representative, political fund raiser, election assistant, and political consultant.

Many individuals with political science training may use their back-ground in other fields, such as law, journalism, urban planning, economics, public administration, and business administration. A political science background is also helpful to those seeking or holding public office.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

Political Scientists generally work alone under the general supervision of a department head or research director. Their work is usually performed indoors in clean, well lighted, well ventilated offices or classrooms.

Political Scientists work as many hours as necessary to complete their assignments when under pressure to meet deadlines, tight schedules and heavy workloads. Political Scientists employed in teaching divide their time between teaching, research, and administrative duties. Those employed by private firms and most government agencies have much more structured schedules. Political Scientists who work for the U.S. government, particularly the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Information Agency, have varied and flexible work hours. Also, they may have changing assignments varying in length from several days to several years, both in the U.S. and overseas. Political Scientists working in research or as consultants may travel a great deal.

Political Scientists may choose to belong to professional associations such as the American Political Science Association (APSA) or the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Those who are members pay periodic membership fees.

You are analyzing the results of an election in which the incumbent received 46% of the vote and the total number of voters was 12,642. If the challenger received 38% of the vote and the remainder of voters were undecided, how many votes did the challenger receive and how many votes were undecided?

Like a personal budget, government budgets are financial plans that summarize anticipated income and expenses. When anticipated income equals anticipated expenses, the budget is said to be balanced.

You should be able to write a report comparing the political ideology of two revolutionaries during the Prussian War.

You should be able to look at opinion polls and make decisions regarding what the public wants and what policy strategies could satisfy those wants.

Political Scientists who wish to teach in colleges are usually required to have a Ph.D. degree, although a master's degree may be sufficient for positions in community colleges. Those with a master's degree can qualify for administrative and research positions in government, industry and non profit research or civic organizations. Lobbyist agents must be registered with the Michigan Department of State.

A master's degree in international relations, foreign service, or area studies may be particularly helpful to individuals who wish to obtain positions concerned with foreign affairs in a federal government agency.

Lobbyists (any person compensated more than $375 in a 12-month period for communicating directly with a public official in the Michigan Executive Branch or Legislature for the purpose of influencing administrative or legislative action) agents must be registered with the Michigan Department of State.

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1600 FOREIGN LANGUAGE , 1700 GOVERNMENT , 1900 HISTORY , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES

Programs in Political Science provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for the study of political institutions and for related careers in government, politics, and education. Individuals who teach Political Science at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Michigan Government	American Political Parties
American Government	Black Political Movements
The Executive Process	Public Policy Analysis
The Legislative Process	Politics of Ecology
The Judicial Process	Foreign Policy
Voting Behavior	International Relations
Public Bureaucracy	Methods of Political Research

Postsecondary programs in political science may provide opportunities for experience although, the required education limits ways to gain experience. Some undergraduate internships and graduate assistantships or fellowships may be available. For directories listing public service opportunities, contact the "National Society of Internships and Experimental Education" or public libraries. Volunteer or part-time work in political organizing, fundraising, and election campaigning may be available.

Political Scientists may find employment by applying to colleges, universities, and other employers. Assistance may be obtained from college placement offices and faculty. To obtain employment in federal, state, or local government agencies, contact civil service offices. The American Political Science Association lists open positions in it's monthly "Personnel Service Newsletter". In addition, you access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Earnings of Political Scientists vary according to employer, geographic location, and the individual's college degrees and abilities. For teachers, earnings vary with the level taught and academic rank. Political Scientists who become authorities in their area of specialization generally earn the highest salaries in this occupation.

Nationally, the median annual salary of social scientists, including Political Scientists, was $35,412 (1998). Depending on their academic record, Political Science majors with Bachelor's Degrees working for the federal government started at $20,588 or $25,501 per year (1999). Those with Master's and Doctoral Degrees started at $31,195 and $37,744, respectively. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

The average annual salaries of faculty members, which includes Political Scientists, employed by colleges and universities were $33,402 for instructors; $43,799 for assistant; $53,170 for associate; and $72,721 for full professors (1998-99).

Political Scientists working as U.S. Foreign service officers in international relations, foreign affairs, and intelligence earned starting salaries ranging from $28,817 to $47,338 per year (1999) depending on their education and prior work experience.

College and university instructors in Michigan (1998-99), including those teaching Political Science, earned these average annual salaries:

Instructor	$32,784	Assistant Professor	$43,863
Associate Professor	$53,207	Professor	$72,032

Some Political Scientists add income by teaching summer or evening courses, lecturing, or consulting.

Depending on the employer, Political Scientists may receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. In addition, college or university teachers may apply for and receive sabbatical leave at 60% to 100% of their annual salary after 6 to 7 years of employment.

Political Scientists who teach may advance to professor after additional experience and education.

Nationally, there were approximately 16,000 members of the American Political Science Association in 1996. About three-fourths of all Political Scientists worked in colleges and universities. Others worked in various positions requiring advanced degrees in Political Science, such as political researchers or advisors for private firms studying political issues affecting their companies. Employment of Political Scientists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.

The number of persons graduating with degrees in Political Science is expected to exceed greatly the number of available job openings. However, those graduates with a knowledge of survey research methods, computer science, economic theory, health care delivery systems, and transportation issues may be in particular demand. Political Scientists with Ph.D.'S or Master's Degrees will face stiff competition for academic positions but, with specialized training in areas such as policy analysis or public administration, they may find some opportunities in federal, state, and local government; research bureaus; and political organizations. New Bachelor's Degree holders are expected to find few opportunities for jobs as professional Political Scientists. Many of these graduates are expected to enter various trainee positions in government, business, and industry, and work under titles other than Political Scientist.

There are between 200 and 300 Political Scientists working in Michigan for colleges and universities as Political Science teachers. A few others worked for federal, state, or local government agencies; political parties; public and private interest groups; labor unions; private corporations; civic organizations; and research organizations. In mid 1999, approximately 1,250 individuals, many of whom were formally trained in Political Science, were registered to work as Lobbyist Agents.

Little or no change is expected in the employment of Political Scientists in Michigan through the year 2005. Most of the openings which do occur will be due to the replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. A shrinking college age population and declining student enrollments at 4-year colleges are expected to limit the number of openings for Political Science teachers at colleges and universities, the primary employers of Political Science majors in Michigan. Openings for professional Political Scientists in nonacademic areas are also expected to be limited. Therefore, some may seek career alternatives in such areas as journalism, public relations, market research, business administration, and public administration.

As a rule, Political Science graduates who can demonstrate technical knowledge about an important policy area have more job market potential than those with broad backgrounds. Persons with majors in comparative politics, international relations, and political theory face the keenest competition.

EMPLOYMENT AND	NUMBER	PERCENT	PROJECTED YEARLY
OUTLOOK REGIONS	EMPLOYED	GROWTH	JOB OPENINGS
State Total	***	*** %	***

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Admin. 1120 G. Street, N.W., Suite 730 Washington, DC 20005 http://www.naspaa.org	U.S. Department of State Recruitment Division P.O. Box 9317 Arlington, VA 22219 1-703-875-7490 http://www.state.gov
American Political Science Association 1527 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036-1206 (202) 483-2512 http://www.apsanet.org/	Michigan Works!
Political Science Department of a College or University	College Placement Offices
Federal, State, and Local Civil Service Offices

Growth Outlook:	As fast as average
Salary Potential:	Average potential growth
GOE Cluster:	Leading-Influencing Interest Group (#11)
Work Values:	Independence, intellectual stimulation, research work
SDS Code:	Social (enjoys working with people)
Relationship to Data:	Synthesizing (formulates experimental designs to investigate hypotheses)
Relationship to People:	Speaking-Signaling (explains their knowledge to others)
Relationship to Things:	Handling (distributes new political documentation to others)

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