Political Scientists

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Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

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Tasks

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Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
Teach political science.
Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
Identify issues for research and analysis.
Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
Provide media commentary or criticism related to public policy and political issues and events.
Evaluate programs and policies, and make related recommendations to institutions and organizations.

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Technology Skills

All 17 displayed Show 7 tools used

Analytical or scientific software — IBM SPSS Statistics ; JudgeIt II; SAS ; StataCorp Stata (see all 7 examples)
Business intelligence and data analysis software — Tableau
Cloud-based data access and sharing software — Microsoft SharePoint
Data base management system software — Bare Bones Software BBEdit; IDM Computer Solutions UltraEdit
Data base user interface and query software — CQ Press Political Reference Suite; Library of Congress E-resources Online Catalog; Microsoft Access ; Structure query language SQL (see all 6 examples)
Desktop publishing software — Microsoft Publisher
Document management software — Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software — Email software; Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software — SAP
Information retrieval or search software — EBSCO Publishing Political Science Complete; JSTOR database; ProQuest Worldwide Political Science Abstracts; Sage Reference Online (see all 9 examples)
Object or component oriented development software — Python ; R
Office suite software — Microsoft Office
Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
Process mapping and design software — Microsoft Visio
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Web platform development software — Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
Word processing software — Microsoft Word

Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.

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Knowledge

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Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
History and Archeology — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

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Skills

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Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Time Management — Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Abilities

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Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Work Activities

All 21 displayed

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Detailed Work Activities

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Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
Develop theories or models of physical phenomena.
Conduct research on social issues.
Review professional literature to maintain professional knowledge.
Interpret research or operational data.
Advise others on matters of public policy.
Evaluate civic projects or public policies.
Forecast economic, political, or social trends.
Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters.

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Work Context

All 18 displayed

Electronic Mail — 97% responded “Every day.”
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 90% responded “A lot of freedom.”
Freedom to Make Decisions — 87% responded “A lot of freedom.”
Duration of Typical Work Week — 79% responded “More than 40 hours.”
Face-to-Face Discussions — 50% responded “Every day.”
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 70% responded “Every day.”
Spend Time Sitting — 53% responded “More than half the time.”
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 43% responded “Extremely important.”
Public Speaking — 73% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Contact With Others — 47% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
Level of Competition — 57% responded “Highly competitive.”
Letters and Memos — 47% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Telephone — 40% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Time Pressure — 50% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
Frequency of Decision Making — 30% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 31% responded “Moderate results.”
Work With Work Group or Team — 50% responded “Important.”
Deal With External Customers — 23% responded “Very important.”

Job Zone

Title	Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education	Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master’s degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related Experience	Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Job Training	Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Job Zone Examples	These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
SVP Range	(8.0 and above)

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
73	Doctoral degree
13	Master’s degree
7	Bachelor’s degree

Credentials

Interests

All 3 displayed

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Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles

All 13 displayed

Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Work Values

All 3 displayed

Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

All 9 displayed

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25-1065.00	Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
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25-1111.00	Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
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25-1126.00	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Bright Outlook

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2020)	$60.27 hourly, $125,350 annual
State wages
Local wages	ZIP Code:

Employment (2020)	7,000 employees
Projected growth (2020-2030)	Average (5% to 10%)
Projected job openings (2020-2030)	700
State trends

Top industries (2020)	Government Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data external site and 2020-2030 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

Sources of Additional Information

All 14 displayed

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

American Academy of Political and Social Science
American Association for Public Opinion Research
American Association of University Professors
American Political Science Association
American Society for Public Administration
Association for Asian Studies
International Studies Association
Law and Society Association
Midwest Political Science Association
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
New England Political Science Association
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Political scientists
Southern Political Science Association
Western Political Science Association

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