Many choose to pursue an MBA in Political Science because they want to make an impact on the world. The course work includes the study of ethics, justice, and democracy as well as the philosophy and practice of political systems, different systems of government, political behavior. The skills gained through coursework in political science can be applied to a wide range of different industries.
Table of contents
A master’s degree in political science is divided into several different sub-fields. They include:
- Political Theory: Students learn about human nature, citizen behavior, issues, consequences, and the moral purpose of the government.
- Comparative Politics: Students will review, dissect, and test the differentiators and effectiveness of different political systems. They will learn how different systems are aligned with laws and theories and how they impact civilians, support values, and personal freedom.
- American Government and Politics: Students are drawn to this course because it delves into new and old governmental policies, political ideas, and the state of America’s political system. This includes the presidency, congress, courts, state politics, and the impact they have on the entire governmental system.
- International Relations and Global Impact: Students will learn about international actions by global leaders, and the spectrum of global concerns like trade, finance, economic development, national security, and war. This course also explores the impact of global organizations like the United Nationals and its’ global members.
- Political Methodology: The fifth and final topic of course work includes political methodology, where students create new methods for advancing the availability of statistics, and theory by using experiments, statistics, and econometrics. This helps us look at data and anticipated changes in social movements, the economy, and trade.
When looked at all together earning a masters in political science requires research, communication, and the ability to analyze information for the betterment of both the private and public sectors.
What Will You Do With Your Master’s Degree in Political Science?
Having an MBA opens up the door to many types of political science jobs both private and public. Here is a sampling of some of them.
Careers in the Political Realm:
- Political Lobbyist: Lobbyists work with politicians to influence decisions on policies that can benefit or adversely affect clients. They have a keen knowledge of legislation and regulations. They develop strategies on how to influence decision-makers for positive results. Lobbyists generally make around $87,000 per year.
- Political Campaign Manager: A campaign manager develops, organizes, and coordinates political promotions to gain exposure for political parties and their top priorities. They also manage budgets and develop activities to gain important financial support. They may develop analytics to show how effective their campaigns are and what changes should be made to gain support. Political campaign managers should expect a salary of around $60,000 per year.
- Policy Analyst: Those that choose a career as a policy analyst will monitor and evaluate the positive or negative impact of existing or new policies and legislative rulings. They conduct in-depth research then analyze the data and trends that can impact policies. They will also need good communication skills to report findings and create necessary documents to be shared with officials and clients. Policy analysts make around $68,000 per year.
- Legislative Analyst: A legislative analyst assist works with legislators on a variety of admin and fiscal jobs. They track upcoming legislative rulings and issues and gauge the potential impact on the employer. They will also oversee and provide tasks for legislative assistants. The expected pay is $56,000 a year.
- Legislative Assistant: Those choosing this path will take directives from a legislative analyst. The job may include various administrative tasks like taking phone calls, responding to emails and organizing files. They may also track policies and their effect on the legislative process. Legislative assistants can bank on about $48,000/year.
Careers in the Private Sector:
- Market Research Analyst: As the name implies, as a research analyst you will be conducting research and then analyzing the data to overcome obstacles and reach the clients’ goals. This may be the anticipated sales potential of new products, companies, and services. They also need to gather results and report back to client’s so they make the right decisions to further their fiscal goals. Market research analysts make about $58,000 yearly.
- International Business Development Manager: This is a big job as it requires knowledge of the global industry. International business development managers are responsible for developing and managing business plans for each country. They will analyze global market trends and identify key insights that can lead to global success. The starting salary for this position starts at around $96,000 per year and may go up based on the size and scope of the organization.
- Paralegal: Paralegals typically work with lawyers and help with billing, client communications organizing meetings, overseeing calendars and schedules. They may be asked to attend meetings and write follow-up reports. They often proofread/correct documents and conduct research. A paralegal in the U.S. usually makes around $48,000/year.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| 2 | Stanford University | Stanford, California |
| 3 | University of California–Berkeley | Berkeley, California |
| 4 | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ford School) | Arbor, Michigan |
| 5 | University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois |
Finding the Right School for Your Political Science MBA:
Here are some schools known for their Political Science Master’s programs:
Harvard University
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The University offers top-level learning. It teaches leaders how to deal with some of the biggest issues we face in the 21st century. It has locations in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, with an enrollment of over 20,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
School Overview
Stanford University
Stanford University was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford. At first, the school was located on the couples’ property in Palo Alto California. It is known as one of the top schools for value and innovative work. Stanford University has a political science program that is one of the best in the country. It offers insight into American politics, international politics, and political methodology. Political science MBA and Ph.D. graduates are well-prepared for academic and research-based careers in the field.
School Overview
University of California–Berkeley
The University of California at Berkeley was founded in 1868. The Berkley campus is the state’s first and is the oldest campus among the schools’ 14 locations. It offers over 350-degree programs and has 12,000 graduate students. It is one of the top universities in the U.S and is home to academic pioneers. In 1964 it became the launchpad for the free speech movement.
School Overview
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ford School)
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, started in 1817, making it the oldest University in the state of Michigan. The University began holding courses 20-years before Michigan became a state. The University consists of over 584 major buildings and sits on 730 acres. It has other campuses located in Flint, Dearborn, and Detroit. It is a founding member of the Association of American Universities. It is widely-known respected as a research university with over 90 master’s programs.
School Overview
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private, urban research university that was founded in 1890. In the Fall of 2019, it had 16,445 students enrolled, 6,286 undergraduates, and 10,159 graduate students. The University of Chicago is ranked among the top universities in the world by many major education sources. The University has one undergraduate college and five graduate research divisions. The University is known for spearheading breakthroughs like discovering the link between cancer and genetics, developing revolutionary theories of economics, and a dedication to health, education, economic growth, and the arts. The University’s impressive students, faculty, and staff have included 100 Nobel laureates as of 2020,
School Overview
Columbia University
Columbia University was originally established as King’s University by royal charter of George II of Great Britain in 1754. It is the oldest higher learning school in the state of New York and the fifth-oldest educational education in the U.S. It was founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed. In 1784 it was renamed Columbia College and in 1896 it was finally names Columbia University. The University is known for a vast array of academic programs. It includes three undergraduate schools, 13 graduate and professional schools, an impressive medical center, and 25 libraries. It has over 100 different research centers and institutes.
School Overview
Massachusetts Institution of Technology
The Massachusetts Institution of Technology – Sloan School of Business (MIT) held their first classes in Boston, Massachusetts in 1865. It was founded as part of the Morrill Land-Grand Colleges Act to fund institutions. It was originally named Boston Tech. The name changed to MIT and has a wide range of programs to address scientific and technological advances to make the world a better place through education, research, and technology innovations. The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.
School Overview
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler School, is the flagship of the University of North Carolina system. The school was chartered in 1789; the first students began classes in 1795, one of the oldest public universities in the U.S. In 1952, North Carolina opened its hospital facility, UNC Health Care, for research and treatment. Today it specializes in cancer care. He campus is located in downtown Chapel Hill and covers over 730 acres of land. The school is also well-known for its sports programs including men’s basketball, women’s soccer, and women’s field hockey.
School Overview
Cornell University
Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is a private, Ivy League research university. It was founded in 1865 primarily to teach and contribute to the field of knowledge. It is made up of eight undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions. Today, Cornell Tech offers graduate programs that combine technology, business, and creative thinking. Today, they have nearly 3,000 students enrolled in their masters’ program, has 8,984 postgraduates, and 16,043 undergraduate students.
School Overview
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is over 200 years old as it was founded in 1817. Originally, its function was to train Baptist clergy members and was a male-only school. In 1900 the first female students were admitted. Today its undergraduate enrollment is nearly 6,000 students from across the United States. The River Campus is located near the Genesee River and winds around 200 acres. In addition to its impressive masters in political science program, it is also known for the impressive Eastman School of Music and the Sibley Music Library, which is the largest academic music library in North America.
