Political Scientists

information investigative law election result comprehension operation of governments public opinion survey social trend public policy knowledge of government policy decisions
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All Source Intelligence Technician; Civil Affairs; Civil Affairs, Designated; Foreign Area Officer Immaterial; Foreign Area Officer, Middle East and North Africa; Human Intelligence Collection Technician; Intelligence Officer; Psychological Operations; Special Forces Communications Sergeant; Special Forces Medical Sergeant
Cyber Intel; Intel; Intelligence Specialist; Intelligence System Specialist; International Affairs
Advisor; Civil Affairs Specialist; Congressional Marine Liaison; Female Engagement Specialist; Foreign Area Officer-Eurasia; Foreign Area Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-Latin America; Foreign Disclosure Representative (FDR); Intelligence Officer; Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Officer; Regional Affairs Officer - Northeast Asia
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Foreign Area Officer (FAO); Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Airlift; Foreign Area Officer (FAO), EUCOM; Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Helicopter or EWO; Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Special Operations; Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS); Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), C2ISREW; Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), RPA; Rated Foreign Area Officer (FAO); Rated Foreign Area Officer (FAO), INDOPACOM
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Teach political science.
  • Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
  • Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.

Knowledge

Safety and Government

  • law and government

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • history and archeology

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • figuring out how to use new ideas or things

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Initiative
  • Persistence
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • IBM SPSS Statistics Hot Technology
  • SAS Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Information retrieval or search software

  • EBSCO Publishing Political Science Complete
  • Sage Reference Online

Education

doctoral degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Salary:

$128,020
$65,200
$176,280
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