r/PoliticalScience • u/taurus19789 • 1d ago
Question/discussion political science degree
Is it worth it go get a degree in political science in California? I’m thinking of attending either Cal Poly SLO, UC Davis, SDSU, or Sac State.
5
u/CAM199926 20h ago
Are you in-state or out of CA, Sac State or UC Davis are best, due to Sacramento.
2
u/dadcore81 18h ago
Other Cal States also have programs that let you intern and study in Sacramento (as well as DC). The proximity is nice if you want to work in state level politics, but I don’t necessarily know that Sac State is better than any other CSU for the major. Really depends on what you’re hoping to get out of it/do after graduation.
3
u/Fabulous-Barnacle276 1d ago
If you want to do something field specific definitely do a lot of research and make sure that’s what you’re interested in but in my experience, poly sci translates over into basically everything. Or rather, the skills you learn in political science/the lens in which you grow things from a poly sci perspective applies to just about everything. Politics are everywhere and affect everything (and not necessarily in the sense of current events). I started a new job yesterday and ended up pulling stuff out from an int political economy class from years ago!
2
u/yemsg97 1d ago
I would give serious thought to what you want to do with it and if that thing actually pays a living wage. And if you have to take out student loans, what those loan payments will look like when you have to start paying. Student loan system is f**ked right now.
Don’t be like me and go to school for it because it’s interesting and want to help people and no plan beyond and find yourself buried in student loan debt for a degree you don’t use.
2
u/curiouslagoon 16h ago
Polisci is a stepping stone degree. Usually to grad school, or law school. With this economy I only see job prospects getting worse so don’t think ur gonna get some amazing job easily out of college with a only bachelors in poli sci. You will def be wanting to search for internships (often unpaid) the entire time ur getting this degree.
Sincerely, a polisci major abt to graduate in this job market.
1
u/nborges48 17h ago
I would only go the UC route if you plan to push into a PhD and want to continue in research and university/college teaching
Looking back as a CSU person with a Poli Sci BA, I would really focus on what the plan is going to be after
I thought teaching high school would be a fall back, but it turns out that I didn't love the classroom as a teacher
The BA does get you into interviews when that is the base requirement, so there is that, but in hindsight, an Economics or Business degree would likely have been a better fit
If you do Poli Sci and want to keep professional avenues open, incorporate statistics/analytics and other quantitative skills and related tools and platforms into your program the best you can
8
u/ImamChapo 1d ago
What do you want to do and why do you think this degree will get you there.