Thanks to the personal scandals and broken promises of Politicians, politics often seems like the work of an Artist. A con artist, that is. In reality, however, politics isn’t art. It’s science — social science, to be exact — and learning it requires the instruction of a special kind of expert, known as a Political Scientist.

Employed by a college or university in its humanities department, a Political Science Professor teaches college students the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” of systems and branches of government.

Under your tutelage, your students — future Politicians, Lawyers, Lobbyists, and Public Policy Analysts — study everything from political ideologies, political parties, and political theory to election law, public policy, and international relations in order to learn how governments get things done.

The daily duties of a Political Science Professor include designing curriculums, developing lesson plans, writing syllabi, advising students, giving lectures, assigning homework, and giving and grading exams. As a Social Scientist, however, you might also be expected to do political research, present at political science conferences, and write scholarly articles in political science journals. You might even go so far as to become an Author of political books.

Like a Biology Professor, though, your job at the end of the day is basically all about dissecting things. Instead of animal organs, however, what you’re cutting open are legal systems and power structures!

Personality Traits


High Achiever: You love the challenge of tackling difficult work.

Logical Thinker: You take a step-by-step approach to analyze information and solve problems.

Ready for a Challenge: You jump into new projects with initiative and drive.

Salary and Education


How much does a Political Science Professor make?

Nationally: $36,000 – $132,000

Main education level: Advanced

source: US Dept of Labor





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