Career in Political Science: Introduction
Why make a career in Political Science? Because, political science deepens our knowledge and understanding of one of the most powerful forces operating on us, that is, our government and politics in our own country and around the world. One also learns what it is to be a valuable citizen and the rights one has. The knowledge of politics is indispensable to many other careers today, such as businesses, that need to have some understanding of the likely trajectory of policy and politics in the country it deals with in order to make prudent investment decisions.
Political science systematically studies governance, state, and its organs and institutions. The discipline, in its contemporary form, has broadened itself to encompass the social, cultural, and psychological factors that together affect the working of government and the body politic.
The practical and intellectual skills gained through political science can also help one build a better career for oneself in fields such as politics, law, business, and public administration.
At the School Level
To embark upon a career in political science right from school one can choose Humanities/Arts stream with Political Science as one of the subjects.
It should be noted that not taking political science at the school level does not affect one’s prospects in one’s career in political science at a latter level but having it as a subject from school onwards helps create a good foundation.
At the Bachelor’s Level
Choosing the right course at the bachelor’s level is the most important step in making a career in political science. A discipline like political science becomes a more serious pursuit at this level. The most preferable paths here are as follows:
- B.A. (Hons.) Political science for three years
- B.A. Programme/Pass/Humanities and Social Sciences with Political science as one of the subjects
If while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any other discipline other than the above mentioned, one wishes to pursue a career in political science, one is open to doing so by pursuing a Master’s degree in political science by qualifying the entrance tests of recognized programs. Although, it is possible it becomes more difficult to start a career in political science at this level.
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Eligibility
General eligibility to pursue a B.A. degree in Political Science is a Higher Secondary qualification/ 10+2 or equivalent qualification in any stream from a recognized educational Board of the country, with a minimum of 50% in aggregate.
Please note that this is the basic eligibility and is not the same as the actual cut-off/ qualification of entrances needed for admission.
Colleges/Universities offering courses in Political science
- Christ (Deemed to be University)
- Fergusson College, Pune
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts
- University of Delhi
Curriculum
Following are the core contents of a standard under-graduate syllabus of political science:
- Understanding Political Theory
- Constitutional Government and Democracy in India
- Political Theory-Concepts and Debates
- Political Process in India
- Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
- Perspectives on Public Administration
- Perspectives on International Relations and World History
- Political Processes and Institutions in Comparative Perspective
- Public Policy and Administration in India
- Global Politics
- Classical Political Philosophy
- Indian Political Thought-I
- Modern Political Philosophy
- Indian Political Thought-II
Other discipline-specific elective contents of a standard under-graduate syllabus of political science may include—Citizenship in a Globalizing World, Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective, Development Process and Social Movements in Contemporary India, Public Policy in India, Colonialism and Nationalism in India, India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalizing World, Feminism in Theory and Practice, Dilemmas in Politics, and so on.
- Higher Studies and Job Prospects in Political science
When it comes to the role of higher studies, it consolidates one’s specialized role in the desired field and that is also true in the case of a person desiring a career in political science.
- Studying political science as an end in itself or to establish a career in research and academia requires one to choose the following paths: M.A. in Political science, followed by M.Phil. + Ph.D. in Political science
Or
- M.A./M.Phil. + Ph.D. in specialized and allied fields such as public policy, public administration, social work, development studies, gender studies, international relations, comparative politics and area studies, human resource development and management, criminology, mass media and communication, and so on.
Besides teaching and research, these specializations allow one to take up various roles in sectors such as:
- Law,
- Journalism,
- Politics,
- Social Work/NGOs,
- International Affairs,
- Business,
- Education,
- Public Policy and Development Planning, and so on.
Other lucrative alternative careers for political science degree holders include:
- Civil Services: The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to various civil services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
The State Civil Services examinations and recruitment are conducted by the individual states public service commissions in India. These services are feeders of All India Services.
Political science is one of the optional subjects for the mains examinations and competence in the subject could help the candidate ace the mains paper.
- MBA/MBA-HRM: Students seeking admissions in Indian universities have to appear for certain entrance examinations like CAT and CMAT.
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