5 answers
Kristina
Student
Clinton, Connecticut
1
Question
Updated
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How can I combine my degree in Communications with my minor in Political Science in my future career ?
I am a current college sophomore in undergraduate.
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5 answers
Mary Ann Faue
Communications, Training, and People Development
40
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Kristina
Communications and Political Science. It seems to me that you are looking for some kind of role related to the political arena. If this is true, you might want to start by volunteering to help with a local election campaign. This gets you known by people who are connected in the political arena. And, when you work on an election campaign, you learn a lot about how things work and you do a lot of different jobs.
Also, if you do want to work in the political arena, most every U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman/woman has a communications director on their staff. You might consider reaching out your Senator/Representative's office to see if you can do a 15 minute video conference with someone on the communications team or the Communications director to learn more about what that job is all about and how they got to that position.
Years ago, I volunteered to work on an election campaign and throughout the campaign, I just pitched in wherever I was needed. As I learned more, I could then instruct others or offer suggestions. When the individual got elected and he needed to hire staff, his campaign recommended me to be one of his field reps. Suddenly, I went from volunteer to paid field rep for a politician. In that role, I spent most of my time working with constituents and helping to resolve issues they were having. But, I also got to work on policy stuff, I attended a lot of events with the elected official or on his behalf, and often was the person who had to field questions from the audience at events.
One last thing to consider. Most every company has some kind of lobbyist that works with the government on issues pertinent to that company. You might explore positions that would be in private industry that focuses on lobbying the government. To be successful in that kind of role, you would need both communications expertise and an understanding of politics and how the government works.
Hope this helps you to take the next step.
Communications and Political Science. It seems to me that you are looking for some kind of role related to the political arena. If this is true, you might want to start by volunteering to help with a local election campaign. This gets you known by people who are connected in the political arena. And, when you work on an election campaign, you learn a lot about how things work and you do a lot of different jobs.
Also, if you do want to work in the political arena, most every U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman/woman has a communications director on their staff. You might consider reaching out your Senator/Representative's office to see if you can do a 15 minute video conference with someone on the communications team or the Communications director to learn more about what that job is all about and how they got to that position.
Years ago, I volunteered to work on an election campaign and throughout the campaign, I just pitched in wherever I was needed. As I learned more, I could then instruct others or offer suggestions. When the individual got elected and he needed to hire staff, his campaign recommended me to be one of his field reps. Suddenly, I went from volunteer to paid field rep for a politician. In that role, I spent most of my time working with constituents and helping to resolve issues they were having. But, I also got to work on policy stuff, I attended a lot of events with the elected official or on his behalf, and often was the person who had to field questions from the audience at events.
One last thing to consider. Most every company has some kind of lobbyist that works with the government on issues pertinent to that company. You might explore positions that would be in private industry that focuses on lobbying the government. To be successful in that kind of role, you would need both communications expertise and an understanding of politics and how the government works.
Hope this helps you to take the next step.
Sneha Deb
Tech Consultant
189
Answers
Edison, New Jersey
Updated
Sneha’s Answer
Hey Kristina! Combining a degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science opens up a lot of exciting career paths. You could work in public relations, political campaigns, government communications, or media strategy where both skill sets are valuable. Understanding how to communicate effectively and navigate political systems gives you an edge in roles that require both clarity and strategy. Internships with local government, advocacy groups, or news outlets can help you gain experience and find your niche. As a sophomore, this is a great time to explore those options and see what sparks your interest the most. Good luck!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
563
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Kristina,
It's good to see that you are thinking ahead. I think communications and political science is a great combination that could lead to a variety of careers.
It would depend on your interests what you want to make of it. The obvious one would be a career in politics if that's what you want to do. You could look for roles as a spokesperson or communications director or social media person for any organisation or company (politics adjacent or not). You could also look at a career in journalism or PR.
I would recommend that you do some soul searching what you are interested in and what you are comfortable with. Look for internships or volunteer roles that would benefit you. If politics is what interests you, become active in political organisations. If journalism or PR is your direction, find an internship with a news organisation or a PR agency. And so on.
A professional social media presence would also be beneficial. Familiarize yourself with the different apps and post about something appropriate. That could be short posts about your educational journey or a political blog or YouTubes about your work with an NGO.
I hope this helps for now! All the best to you!
KP
It's good to see that you are thinking ahead. I think communications and political science is a great combination that could lead to a variety of careers.
It would depend on your interests what you want to make of it. The obvious one would be a career in politics if that's what you want to do. You could look for roles as a spokesperson or communications director or social media person for any organisation or company (politics adjacent or not). You could also look at a career in journalism or PR.
I would recommend that you do some soul searching what you are interested in and what you are comfortable with. Look for internships or volunteer roles that would benefit you. If politics is what interests you, become active in political organisations. If journalism or PR is your direction, find an internship with a news organisation or a PR agency. And so on.
A professional social media presence would also be beneficial. Familiarize yourself with the different apps and post about something appropriate. That could be short posts about your educational journey or a political blog or YouTubes about your work with an NGO.
I hope this helps for now! All the best to you!
KP
Michelle M.
Actress
2447
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kristina !
The way your career can go depends on if you want to be an expert in politics or an expert in Communications. Out of the two, the one you want to excel in is the one for which you should major. It's not that they don't connect, they do, but Communications is more of knowledge and skill using media.
Do you want to run for office, mayor, governor, local offices and take a political career even further ? Than you should obtain a degree in Political Science. You can always take the specific courses in communications that would help you as a politician such as active listening, public speaking, presenting, negotiating, and persuading. If you want to be a politician, for credibility, you should major in Political Science and even get a Masters Degree. It's just a matter of figuring out exactly what role you want to pursue. You use communication/media in politics and you can use political content in communications/media.
If you decide that you want to go into Media, then Communications is the right degree. You will be assigned projects and they may not only be political in nature, so you'd have to be open to that. Both Media and Politics are high visibility careers, so to explore the career you want will provide the qualifications for what you should major in. Both of these careers require a great deal of networking and strong connections with industry professionals, and professional organizations.
Since you are a sophomore, I can assure you that through your college experience, being around the professors, students, departments and doing projects, this is a time in which you will discover how to blend the two subjects. But keep in mind that you will have to have the credentials and the degree that will put you in the forefront.
I hope this is helpful and something to think about. Give it some time. College is there for you to be in the moment as you explore a career for yourself.
The way your career can go depends on if you want to be an expert in politics or an expert in Communications. Out of the two, the one you want to excel in is the one for which you should major. It's not that they don't connect, they do, but Communications is more of knowledge and skill using media.
Do you want to run for office, mayor, governor, local offices and take a political career even further ? Than you should obtain a degree in Political Science. You can always take the specific courses in communications that would help you as a politician such as active listening, public speaking, presenting, negotiating, and persuading. If you want to be a politician, for credibility, you should major in Political Science and even get a Masters Degree. It's just a matter of figuring out exactly what role you want to pursue. You use communication/media in politics and you can use political content in communications/media.
If you decide that you want to go into Media, then Communications is the right degree. You will be assigned projects and they may not only be political in nature, so you'd have to be open to that. Both Media and Politics are high visibility careers, so to explore the career you want will provide the qualifications for what you should major in. Both of these careers require a great deal of networking and strong connections with industry professionals, and professional organizations.
Since you are a sophomore, I can assure you that through your college experience, being around the professors, students, departments and doing projects, this is a time in which you will discover how to blend the two subjects. But keep in mind that you will have to have the credentials and the degree that will put you in the forefront.
I hope this is helpful and something to think about. Give it some time. College is there for you to be in the moment as you explore a career for yourself.
Carter James
Educational Instruction
2
Answers
Georgiana, Alabama
Updated
Carter’s Answer
Combining a degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science offers a range of career opportunities where both fields can complement each other. One possible path is working in public relations or media, particularly in political PR. Your communication skills are ideal for crafting messages, managing media relations, and shaping public perception. With your political science knowledge, you can work with political candidates, government agencies, or advocacy organizations, helping them convey their messages effectively to the public while navigating the complexities of political landscapes.
Another exciting option is diving into political campaigns and advocacy. In this field, your communication expertise can be used to strategize voter outreach, handle media relations, and write speeches, all while drawing on your understanding of political processes and systems. Political campaigns and advocacy groups need professionals who can connect with voters, deliver powerful messages, and understand the political environment they’re working within.
If you're interested in policy work, your combination of degrees could lead to a career in policy analysis or political communications. Think tanks, government agencies, or advocacy organizations often need individuals who can analyze political issues and communicate complex ideas clearly to policymakers, stakeholders, or the public. Your ability to break down intricate political topics into understandable content would be a significant asset in this line of work.
Finally, journalism and political reporting is another area where your background could be valuable. With your understanding of political systems and your ability to communicate effectively, you could work as a political reporter, writing articles, conducting interviews, or producing content that keeps the public informed on political events and policies. The skills you’ve gained in both communication and political science would make you well-suited for roles in media that require both insight and clarity.
Ultimately, your degrees position you well for a career that blends communication and political knowledge, offering you a wide array of possibilities to explore.
Another exciting option is diving into political campaigns and advocacy. In this field, your communication expertise can be used to strategize voter outreach, handle media relations, and write speeches, all while drawing on your understanding of political processes and systems. Political campaigns and advocacy groups need professionals who can connect with voters, deliver powerful messages, and understand the political environment they’re working within.
If you're interested in policy work, your combination of degrees could lead to a career in policy analysis or political communications. Think tanks, government agencies, or advocacy organizations often need individuals who can analyze political issues and communicate complex ideas clearly to policymakers, stakeholders, or the public. Your ability to break down intricate political topics into understandable content would be a significant asset in this line of work.
Finally, journalism and political reporting is another area where your background could be valuable. With your understanding of political systems and your ability to communicate effectively, you could work as a political reporter, writing articles, conducting interviews, or producing content that keeps the public informed on political events and policies. The skills you’ve gained in both communication and political science would make you well-suited for roles in media that require both insight and clarity.
Ultimately, your degrees position you well for a career that blends communication and political knowledge, offering you a wide array of possibilities to explore.