3 answers
Mira
Student
Whitmore Lake, Michigan
15
Questions
Asked
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How many years of college are recommended for someone interested in government?
I'm in middle school and taking a career class. After I took a survey, government was one of the suggested paths I got. I'm interested in learning more about how many years of college I would need to if I wanted to work in government. #career #government
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3 answers
Theresa Mai
Researcher and Policy Wonk
7
Answers
Corvallis, Oregon
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
The short answer is that it depends on what you want to do.
Generally, four years is needed if you intend to work for a government body, and further education may be needed if that position requires it. Of course, there may be exceptions to this rule, which is why knowing the context and the positions you are interested in is so important. For example, in the state of Oregon, I know my state agencies typically require a college education, but in the state legislature, it is common to see college students or graduates who are legislative aides for public officials. Hope that helps!
Generally, four years is needed if you intend to work for a government body, and further education may be needed if that position requires it. Of course, there may be exceptions to this rule, which is why knowing the context and the positions you are interested in is so important. For example, in the state of Oregon, I know my state agencies typically require a college education, but in the state legislature, it is common to see college students or graduates who are legislative aides for public officials. Hope that helps!
Fatimah Ogungbade, MPA
Government and Community Affairs
3
Answers
Herndon, Virginia
Updated
Fatimah’s Answer
Mira,
4 years are recommended for someone interested in government. This would be if you decided to do the traditional 4 years university track. People also go to community college and do political science/government for 2 years and then transfer to a university to finish the last two years focusing on solely government-related courses if that is their interest. Some people do graduate early and some may take more years past 4 years to finish a degree but typically 4 years is standard.
4 years are recommended for someone interested in government. This would be if you decided to do the traditional 4 years university track. People also go to community college and do political science/government for 2 years and then transfer to a university to finish the last two years focusing on solely government-related courses if that is their interest. Some people do graduate early and some may take more years past 4 years to finish a degree but typically 4 years is standard.
Joseph Maltby
Analysis and Management
21
Answers
Richmond, VA
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
The best way to figure out what degree makes the most sense is to look at job postings for entry-level positions and see what they are asking for. Local and state governments all have their own hiring portals and all federal government hiring is done through usajobs.gov. I can only speak to federal jobs, but the way it works is that you can qualify for jobs with a combination of experience and education. Many, but not all, jobs require a college degree and most specialized jobs require experience or education in that field. Frankly, the degree really only gets you in the door. After your first job, what degree, what school, and what GPA you have doesn't come up much unless you are trying to get into a specific field. You should also try internships . It's easier to get hired if you already have a connection there, it's a way to see how the field actually works, and you can learn about what interests you.