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I am a Political Science Major and considering a second major next year, Do you think Communications is a good choice?

I am asking because I think that Communications goes hand in hand with Political Science.
#political-science #communications #college #college-major

college-major communications political-science
Thank you comment icon I have taken Communication classes during my bachelor degree program. I think communication is not that important class if linked with Political Science. Communication what you learn in courses are very much how to handle cultural differences, how to handle conflicts etc, which I think you can learn while getting in-depth in Political Science. Communication as per my understanding, is on-going learning which you do while reading documentary and with your experience. I would say, you don't need to take communication class, but take more leadership classes, history classes which will help you to learn more about Political-Science. Harshprit Saluja
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Elizabeth’s Answer

Hi there - I am not a Politician nor did I study Poly-Sci, but I did major in Communications, and personally I would advise you against it.
From my perspective, I learned almost nothing from my major; basically I just got the piece of paper that said I was teachable, and everywhere I've gone has been solely due to my hard work and eagerness to success.
My question to you would be what line of politics would most interest you, and go from there. As one person mentioned, if you wish to be a scholar study history. If there's another issue that you are passionate about, study more around that background (business, for example). The only class in the communications department that will help you is Public Speaking, and you can take that class as a one-off.
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Nicole’s Answer

I was also a Political Science Major and I wish I had minored or gotten a second degree in Communications. I think it is hugely beneficial to learn how to communicate with others, especially in the field of politics. Politics is all about people - it is about speaking with the public and learning what they are looking for from our government. Learning how to properly and effectively and efficiently communicate is a huge asset in this field.

Nicole recommends the following next steps:

Enroll in a communications class
Enroll in a public speaking class
Enroll in a psychology class to learn more about how people think and communicate
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Michael’s Answer

I think it depends on what you want to do.


Communications is always a great major, especially if you dive into the components of Strategic Communications, Campaign Building, and Values Messaging. If you're thinking of running for office or working a campaign, then communications is a strong choice. You really can't go wrong, as communication is often a skill that simply isn't used to its best effect.


Another strong suit is History, especially if you want to be a Poli-Sci scholar. There's a lot of poli-sci that is informed by our history, and it's very relevant to be able to speak to history when looking forward to sort through the political climate today.
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Lindsay’s Answer

I agree that it depends on how you want to use it, but I majored in Communications and Psychology and found it was a great additional degree that is widely relevant.


I've worked in business development, government, higher-education, non-profit, and now in the corporate world and I rely heavily on my knowledge and training from that degree.


I find it fundamental to being a strong team player at work, helping to streamline messaging (which is always a challenge in any business), and having a good understanding and comfort with public speaking.

Lindsay recommends the following next steps:

Talk with your adviser about how you might utilize the degree, and they can also validate it for you!
You could also always consider it as a minor if you're hesitant to take on two majors.
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Rishi’s Answer

I recently graduated with a degree in Political Science and Creative Writing using a similar line of thinking. Given, my thinking was slightly tangential as I had already decided I wanted to be a political speechwriter and had gained experience in the field throughout my college career.

A Political Science major will often bring you in depth into political theory as opposed to real-life application (i.e. How to be a policy advisor on a political campaign). Further, my experience showed me that conflict resolution and speaking about sensitive topics isn't necessarily taught in a political science course, it is learned when engaging in discourse within those courses. A communications degree couples well with a Political Science degree if one is interested in doing communications within politics.

However, even if that is not the case, it does not render a communications degree useless. Speaking and engaging with others is a key to politics, thus learning about communications as a craft can never hurt.
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