It’s never too early to think about what you might want to
study in college! To give you some ideas, I will be highlighting a popular
college major each week. Even if you’re sure you already know what you want to study,
it never hurts to try something new, especially in your first year of college –
exploring is the best part!
This week I will be focusing on political science. If you have dreams of working for a government
agency, interest group, or political organization (first female president,
anyone?!), then political science could be the major for you! Even if you’re
not interested in working in
politics, studying human behavior and current events through a poli-sci major
could prepare you for a variety of exciting careers including business,
journalism, and law. Some politicians and celebrities who majored in political
science include Hillary Clinton, Barack
Obama, Condoleezza Rice, and Jerry
Springer.
Wait, what exactly is
political science, anyway? Put simply, it involves the study of political
systems, processes, and ideas. You might take courses on American government,
comparative politics, international relations, or political thought. Studying
political science is a great way to develop valuable skills in writing,
communication, and critical thinking. Don’t know anything about politics?
That’s okay! The great thing about starting college is that you can take a
variety of intro courses your first year – in many cases, background knowledge
about the topic isn’t expected at all. Then, you can decide what topics or
subject areas you want to explore in more depth.
What can I do now?
Think you might want to study political science in college? There are tons of
ways you can start to explore the subject area now. Join a club at school related to politics or government processes,
whether it’s mock trial, Model United Nations, or student government. Watch or read the news to stay
up-to-date on current events and what’s going on in the world. If you feel a
little confused (what on earth is a budget sequester?!), talk to your parents or teachers and ask to hear their thoughts on
political events and ideas. While no one expects you to join a political party
now, it’s never too early to have your own opinions and ideas!
If you think political science is something you might be
interested in, check out the websites of
your favorite colleges to see what courses and programs they offer. I’ll be
back with another popular major to explore next week!
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