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Studies & Degrees in Political Science

Choose where you would like to study Political Science:

AlgeriaAndorraArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBeninBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCzech RepublicDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEstoniaEthiopiaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuamHaitiHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKyrgyzstanLaoLatviaLebanonLesothoLithuaniaMacaoMexicoMoroccoNamibiaNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaPalestinePanamaPeruPhilippinesPolandPuerto RicoRomaniaRussiaSenegalSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSudanSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandThe United KingdomThe United StatesTurkeyUkraineUruguayVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Political Science Study Programs

Level: Undergraduate Bachelors     Location: Madrid
Level: Graduate     Location: Madrid
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors     Location: Villanueva de la Cañada

Political science is a branch of the social sciences which is concerned with the analysis, description, and prediction of political behavior, political systems and politics. Political science is considered to be a "soft" science, which means that it depends more on subjective interpretations than hard data.

Professionals in political science typically specialize in a particular field, such as conducting research and surveys on public opinion, advising politicians and important government officials, or providing comments on policy decisions. Moreover, experts in this field construct and carry out surveys and research projects to analyze poverty rates, pollution levels, water and food quality, the condition of roads and public structures, and the effectiveness of government initiatives, together with many other similar things. They use this information to write reports, educate officials and the public, and promote change. Some skilled political scientists may work for a specific politician or official, conducting research and providing expert advice on political decisions. He or she might specialize in certain types of policies, such as international affairs, Homeland Security, health care, education, or business development. Finally, political science professionals help lawmakers determine the need for new approaches to public policies and suggest ways to achieve success.

Personal Qualities

  • Good at research and analysis
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Interested in politics and current affairs

Study Options

If you wish to pursue a career in political science you would have to obtain a bachelor's degree at minimum from an accredited institution. A lot of undergraduate students decide to pursue master's or doctoral degrees in the subject to enhance their understanding of political systems and improve their chances of finding better jobs and employment. Most new employees in government, law offices, and journalism institutions begin their careers as assistants to established professionals in the field, where they have the opportunity to observe the detailed work involved in such jobs. This is why the way your course is structured may be crucial – especially if it involves an opportunity for internships and other activities allowing you to enter the field and get in touch with the right people.

Career Options

Nonprofit groups, research institutions, and government offices are popular job locations for political science graduates. There, you might be responsible for researching historical policy decisions or analyzing the effectiveness of present ones, using information from public surveys and records. Many policy and survey analysts outline detailed reports which are used by politicians, judges, and other members of government to influence future decisions.

On the other hand, there are a good number of graduates of political science programs, who choose to become involved in print, television, or radio journalism, where they apply their expert understanding of political systems to create reports about current events. Political scientists might cover elections, conduct interviews, or attend press conferences, where they often have the opportunity to ask questions. Another possible profession is this of the political advisor. Political advisors are political science expert, who work alongside politicians and government officials, helping them make important decisions in a number of different situations. Advisors for city or state officials often focus on local affairs, such as raising money for schools or health institutions. In other cases you might be focusing on proposing international agreements, changing environmental policy, raising or lowering taxes, or making important economical decisions.

Job positions for Political Science:

Political Affairs Officer

Those who are very much interested in the issues surrounding politics can apply for the position of Political Affairs Officer. Companies are willing to hire those who have good professional and family background. Hired applicants will be able to get agreeable compensation and benefits. Normally, the higher ups require the individuals eager to work to pass a competitive examination before they can be a part of the team.

There are a lot of responsibilities that a Political Affairs Officer must be able to handle. You will usually be under the supervision of the company’s director as you review, monitor and check the developments in the region. You will also conduct researches and even prepare analytical materials that are related to the political progress in your assigned area. In addition, you will be preparing the briefing materials as well as the official communications that are intended for the senior administrators. You will also need to act as the note taker when the higher-ranking officials request you to do so. It is also important that you participate in the mission of your company and assist even the regional organizations to cooperate with your company. It is also your job to supervise the interns.

When it comes to the skill requirements, a Political Affairs Officer should have the ability to control and direct thorough researches and should be able to reach conclusions about the probable causes and explanations to the problems concerning political matters. It is also important that the applicant has good speaking and writing skills so that eh tasks will be carried out smoothly and effectively. In addition, he or she should be a good listener and possesses the ability to interpret the messages from other people correctly. Open-mindedness is also a god quality that many companies are looking for when it comes to hiring the suitable person for the job.

It is also important that the Political Affairs Officer is totally aware of technology since there are tasks that require the use of some machinery and other related tools. Concerning the work assigned to the officer, it is necessary that he is able to determine which of them should be prioritized or is able to adjust for the activities and the events assigned to him. Working with colleagues is essential to meet the organization’s goals, which is why there are a number of companies that are searching for a good candidate who is able to place the team’s agenda before his own. Also, it is quite inevitable to experience shortcomings but as a team, he should be able to take responsibility for it.

Qualified and interested applicants are always encouraged to apply to try their luck in their chosen career. A Political Affairs Officer often possesses a great educational background particularly the degrees related to politics such as political science, law, international relational relations and political communication. Fluency in English is always an advantage for the potential applicants. Usually, the companies do not place restrictions when it comes to eligibility of the individuals as long as they possess the necessary skills which can make them a good Political Affairs Officer.