What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from California State University, Northridge?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from California State University, Northridge we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 49%, Political Science And Government graduates from California State University, Northridge have a much lower likelihood (-18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 49%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 40% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Political Science And Government graduate.

See the details:

View a random Political Science And Government graduate from California State University, Northridge and our analysis:


Relevance score: 41%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science And Government. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Financial Services Professional
Transamerica
Dec 2020 - May 2021
The role of Financial Services Professional does not involve the specific skills or knowledge acquired from a Political Science and Government degree, as it centers around financial advising rather than political principles.

Financial Development/Administrative Assistant II
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Aug 2016 - Aug 2017
The position of Financial Development/Administrative Assistant II at YMCA does not require political knowledge or skills as core qualifications, focusing instead on administrative tasks and organizational support.

Membership Sales and Service Director
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Aug 2017 - Apr 2021
As Membership Sales and Service Director at YMCA, there may be some indirect relevance to political science through community engagement and advocacy, but the core qualifications do not center around political knowledge.

Associate Executive Director
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
May 2021 - Feb 2024
While the role of Associate Executive Director involves leadership and management that may touch upon political theories and governance, it primarily focuses on organizational operations rather than direct political engagement.

Operations Executive Director
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Feb 2024 - Present
The job of Operations Executive Director at YMCA could relate to governance and community relations that are associated with political science, but the core operational focus means political knowledge is not a direct requirement.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Capella University
2019 - 2021
ABOUT

Multi-team leader, able to manage various projects simultaneously. Self-Starter, with excellent communication skills. With a passion for knowledge and the ambition to develop both as an individual and professional, I seek to continue to improve and develop as I have done so in my full-time tenure in the work force. Pursuing post-secondary education in Business.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from California State University, Northridge?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When you look at the types of jobs that graduates from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Political Science and Government have landed, a few trends pop up. Many of them have gone into positions within government sectors, particularly in roles like Field Deputy, Legislative Deputy, and Congressional Intern. These jobs are super relevant since they deal directly with politics, legislation, and public policy—basically, everything political science students study. Others have also taken up positions like Paralegal or Legal Assistant, which, while somewhat indirect, still require a solid grasp of legal systems and governmental processes. These roles definitely tie back to their academic training.

However, it's also important to note that not every job these graduates have chosen aligns closely with their degree. For example, some ended up in roles like Financial Services Professional or Instructional Aide, which don’t really connect to political science principles. These jobs focus more on sales or administrative tasks, distancing from any strong political engagement. All in all, while a significant number of these graduates have secured positions that are directly relevant to their studies in Political Science and Government, there's also a noticeable chunk that veered off into unrelated fields. It just goes to show that having a degree in political science can open a lot of doors, but not all of them lead straight back to politics!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Political Science And Government graduates (this is across all Political Science And Government graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University, Northridge):

What kind of career trajectories do Political Science And Government graduates from California State University, Northridge have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Political Science and Government seem to have followed a variety of career paths, with many landing jobs that are directly or indirectly related to their field of study. For their first jobs after graduation, it appears that many graduates often start in roles that allow them to gain experience in public service or related sectors, like the Field Deputy positions with the City of Los Angeles, or as Pretrial Services Officers. These initial roles provide a solid grounding in government operations, policy, and community engagement, aligning well with their academic background.

As they progress in their careers, particularly 5 to 10 years post-graduation, many graduates appear to move into more advanced positions within government or administrative roles. For example, we've seen individuals transition from legislative deputies to special projects positions or from interns in congressional offices to administrative specialists in large organizations like UCLA Health. However, some graduates have ventured into sectors that stray from traditional political science roles, such as the financial and sales sectors. This mix suggests that while many graduates find meaningful work related to their studies, others, perhaps due to personal interest or opportunity, make career shifts that may not be directly tied to political science. Overall, the trajectory reflects a blend of public service commitment alongside other diverse career paths.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from California State University, Northridge?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at California State University, Northridge isn’t super hard, but it’s not a walk in the park either—so it really depends on your interests and study habits. If you’re into understanding how politics work and enjoy reading and writing a lot, you’ll probably find it more manageable. The coursework typically involves a mix of theory, current events, and research projects, which can be challenging but rewarding. You’ll want to keep up with your readings and participate in discussions, but if you’re passionate and dedicated, it can be an enjoyable experience. Overall, it's pretty average in difficulty compared to other Bachelor degrees, especially if you engage with the content and stay organized!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government.

Do Political Science And Government graduates from California State University, Northridge tend to make good money?

So, looking at these graduates from California State University, Northridge, it seems like they've landed some pretty solid jobs, especially if they’ve stuck around in government or non-profit roles, which can pay decently over time. The first grad has moved up through city positions, meaning their salary is likely on the higher end, given public service pay scales in LA. The others also have a mix of roles that seem stable, like working for agencies or in management at institutions like the YMCA. While some of the earlier jobs, like internship roles or entry-level positions, probably didn’t pay a ton, several of these later jobs—like legal assistant or operations director—usually offer decent salaries. Overall, it looks like they’re doing alright financially, especially compared to the average starting salaries for new grads!

What buzzwords do Political Science And Government graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government (this is across all Political Science And Government graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University, Northridge). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Political Science And Government?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government (ordered by the average relevance score of their Political Science And Government graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
The University of Alabama 83 16
New York University 79 11
San Diego State University 79 14
University of Notre Dame 79 13
University of California, Berkeley 78 28
Georgetown University 77 10
The George Washington University 76 20
University of Maryland College Park 75 10
Rutgers University 75 15
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 74 10
University at Albany, SUNY 72 13
John Jay College (CUNY) 72 11
The Catholic University of America 72 10
University of Michigan 71 18
Santa Clara University 71 10
University of Florida 69 28
California State University-Sacramento 69 15
University of Missouri-Columbia 67 10
American University 67 27
University of Washington 66 16
Miami University 66 13
Portland State University 66 13
The Ohio State University 65 20
Virginia Commonwealth University 65 17
California State University-Long Beach 65 10
The University of Texas at Austin 64 35
Baylor University 64 10
Brigham Young University 63 14
Indiana University Bloomington 63 12
Louisiana State University 63 14
Queens College 63 13
Fordham University 63 15
University of Central Florida 62 33
University of Wisconsin-Madison 62 21
University of California, Los Angeles 62 42
Georgia State University 62 20
University of Minnesota 62 11
UC Santa Barbara 62 14
Howard University 62 10
Temple University 61 15
The University of Georgia 61 11
Binghamton University 61 11
University of Colorado Boulder 60 18
Arizona State University 59 44
Florida State University 59 33
Towson University 59 14
Florida Atlantic University 59 21
Virginia Tech 59 14
San Jose State University 58 12
University of South Carolina 58 13
Michigan State University 57 10
Kansas State University 56 10
UC Irvine 56 14
College of the Holy Cross 56 11
Florida International University 55 23
University of South Florida 55 21
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 55 12
Appalachian State University 55 15
Christopher Newport University 55 14
University of Houston 54 20
Colorado State University 54 12
Loyola University Chicago 54 10
University of Oregon 53 20
Georgia Southern University 53 10
University of Maryland Baltimore County 53 14
University of Arkansas 52 12
Harvard University 52 10
University of California, Davis 51 21
North Carolina State University 51 12
Troy University 51 10
Illinois State University 50 21
California State University, Long Beach 50 12
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 50 12
Texas Tech University 49 15
Auburn University 49 14
California State University, Northridge 49 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 49 10
Villanova University 49 12
San Francisco State University 48 12
Kennesaw State University 47 15
University of Arizona 46 16
West Virginia University 46 13
Texas A&M University 45 26
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 45 14
University of California, Riverside 45 20
University of Connecticut 45 13
Penn State University 44 10
University at Buffalo 42 12
University of Iowa 41 12
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 40 19
Clemson University 37 11
University of Mississippi 29 10