What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from UC Irvine?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from UC Irvine 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 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, Political Science And Government graduates from UC Irvine have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 56%
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, 71% 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 UC Irvine and our analysis:


Relevance score: 20%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from UC Irvine with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science And Government. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Server
Tea House On Los Rios
Aug 2022 - Aug 2023
Working as a server at a tea house does not utilize any political science or government knowledge, as the role primarily focuses on customer service and hospitality.

Legal Intern
Credo
May 2024 - Present
As a legal intern, the position directly applies the skills and knowledge gained from a degree in political science and government, involving legal research and understanding of legal systems.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctor of Law - JD
University of California, Hastings College of the Law (now UC Law San Francisco)
2023 - 2026
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from UC Irvine?

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


From checking out the job profiles of UC Irvine graduates who studied Political Science and Government, it's clear there are a couple of pathways that seem to be the most popular. Many graduates find themselves in legal roles, whether as paralegals, legal assistants, or interns in law firms and government offices. These positions are highly relevant to their degrees since they involve understanding legal systems, regulations, and the political context behind laws. For example, students who took on roles like Legal Assistant or Law Clerk directly apply the knowledge they gained during their Political Science studies, dealing with law and public policy issues on a daily basis.

On the other hand, there are a number of graduates who ended up in jobs that don't have much connection to Political Science at all. You'll find folks working as software developers, engineers, or in various roles at companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and Revature. While these roles may utilize some soft skills or analytical capabilities, they mostly lack the direct application of political science knowledge. So, while there are definitely strong links between many positions and the Political Science and Government curriculum, a notable number of graduates also venture into fields that don't heavily rely on the core skills they learned in college. This suggests that while a degree in Political Science can provide a good foundation for certain careers in law or government, there are plenty of other directions that graduates take that might not directly utilize their degree’s curriculum.

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 UC Irvine):

What kind of career trajectories do Political Science And Government graduates from UC Irvine have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from UC Irvine with a degree in Political Science and Government seem to have taken a diverse range of career paths, though many still find their way into jobs closely related to their studies. Right after graduation, it appears that a fair number of these alumni land roles that either capitalize on their political science knowledge or lean into legal careers, such as internships in legal firms, positions in government, or roles in consulting. For instance, individuals from the class of 2010 and 2014 have made notable advancements into management-level roles or specialized positions in the military, which showcases how the understanding of government structures can lead to significant opportunities in those areas.

As we look 5 to 10 years out, there's a mix of successful and less relevant career trajectories. While many alumni have progressed to solid positions—like attorneys, consultants, or in high-ranking corporate roles—others have branched out into fields like software engineering and project management, which, while lucrative, aren't directly tied to political science. There does seem to be a strong representation in legal careers with multiple individuals working as paralegals, law clerks, and attorneys. This illustrates that while not every graduate finds their way into a job that screams "political science," many have effectively leveraged their education to launch successful careers in related fields or in roles that utilize their soft skills cultivated during their studies. Overall, the journey of these graduates shows a promising mix of adaptability and application of their political science backgrounds, even if it doesn't always lead to traditional roles in that field.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from UC Irvine?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at UC Irvine can be challenging, but it’s not insurmountable. Like most programs, you’ll dive into complex theories, historical contexts, and current political issues, which can get pretty intense. There are usually plenty of readings, research papers, and group projects, so if you're not into that kind of work or struggle with time management, it might feel a bit tougher. That said, if you're passionate about politics and stay organized, you’ll find it manageable—and you might even have some fun along the way! Overall, it's about average in terms of difficulty; it can be demanding, but many students find it rewarding, especially if they engage with the material.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government.

Do Political Science And Government graduates from UC Irvine tend to make good money?

Based on the job histories of these UC Irvine Political Science and Government grads, it seems like they're starting to carve out pretty decent career paths, but the money varies quite a bit. For instance, the grad who became in-house counsel at Allstate likely earns a solid salary, especially being at a management level since 2014. Others, like the ones in engineering and the military, probably have good earning potential, especially given the skills they developed along the way. On the flip side, some are still in early or lower-level jobs, like legal internships or support roles, which can mean lower pay. So, it's a mixed bag overall—some are definitely doing well, while others are still figuring things out. It’s a reminder that while a degree is important, the early career steps can vary wildly!

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 UC Irvine). 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