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First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from UC Santa Barbara 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? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Political Science And Government graduates from UC Santa Barbara have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 35% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), which is right in line with the average across all fields.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2023 from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONLabor and Employment Law Intern The Myers Law Group, APC Mar 2023 - May 2023 Congressional Intern U.S. House of Representatives Jun 2023 - Aug 2023 ABOUTI am a recent graduate of UC Santa Barbara where I received a BA in Political Science with an emphasis in American Politics and International Relations, as well as a minor in Feminist Studies. I am passionate about the labor and union movement, womens and LGBTQIA+ rights, and committed to pursuing a career in social justice. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the careers of graduates with a degree in Political Science and Government from UC Santa Barbara, there seems to be a pretty mixed bag of job roles. Many of these graduates have taken up positions that are directly related to politics, governance, and public policy, such as Board Members for political committees, District Representatives, or Campaign Advisors. These jobs are closely tied to the skills and knowledge they developed during their studies. On the flip side, there are plenty of folks who ended up in roles that are only tangentially related to political science or completely unrelated. For instance, positions like Quality Assurance Analyst or Inside Sales Representative have little use for the political theory and analysis skills they learned, focusing instead on technical or customer service abilities.
Overall, it looks like the relevance of their jobs really varies. Some graduates are heavily engaged in political and governmental work, putting their degree to use in meaningful ways. Others have gone into fields like education, sales, or tech, where political science knowledge is hardly a requirement. So, while there are definitely success stories among these graduates who have strived to keep their careers aligned with their academic background, there’s also a significant number who have ventured far from the political realm into other careers. It’s a good reminder that a degree like Political Science can open many doors, but not everyone walks the path that stays close to politics or governance.
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 Santa Barbara):
It seems like graduates from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Political Science and Government tend to follow some interesting and varied career paths. For many of them, their first jobs after graduating are often in roles that involve some level of public service, nonprofit work, or junior positions in government and advocacy organizations. For example, graduates have taken on roles like District Representatives and campaign advisors fairly soon after finishing their studies, showing a strong tendency towards careers connected directly to politics, advocacy, or education. However, not everyone is diving straight into politics; some have taken on roles in fields like education, game design, and even customer service, which might not seem directly related to political science at first glance.
Now, looking at their career progression a few years down the line, a lot of these grads seem to find their way back into political or related sectors after some initial detours. For instance, those who started in administrative or support roles often end up in more substantial positions in government affairs, as seen with a few graduates advancing to senior management roles in organizations that deal with public policy and governmental relations. However, there's also a noticeable portion of alumni who have ventured into entirely different areas, like tech or education, which suggests that Political Science doesn't lock you into one specific career path—it offers a foundation that can be applicable in many fields. Overall, there’s a mix of successful trajectories in politics, but also a fair number who may find themselves in unrelated jobs, highlighting the versatility and sometimes the unpredictability of a Political Science degree from UC Santa Barbara.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at UC Santa Barbara can be a mix of challenging and rewarding, but it’s not necessarily the hardest degree out there. You’ll be diving deep into topics like political theory, international relations, and public policy, which can get pretty intense depending on your professors and the classes you choose. There’s a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking involved, so if you enjoy engaging with current events and forming your own opinions, it’ll be more fun than a slog. That said, some students find it easier than, say, engineering or the sciences, but it does require a good amount of effort and dedication to really excel. Overall, if you’re passionate about politics and willing to put in the work, it can be a worthwhile challenge!
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.
Looking at the job paths of these UC Santa Barbara grads, it seems like the ones who’ve been in the workforce longer are generally doing pretty well money-wise, especially those who’ve landed roles in government affairs, management, or key positions in companies, like the Senior Manager of Government Affairs at Sunnova Energy or the Chief Operating Officer at Golden State Canna. On the flip side, some of the recent graduates are still starting out in more entry-level jobs or internships, like an intern in public policy or a legal assistant, which usually don’t pay as much. However, it’s important to remember that many of these entry-level roles are stepping stones in their careers. In a few years, they could be earning more as they move up the ladder. Overall, it seems like there’s a mix of decent pay for some and growth potential for others!
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 Santa Barbara). This may or may not be useful:
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:
