First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from University of California, Riverside 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 20 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 45%, Political Science And Government graduates from University of California, Riverside have a substantially lower likelihood (-22%) 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, 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:
Relevance score: 29%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2013 from University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONTutorSure Prep Learning Jan 2013 - Jun 2013 HR Assistant High Desert Medical Group Sep 2013 - Nov 2013 HR Assistant Lamps Plus Nov 2013 - Jan 2015 Jr. Benefits Analyst Lamps Plus Jan 2015 - May 2016 HRIS Analyst/Systems Administrator Deluxe Entertainment Services Group May 2016 - Aug 2018 Advisory Experienced Associate PwC Aug 2018 - Jan 2020 Data Analyst Western Asset Management Jan 2020 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Looking at the job profiles of graduates from the Political Science and Government program at UC Riverside, we see a wide mix of careers. A common trend among these graduates is that many have chosen paths in law, such as becoming associates, attorneys, or legal coordinators. These positions generally require a good understanding of the legal system, which is directly tied to the political science knowledge they gained during their studies. Other roles involve work in various fields like HR, operations, and management, particularly at businesses and nonprofits, where the connection to political science is often more tenuous. Roles as district managers or store managers at coffee shops show that some graduates have opted for more traditional business routes, which typically don't draw heavily on their political science training.
Overall, while you'll find a decent number of jobs that are very relevant to Political Science and Government, like being a trial attorney or a legislative aide, there are also many roles where the relevance isn’t as clear. For instance, roles in food service, administrative support, or even data analysis are frequent, but don’t usually utilize political science skills directly. This creates a mixed bag—some grads land roles that align closely with their degree, while others find themselves in jobs that, although important, don’t utilize the core principles they studied. Essentially, it seems that a Political Science degree can lead to a variety of careers, some directly related and others quite a stretch from the original field of study.
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 University of California, Riverside):
So, looking at the career journeys of graduates with a degree in Political Science and Government from UC Riverside, it’s pretty clear that there’s a mix of paths people have taken since they left college. Right off the bat, many seem to start in roles that are somewhat aligned with their degree—like legislative aides, district coordinators, or even lawyers. For instance, someone graduating in 2012 eventually became a partner at a law firm, showing that some are making significant strides in relevant fields. Others have taken on roles in organizations and companies that, while not strictly political, still allow them to use analytical and critical thinking skills developed during their studies.
However, it’s also evident that some graduates have ended up in jobs that seem far removed from Political Science. For instance, we see folks going into retail management, teaching, or even supply chain roles. In the longer term, like after five or ten years, some of these paths become more established, like a student going from being a legislative aide to a community health educator to a business design lead. It illustrates how versatile a poli-sci degree can be, but also how some graduates may find themselves in careers that don’t directly relate to their major. Overall, while some have leveraged their education to land solid careers in politics or law, others have pivoted to more diverse fields. So, it really just varies based on individual choices and opportunities after graduation!
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at UC Riverside, or really anywhere, is kind of a mixed bag—it definitely has its challenging moments but isn’t as brutal as some other majors. You’ll dive into a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking, which can be intense, especially with all the theories and current events to keep up with. However, if you enjoy debates, analyzing political situations, and keeping up with the news, you might find it pretty engaging rather than overwhelming. It’s definitely more about learning to think critically and express your ideas clearly, so if you stay on top of your assignments and participate in discussions, it shouldn’t feel impossible. Overall, it's not the easiest degree, but with some effort and interest in the subject, you can definitely handle it!
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 histories of these Political Science and Government grads from UC Riverside, it seems like some of them have found decent-paying positions, while others are still on that path. For instance, the ones who moved into legal fields or management roles, like the trail attorney and partner at Heimanson & Wolf, are probably making pretty good money, definitely above average for entry-level grads. Others, like the teaching positions or entry-level HR roles, likely don’t pay as well, especially in the beginning. So, it all depends on the direction they took after school; some hit the jackpot with lucrative jobs, while others are probably still grinding it out. Overall, it’s a mixed bag, but there are definitely some success stories in the mix!
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 University of California, Riverside). 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: