What can you do with a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science graduates from University of California, Berkeley 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 82%, Political Science graduates from University of California, Berkeley have a much higher likelihood (+15%) 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.

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Also, after graduating, 83% 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 graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What do Political Science graduates from University of California, Berkeley do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What are the best colleges for Political Science?

View a random Political Science graduate from University of California, Berkeley and our analysis:

Relevance score: 74% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2020 from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Political Science. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Legal Intern Community Legal Aid SoCal Nov 2020 - Jun 2022 The role of Legal Intern at Community Legal Aid SoCal involves working directly with legal cases and clients, applying knowledge from Political Science, particularly in law and public policy. Legal Advocate Laura's House Aug 2021 - Jun 2022 As a Legal Advocate at Laura's House, this position requires an understanding of legal rights and advocacy which aligns closely with the skills learned in a Political Science program. Legal Intern Legal Council for Health Justice May 2023 - Aug 2023 The Legal Intern role at Legal Council for Health Justice entails engaging with health-related legal issues, making substantial use of political and legal knowledge acquired in the Political Science degree. Wellness Ambassador Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law Sep 2022 - Present While being a Wellness Ambassador at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law involves some advocacy and communication skills that may relate to Political Science, it lacks a strong legal or political focus compared to other roles. Staff Member Northwestern Journal of Human Rights Mar 2023 - Present The role as a Staff Member at the Northwestern Journal of Human Rights involves research and writing that may touch on political topics, but it is not predominantly centered on the direct application of Political Science knowledge. Judicial Extern U.S. District Courts Jan 2024 - Present The Judicial Extern position at U.S. District Courts directly relates to the legal field and involves hands-on legal work, utilizing knowledge gained from a Political Science degree, particularly in understanding the judicial system. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Doctor of Law - JD Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law 2022 - 2025 ABOUT 2L at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Member of Northwestern's Bartlit Center for Trial Advocacy National Trial Team. Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.My professional experience includes: - Thoroughly reviewing over 60 hours of discovery materials in Spanish and successfully identifying, translating, and summarizing valuable evidentiary material on behalf of defense team immediately prior to and throughout the course of a federal murder trial. - Interviewing vulnerable client populations, conducting legal research, drafting memos, and assisting supervising attorneys in their preparations for oral argument in the Circuit Court of Cook County. - California Certified Domestic Violence Advocate experienced in trauma-informed legal aid and court accompaniment for survivors. - Law clerk with civil litigation experience in the areas of family law, consumer defense, and immigration services with direct client communication in both Spanish and English.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley?

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

• Summer Associate
• Digital Media Specialist
• Legal Intern
• Substitute Teacher
• Research Assistant
• Attorney
• Associate
• Tech Buddy Support
• Robotics/Engineering Instructor
• Production Intern

When looking at the job paths of UC Berkeley Political Science graduates, a lot of them seem to end up in legal fields or roles involving public policy and advocacy. Jobs like attorneys, legal assistants, and various positions within the Department of Justice pop up frequently. These roles are super relevant to their degree because they directly engage with the legal system and political processes that political science students study in depth. Not only do these careers require a strong grasp of laws, rights, and governance, but they also benefit from a familiarity with how political systems operate, which is a big part of what they learned in school.

On the flip side, some graduates take on roles that are only tangentially related to Political Science. For instance, positions in media and public relations might touch on political themes but lack the deeper engagement with political principles. Jobs like substitute teaching and various admin roles often don’t utilize that political knowledge day-to-day. Overall, it seems that while many of these grads leverage their political science backgrounds effectively, there's also a sizable chunk that veers into careers where the connection is a bit weaker. It really shows how versatile a Political Science degree can be, letting graduates pursue various careers, some closely aligned and others more distantly connected to their studies.

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

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

Looking at the career trajectories of Political Science graduates from UC Berkeley, it’s clear that many find their way into jobs that are quite relevant to their degrees. For their first jobs after graduating, a lot of these graduates tend to gravitate towards roles in legal assistance, internships related to policy or research, or positions in admissions and education. For instance, roles like Admissions Advisor or Research Assistant seem to be popular starting points. This practice of moving into policy research or legal fields forms a strong foundation for further specialization down the line.

Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these alumni have landed impressive and well-aligned career paths. Quite a few have transitioned into prominent roles as attorneys, some even stepping into judicial clerkships at high-profile courts, which is a huge deal. Others have moved into leadership positions in nonprofit sectors or public affairs, which speaks well to the versatility of a Political Science degree. However, there are also some graduates who have taken on completely different roles that are not directly related to politics or law, such as digital marketing or educational positions, showing a bit of diversity in career paths. Overall, though, it's evident that a significant chunk of these graduates is making meaningful impacts in politics, law, and policy-related industries, which aligns nicely with what you would hope for from a degree in Political Science.

How hard is a Political Science degree from University of California, Berkeley?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at UC Berkeley can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and skills. Berkeley is known for its rigorous academics and competitive environment, so you can expect a lot of critical thinking, reading, and writing. Courses might dig deep into political theory, international relations, and policy analysis, which means you'll need to be on top of your game. If you like discussing big ideas and can handle a hefty reading load, it might be a bit easier for you. But overall, it’s definitely more demanding than your average degree, especially if you want to stand out. Just be ready to put in the time and effort!

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.

Do Political Science graduates from University of California, Berkeley tend to make good money?

Looking at the career trajectories of these Political Science grads from UC Berkeley, it seems like some are doing pretty well money-wise, while others are still figuring things out. For instance, the graduates who went into law—like the attorneys and associates at big legal firms—are likely earning solid salaries, especially considering the prestige of their positions. On the other hand, roles in education, like the substitute teaching positions, typically don’t pay as well, so those grads might not be raking in the big bucks just yet. Generally, it looks like the ones who pursued high-powered legal careers are set up for decent earnings, while some others might be in a transitional phase with potentially lower pay. Overall, it's a mixed bag, but there are definitely some success stories!

What buzzwords do Political Science 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 (this is across all Political Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Political Science?

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

College	Score	Count
University of California, Berkeley	82	12
The George Washington University	80	10
Florida State University	79	10
University of California, Riverside	79	10
Texas A&M University	77	12
University of California, Davis	75	10
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	74	11
Georgia State University	74	12
University of Connecticut	70	12
The Ohio State University	66	15
University of Central Florida	64	10
University of Washington	60	10
University of California, Los Angeles	59	15
University of Michigan	57	12
Penn State University	54	11
Arizona State University	52	14
Northeastern University	49	10
University of Oregon	46	12