The Political Science major offers substantive and analytic preparation that can fruitfully lead to a variety of professions, providing students subsequent access to a wide range of future careers. The curriculum of the Political Science major works to hone for students their writing, communication, analytical, and computer skills that are critical in a liberal arts education. This kind of academic training prepares students to think critically, analyze independently, and research effectively and improves their ability to more successfully communicate their understanding of and insights into political, social, and economic events and phenomena. This is precisely why the Political Science major is the most common route to law school, where these skills and capacities are highly valued.
Political Science typically serves as a useful launching point for careers in politics and government with a number of students going on to become civic leaders, city and county planners, city managers, budget specialists, foreign service officers, analysts and clandestine service officers in the Central Intelligence Agency, special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, policy researchers, and a variety of management/administrative positions in local, state, federal, and international agencies and organizations. Graduates with a BA in Political Science are also able to pursue careers in law, business, consulting, journalism and communications, finance, polling and campaign management, community service and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and high school and college teaching.
Of note, Stanislaus graduates have been accepted at reputable and selective schools of law, including Columbia University, University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Edinburgh, Georgetown University, University of Virginia, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Davis, George Washington University, Santa Clara University, University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, Pepperdine University, Lewis and Clark College, University of San Francisco, Hofstra University, Golden Gate University, and Humphreys College. The Department Pre-law Advisor is Dr. Stephen Routh and the campus-wide Pre-law Advisor is Dr. Blake Wilson of the Department of Criminal Justice. For any questions about law school and its training and curriculum, the law school application process, and career trajectories of lawyers and those with such legal training, Dr. Routh can be contacted at srouth@csustan.edu and Dr. Wilson can be contacted at mwilson15@csustan.edu.
Updated: August 01, 2023