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Political Science Professor

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What Does it Take to Be a Political Science Professor?

Job Description: Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Life As a Political Science Professor

  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

Things a Political Science Professor Should Know How to Do

When polled, Political Science Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

  • Public Policy Professor
  • Chair
  • Adjunct Instructor
  • Public Administration Professor
  • Political Science Faculty Member

Job Demand for Political Science Professors

In the United States, there were 21,200 jobs for Political Science Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,200 new jobs for Political Science Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,900 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Political Science Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Montana. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, South Dakota, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Political Science Professor

The salary for Political Science Professors ranges between about $43,310 and $177,360 a year.

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Political Science Professors who work in District of Columbia, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Political Science Professors in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $76,380
Arizona $81,700
Arkansas $81,780
California $112,360
Colorado $82,870
Connecticut $79,650
District of Columbia $127,410
Florida $93,470
Georgia $101,720
Hawaii $83,680
Idaho $86,230
Illinois $89,860
Indiana $97,460
Iowa $99,780
Kansas $64,730
Kentucky $91,440
Maine $85,990
Maryland $102,500
Massachusetts $136,210
Michigan $98,830
Minnesota $99,800
Mississippi $75,000
Missouri $85,510
Montana $58,830
Nebraska $72,280
New Hampshire $101,800
New York $125,360
North Carolina $90,070
Ohio $96,840
Oklahoma $68,000
Oregon $86,280
Pennsylvania $100,620
Rhode Island $122,390
South Carolina $82,140
South Dakota $76,340
Tennessee $89,080
Texas $81,070
Utah $83,350
Washington $86,630
West Virginia $54,150
Wisconsin $90,940
Wyoming $62,590

Tools & Technologies Used by Political Science Professors

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Political Science Professors may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Google Docs
  • R
  • C
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Blackboard Learn
  • Learning management system LMS
  • Collaborative editing software
  • DOC Cop
  • iParadigms Turnitin
  • Course management system software
  • Desire2Learn
  • Sakai CLE

How do I Become a Political Science Professor?

What education is needed to be a Political Science Professor?

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What work experience do I need to become a Political Science Professor?

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Who Employs Political Science Professors?

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Political Science Professors work in the following industries:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Political Science Professor might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: UKWiki at English Wikipedia via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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