The dynamic world of political science is subject to constantly shifting trends and issues that may impact practitioners’ ability to do their jobs effectively. Let’s look at a few of these trends, both domestic and international, and see the role education may play in helping political science professionals address such trends in the future.

Growing Judicial Shortages

The United States is experiencing a severe judge shortage at the federal level that threatens to bring many important legal cases to a halt. As of summer 2021, fewer than 700 federal judges were handling more than 715,000 cases—meaning each judge had more than 1,000 cases on their docket for the year. When compared to the previous year, that represents a 20% increase in caseload, and a 36% increase in caseload since 2016. There is a clear trend of federal judges having increasingly unworkable caseloads, and there’s no indication that will reverse soon.

Emerging Skill Requirements

We hear them mentioned all the time, but what do political consultants actually do? Their primary role is to aid politicians in managing their election campaigns. Political consulting has long played a key role in the political process, though like all aspects of the field, it’s not static. The role of a political consultant is evolving in terms of the skills they’re expected to possess. A current trend that is certain to continue and become standard practice is for political consultants to be well-versed in acquiring and analyzing data. With the aid of data analytics, political scientists can conduct more effective public opinion surveys and exit polls, trace policy changes over time, model the dynamics of intricate political networks, and even leverage social media data to get a clearer view of shifting national and international attitudes.

Disappearing Democracy

Around the world, from Russia to Turkey to Brazil, governments are becoming increasingly autocratic, with even elected leaders consolidating power, suppressing dissent, and outstaying their stated terms of office. As an example, while the 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union represented a seismic shift in the world’s geopolitical landscape and gave rise to renewed hope for democracy, the continued presence of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s leader after more than 20 years in power points to a need for the U.S. and other countries to pivot in how they contend with such countries politically and diplomatically.

The Foundation of a Political Science Career

The path to a professional mastery of political science starts with a degree from a regionally accredited institution. The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program was created for those who wish to gain the knowledge needed to excel in a career in government, in various legal roles, or who plan to attend law school.

At the outset of your degree program, you’ll complete a broad selection of general education courses. This well-rounded educational foundation will prove enormously useful in your professional life and beyond. As you continue through our program, you’ll examine topics such as American politics from the local to national level and discover how government entities operate individually and in connection with each other. You’ll also explore judicial politics, a broad topic encompassing the U.S. judicial system, the function of our laws and court system, judicial policymaking, and organizational structure and practices. Regarding those political science trends, you’ll also:

  • Gain foundational knowledge for law school, which can lead to a career as an attorney and, subsequently, a judge.

Potential Political Science Career Paths

With a BA in political science on your resume, you’ll be primed to pursue a variety of rewarding careers, such as:

  • Attorney
  • Journalist
  • Legislative Assistant
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Policy Analyst
  • Political Consultant
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Public Servant

The Quality and Convenience of Our Online Degree Program

UTPB’s online BA in political science features the same rigorous curriculum taught by the same doctoral-level professors as our campus-based program. The quality of our online program is complemented by added convenience you won’t experience in a traditional classroom. All courses are presented in an asynchronous online format that allows you to complete your studies at your own pace from just about anywhere in the world, from Paris, Texas to Paris, France. If you have professional and/or personal responsibilities, you’ll find this flexibility indispensable.

Earn your political science bachelor’s degree and build the expertise for a rewarding career!

TV legal dramas, sometimes referred to as courtroom dramas, have been popular since nearly the beginning of television’s rise to prominence. In 1955, a television could be found in half of all homes in the United States. Two years later, Americans tuned in for the premiere of “Perry Mason,” a series following the work of a fictional criminal defense lawyer of the same name. The immensely successful program ran for nearly a decade, then enjoyed various revivals in the form of additional series and TV movies through the 1990s.

Smithsonian Magazine has hailed “Perry Mason” as “the birth of the courtroom procedural.” Few probably knew just how enduring that genre—or how influential that particular show—would be. Countless legal dramas have hit television screens in the decades since, and the popularity of these shows continues to climb. “Perry Mason” provided the inspiration or foundation for many modern legal dramas. But as Smithsonian Magazine stated, the program “depicted a legal system that worked only for the innocent and the wrongfully accused.” This “the system always works” approach was a noble, but certainly not accurate, depiction.

Ripped From Today’s Headlines

The move toward accuracy among today’s legal dramas is connected to an increased appetite among viewers for gritty reality versus the escapist idealism that typified numerous earlier legal dramas. Contemporary courtroom dramas often pull their script ideas directly from actual—usually sensationalistic—cases, changing the participants’ names and a few other facts but generally adhering to those real-life stories.

Still, some common legal drama tropes stretch the truth, if not break it altogether. Let’s review a few of them, presented here with a fittingly dramatic flair:

“See you in court!”

Most criminal and civil cases never even go to trial. But that wouldn’t make a very interesting TV show, would it?

“Your Honor, this will change everything.”

The eleventh-hour introduction of damning (or exonerating) evidence makes for exciting television, but it rarely occurs.

“I’d like to call Jane Doe to the stand.”

You didn’t see this one coming: that surprise witness from the defendant’s past whose testimony may end up freeing them instead of sending them to the gallows. The appearance of surprise witnesses generally doesn’t happen, however, because a) attorneys have to submit a list of witnesses they plan to call to the court in advance and b) the opposing lawyers must be given the opportunity to depose any witness that may be called to the stand.

“Yes, I did it!!!”

It’s dramatic. It’s cathartic. It affirms that we knew all along who did the crime. But defendants rarely confess while on the stand. In fact, confessions seldom happen in the courtroom at all.

“Looks like another all-nighter for me.”

While ambitious legal students are often shown researching legal precedent for cases at all hours, the American Bar Association actually places limits on how many hours students can work while in law school.

For the sake of entertainment, many legal procedures and tricks we see on television are either made up or exaggerated. These shows are called “dramas,” after all. As one source put it:

Most of today’s real-life litigants are probably surprised to find that their lawyers are not private investigators, trials are buried in technical formalities, witnesses appear by deposition, and few of the players, including judges, lawyers, witnesses, and the parties, make beautiful orations or pithy asides.

What Real Lawyers Say

How do attorneys feel about the accuracy of TV legal dramas? Program names that come up as standouts include “L.A. Law,” “The Practice,” “Law & Order,” and “Suits.” Some of the elements that add authenticity to these programs are:

  • Judges reining in “loose cannon” attorneys and demanding strict adherence to codes of ethics and propriety.
  • The legal profession being depicted as demanding work, not glamorous or exciting.
  • Legal firms being shown not necessarily as big and successful, but as businesses that can struggle as any other business would.
  • Legal jargon being used correctly.
  • Lawyers interacting in a realistic manner.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online political science degree program for students who want to build a foundation for law school and/or pursue a career in a variety of government or law-related professions. Our program delves into judicial politics, covering the U.S. judicial system, examining the role of law and courts in our country, the structures and procedures of our judicial system, and judicial policymaking. Topics also include American politics at all levels, how the various government entities operate and work with each other, and international political systems.

The Benefits of Earning a Respected Degree Online

Courses for our political science bachelor’s degree program are delivered in an asynchronous, 100% online format, enabling you to complete your coursework on your own schedule, 24/7, from just about any location around the globe. This can be a tremendous advantage when work and/or family duties are part of your life. Our online programs feature the same rigorous curriculum and expert faculty as their on-campus equivalents, so there’s never any compromise in quality.

Earn the political science credential that can lead to a rewarding career. Learn more about our bachelor’s degree program now!

Sources:
https://www.simplemost.com/most-realistic-courtroom-dramas-according-to-lawyers/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-tv-lawyers-get-wrong-and-right-4039997
https://www.looper.com/143427/false-things-tv-legal-dramas-made-you-believe/
https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/tv-and-culture/courtroom-dramas-change-understanding-of-law.htm
https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1202&context=facpub
https://www.looper.com/143427/false-things-tv-legal-dramas-made-you-believe/

Political science is an examination of the foundation, objectives, and effects of power as it exists between rulers and the ruled. This study of “the state, government and politics” has shaped our society in a way that is hard to describe. Therefore, we’ll let longtime political activist Vermin Supreme put into words what we cannot: “Together my friends, we will ride our ponies into a zombie-powered future.”

Supreme, who won the New Hampshire Libertarian Party’s primary in 2020 on a platform of free ponies, zombie power, and dental hygiene, may seem like an odd choice to illustrate the importance of political science. The type of activism that Supreme practices, however, is legal and even celebrated only because we live in a democracy where political science has shaped society for the better.

Here, we take a look at the ways political science influences our society, focusing on voting rights, democracy, and objectivity. Our current political climate may be divisive, but beyond the impassioned rhetoric lies an opportunity for political scientists to champion policies that make a positive impact on the world around us. 

The Right to Vote

The right to vote is fundamental to a well-functioning democracy. Under the U.S. constitution, it is a privilege afforded to every American citizen, but that wasn’t always the case. Women won the right to vote a little over a hundred years ago with the passing of the 19th amendment, and it wasn’t until the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the last of the Jim Crow-era laws preventing many people of color from voting were stricken down.

Today, states are pushing for new restrictions that will make it more difficult for citizens to register and vote. Georgia’s new voting law reduces the number of polling places, places restrictions on mail-in voting, and makes it illegal to offer water to anyone waiting in line to vote. Republicans maintain that these commonsense measures are necessary to prevent voting fraud, while Democrats describe these as voter suppression tactics. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, your choices as an aspiring political scientist may one day influence the voting laws of our country. Of the policy analysts, political consultants, and policy makers who shape our election laws, many got their start as political scientists.

A Flawed Democracy

The U.S. was given a harsh wake-up call in 2017 when the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) demoted the U.S. from a full democracy to a flawed democracy. According to the EIU, the U.S. had been “teetering on the brink of becoming a flawed democracy for several years,” with the final push coming from growing distrust in elected representatives and their political parties. Dropping below the 8.0 threshold for a full democracy, the U.S. was scored on five categories:

  • Civil liberties
  • Electoral process and pluralism
  • Political culture
  • Political participation
  • The functioning of government

The U.S. has since remained a flawed democracy. Although voter turnout for the 2020 presidential election was the highest in 120 years (improving our country’s political participation score), it wasn’t enough to change the public’s perception of our government.

Debate continues as to how best to hold free and fair U.S. elections, with the “For the People Act” being the latest legislation to center around mail-in ballots, early voting, voting machine standards, felons’ voter rights, restrictions on political contributions, and gerrymandering. Politicians on both sides of the aisle will continue to fight for the future of our invaluable, albeit flawed, democracy.

A Return to Objectivity

“Reality is a pretty frightening thing to confront, especially these days, and more and more reality is presented to the people in this overwhelming fire hose of information,” said Vermin Supreme, summing up the era of “post-truth” we live in. Facts are now frequently cast into doubt, as their interpretations are increasingly predicated upon people’s preexisting political beliefs. In a paper published by Engaging Science, Technology, and Society, researchers concluded that political polarization is due to three factors:

  1. Political identities centering around two non-overlapping political parties.
  2. The rise of an alternative media ecosystem promoting their own norms.
  3. Social media platforms creating new ways to engage with audiences. 

To promote a return to objectivity, researchers proposed a knowledge-producing “center” composed of researchers, journalists, and platforms. This center’s main goal would be to generate healthy debate, rather than focus on producing “information.” This raises two questions, however: Who gets to be a part of the center, and who determines its boundaries? Until these questions are answered, it’s up to political scientists to promote opinions and instill trust as they best see fit, whether they’re behind a desk at a news organization or on a bus with their fellow campaign staff.

Pursue Your Political Science Degree at UT Permian Basin

Many of the policies you praise or condemn while doomscrolling are shaped by legislators and professionals with backgrounds in political science. They started out where you are now: searching for a way to rise above their station and translate their political passion into a career. If your goal is to influence the course of political events, your best course of action is to earn a degree in political science.

The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program that prepares students for careers as journalists, lawyers, lobbyists, and political analysts, among other roles. Courses like International Relations, Presidential Politics, and Public Administration provide a deeper understanding of how government agencies interact with one another, and our online, asynchronous format ensures that students learn at the pace best suited for them. In as little as one year, students graduate with the knowledge needed to begin a new, exciting career in politics.

Interested in exploring political science’s influence on our society? Apply to UT Permian Basin’s online BA in political science program to learn more about our government and your future within it.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5582435/#R33
https://heavy.com/news/2020/01/did-vermin-supreme-win-new-hampshire-libertarian-primary/
https://www.businessinsider.com/when-women-got-the-right-to-vote-american-voting-rights-timeline-2018-10#1965-congress-passes-the-historic-voting-rights-act-removing-discriminatory-barriers-that-kept-many-people-of-color-from-voting-12
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56287375
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/vermin-supreme-2020-presidential-campaign-libertarian-party-for-real

If you’re working in the public or the nonprofit sector, you may be ready to move up in your career and become a leader in your field. If you aspire to work in one of those sectors, you may be looking for a way to boost your relevant qualifications. Either way, new credentials can lead to new opportunities. Some government agencies and organizations require a graduate-level degree for advancement. A degree such as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) can make all the difference, positioning you for coveted managerial and directorial roles or helping you transition into either of these rewarding sectors. In short, in addition to expanded knowledge, this degree can bring you greater responsibilities in a new role, greater respect from peers, colleagues, and superiors, and greater compensation prospects. 

What Kind of Job Can I Get With a Public Administration Degree? 

The public and nonprofit sectors both have a wide range of positions that require the expertise that an MPA degree can provide. That means there are many possibilities when it comes to taking a position commensurate with your degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes valuable information about many of these roles. The BLS is considered the authority in salary and job growth statistics as well as standard job descriptions in the United States.  

The information below has been collected from the BLS website and is current as of October 2020. As you will see, demand is growing for many of the roles listed. Most of these careers are projected to grow at a rate faster than the national average of 4% through 2029, and some offer six-figure salary potential. Public service can be rewarding both in terms of the work you do and what you get for it in return. 

Social and Community Service Managers 

Social and community service managers organize and oversee programs, departments, and organizations that work for the public good. They work for nonprofit entities, governmental agencies, and for-profit social services businesses. The field is expected to grow by 17% through 2029. Median annual pay is $67,150. 

Financial Managers 

The duties of a financial manager include producing financial reports, formulating plans that lay out the future financial goals of their employer, and supervising investment activities. They may work in government or in a variety of industries, including investment firms, financial institutions, and insurance companies. The field is expected to grow by 15% through 2029. Median annual pay is $129,890. 

Public Relations and Fundraising Managers 

Public relations managers are in charge of maintaining and improving a company’s or organization’s public image, while fundraising managers lead efforts to bring financial donations into their organization. The majority of people employed in one of these positions in the United States work in religious, civic, grantmaking, or professional organizations or in educational services in state, local, or private organizations. The field is expected to grow by 9% through 2029. Median annual pay is $116,180. 

Human Resources Managers 

Needed in nearly every industry, human resources managers are in charge of planning, managing, and guiding all administrative duties with regard to the acquisition, compensation, retention, and dismissal of employees. The field is expected to grow by 6% through 2029. Median annual pay is $116,720. 

Emergency Management Directors 

Emergency management directors create and direct emergency plans for assisting populations in the aftermath of natural disasters or other emergency situations. They may work for governments at the local, state, or federal level or for medical facilities, educational institutions, or private companies. The field is expected to grow by 4% through 2029. Median annual pay is $74,590. 

Where Can I Earn an MPA Degree? 

The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Master of Public Administration program that can help you enter into a new career or advance within your existing career in the public or nonprofit sector.  

Throughout the program, you’ll learn proven ways to become an effective leader. You’ll discover practical, competent, ethical, and legal ways to address organizational issues and policy questions, with the ultimate aim of upholding the public interest. Graduates from our program have gone on to use their degree and accompanying skills in a variety of fields including economic development, public safety, healthcare, human services, transportation, criminal justice, fine arts, and parks and recreation.  

The Benefits of Our Online MPA Program 

With its 100% online, asynchronous course format, our Master of Public Administration program enables you to complete studies anywhere, on your own schedule. You’ll find this especially advantageous if you’re juggling work and/or family responsibilities while earning your degree. Tremendous flexibility is just one benefit in a program that enables you to: 

  • Earn your degree in as little as 12 months. 
  • Choose from six convenient start dates per year. 
  • Complete courses in just eight weeks. 
  • Learn from faculty members with extensive experience in relevant fields. 
  • Gear your studies toward a specific area of interest. 
  • Gain a top-quality education delivered by supportive faculty.  
  • Save money with affordable tuition rates.  
  • Forego thesis and internship requirements. 

Become a leader! A Master of Public Administration online from UT Permian Basin can help you enter or move up in a variety of rewarding careers. 

Sources: 

https://patimes.org/good-leadership-is-an-imperative-for-proper-public-administration/

Political science is the study of government and political systems: how they’re structured, how they operate, and how they interact with one another at different levels. Many formal degree programs in political science delve into both theory and practice to give students the broadest possible understanding of the subject.

A Bachelor of Arts in Political Science can help prepare you to excel in a variety of rewarding and influential careers as well as provide a critical foundation for law school. Let’s examine some of the potential careers that political science majors may pursue after completing their BA in political science and also get a glimpse at the political science pay scale.

Market research analysts collect and assess data on market conditions, consumer buying habits, and competitive companies to predict how a product or service will be received—or is being received—by consumers. They may gather this information through numerous methods, including focus groups, personal interviews, polls/surveys, and internet research. Polling and surveys in particular play a big role in politics, both in determining which candidates voters support as well as which issues are important to them. Based on their conclusions, market research analysts provide marketing recommendations to their client or employer.

Market Research Analyst

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), median pay for market research analysts as of 2019 is $63,790 per year. Further, the BLS reports that the projected growth rate for this position from 2018-2028 is 20%—much faster than the average for most occupations. It’s unquestionably a high-growth field.

Attorney

Attorneys may represent a variety of client types, from government agencies to corporations to private citizens. They serve many roles, including advising their clients on legal matters, representing them before the courts, executing various types of legal documents, and interpreting the impact of legal rulings and laws on their clients. In government work, they often help develop the language for proposed legislation.

Becoming a political science major is considered a solid foundation for any student who wishes to continue on to law school. Earning a BA in political science helps students develop strong research skills that are required in the legal profession. Attorney is one of the most highly lucrative professions on the political science pay scale, with an estimated median annual salary of $122,960 as of 2019.

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists help build and protect the public reputation of governmental and private sector organizations and, in some cases, individuals. This often means speaking publicly on behalf of these parties, disseminating important information, and mitigating damage to their public image during crises and controversies. The BLS states that public relations specialists earn a median annual wage of $61,150.

Legislative Analyst

Legislative analysts are generally employed by private companies to provide an understanding of how current and proposed laws might impact their businesses. Individuals in this position must stay abreast of laws and regulations at all levels of government: federal, state, and local. To stay close to legislative action and lobbying efforts, some legislative analysts work in Washington, D.C., regardless of where their company is headquartered. The current average salary for legislative analysts is more than $55,000 per year.

Policy Analyst

Policy analysts are often employed by private companies or think tanks to build public awareness of a specific issue. Typically, they have a proposed solution to these issues and hope to generate government action in their favor. Policy analysts may also work for governments, helping create policies and assessing their effectiveness. The current average annual salary for policy analysts is estimated to be more than $59,000.

Social Media Manager

Social media is used to promote all manner of businesses, causes, candidates, and viewpoints. Because of the broad reach of social media outlets including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, the medium is highly effective in reaching and potentially influencing a large number of voters. Political science majors gain experience in researching and influencing public opinion. As social media managers, they can strategize and execute highly targeted and effective social media campaigns. Social media managers in the United States make an average of more than $50,000 annually.

Journalist

Journalists may perform a variety of functions, including covering news stories, writing them, presenting them via broadcast media, and offering related commentary. Their role may be to investigate stories, use a critical eye to discover all relevant facts, and report any findings back to the public in the most objective manner possible. The political expertise political science majors gain will serve them well in conducting interviews and researching and writing stories connected to politics. The BLS states that the mean annual wage for journalists and related professionals is $62,400 per year.

How Do I Get a BA in Political Science?

As an undergraduate degree program, a BA in political science program generally accepts students starting at the freshman level or above, provided they meet the requirements. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, those requirements include submitting transcripts, test scores, and a completed application.

We offer our Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program in a convenient, 100% online format. Courses last eight weeks and there are six program start dates per year. Though the program is delivered entirely online, you’ll remain connected to highly experienced faculty who provide a supportive environment centered on helping you achieve your educational goals.

You can tailor our online BA in political science program to suit specific circumstances. You’ll be able to complete coursework on your own schedule without neglecting your professional and family obligations. If you take the recommended number of courses each semester, you can finish your degree in as little as one year, though you may take more time to accommodate your personal needs.

Explore all the benefits of UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science today.