Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Salary Overview

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Key Skills

Knowledge Areas

What They Do

• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
• Act as advisers to student organizations.
• Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

Tools & Technology

★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)

Education Requirements

Typical entry-level education: Related Work Experience

Related Careers

Featured In

Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary.

A Day in the Life

A typical day for a political science professor begins with reviewing lecture notes and current events to bring fresh relevance to course material. Morning hours might be spent teaching undergraduate introductory courses on American government or international relations. Between classes, professors hold office hours where students seek guidance on research papers or career advice. Afternoons are often dedicated to their own research, whether analyzing voting patterns, reviewing academic manuscripts for journals, or drafting chapters for an upcoming book. Faculty meetings and committee work fill periodic gaps in the schedule. Many professors also advise student organizations like Model United Nations or political debate clubs. Evening hours may involve grading papers or preparing for the next day's seminar discussion. During breaks between semesters, research activity intensifies with conference presentations and grant writing.

Work Environment

Political science professors work primarily on college and university campuses in classrooms, offices, and libraries. The academic environment offers considerable intellectual freedom and schedule flexibility, though workweeks often exceed 40 hours when combining teaching, research, and service obligations. Professors at research universities typically teach two to three courses per semester, while those at teaching-focused institutions may carry four or more. The work atmosphere is collegial yet intellectually competitive, with pressure to publish in top-tier journals. Travel is common for conference attendance, with major annual meetings drawing thousands of scholars. Some professors conduct fieldwork domestically or abroad, studying elections, legislatures, or political movements firsthand. The campus setting provides access to libraries, research centers, and collaborative networks. Remote work has become more common for research and some instructional activities.

Career Path & Advancement

The path to becoming a postsecondary political science teacher almost universally begins with a Ph.D. in political science or a closely related field such as public policy or international affairs. Aspiring professors typically complete a bachelor's degree, followed by a master's program, before entering a doctoral program that spans four to seven years. During graduate school, candidates gain teaching experience as teaching assistants and build their publication record. After earning the doctorate, many begin as adjunct instructors or postdoctoral fellows before securing tenure-track positions. The tenure process itself generally takes six to seven years of demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service. Once tenured, professors may advance to associate and then full professor ranks. Some pursue administrative roles such as department chair, dean, or provost. Throughout their careers, successful academics continuously publish research and secure funding to maintain their scholarly standing.

Specializations

Political science encompasses several major subfields that professors may specialize in. American politics scholars focus on U.S. institutions, elections, public opinion, and policy processes. Comparative politics experts study political systems across different countries, examining democratization, authoritarianism, and political development. International relations specialists analyze diplomacy, conflict, trade, and global governance structures. Political theory scholars explore foundational questions about justice, rights, power, and the philosophical underpinnings of government. Public policy and administration specialists examine how policies are formed, implemented, and evaluated. Increasingly, professors specialize in political methodology, developing quantitative and computational approaches to political analysis. Some focus on emerging areas like environmental politics, identity politics, or digital governance.

Pros & Cons

Industry Insight

The academic job market for political science professors has been challenging in recent years, with fewer tenure-track positions available relative to the number of doctoral graduates. However, growing student interest in understanding political polarization, misinformation, and democratic governance has sustained demand for political science instruction. Many institutions are expanding offerings in data analytics and computational social science, creating openings for methodologically skilled candidates. The shift toward interdisciplinary programs in areas like public policy, security studies, and data science offers alternative academic positions. Online education continues to expand, with some universities hiring faculty specifically for digital instruction. Community colleges and teaching-intensive institutions remain important sources of employment. Political science expertise is increasingly valued in think tanks, government agencies, and the private sector, providing alternative career paths for those with doctoral training. The field is also seeing greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in both hiring and curriculum development.