Life As a Political Science Professor
Position 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.
List of Political Science Professor Job Duties
- Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as classical political thought, international relations, and democracy and citizenship.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
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Political Science Professor Needed Skills
Political Science Professors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
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.
Types of Political Science Professor Jobs
- Government Teacher
- Associate Professor
- Government Professor
- International Relations Professor
- Assistant Professor
Political Science Professor Job Outlook
There were about 21,200 jobs for Political Science Professor in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,900 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Political Science Professor Salary
The typical yearly salary for Political Science Professors is somewhere between $43,310 and $177,360.

Political Science Professors who work in District of Columbia, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Political Science Professors make 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 |
What Tools do Political Science Professors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Political Science Professors:
- 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
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- iParadigms Turnitin
- Desire2Learn
- DOC Cop
- Sakai CLE
- Course management system software
Becoming a Political Science Professor
What education is needed to be a Political Science Professor?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Political Science Professor?

Political Science Professors Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:
Image Credit: UKWiki at English Wikipedia via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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