So, you want to become a politician. Perhaps, you want to make a real difference in your local community. Or, you dream of getting elected to the House of Representatives. Or, you imagine working as your country’s representative in a foreign state.
Whatever your motivations and goals are, first, you’ll need to get a degree. And choosing the right one is crucial for setting you up for success.
But which college program is the one for you if you’re considering a career in politics? Well, there’s no one right answer here. Depending on your goals, you may want to choose one of the nine academic programs below.
Be warned: most of these programs are hardly a cakewalk. They come with a tremendous academic workload. But hey, that’s what paper writing service online is for! They can help you whenever you find yourself in a pickle.
This is the obvious choice for aspiring politicians, for understandable reasons. A political science program will teach everything you need to know about public and foreign policy, government, political behavior, and issues like terrorism and the environment.
Where should you get your political science degree? According to the U.S. News ranking, the top five political science schools in the U.S. are:
● Stanford;
● Harvard;
● Princeton;
● UC Berkeley;
● University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Typically a master’s program, a public administration (or public affairs, in some schools) degree is laser-focused on preparing you for a job in public service. Over the course of the program, you’ll study economics, public policies, management, and law, among other disciplines.
Here are the top five public affairs programs (M.P.A.s) in the U.S., according to the U.S. News ranking:
● Indiana University, Bloomington (O’Neill);
● Syracuse (Maxwell);
● Harvard (Kennedy);
● UC Berkeley (Goldman);
● University of Georgia.
If your political aspirations are closely related to economics and finances, this program is for you. While it doesn’t focus exclusively on public finance, it’ll give you an in-depth understanding of markets, macroeconomic policies, and actors’ behavior in the economy.
According to the U.S. News ranking, here are the top five economics schools in the United States:
● Harvard;
● MIT;
● Stanford;
● Princeton;
● UC Berkeley.
Envision yourself working on the international level? Want to become a diplomat? Then the international relations program is your best option. Over its course, you’ll study global issues, relationships between states, and the functioning of supranational organizations.
Don’t know where to start looking for an international relations program? Here are the top five U.S. schools to kick off your search:
● Stanford;
● Yale;
● University of Chicago;
● Johns Hopkins;
● University of Pennsylvania.
A politician’s job hinges on networking and building strong professional relationships, and a communications degree can help you become a pro at that. It’ll also give you a head start in all things PR, from maintaining your public image to running campaigns and working with the press and media.
Here are the top five U.S. schools that offer a communications program, as per the U.S. News ranking:
● MIT;
● Stanford;
● University of Pennsylvania;
● Northwestern;
● Brown University.
While it’s not an obvious choice, a business program can teach you all the management skills you’ll need to run a governmental agency. Plus, it’s a safe choice if you’re not sure the career in politics will pan out.
After earning your undergraduate degree in business, you can go on to secure an MBA (master’s in business administration).
Here are the top three U.S. schools that offer undergraduate business programs:
● University of Pennsylvania;
● MIT;
● UC Berkeley.
As for the MBA programs, the U.S. News ranked the following three U.S. schools at the top of the list:
● University of Chicago (Booth);
● University of Pennsylvania (Wharton);
● Northwestern (Kellogg).
If you intend to become a legislator at any level of government, this program is for you. It’ll give you a deep understanding of the legal system, its various levels, and regulations. You can choose to specialize in various fields, from criminal and constitutional law to international and environmental law.
Here are the top five law schools in the United States, according to the U.S. News ranking:
● Yale;
● Stanford;
● University of Chicago;
● Columbia;
● Harvard.
This is another typical master’s degree (MPP), although some undergraduate public programs exist, too. If you opt for a public policy program, prepare to be laser-focused on how public policy is designed, shaped, and implemented. You may also learn the basics of economics, ethics, financial management, and leadership.
As for the top schools that offer an MPP, here are the highest-ranking five in the U.S., as per the U.S. News:
● UC Berkeley (Goldman);
● Indiana University, Bloomington (O’Neill);
● University of Chicago (Harris);
● University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ford);
● Duke University (Sanford).
Planning to work in the public health sector? Then this is the program for you! It can set you up for a career in health services administration and international health, for example. Over its course, you’ll study epidemiology, global health, health management and policy, and social behaviors that impact health.
According to the U.S. News ranking, these five schools are the best in public health programs in the United States:
● Johns Hopkins;
● Harvard;
● University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;
● Columbia;
● Emory University.
There is no one path toward becoming a politician. Apart from earning any one of the degrees above, you can also venture into politics with a background in the non-profit or corporate sector. Or, you can work your way up the ladder in the governmental sector from the very start.
Whichever path you choose (or whichever path chooses you, instead), everything you learn while you work toward that degree can come in handy. From negotiating and public speaking soft skills to a deep understanding of public policy or the market economy, the skills you acquire at college can set you up for success. So, make the most out of your student years!
Don’t know if the degrees above will be a good choice for you? Or want to have more options to consider? Here are five other degrees real politicians have earned – and so can you to kickstart your political career:
● History;
● Philosophy;
● Finance;
● International business;
● Criminal justice.
