"What's your major?" Every time someone asks me that question, I can expect one of two very specific responses. Most often, when I tell someone I am a Political Science major, people ask me if I want to go to law school. Next, people ask me what political science even is. If those two questions are not asked, I am flooded with a slew of political opinions which are often, at best, misinformed and misguided.
So, what is political science?
Merriam-Webster defines Political Science as "a social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of political and especially governmental institutions and processes." My personal definition of political science is the study of societies in a political and/ or governmental context. Political Scientists, including myself, want to know why and how societies work the way they do.
Why should you study Political Science if you don't want to go to law school?
You should study political science if you want to look at communities, societies, and the world and see how they function. If you are fascinated by war, terrorism, nationalism, conflict, policy, voting, campaigns, protests, theory, and so much more, Political Science might be the major for you. There are multiple types of Political Science including American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, gender and politics, and more. The options for what to study are endless because everything, in one way or another, is political!
The personal is political.
The third wave feminists used the above phrase as one of their many catchphrases. They were right in saying the personal is political. As a Political Science major, you will study all the ways seemingly personal situations or instances occurred with some tie to or effect on politics. A question we ask a lot in Political Science is "what is the good life?" This informs every political decision people make.
Political Science encompasses so much that moves beyond legalities. Political scientists study everything from corruption and identity politics to infant mortality rates and protests. Don't get me wrong, law school studies a lot and some things law students study are not even on the political science radar. My point through all of this is that political science is different than law.
If you want to study political science and do not want to go to law school, you are not alone. Political Science is a world of its own and I highly recommend looking into it.
