Why opt for Political Science after Class XII?

By Rashika Rajput

Political Science as a career

Are you at the crossroads and still not able to decide what to take up after your class 12th or which way to go? Are you still lost about your career options? Let me tell you, you are not the only one. Education is about understanding the possibilities the world has to offer. There are numerous career paths available to each one of us, out of which Political Science is one.

Political science as a subject could be taken up by the students of any stream. You can be from Arts, Commerce or Sciences. Study of Political Science is beyond behaviors of Politics, its structure and description.

Opting to pursue your Bachelor’s  degree in Political Science, would enhance your knowledge from foundations of political theorizing to normative dimensions and practical applications involving study on great thinkers like John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hill Green, followed by the actual meaning of Democracy and Party system, the basic political concepts – Law, Liberty, Equality, Rights, Justice , Citizenship; the mere essence of being a member in the society, constitutional framework and actual functioning of government institutions, public administration, research methodology. The comparative government between different countries, core constitutional organs and political recruitment (the study helps you even if you are planning further for appearing for government or administrative services exams like UPSC, JPSC, BPSC, and preparing simultaneously during the course), international relations and major contemporary issues would be another key to the subject. Apart from this you have optional papers like Economics, History, and English. Depending on your interest you can choose two subjects with one alternative paper.

Further, if you plan to go for post-graduation in Political Science which is also known as Observational Science because of its evolving principles, it would give you broad knowledge on Law, Human Rights, Gender Politics, International Politics, E-Governance, etc.

However, throughout the study, your course would go hand-in-hand with presentations, seminars, field study, research projects and dissertations, surveys, debates and discussions on emerging issues at national forums where you can interact with political party ministers directly, which would certainly develop much of your personality and cognition to reason out things on your own and enhance decision making.

Political Science – Career Prospects

Coming to the career prospects, you would get a variety of options after pursuing this subject. Enlisting some of them:

•    Lectureship: If you like teaching as a profession you can appear for UGC NET exam and could be a professor at renowned universities;

•    NGOs and INGOs: You can be a member in a national think-tank or non-profit government organisations.

•    Print and Electronic media: You will have the opportunity to join media organisations as you would be up-to-date about current happenings in India and abroad during the course of your study. Of course, your own efforts will matter. Hence, you can plan to go forth as media strategists or work with leading newspapers and magazines like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, etc.

•    Central and State Administration: You can also prepare to be a part of administrative services as mentioned above.

•    You can also choose to be a Political Pollster, Legislative Aide, or Policy Analyst.

Ifs and buts have their own spaces in our lives but somewhere, something phenomenal is waiting to be known. We are masters of our own destiny, just go ahead with one right step forward.

About the Author:

Rashika Rajput

Rashika Rajput has completed her Bachelor’s (BA) and Master’s (MA) degree in Political Science from St Xavier’s College, Ranchi.