Political Scientists
Formulating national security policy positions and preparing assessments for senior decision-makers transfers to policy-focused political science research and reporting.
How to prepare: Develop a national security policy research sample using public sources, with an explicit research question, method, and evidence-backed findings. Political scientists typically need a master's degree in political science, public administration, or a related field; some employers consider a bachelor's degree, while others prefer a Ph.D.
What the civilian work involves
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint