The CQ Press Career Guide for American Politics Students
Peter Ubertaccio
Stonehill College, USA
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Copyright © 2019 by CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc.
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Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ubertaccio, Peter N., 1972- author.
Title: The CQ press career guide for American politics students / Peter Ubertaccio.
Other titles: Congressional Quarterly career guide for American politics students
Description: Washington, D.C. : CQ Press, a division of Sage, [2019]
Identifiers: LCCN 2018028753 | ISBN 9781544327303 (saddle stitch : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Political science—Vocational guidance—United States.
Classification: LCC JA100 .U23 2019 | DDC 320.023/73—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018028753
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
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Contents
1 Preface
4 • CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Getting StartedChapter ObjectivesWhat does it mean to study American politics?The B.A. in PoliticsCareer Outcomes in American PoliticsConclusion
5 • CHAPTER 2 Coursework and InternshipsChapter ObjectivesWhat is your curriculum?The Double Major or Minor: Useful to postgraduate outcomes or not?Elective ChoicesWhat is a co-curriculum?What about internships and experiential opportunities?Conclusion
6 • CHAPTER 3 Staff Work on and off the HillChapter ObjectivesWhat does a staffer do?Legislative CorrespondentLegislative AssistantLegislative DirectorPress SecretarySchedulerDistrict DirectorChief of StaffDo I need to live in the state of a member or belong to a member’s political party to get a job?What’s the difference between staff work on Capitol Hill and your state capital?Your State CapitalWhat about working in my city or town?What if I’m not interested in working for an elected official?Administrative AgenciesState GovernmentPublic Relations and CommunicationsConclusion
7 • CHAPTER 4 Political CampaignsChapter ObjectivesWhere should you focus your campaign energy?National CampaignsCongressional CampaignsState and Local ElectionsBallot QuestionsAdvocacy CampaignsWhat do you do on political campaigns?Field Work: Canvassing and VisibilityData Entry and Media ScrubsMedia ContactFundraisingConclusion: Why work on a campaign?
8 • CHAPTER 5 Other PursuitsChapter ObjectivesWhat is graduate school?A Doctoral or a Master’s DegreeWhat is professional school?A Law DegreeA Business DegreeA Journalism DegreeAn Education DegreeA Degree in Public HealthShould you go right into the job market?Nonprofit WorkThink TanksAdvocacyServiceCorporateConclusion
9 • CHAPTER 6 ConclusionLet’s ReviewWhat else can I do to make myself competitive?Conclusion
Preface
Introduction
The best part of being a professor at a college dedicated to a core liberal arts curriculum is the opportunity it affords to teach and learn both in and out of the classroom. What I have noticed over the years, however, is a growing disconnect between the activities in my classroom and the kinds of questions and concerns students have about the job market or next steps they might take upon graduation. It was as if the study of politics was somehow unrelated to the demands of an ever-changing job market.
The response to this trend is the guide. The data from employers and their own observations of the job market make it clear they want students who have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, public-speaking and writing skills, and the ability to process complex issues and data points. They want creative thinkers who can work in teams, who are capable of research, and who understand the world in which we live. These are the skills one develops by a rigorous study of politics.
I imagine this guide as a companion piece along with an introductory or upper-level textbook in courses in American politics. It aims to be a powerful introduction to the job market in the field and to the variety of options that exist for the student who is interested in and passionate about politics. Many students, those who major in political science and those who simply have a passing interest in the subject, wish to learn more about career paths in the field. It is particularly difficult for them to navigate job opportunities in the field because the market is diffuse and open to so many pathways.
Making that first step is difficult. Indeed, launching a career in politics can be frustrating because of the peculiarities of this particular job market. There’s not going to be a table at job fair that reads, “American Politics.”
This book is designed