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Political Scientists - 19-3094.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. Research a wide range of subjects, such as relations between the United States and foreign countries, the beliefs and institutions of foreign nations, or the politics of small towns or a major metropolis. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decision making, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • International Affairs Vice President
  • State-Federal Relations Deputy Director
  • Technical Director

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Collect, analyze, and interpret data such as election results and public opinion surveys; report on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
  • Consult with and advise government officials, civic bodies, research agencies, the media, political parties, and others concerned with political issues.
  • Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, and/or statistical sources.
  • Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
  • Evaluate programs and policies, and make related recommendations to institutions and organizations.
  • Forecast political, economic, and social trends.
  • Identify issues for research and analysis.
  • Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, and/or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
  • Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
  • Provide media commentary and/or criticism related to public policy and political issues and events.
  • Teach political science.
  • Write drafts of legislative proposals, and prepare speeches, correspondence, and policy papers for governmental use.

Detailed Work Activities

  • advise clients or customers
  • advise governmental or industrial personnel
  • analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
  • analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
  • analyze social or economic data
  • collect scientific or technical data
  • collect social or personal information
  • collect statistical data
  • communicate technical information
  • compile information through interviews
  • compile numerical or statistical data
  • conduct field research or investigative studies
  • create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
  • develop or maintain databases
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
  • develop tables depicting data
  • direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
  • edit written material
  • evaluate documents or manuscripts
  • evaluate governmental regulations or laws
  • explain complex mathematical information
  • forecast or predict phenomena based upon research data
  • interpret charts or tables for social or economic research
  • maintain awareness of social trends
  • make presentations
  • negotiate with federal and state agencies and other political organizations
  • obtain information from individuals
  • plan scientific research or investigative studies
  • plan surveys of specified group or area
  • prepare reports
  • prepare technical reports or related documentation
  • provide expert testimony on research results
  • recognize interrelationships among individuals or social groups
  • recognize interrelationships among social statistics or indicators
  • recommend further study or action based on research data
  • recommend solutions of administrative problems
  • review civil rights laws
  • review laws
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use conflict resolution techniques
  • use current social research
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use interviewing procedures
  • use knowledge of investigation techniques
  • use library or online Internet research techniques
  • use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
  • use oral or written communication techniques
  • use public speaking techniques
  • use quantitative research methods
  • use relational database software
  • use scientific research methodology
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use word processing or desktop publishing software
  • write research or project grant proposals
  • write scholarly or technical research papers

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Basic Foreign Area Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Billet Designator-Political Military Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, East Asia (Excluding PRC) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, Eastern Europe (Excluding USSR) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, People's Republic of China (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, Southwest Asia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer, Western Europe (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer-People's Republic of China (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer-Sub-Saharan Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Affairs Officer-Western Europe (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer Immaterial (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Africa, South of Sahara (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, China (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Eurasia (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Europe (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Former Soviet Union (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer, General (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Latin America (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Latin America (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Middle East/North Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Mideast/North Africa (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Northeast Asia (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, South Asia (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer, Southeast Asia (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Foreign Area Officer-East Asia (Excluding People's Republic Of China) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer-Eastern Europe (Excluding Former Soviet Union) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer-Eurasia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer-Latin America (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer-Middle East/North Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area Officer-South Asia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Foreign Area, Tactical Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • International Affairs Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • International Relations Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), ABM (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Bomber (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), C2ISREW (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Fighter (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Helicopter or EWO (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), RPA (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Special Operations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Tanker (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Political-Military Affairs Strategist (PAS), Trainer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Officer - Eurasia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer - South Asia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Eastern Asia (Excluding Peoples Republic of China) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Eastern Europe (Excluding Former Soviet Union) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Former Soviet Union (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Latin America (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Middle East/North Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Peoples Republic of China (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Southwest Asia (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer, Western Europe (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-East Asia (Excluding People's Republic of China) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-Eastern Europe (Excluding Former Soviet Union) (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-Latin America (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-Middle East/North Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-People's Republic of China (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-Sub-Saharan Africa (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Officer-Western Europe (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), ABM (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Air Attache (any geographic region) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Bomber (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), C2ISREW (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), China (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Eurasia (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Europe (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Fighter (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Generalist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Helicopter or EWO (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Latin America (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Middle East/North Africa (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Northeast Asia (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), RPA (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), South Asia (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Southeast Asia (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Special Operations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Sub-Saharan Africa (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Tanker (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Regional Affairs Strategist (RAS), Trainer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Political Scientist