Political Science

Politics presents itself to us day by day, in the separation of powers, democracy or in any of its many forms and it will constantly affect us, for better or worse. It is about preparing to, indirectly, solve social problems through advising, research and carrying out projects based on the analysis they make of society, critiquing it and seeking solutions to improve it.

What is the Political Science degree about?

Political Science is a discipline of the social sciences that deals with systems of government, the analysis of political activity and political behavior. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, which is commonly considered to determine the distribution of power and resources.

Political scientists reveal the relationships underlying political events and conditions, and, based on these revelations, attempt to build general principles about how the world of politics works.

Political science is related to and draws on the fields of economics, law, sociology, history, philosophy, geography, psychology and anthropology.

Although it was codified in the 19th century, when the contemporary form of academic social sciences was established, the study of political science has ancient roots dating back to the works of Aristotle, Plato and Chanakya written almost 2,500 years ago.

Political science is commonly divided into distinct subdisciplines that together make up the field: comparative politics, international political economy, international relations, political theory, public administration, public law and political methodology.

Comparative politics is the science of comparing and teaching different types of constitutions, political actors, legislatures and associated fields, all from an intrastate perspective.

International relations deal with the interaction between nation-states and intergovernmental and transnational organizations. Political theory is more concerned with the contributions of various classical and contemporary thinkers and philosophers.

Political science is methodologically diverse and draws on many methods originated in social research.

The approaches include positivism, interpretivism, rational choice theory, behaviorism, structuralism, post-structuralism, realism, institutionalism and pluralism.

As one of the social sciences, it uses methods and techniques related to the types of research sought: primary sources such as historical documents and official records, secondary sources such as academic journal articles, survey research, statistical analysis, case studies, experimental research and model building.

What is the profile of a political science professional?

If you want to delve into the world of politics as a science, it is first important to have a number of qualities and aptitudes to make your work as a future political scientist easier. It is important that you are a person who is:

• Passionate about research: This degree involves a lot of reading and researching political processes, history and the theories put forward by thinkers and philosophers on the subject.
• Methodical: You must be an organized person willing to follow a work method.
• Rational: You should not only read a lot, but also use what you have learned and your own reasoning to propose your own ideas and theories.
• Analytical: Everything you read must be thought about and analyzed so you can present your own conclusions.
• Creative: If you get to propose your own ideas and theories, make them truly your own.
• Intuitive: Although you are required to be rational, as we already said, it is also important to use intuition.

How long is the degree?

The Political Science degree has a total duration of 4 years (240 ECTS)

How much does it cost to study Political Science?

The costs of the first year of Political Science tend to vary a lot among the universities that offer the degree among their study options.

What entry grade is needed to study Political Science?

According to the newspaper El Mundo, the cutoff grades for the Political Science degree are:

1st Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona - 8.96
2nd Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - 8.66
3rd Universidad Pompeu Fabra - 8.95
4th Universidad Santiago de Compostela - 8.1
5th Universidad Carlos III - 9.77

General subjects in Political Science

Although it may vary depending on the school where it is studied, Political Science subjects are linked to history, law, economics and politics.

• Political Economy;
• Social Structure and General Sociology;
• Human Geography;
• Universal Contemporary History;
• Fundamentals of Political Science and Administration;
• Contemporary History of Spain and of Legal-Political Institutions;
• Research Methods and Techniques;
• Constitutional Law;
• History of Political Thought;
• International relations and organizations;
• Administrative Law;
• Public Sector Economics;
• Public Policy Analysis;
• Culture, behavior and political actors;
• Human Rights and International Cooperation;
• Forms of Administrative Organization;
• Public Finance and Financial Administration;
• Institutions and policies of the European Union;
• Comparative Politics;
• Public sector employment system;
• Spanish political system;
• Welfare State;
• Sectoral Public Policies;
• External Internships for the Degree in Political Science and Public Administration;
• Administrative Procedure;
• Contemporary Political Theory and Philosophy.

Career paths and salary

The salary of a political scientist newly graduated in Spain will depend on the position he holds and the functions he performs, however, according to the Colegio Profesional de Politólogos y Sociólogos en Madrid, it is between €17,000 and €25,000 per year.

Once graduated from the degree in Political Science, the political scientist can work as a political analyst, consultant or political communication.

He can also have a career in public administration as a senior public administration technician, as well as a manager of political and social organizations.

He can work advising politicians on leadership issues and as a technician in electoral campaigns.

How do I know if this degree is for me?

If you are someone who has always shown an interest in analyzing social phenomena, if you are interested in developing or acquiring skills in oral or written communication and you are able to plausibly explain an idea, as well as persuade others about these things, then a specialization in political science is an excellent study option.

The degree will give you the skills to critically evaluate and explain those social phenomena.