About Political Science
Political science is known as the scientific study of politics. It is a social science that examines governance and power systems, as well as the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and related constitutions and laws. A political science major can investigate the origins of authority and governments while improving analytical, research, and other abilities. Students who enjoy debating and keeping up with current affairs may be attracted to the major. In other words, students should have a solid understanding of political theories and issues by the time they obtain their degrees and the ability to approach research subjects confidently. After graduation, options include professional or graduate study in fields like law, international relations, medicine, and more. Additionally, political science majors may be able to earn class credit for internships in nongovernmental organizations, legal offices, campaign offices, and other settings.
Study Political Science in Italy
Italy is home to a glorious history of countless civilizations and important people who left a mark on the country. Therefore, it is a country of knowledge where people have a lot to learn from. It includes the oldest universities, which are remarkable with their heritage and rankings. These Italian universities are working harder to internationalize and provide degree programs exclusively for students from other countries. There are currently more than 500 study programs offered in the nation that are taught in English. In addition, Italy is Europe's most affordable study destination. Larger universities typically assist in obtaining housing; with any luck, you might be able to get a room in an inexpensive student residence. Moreover, Italians are known as welcoming people, so you won't feel like a stranger. In Italy, political science degree aims to provide the theoretical and methodological aspects of politics for students. It introduces students to the methodical examination of political institutions, structures, problems, and events. The general academic programs in Italy for this degree are built on an awareness of the historical and behavioral dimensions of political life in an increasingly globalized world.
Advantages of Studying Political Science in Italy
If you want to study several fields at the same time, Italy is the best place to do it. Some universities give students a chance to study politics with other fields such as economy, philosophy, social sciences, etc. Thus, you can graduate as a specialist in several domains simultaneously in Italy. Italian universities also contribute to candidates of politics majors' future careers. Candidates have an opportunity to work in international institutions, diplomacy and foreign service, global development organizations, transnational financial, business, law firms and corporations, global service and advocacy.
Career Paths for Political Science Degree Majors
The political science degree prepares majors for a wide range of job choices, from journalism to law, by placing an emphasis on analytical thinking. An in-depth description of just a few of the numerous positions in political science that are open to international students can be found below.
Political Scientist: Suppose you are interested in a career in political science and you enjoyed the course material you studied as a political science major. In that case, you might choose to follow a career as a political scientist. As a profession, a political scientist researches political and governmental behavior in order to support electoral campaigns, research voting trends for lobbyists, and develop models to forecast political movements in the future. However, be ready to put in more time in school if a job in political science interests you. A master's degree in political science will increase an international student's employability. Additionally, in order to teach at the collegiate level, the majority of political scientists get their PhDs.
Attorney: In their college years, many lawyers concentrated in political science since it gave them a thorough understanding of how the legal and governmental systems in the US operate. However, the road to becoming a lawyer is far from over once you graduate. In order to enroll in a three-year graduate law program, international students must take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). They must also pass the infamous Bar Exam in order to practice law in the United States.
Paralegal: A paralegal role can be right for you if becoming a lawyer seems too difficult, but you are still passionate about a career in the legal field. Similar duties are carried out by a paralegal or legal assistant, including fact-finding, research, and the writing of legal documents. Nevertheless, paralegals cannot practice law, administer legal advice, or trial cases because they are not attorneys. The process of becoming a paralegal is understandably easier because the job is a little less rigorous than that of a lawyer. The majority of paralegal certificate programs last for two years, and when combined with a political science undergraduate degree, you'll be well-equipped to start a paralegal profession!
Journalist: A journalist used to be someone who worked for a newspaper or magazine. These days, news media has exploded online because of the development of the Internet and the popularity of well-known blogs like The Huffington Post. The power of journalism is still undeniable, despite the fact that the medium has undergone a tremendous change recently; whether a journalist is exposing a political scandal, entertaining the public, or touching the heart, their work is of the utmost importance. In other words, politics can be a good source of knowledge for a journalist.
Lobbyist: A lobbyist's job is to influence lawmakers and officials to vote in favor of their benefactors, which can be small groups, private citizens, or public institutions. There are various types of lobbyists as well; direct lobbyists approach politicians directly in an effort to influence them, whereas indirect lobbyists are tasked with the less glamorous task of launching grassroots movements, inspiring the local population to take action, and letting their representatives know what they want. The ability to persuade is a lobbyist's most significant asset, regardless of the type of lobbyist they are or who their client may be. They also need to be skilled at reading political conduct, which calls for a solid foundation in political science. Additionally, lobbyists must be prepared to put in long days and practically nonstop hours during election season. By advocating for foreign interests, it can be the simplest for an international student to establish a foothold in the field.
What Skills Do I Need to Become one of the Political Science Specialists?
In order to pursue a promising career, you should have some of the features listed below.
Ability to communicate: Clarify your views in writing and spoken conversation, transform data into knowledge, effectively debate and argue, mediate and engage in conflict negotiation, and critical listening.
Planning and development: gather information, think through issues, put strategies into action, make wise decisions, and display leadership.
Methods and Research: Interpret and analyze data, distinguish between good and bad information, perform fundamental quantitative analysis, use summary statistics, comprehend the fundamentals of a reliable sample survey, effectively use a variety of research sources, including the Internet, use computers with proficiency, design research, summarize findings, test theories and hypotheses.
Analytical Ability: Think "beyond the box," think globally, evaluate policy and offer options, synthesize themes from complicated challenges, interpret data, grasp components of complex problems, see problems from a number of perspectives, and solve problems systematically and rationally.
Group Skills: Develop agreement, work as a team and individually, and communicate well in a diverse community.
These are the characteristics of political science specialists have. Throughout the journey in the major of political science, one can obtain some of the skills by improving themselves. However, some can also be inborn skills.
Is Political Science Right for Me?
A political science major can be a good option for you if you want to develop powerful tools for comprehending, advancing, and debating political arguments. You will get the chance to develop as a writer, speaker, and critical thinker in a government program. Additionally, you will get the chance to research a variety of domestic and international political issues, including the European Union, nuclear security, and American public opinion. If these topics somehow attract your attention, you can start the journey. However, if you still have hesitations, you should consider filling out forms and contacting our education advisors so that they can guide you and inform you about your future career.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Political Science Specialist?
In Italy, the duration of political science in a bachelor's degree is three to four years. A master's degree is about two years.
The Best Universities to Study Political Science
- John Cabot University: It is an American university in Rome. The behavioral and historical study of American, European, and worldwide institutional politics, as well as global public policy, human rights, peace and conflict studies, and global political theory, are all established strengths in the BA in Political Science curriculum of the university. Its instruction language is English.
- Luiss Guido Carli University: The university is in Rome. It provides a bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Teaching is improved through workshops on data analysis and computer skills, soft skills, academic language, internships, and study abroad options. Its instruction language is English.
- University of Bologna: It is the oldest university in the world. Bachelor's degree in Diplomatic and International Sciences’ is given at the Forlì Campus of the University of Bologna. Its instruction language is English.
- University of Milan: The three-year, English-taught Bachelor's degree in "International Politics, Law and Economics" (IPLE) provides an interdisciplinary education in political science, law, economics, sociology, and history with a focus on the current state of international affairs.
- University Bocconi: This BSc is the first undergraduate degree in political science that Bocconi has ever offered. It has a small, multicultural class of carefully chosen, extremely motivated students, as well as a committed, international staff. Students might choose to perform an internship while spending one semester studying abroad at a partner university because of the program's flexibility. Its instruction language is English.
Political Science Admission Requirements
For entrance into an accredited university in Italy, there are general qualifications that include:
- Possess a foreign high school diploma or bachelor's degree (for graduate students) demonstrating that you meet the requirements for enrollment in Italian higher education with a minimum GPA of 59% over the previous two years.
- Language skills are important. Candidates must take IELTS and TOEFL to show their English level.
- Some universities, like John Cabot University, require other languages in addition to English with at least a B1 level.