Explore career options in political science and public administration
Here you can find information on the types of careers and employment roles your studies in economics, political science and public policy may land you.
You can also discover where to look for job vacancies, as well as professional associations, mentoring and international opportunities.
Opportunities
The Bachelor of Arts is a three-year degree that equips graduates with the ability to find and communicate innovative solutions to contemporary challenges by developing a deep understanding of complex social, cultural and political issues. Arts degrees focusing on political science, public policy and economics cultivate technical skills in research, analysis and policy development, as well as high-level critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills. Graduates will have a solid foundation to establish careers in government, nonprofit organisations, international agencies, consulting, research and many other fields where an interdisciplinary perspective and a deep understanding of societal issues are valued.
Career fields
- Management consulting
- Government administration
- Non-government organisations
- Banking and finance
- Education and research
- Defence and armed forces
- International affairs
- Tourism and travel
- Public relations and media
- Trade and investment
- Political parties
- Insurance and financial services
- Think tanks
- Diplomacy
- Law and justice
- Government relations
Employment roles
- Policy officer
- Analyst
- Electorate officer
- Paralegal
- Research and grants officer
- Project officer
- Campaign planner
- Trade and investment officer
- Liaison officer
- Multicultural engagement officer
- International education advisor
- Intelligence analyst
- Graduate consultant
- Consular affairs officer
- Business development officer
- Councillor
- Classroom teacher*
*Denotes further study at postgraduate level likely to be required.
Occupation snapshot
Employed
38,500
Annual growth
2,600
Weekly earnings
$1,936
Part-time share
19%
This data is based on the occupation profile for intelligence and policy analysts, retrieved from the Government's Jobs and Skills Australia website August 2024.
Your employability
In addition to knowledge and skills directly related to your program of study, you will also develop a range of other skills such as teamwork, analytical, communication through academic study, employment, voluntary work, sporting and recreational activities and life experience.
Recognising the value employers place on these skills is an important factor in your graduate job search. You can further develop your employability with these resources:
Vacancies
Information on relevant vacancies can be found in a wide range of sources:
- CareerHub
- Seek
- Ethical Jobs
- Jobs for Sustainability
- ATS Jobs
- Indeed
- Jora
- Prosple
- GradConnection
- SmartJobs
- Queensland Government Graduate Portal
- ProBono
- APSJobs
- Impactpool
- Where to start your government career
- What Can You Do with a Humanities Degree
- Five Political Jobs and How to Get Them
- Careers at Council
- Landing Your First Job in International Affairs
Notable alumnus: Hon Jackie Trad MP
Hon Jackie Trad MP is the Member for South Brisbane, Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. She was elected to the Queensland Parliament in April 2012. With a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Sydney, Jackie has always been interested in how public policy shapes and forms our cities, our communities, and ultimately our lives.
Job application resources
Craft a stand-out resume and cover letter, and learn how to prepare for job interviews.
Approach potential employers
Many work opportunities are not advertised, so we recommend approaching potential employers with the aim of researching their needs and how your skills, experience, interests and qualifications could match theirs.
This is called informational interviewing and will benefit you by:
- clarifying your specific career direction
- enhancing your professional network
- increasing your chances of being offered a job.
Industry outlook
The Your Career website includes helpful information such as job descriptions, employment prospects, average weekly earnings and skills requirements. Every job title in the database has a skills section to help you identify and describe essential skills for your future career.
The My Future website also has job descriptions and a useful career insight section.
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website has up-to-date information on graduate salaries, especially the Graduate Outlook Survey (GOS) National Report, which contains undergraduate salary figures.
More detailed information is available at the Labour Market Insights portal.
Professional associations
Joining a professional association is a great way to interact with people in your field who can assist you to explore your career options and potentially find employment opportunities. These associations hold regular professional development and networking events:
- Australasian Political Studies Association
- Australian Academy of Humanities
- Economic Society of Australia
- Institute of Public Administration Australia
- Australian Institute of International Affairs
Students are welcome to join and often receive a discount on their membership.
Mentoring
The award-winning Industry Mentoring Program provides an excellent opportunity to further develop your employability and build professional networks.
The program is available to students with more than 80CP as well as recent graduates.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) and is committed to combatting climate change and contributing to a more sustainable world, where resources are used efficiently, waste is minimised, and sustainable practices are implemented while fostering partnerships for the goals.
Further careers information
Careers counselling
Individual career counselling sessions are available to all current students and recent graduates.
You can book an initial appointment via CareerHub.
Career planning
Our website has an array of career planning resources you can explore at any stage of your student journey.
Career Readiness
Check out our Career Readiness site in Learning@Griffith for additional information and resources for your career development learning:
Similar career options
Please note: The content on this webpage is a guide only. Please refer to degree-specific information and accreditation requirements of your profession on the Degree and Course Finder website and with the relevant professional accreditation body for your degree.