Political science studies how power and government work today: elections, institutions, public policy and relations between countries, often with data and research methods. History studies how people and societies changed over time, using primary sources to build arguments about the past. Political science looks for patterns; history explains particular stories in context. Both build strong writing and reasoning and are common routes to law, government and teaching.
What each major covers
Political science
- American government, comparative politics, international relations and political theory.
- Research methods and often statistics.
- Electives on campaigns, courts, public policy, the presidency or specific regions.
- Simulations, policy memos and sometimes a government internship for credit.
History
- Surveys of different eras and regions, then focused seminars.
- Historical methods: finding, reading and questioning primary sources.
- Electives on topics such as war, religion, science, labor or a single country.
- A long research paper or thesis built from archives.
The skills you take away
- Political science: analyzing institutions and policy, reading data and polls, building arguments about how decisions get made and writing short, persuasive memos.
- History: deep research, weighing conflicting sources, long-form writing and explaining why events unfolded as they did.
Employers value both for writing, research and judgment. Political science often adds a bit of data skill; history adds research depth.
A good test is how you read the news. If you find yourself asking what a new law will do, who has the votes and how other countries handle the same issue, political science may fit. If you find yourself asking how things got this way and what earlier generations tried, history may fit. Neither major comes with a single obvious job title, so internships, a part-time job and a clear story about your skills matter a great deal. Our guides to LinkedIn for college students and the senior year job search can help.
Careers after each
- Political science: campaign and legislative staff, government agencies, policy research, advocacy and nonprofit work, and law. See what you can do with a political science degree and an international relations degree.
- History: teaching, museums and archives, research, writing and editing, public service and law. See what you can do with a history degree.
Career guides that fit both: how to become a lawyer and how to become a teacher.
Law school, grad school and teaching
- Law school accepts any major. Admissions weigh your grades, the LSAT and your writing more than the major’s name; see the pre-law roadmap and law school now or work first. Becoming a lawyer also requires passing a state bar exam.
- Teaching social studies in public schools requires a state teaching credential, which you can often earn through a post-bachelor’s program.
- Policy and government: master’s degrees in public policy or public administration are common after some work experience.
- Archives and libraries: many archivist and librarian roles expect a master’s in library or information science.
- Academic research in either field means a doctorate. See should I go to grad school?
How to decide and test both
- Take one intro course in each, ideally on a related topic, and compare how each asks questions.
- Write one short paper for each and notice which kind of research you enjoy.
- Do informational interviews with someone in government or policy and someone in teaching, museums or archives.
- Try an internship with a local office, campaign, historical society or museum; see college internships.
- Join Model UN, mock trial, a debate team or the campus history journal and see which community you want to spend time with.
Does a double major make sense?
These two pair well, since many courses can count toward both and the skills reinforce each other. Still, a minor in the other field often gets you most of the value, with room left for a language, statistics or economics, which can stand out more. Weigh it with double major vs minor.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps you test both majors, set up internships, plan for law school or grad school and keep weekly momentum through applications. Mentors are not admissions counselors or credentialed career counselors; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See mentoring for college students and career and education mentoring.
Related
- Careers for people who like writing
- What can you do with a liberal arts degree?
- How to choose a major
- College majors guide
Common questions
Is political science or history better for law school?
Neither has a built-in advantage. Pick the one where you will earn strong grades and do your best writing.
Is history a useless major?
No. It builds research and writing skills employers value, especially when paired with internships and practical experience.
Which has more math?
Political science usually includes research methods or statistics. History rarely requires math.
Can I double major in both?
Often, because courses overlap. Check how many classes count toward both at your college.
Get started
Weighing political science against history and want help planning? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.