# What can you do with JUST a PolSci BA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091 "2013-02-12T17:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/21 "2013-02-12T19:04:32Z")
Thanks all! Internships will be very helpful. Anyone know if a Masters is needed in MA to teach? ---
**Author:** ![Jr.DNA\_test](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d78d45/32.png) [@Jr.DNA\_test](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jr.DNA_test)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/22 "2013-02-12T19:09:18Z")
I’d imagine so. I’ve heard in MD you need to earn a certain teacher’s master’s. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/23 "2013-02-12T19:29:26Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Thanks all! Internships will be very helpful. Anyone know if a Masters is needed in MA to teach? No, it is not required. Go [here](http://www.doe.mass.edu/Educators/e_license.html?section=k12) for details. You will have to do some grad work, but not towards a Masters. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/24 "2013-02-12T20:46:32Z")
BA in PolSci here. I ended up working for the SSA. It’s white-collar clerical work, but there are opportunities for advancement, and I am definitely happy with my pay, benefits, and my work environment. YMMV, but it’s not a bad idea. Things are a little “on edge” with the incessant attacks on federal employees lately, but it’s still not a bad fate for a lib. arts degree such as that. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/25 "2013-02-12T21:09:12Z")
**silenus** -I asked on Facebook, and was told I have 5 years after I start teaching. (IOW-what your link says) ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/26 "2013-02-12T21:59:59Z")
Mr.Q’s degree is in PoliSci. He’s never done anything particularly related to what he studied. He started in advertising and now does sales for a high tech firm. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091/27 "2013-02-12T22:09:18Z")
My political science friends are mostly split between sales and government work with a few that did paralegal work before applying to law school. About 1/4 (or less) are in IR/Policy grad school. Then there’s others that went to work for a school, non profit, etc. but those are singular data points. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-just-a-polsci-ba/650091.md?page=1)