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Adjunct political science instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an adjunct political science instructor. Adjunct political science instructors usually study political science, history, or public administration. 52% of adjunct political science instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 33% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 99 real adjunct political science instructor resumes to see exactly what adjunct political science instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for adjunct political science instructors are the Central Connecticut State University and the Central Connecticut State University.

There are also many online adjunct political science instructor courses to help get the education required to be an adjunct political science instructor.

What education do you need to become an adjunct political science instructor?

What degree do you need to be an adjunct political science instructor?

The most common degree for adjunct political science instructors is bachelor's degree, with 52% of adjunct political science instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 33% and master's degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 52%
  • Master's, 33%
  • Doctorate, 10%
  • Associate, 5%

What should I major in to become an adjunct political science instructor?

You should major in political science to become an adjunct political science instructor. 51% of adjunct political science instructors major in political science. Other common majors for an adjunct political science instructor include history and public administration.

Most common colleges for adjunct political science instructors

Adjunct political science instructors often get their degrees at Central Connecticut State University, Western Washington University, and University of Illinois at Chicago. Here are the most common colleges for adjunct political science instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Adjunct political science instructor common collegePercentages
Central Connecticut State University11.11%
Western Washington University7.41%
University of Illinois at Chicago7.41%
Ohio State University7.41%
Regent University7.41%

Best majors for adjunct political science instructors

RankMajorPercentages
1Political Science50.6%
2History11.1%
3Public Administration7.4%
4Business4.9%
5Criminal Justice3.7%

Best colleges for adjunct political science instructors

The best colleges for adjunct political science instructors are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University.

An adjunct political science instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adjunct political science instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become adjunct political science instructors.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

9. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

20 best online courses for adjunct political science instructors

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1. Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science

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This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political system maintain significant influence in economic development. Such a “political” economy has had both positive and negative outcomes, which we will assess in detail. We also look at the origins, views, backgrounds and relations among leaders, and...

2. Comparative Political Systems

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Comparative politics covers a wide variety of topics and themes. The course starts with the definition of the comparative method giving special emphasis to concept formation and historical and institutional approaches. The bulk of the course is devoted to the theory of coalitions and the processes of government formation, functioning, termination. Through several in-depth analyses, the course will throw light on the way democratic regimes are governed. Electoral rules will receive special...

3. International Politics Mastery: Levels of Analysis

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4. Navigating Office Politics: Get What You Want at Work

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5. Understanding Korean Politics

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This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical...

6. Computational Social Science Methods

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This course gives you an overview of the current opportunities and the omnipresent reach of computational social science. The results are all around us, every day, reaching from the services provided by the world’s most valuable companies, over the hidden influence of governmental agencies, to the power of social and political movements. All of them study human behavior in order to shape it. In short, all of them do social science by computational means. In this course we answer three...

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8. The Data Science Course: Complete Data Science Bootcamp 2023

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9. American Politics, Foreign Policy, and US-India Ties

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This specialization is intended for people interested in politics and international affairs. You will learn about the United States and how its history, culture, politics, and foreign policy leave a significant impact on the world. You will also gain insights into US-India relations - which is the most important bilateral relationship among democracies of the world...

10. Digital Governance

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Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous cars, chatbots, just a few terms that have become a part of our professional legal and political vocabulary. Emerging technologies and technological advancement have confronted us in our daily practice and will continue to do so in the future. Whether we’re buying something online, taking part in an election, or chatting with friends across the globe. Technology is here and it is here to stay. However, as convenience as these new...

11. Master Polite English

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12. Data Science: Complete Data Science & Machine Learning

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13. Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1

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This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social...

14. Science and Technology in the Silla Cultural Heritage

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Science and Technology in the Silla Heritage The course explores the scientific and technological aspects of the cultural heritage of Silla, an ancient dynasty in Korea, and its relationship with other ancient civilizations in the world. The lecture series will cover major cultural heritage of Silla: Bulguksa, Seokguram, Cheomseongdae, Poseokjeong, the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok, and metallurgy. Modern development in science and technology occurred mostly in the West. But during...

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18. Data Science Foundations

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Fundamentals of Data Science: Learn the Tools and Techniques...

19. Data Science Bootcamp 2022: 5 Data Science Projects

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Data Science and Machine Learning Masterclass with Python with 5 Data Science Real World Projects...

20. Data Science: Master Machine Learning Without Coding

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Learn Fundamentals Of Data Science & Machine Learning With Rapidminer (No Coding). Dataset & Solutions Included...

Top 10 most affordable universities for adjunct political science instructors

The most affordable schools for adjunct political science instructors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for adjunct political science instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for adjunct political science instructors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adjunct political science instructors

The hardest universities for adjunct political science instructors to get into are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for adjunct political science instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for adjunct political science instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adjunct political science instructors

The easiest schools for adjunct political science instructors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, mount saint mary's university, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adjunct political science instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for adjunct political science instructors.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

6. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden

Camden, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,086

7. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

8. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

67%

SAT average

987

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average adjunct political science instructor salary by education level

According to our data, adjunct political science instructors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $114,299 annually. Adjunct political science instructors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $91,591.
Adjunct political science instructor education levelAdjunct political science instructor salary
Master's Degree$91,591
Doctorate Degree$114,299

Adjunct political science instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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