Post job

What is an assistant professor of political science and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Adam Butz Ph.D.

You may have sat through a college lecture without ever realizing you were listening to an assistant professor of political science and not the professor themselves. These are experts in their field that take a position at a college or university in order to teach and contribute to a research opportunity. This is often a stepping stone to becoming a full-fledged member of the school, something like a trial run for both the professor and the rest of the staff. An assistant professor of political science specifically covers a set curriculum on a political science subject. They will also be contributing to a specific section of research with other professors that specialize in political science.

An assistant professor of political science will most likely need a doctoral degree in political science, law, or a similar field. In order to work well in this position, communication, teaching, and leadership skills will also be necessary. This is typically a salaried position and 50-60 hour weeks are common. On average, this position makes about $69,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to an assistant professor of political science?

Adam Butz Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Chair, Website

Thanks! We've found we get better responses over email than the phone because it gives you some time to think about it. We were hoping you could answer the following questions:
ScoreAssistant Professor Of Political ScienceUS Average
Salary
6.1

Avg. Salary $78,076

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.5

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.65%

Black or African American 6.98%

Hispanic or Latino 9.95%

Unknown 4.90%

White 66.24%

Gender

female 32.74%

male 67.26%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Assistant professor of political science career paths

Key steps to become an assistant professor of political science

  1. Explore assistant professor of political science education requirements

    Most common assistant professor of political science degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.6 %

    Master's

    26.2 %

    Doctorate

    22.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific assistant professor of political science skills

    SkillsPercentages
    International Relations22.16%
    Public Policy10.27%
    Public Administration9.46%
    Comparative Politics8.13%
    Research Methods7.66%
  3. Research assistant professor of political science duties and responsibilities

    • Used blackboard online to manage students tests, grade papers and assign materials.
    • Develop syllabus, course structure, and administer grades.
    • Provide a copy of PowerPoint lectures online for students to review before exams.
    • Experiment with different surface chemistry to improve quality of yields -participate in poster session and presentation to faculty and graduate students.
  4. Prepare your assistant professor of political science resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant professor of political science resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant professor of political science resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable assistant professor of political science resume templates

    Build a professional assistant professor of political science resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant professor of political science resume.
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
    Assistant Professor Of Political Science Resume
  5. Apply for assistant professor of political science jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an assistant professor of political science job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first assistant professor of political science job

Mike MartinezMike Martinez LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor Of Political Science

Beginning on August 1, 2024, I will be an assistant professor of legal studies within the Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice and International Studies at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). I took a long, circuitous route to arrive at this point in my career.

For most of my professional life, I was an attorney. I started as a trial attorney before moving on to become a government attorney. I spent the last part of my career as in-house counsel for a manufacturing company. Specifically, I was the company's environmental regulatory attorney. I worked there for 27 years before being laid off in October 2019.

Yogi Berra once said that when you come to a fork in the road, take it. When I was laid off, I had taught part-time at several Atlanta-area colleges and universities as a part-time instructor for 25 years. Following the layoff, I decided to take the fork in the road and seek a full-time teaching position.

I was worried that my age would hurt my chances. I was 56 years old when I started applying for full-time teaching positions. At age 57, I accepted a position as a lecturer of political science at Kennesaw State University (KSU). I worked at KSU for four years. During that time, I continued applying for positions as an assistant professor, which is a step up from a lecturer.

In December 2023, I applied for the position of assistant professor of legal studies at GGC. It was a quick process: I participated in a phone interview in January 2024. I was invited for a campus visit in February 2024. In March 2024, I was offered the position, and I accepted.

Aside from my experiences as an attorney and a part-time instructor, I also earned two master's degrees and two doctorates. In addition, I published 17 books and 16 articles in academic journals.

The bottom line: To earn a job as an assistant professor, it helps to have the necessary experience, academic degrees, and publications. It's a competitive market, but a candidate with the proper preparation can succeed.

Average assistant professor of political science salary

The average assistant professor of political science salary in the United States is $78,076 per year or $38 per hour. Assistant professor of political science salaries range between $44,000 and $136,000 per year.

Average assistant professor of political science salary
$78,076 Yearly
$37.54 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do assistant professors of political science rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Assistant professor of political science reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Cons

The low pay which is often offered


Working as an assistant professor of political science? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse education, training, and library jobs