History vs Political Science

These two majors overlap enough to cause genuine confusion. Both discuss democracy, wars, constitutions, and social movements. Both require extensive reading and writing. Both are popular pre-law choices. But spend a semester in each and the difference becomes clear.

In a history class on the American Revolution, you read primary sources (letters, pamphlets, diaries), construct a narrative about what happened and why, and argue your interpretation against other historians' interpretations. In a political science class on revolution, you study theoretical models of political instability, compare revolutions across countries using data, and test hypotheses about what conditions produce regime change. Same topic, completely different approach.

At a Glance

Coursework Differences

History coursework:

• American history surveys (colonial through modern)
• European, Asian, African, or Latin American history
• Historiography (how historical writing has changed over time)
• Research methods (archival research, primary source analysis)
• Topical seminars (Civil War, women's history, Cold War, etc.)
• Senior thesis or capstone research project
• Upper-division writing-intensive courses

History education is built around reading primary sources and constructing evidence-based arguments about the past. You learn to evaluate sources for bias, context, and reliability. The writing is extensive and increases in sophistication each year, culminating in a senior thesis that demonstrates original research skills.

Political science coursework:

• American government and politics
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Political theory (Plato through modern philosophy)
• Research methods and statistics
• Public policy analysis
• Constitutional law
• Electives (elections, Congress, Middle East politics, etc.)

Political science is more methodologically diverse than history. Quantitative methods (surveys, experiments, statistical analysis) sit alongside qualitative analysis and philosophical argument. The field is divided into subfields (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory) that use different methodologies but share a focus on how power operates.

Career Path Differences

History careers:

• Teacher (with certification, varies by state)
• Museum professional/archivist ($56,710 median for archivists)
• Editor/writer ($73,690 median for writers)
• Lawyer (with JD, varies widely)
• Government historian ($65,540 median)
• Nonprofit administrator ($55,000-$75,000)
• Intelligence analyst (with appropriate clearance, $60,000-$90,000)
• Public historian (historic preservation, museums, documentary work)

Political science careers:

• Congressional aide/legislative analyst ($40,000-$60,000 starting)
• Campaign professional ($40,000-$80,000)
• Policy analyst at think tanks ($50,000-$70,000 starting)
• Government administrator ($55,000-$75,000)
• Lobbyist/government affairs ($60,000-$100,000+)
• Lawyer (with JD, varies widely)
• Intelligence analyst ($60,000-$90,000)
• Political journalist (varies widely)

Both majors share several career paths (law, government, journalism, intelligence), but the default starting points differ. History graduates more naturally enter cultural and educational institutions. Political science graduates more naturally enter government, campaigns, and policy organizations.

Salary Comparison

At the bachelor's level, starting salaries for both majors are comparable: $38,000-$55,000 for most entry-level positions in government, education, nonprofit, and media roles. Neither major provides a direct pipeline to high-paying entry-level work without additional education.

The salary trajectories diverge based on career path rather than major. History and political science graduates who go to law school earn lawyer salaries. Those who pursue PhDs earn academic or research salaries. Those who enter government earn government pay scale salaries.

The highest-earning path available to both is law, where median salaries for lawyers were $145,760 in May 2024¹. Both majors provide strong preparation for law school, and both produce graduates who score well on the LSAT.

Which Is Right for You?

Choose history if:

• You are fascinated by the past and enjoy researching what happened
• You love reading primary sources and constructing narratives
• You want to develop the strongest possible analytical writing skills
• You are interested in museums, archives, historic preservation, or teaching
• You prefer humanistic inquiry over social scientific methodology

Choose political science if:

• You are interested in how government works and how policy is made
• You enjoy data analysis, surveys, and testing hypotheses
• You want to work in campaigns, government, or policy advocacy
• You prefer analyzing present-day systems over studying the past
• You want some quantitative skills alongside your reading and writing skills

For more on each degree, see our history degree guide and political science degree guide. For career details, see history careers and political science careers. Students weighing political science against another field should check our political science vs international relations comparison. Our guide on how to choose a major covers the broader decision.

FAQ

Which is better for law school?

Both are excellent. History and political science are among the most common and highest-performing pre-law majors. Law schools do not prefer one over the other. The analytical reading, writing, and argumentation skills developed in both majors transfer directly to legal education. Choose based on which subject you enjoy more, because your GPA matters more than your specific major.

Is political science harder than history?

Political science includes a statistics requirement that history does not, which some students find challenging. History requires more extensive research paper writing, which political science students might find demanding. Neither is objectively harder. Political science is more diverse methodologically (mixing quantitative and qualitative approaches). History is more focused on one skill set (deep reading and writing) applied at increasing levels of sophistication.

Can I work in government with a history degree?

Absolutely. Federal, state, and local governments hire history graduates for policy analysis, research, communications, and administrative roles. The intelligence community actively recruits history majors for their research and analytical skills. Congressional offices employ history graduates as legislative correspondents and staff assistants. A history degree demonstrates the analytical and communication skills that government employers value.

Which is more marketable?

Neither has a significant marketability advantage at the bachelor's level. Both lead to the same general set of careers (government, law, education, nonprofit, media). Political science may have a slight edge for campaign and government affairs positions specifically. History may have a slight edge for museum, archival, and educational positions. Both require active career development beyond just having the degree.

Should I major in one and minor in the other?

This is a practical approach if you have strong interests in both fields. A political science major with a history minor gives you the systematic policy analysis framework plus historical depth. A history major with a political science minor gives you superior research and writing skills plus understanding of political systems. Either combination is viable, and the choice should reflect which subject excites you more.

Do I need graduate school for either major?

For the highest-paying careers (lawyer, professor, senior policy researcher), yes. A JD is required for legal practice, and a PhD is required for academic careers in either field. However, many meaningful careers in government, nonprofit, education, and media are accessible with a bachelor's degree in either major. Graduate school amplifies career options and earning potential but is not universally required.

Related degree guides:

• History Degree Guide — Overview, coursework, careers
• Political Science Degree Guide — Overview, coursework, careers
• History Careers — Career paths and job data
• Political Science Careers — Career paths and job data