What Can You Do With a Government Major?

You can pursue careers in the public, nonprofit or private sector after earning a government degree. Consider careers like legislator, political scientist and community and social services manager.

Start your GCU
journey today.

Step 1: Educational Interests

This helps us connect you with the right enrollment counselor to help you through the process.

Degree Level

Make a selection

Class Setting

Make a selection

Area of Study

Make a selection

Program

Make a selection

Current Education Level

Make a selection

Country

United States

Read time 5 minutes

GCE Editorial Team

Published on Oct 9, 2025

A government major may open the door to a wide variety of jobs, ranging from political scientist to social and community service manager. It can be helpful to have a general idea of the direction you want your future career to go in before declaring a government major. This can allow you to choose the specific degree emphasis that best suits your career goals.

Do you want to incorporate your passion for the political system into your career? If so, an undergraduate degree in government from Grand Canyon University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences may be the right choice for you. Take a look at the skills typically taught in these degree programs, explore some of the best degrees for government careers and review potential career paths you might be interested in pursuing.

Key Skills Taught in a Government Degree Program

In this degree program, you will have opportunities to grow in your understanding of legal and government policies and structures. By integrating public service and policy from historical and contemporary perspectives, you may examine how governments and public agencies have evolved over time and consider the factors at play in that evolution.

Public administration degrees and majors similar to political science teach a wide variety of transferable soft skills, as well as major-specific hard skills. To prepare you to pursue a career in public administration or a similar area, a government major will typically teach skills such as:¹

Communication skills
Research skills and data analysis
Strategy development and strategic decision-making
Attention to detail
Development of policy implementation plans
Critical thinking skills

In addition, your government degree with an emphasis in legal studies, or a minor in legal studies can serve as a steppingstone if you want to apply for law school in the future. There is no one universal pre-law major, and law schools may accept applicants with baccalaureate degrees in a variety of fields. As you explore the scope of governance and democracy, you can prepare to make a positive change in today’s legal system and policy making.

Popular Government and Public Service Majors

What degree do most politicians have? It varies widely, and in fact, some national politicians do not have a college education. Yet today, the number of politicians at the federal level with college degrees is quite a bit higher than in decades past. Since the 1990s, about nine in 10 members of Congress have had at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to just 56% of House members with a bachelor’s degree in the 1940s.³

Some popular degrees for U.S. legislators include political science (similar to government studies), economics, business and international relations.⁴

At Grand Canyon University, you have the option to choose between two different emphases when earning your government degree: legal studies and public administration.

BA in Government With an Emphasis in Legal Studies

By choosing a concentration in legal studies, you will focus on concepts of the law and examine research and writing skills in order to negotiate and resolve legal concerns. In addition, you will be expected to analyze morality in relation to law and ethics so that you can prepare to uphold moral standards in today’s legal system.

BA in Government With an Emphasis in Public Administration

The concentration in public administration at GCU aims to prepare students to effect positive change through public service leadership. It examines how local and state governments are structured and how they function, as well as how public policies are developed and implemented with an eye toward improving everyday life for communities.

This public administration emphasis focuses on governance, influence and power, human capital and public and nonprofit leadership. Students will also examine topics in budgeting and financial management of public agencies and nonprofits.

Careers in Public Administration, Law and Policy

Overall, your government degree can prepare you to work toward making a lasting impact in today’s political system. For example, by focusing on legal studies, you will examine the analytical tools needed in the fields of criminal and civil law. Alternatively, by focusing on public administration, you’ll examine key competencies in government agency and nonprofit leadership, including the inner workings of these public-serving organizations.

What can you do with a government major, specifically? Some of your options may include the following:

Political Scientist

Political science is a field concerned with the study of the origin, development and functioning of all types of political systems. They research political ideologies, the structures of governments and its entities, public opinion and political decision-making. Political scientists may specialize in areas such as national politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations.

Some of the responsibilities of political scientists include:

Developing and testing political theories
Collecting and analyzing data, such as public opinion data
Evaluating current events
Assessing the results of public policies on people and businesses
Developing projections of social, economic and political trends

Related Article: What Is Political Science?

Legislator

Legislators, a type of politician elected to public office, are responsible for introducing and voting for or against laws and statutes. They may work at the local, tribal, state or federal level.

Some of the specific tasks legislators do include the following:

Participate in committee hearings
Draft and sponsor bills
Meet with lobbyists, who advocate for or against specific bills and policies in a way aligned with the industry they represent
Provide services to constituents, such as helping with issues related to government services
Review and approve budgets

Legislators also fulfill an important function in a key element of U.S. democracy — checks and balances. They are charged with overseeing the activities of the executive branch, with the responsibility to ensure that government operations are transparent and are held accountable.

Social and Community Service Manager

What can you do with a government major in your own community? You might consider pursuing a career in social and community services. A social and community service manager is someone who develops, coordinates and oversees organizations and programs intended to serve the public interest. For example, they may oversee programs designed to feed the hungry, house the homeless or help the formerly incarcerated get their lives back on track and become productive members of society.

Some of the tasks that these professionals may do include:

Identify the need for various programs and services by liaising with community members and other stakeholders
Develop and implement public service programs and evaluate their effectiveness
Manage outreach activities to raise awareness about the availability of public services

General Operations Manager

A general operations manager’s work may depend on the specific sector and industry they work in, as well as the needs of their employer. In general, however, they may do any of the following:

Establish plans and policies
Plan, direct and coordinate the daily operations of the organization
Ensure the efficient delivery of services or production of goods
Plan and oversee the use of human capital and material resources
Develop and manage budgets

Can I Only Work in the Public Sector With a Government Degree?

Careers in the public sector aren’t the only ones you might pursue after earning a government degree. In fact, many graduates may go on to pursue careers in private business, as well as in the nonprofit sector. According to the American Political Science Association (APSA), some graduates might go on to pursue careers in:⁵

Service-oriented organizations at home and abroad
Media companies
Academia
Research organizations

Is a Government Degree Right for You?

Grand Canyon University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a wide variety of degree programs designed to prepare you for today’s diverse and evolving workplaces. Consider earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Emphasis in Legal Studies degree or a Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Emphasis in Public Administration. Fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor about your future at GCU.

Examine Government Structures and Functions

Earn a government degree at GCU and focus on legal studies or public administration. Apply today!

Request More Information

Written By

View Profile

GCE Editorial Team