Most people couldn’t tell you what the difference between Political Science and Public Policy is. People also define these topics differently, which makes understanding them even more difficult.
Political Science
Political Science deals a lot with political theory. You study a lot about the nature of government.
You research policies and understand their creation. Policies and differing ways of governing are studied and explored. You weigh the pros and cons.
Political ideas are examined and compared. You deal with many abstract concepts and philosophies.
Some of the skills that are developed in this major are:
- Researching
- Writing proposals
- Analyzing policies
- Understanding of law
Some Areas in Political Science
Since Political Science is so broad, there’s a lot of jobs/areas it can lead to. A few examples are:
- Policy analysist or researcher
- Attorney (or other jobs in law)
- Journalist
- Management in foreign affairs
- Political consultant
Public Policy and Administration
While still broad, it’s easier to narrow down the topics in Public Policy. In a nutshell, it’s about fixing the problems that arise by improving policies and how they are used.
You look at policies and their effects. If something is being negatively impacted, you figure out what needs to be fixed and how to fix it. You ask: how can this policy be implemented differently?
You would specialize in topics and policies that are important to you. For example, that could be criminal justice, environmental policies, public health, or much more.
Some of the skills that are developed in this major are:
- Communicating clearly and with others
- Analyzing policies
- Recognizing public problems
- Creating solutions
- Cost-benefit reasoning
Some Areas in Public Policy and Administration
A few examples of jobs/areas this major can lead to are:
- Policy analyst
- City manager
- Healthcare administration
- Project management specialist
Final Thoughts
It’s important to find what you’re most interested in when looking at these two topics. If you’re most interested in the theory, you may prefer Political Science. If you’re more interested in the practice, you may prefer Public Policy and Administration. Pick what’s important to you!
Sources
“Career Guide" APSIA. September 7, 2023. https://apsia.org/careers/career-guide/.
“Career Pathways in Political Science" University of New Mexico. 2020. https://polisci.unm.edu/undergraduate/career-pathways-in-political-science.html.
“Careers Sectors for Political Science” American Political Science Association (APSA). 2024. https://apsanet.org/careers/careers-for-political-scientists/careers-sectors-for-political-science/.
“Public Policy vs Political Science: What’s the Difference?” 2025. Pitt.edu. 2025. https://www.spia.pitt.edu/insider-insights/public-policy-vs-political-science-whats-difference.
“What Is Policy?” Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. n.d. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/what-is-policy.pdf.
“What Is Political Science?” American Political Science Association (APSA). 2024. https://apsanet.org/resources/for-the-public/what-is-political-science/.
“What Is Public Administration?” Pitt.edu. 2025. https://www.spia.pitt.edu/insider-insights/what-public-administration.
“What Is Public Policy?” Center for Civic Education. 2019. https://www.civiced.org/project-citizen/what-is-public-policy.
“What Is the Difference between Public Administration and Political Science?” American Military University. January 16, 2026. https://www.amu.apus.edu/area-of-study/legal-studies/resources/what-is-the-difference-between-public-administration-and-political-science/.
“What Is the Difference between Public Administration and Political Science?” American Public University. May 22, 2025. https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/security-and-global-studies/resources/what-is-the-difference-between-public-administration-and-political-science/.
Maddocks, Krysten Godfrey. “What Is Political Science All About?” Www.snhu.edu. June 26, 2020. https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/social-sciences/what-is-political-science.
Sims, Kaitlyn. “Public Policy or Political Science? How to Choose the Right Major for YOU” Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs. March 24, 2026. https://korbel.du.edu/blog/public-policy-or-political-science-how-to-choose-the-right-major-for-you/.