The political science major at Hofstra has for many years provided excellent preparation for a variety of professions. Many of the department's alumni, for example, have gone on to excellent schools of law (including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Hofstra, NYU, St. John's, Chicago, Fordham, Michigan, Duke, Berkeley, Cornell, and many, many others), and then to distinguished careers in law. In addition to many lawyers in solo private practice, the department's graduates can be found in distinguished law firms from coast to coast, including in New York, Shearman & Sterling, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Rivkin, Radler & Kremer, and Franklin & Gringer; in Washington, D.C., Cutler & Stanfield; in Philadelphia, Beasley, Casey, & Erbstein; in Los Angeles, McClintock Weston; and in San Francisco, McCutchen, Doyle, Brown, & Enersen. A number of the department's graduates also work in local government, particularly in Nassau County. One alumna is currently a judge of the New York State Supreme Court. However, law is just one possible career option for graduates of the political science department. The political science major is a door that can open many different kinds of opportunities. It is excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers and occupations. Over the years, some of our graduates have gone on to do, for example, the following:
- United States senator from Minnesota (Norman Coleman)
- U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands
- Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- New York City police commissioner
- Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead
- New York state senator
- Member of the New York state assembly
- Nassau county legislator
- President, Staten Island Bar Association
- Legislative assistant to a New York City councilman
- Legislative assistant to a member of the U.S. House
- Director of personnel for the White House under President Carter
- Economist with the World Bank
- Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency
- Analyst for the Department of Defense
- Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
- "Headhunter" for an executive search firm
- High school teachers in Nassau County and in New York City
- Medical doctor
- Owner of a novelties business
- Bestselling author (Nelson DeMille)
- U.S. sky marshal
- Associate publisher for marketing, Essence magazine
- Minister of a church
- Rabbi of a synagogue
- Roman Catholic priest
- Professor of political science
- Professor of law
- Staff announcer for a New York City radio station
- Print journalist
- Director of Suffolk County Legal Aid Society
- Agent of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
- New York City police officer