Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 5/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Poli Sci Prof (Postsec):
41.9%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forPolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$94,680 median salary•1,600 annual openings•SOC Code: 25-1065.00
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Political science professors land in "Somewhat Resilient" because while the heart of their job — sparking debates, mentoring students, and modeling how to think critically about power and democracy — is deeply human and hard for AI to replace, the world around that job is changing fast. AI tools are already reshaping how students write papers and how professors design assignments, meaning instructors need to constantly adapt how they teach and assess learning.
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Political science professors land in "Somewhat Resilient" because while the heart of their job — sparking debates, mentoring students, and modeling how to think critically about power and democracy — is deeply human and hard for AI to replace, the world around that job is changing fast. AI tools are already reshaping how students write papers and how professors design assignments, meaning instructors need to constantly adapt how they teach and assess learning.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Poli Sci Prof (Postsec)
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Poli Sci Prof (Postsec) jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly augmenting — not replacing — political science professors. Their core work (leading discussions, attending campus events, mentoring during office hours) is still very human, but new tools are starting to help with the parts of the job that surround teaching. The American Political Science Association has launched a whole resource collection on "how political science educators are addressing AI in their classrooms" [1], and APSA is hosting a 2026 Teaching & Learning Symposium because instructors "must consider both the challenge and opportunity brought about by the ubiquity of GAI" [2].
Faculty are experimenting with ChatGPT for tasks like writing model UN papers, building bibliographies, drafting policy memos, and redesigning exams. A new APSA Presidential Task Force volume even concludes that AI "may fundamentally reshape how political knowledge is produced and interpreted" [3] — meaning research and prep work, not the human act of teaching itself.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Poli Sci Prof (Postsec)?
Adoption in political science classrooms is growing fast but cautiously. A Gallup–Lumina survey found that 57% of college students use AI daily or weekly for schoolwork [4], pushing professors to respond. Yet faculty are skeptical: 90% say generative AI will diminish students' critical thinking and 95% worry about overreliance [5], and 71% of AAUP members say their schools adopted AI without meaningful faculty input [5].
Political science especially values argument, ethics, and debate — skills AI can't truly replicate. So the good news for anyone curious about this career: the human parts (sparking discussion, mentoring, modeling civic thinking) are exactly what's most protected, while AI handles the busywork around them.
Sources
Will AI replace Poli Sci Prof (Postsec)?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Political science professors earn a 41.9% AI Resilience Score, which tells you this role faces real change without facing extinction. AI is already handling the busywork: drafting model UN papers, building bibliographies, redesigning exam formats. A majority of college students now use AI tools regularly for schoolwork [4], so faculty have had to adapt fast. But adapting is different from disappearing.
The parts of this job that matter most are stubbornly human. Sparking a real debate about power, ethics, and democracy. Mentoring a student who is figuring out what they believe. Modeling how to think critically about political claims. Faculty themselves are skeptical that AI can carry that weight: 90% say generative AI risks diminishing students' critical thinking, and 95% worry about overreliance [5]. The American Political Science Association is actively helping instructors navigate this shift [1], which signals the profession is evolving, not collapsing.
The job market picture is weaker than we would like, so anyone entering this field should go in clear-eyed about competition for positions. But the core of what a great political science professor does, pushing students to think harder about the world, is exactly what AI cannot replicate.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Poli Sci Prof (Postsec)
These articles highlight the significant role AI will play in shaping the landscape for political science teachers. With 14 postsecondary teaching roles identified as highly exposed to AI, educators must adapt to new tools that could enhance learning. The discussion on AI's impact on democracy and political campaigns emphasizes the need for political science educators to integrate these technologies into their curricula. By embracing AI, teachers can foster critical thinking about its implications in politics, ensuring they remain relevant and resilient in an evolving educational environment.
How Will AI Reshape Politics? New Volume Co-Edited by Stanford Law’s Nathaniel Persily Explores the Stakes
law.stanford.edu • 5/6/2026
STANFORD, Calif., May 6, 2026 — As artificial intelligence reshapes political campaigns, public administration, national security,...
Berkeley Social Sciences panel discusses how AI and anti-wokeness impact a post-DEI landscape
ls.berkeley.edu • 3/16/2026
Across the country, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are being scaled back or eliminated altogether.
AI and Democracy: Mapping the Intersections
carnegieendowment.org • 1/8/2026
Emerging AI technologies are entangling with a crisis in democracy.
Microsoft researchers have revealed the 40 jobs most exposed to AI—and even teachers make the list
fortune.com • 7/31/2025
Sorry, Gen Z: AI is expected to soon reshape dozens of popular professions—and possibly make some tasks obsolete.
College professors face the highest exposure to AI tools, study finds
universitybusiness.com • 3/24/2023
Of the 20 occupations most exposed to AI language modeling capabilities, 14 of them were postsecondary teachers.
More Career Info
Career: Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
They teach college students about government systems, political theories, and global politics, helping them understand how politics affect the world.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$94,680
Jobs (2024)
21,800
Growth (2024-34)
+2.0%
Annual Openings
1,600
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
2
Participate in campus and community events.
3
Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
4
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
5
Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
6
Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
7
Act as advisers to student organizations.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
