[apwheele]

While it is true that getting a traditional tenure track job is very tough in the current market, programs like the one in the article can make modest changes to better prep students for other roles.

For a simple example, pretty much all of the PhD students could get a quantitatively oriented job with "analyst" in the title (why is the kid with an econ degree working a call center job?!?). That requires nothing besides telling students where to look.

For private sector data science gigs programs need to typically do a better job with training programming skills, but many govt research positions and think tanks they will be qualified for as is. Likely the case students can independently pursue projects that make them better qualified for data science positions or take courses already available in other departments at Bloomington to make up for gaps in the current PoliSci curriculum.