phd political science acceptance rate

Political Science: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics

Ph.D. Admissions

Apply here . 

Preparing to Apply

Before starting the application process please read the information about the graduate program requirements  and read our  Frequently Asked Questions . You may also find the Guide to Getting Into Grad School helpful. 

The Political Science department recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

All questions regarding graduate admissions should be directed to politicalscience [at] stanford.edu (subject: Admissions%20Enquiry) ( politicalscience[at]stanford[dot]edu ) .

The principal goal of the Stanford Ph.D. program in political science is the training of scholars. Most students who receive doctorates in the program do research and teach at colleges or universities. We offer courses and research opportunities in a wide variety of fields in the discipline, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. The program is built around small seminars that analyze critically the literature of a field or focus on a research problem. These courses prepare students for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam requirement within a two-year period and for work on the doctoral dissertation.  

Admission to the graduate program in political science is highly selective. About twelve to fifteen students, chosen from a large pool of applicants, enter the program each year. The small size of our student body allows more individual work with members of the faculty than most graduate programs. It also makes possible financial assistance in one form or another to most students admitted to the Ph.D. program. 

Graduate Admissions FAQ

Please visit our list of  frequently asked questions.

You may also find the following links useful if you have general questions about student life and graduate study at Stanford University:  

Vice Provost of Graduate Education (VPGE)

• Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook (GAP)
• Graduate Life Office
• Stanford Bulletin
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Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about KHS admission .

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Ph.D. Admissions

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• Introductory Letter from the Chair - Please Read
• The Ph.D. Degree

Profile of Admitted Applicants

Statement of purpose - required, personal history statement - optional, writing sample - required, resume or cv - required, letters of recommendation - 3 required, transcripts - required, gre general test - required.

• English Proficiency Requirements

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Graduate life resources, introduction from the chair.

Thank you for your interest in the Political Science Ph.D. program at the University of Washington!

Before applying, think carefully about the "fit" between your interests and our graduate program:

• We admit students only to our Ph.D. degree program, and we admit new students only for autumn quarter. We do not offer a terminal M.A. degree. 
• The primary focus of our Ph.D. program is to develop academic researchers who typically work and teach at institutions of higher learning. However, an increasing number of our graduates also accept positions in the public or private sectors where the skills they acquire in our program are highly valued. Go to our placement page  to see where our graduates have accepted positions.
• We strive for a graduate program that includes a wide diversity of personal backgrounds and intellectual experiences.
• It typically takes students 5-6 years to complete our program requirements and defend their dissertations.
• Faculty in our program treat graduate students as intellectual peers. Research collaborations leading to publications are common between faculty and gradate students as well as between graduate students.
• Every political science department has specific areas of strength. We encourage prospective students to use our website to explore the research interests of our faculty , the graduate classes in the course catalog, our different research centers and seminars . You are also welcome to contact individual faculty to discuss shared research interests.
• Teaching is an important part of our program and a strength of our graduates. All of our Ph.D. students serve as teaching assistants and have opportunities to teach their own courses once they have moved to the dissertation writing stage

Important details about the application process: . 

• Our admissions committee reads the Statements of Purpose to assess not only the applicant’s qualifications but also their “fit” with what we offer as a department. Please use the statement to share your academic interests, prospective fields of study, relevant experience, and methodological training. We do not expect you to know exactly what you intend to study.
• The committee is also interested in who you are and your experiences beyond academia. The Personal Statement is an opportunity to share information about the personal experiences that have shaped your intellectual development, such as exceptional educational opportunities or disadvantages you have faced and overcome.
• Scores for the GRE and English proficiency exams (if required) must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or other testing agency to the University of Washington. It is your responsibility to confirm that we have received your scores. 
• You are responsible for ensuring that all of your application materials are submitted on time. Your materials must be uploaded to the Graduate School's application website  by December 15th, no later than 5pm Pacific . Be sure to leave time in case there are complications with completing your application. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not review incomplete or late applications.
• The Admissions Committee admits the applicants who it believes are a good fit for our program. No formulas are applied. You will be notified by email when a final decision has been reached on your application, usually by the beginning of March. 

We look forward to reading your application! If you require further information or assistance, please contact the department’s Graduate Program Assistant at [email protected]  or (206) 543-1898.

The Ph.D. degree

The department offers the Ph.D. degree. All entering students, with or without an MA/MS degree, earn a UW MA in Political Science as partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree requirements.

We do not offer a separate terminal Master’s degree. 

Completing a Ph.D. program is a major undertaking that requires extraordinary dedication and initiative. We seek students who are motivated and likely to succeed as Ph.D. students. Although there are no specific course prerequisites for our graduate program, applicants must have completed at least a bachelor's degree by the time they start our program. While admitted students usually majored in political science or another social science as undergraduates, the department also admits applicants from other disciplines who have demonstrated, through relevant interests and experience, the capability to do advanced work in political science. Fit between an applicant’s expressed interests and the research expertise of our faculty is also an important consideration in the admissions process . We typically admit 8-10 Ph.D. students per year.

The Political Science Department seeks to fund all admitted students through teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships. There is no separate application for departmental funding. All applicants admitted to the graduate program are considered for financial aid awards.

Admitted students are typically funded for five consecutive years, and funding in subsequent years is usually available. Funding includes a stipend, tuition waiver (see current UW tuition rates ), and health insurance for each quarter of the academic year (autumn, winter, spring). Limited summer funding is often available. Health insurance coverage continues through the summer for students who were funded for all three quarters of the previous academic year. 

 For more information on funding for new students and funding beyond the first year, please see our Graduate Funding page. 

We also encourage applicants to pursue outside funding opportunities. The Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) is administered by the Jackson School of International Studies.

For information about federal financial aid, visit UW’s Student Financial Aid Office . Note Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadlines.

Applying to Our Program

APPLICATION OPENS: August 1st

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS: December 15th by 5pm PACIFIC

Applications are submitted through the Graduate School’s website . The Graduate School also has commonly asked questions on their Admissions FAQs page. The maximum file size for most components of the application is 500 KB per document. Transcripts cannot be larger than 2 MB each. 

Application Fee and Fee Waiver Requests

The Graduate School charges a nonrefundable application fee of $85.00 (USD). See their Application Fee Waivers page for information about waivers, including eligibility information and how to request a waiver. 

Write about your

• academic background, including any research experience and methodological skills;
• plans and goals for study, including intellectual interests and areas of specialization;
• how admission to the Political Science Ph.D. Program at the University of Washington will help you realize your goals;
• how your academic interests fit with the research interests of our faculty.
• You are invited to submit an optional statement, no more than two pages in length.
• Write about your personal history, family background, and other influences on your intellectual development. The statement should address educational, cultural, and economic opportunities and disadvantages that you have experienced, and ways those experiences have affected the development of your special interests, career plans, and future goals. 

Submit a relatively short paper (not to exceed 40 pages) or excerpts from a larger work (e.g., honors thesis) demonstrating your writing and analytic abilities. Your writing sample must be written in English, not in another language with an abstract in English. 

A description of your professional experience, including accomplishments and awards. 

The most effective letters of recommendation will come from faculty who can comment in detail on your intellectual ability and potential for success as a graduate student and scholar. We require three letters, and you may if you wish, include a fourth letter for consideration by the committee. Create your application  to access instructions on how to designate your recommenders. They will be notified of your request for a recommendation and will submit their letters directly to the department. 

Submit an unofficial transcript for each degree earned (AA, undergraduate, and graduate degrees) as well as for any graduate level work completed even if no degree was awarded. We evaluate course performance within the context of the curriculum, school, and time period. We are sensitive to improvement over one's academic career and performance in graduate course work. 2 MG limit for each transcript.

For additional information about transcripts, see the Graduate School's Admissions FAQs .

Note: We reserve the right to request official copies of transcripts from each applicant accepting an offer of admission.

GRE General Test scores are required and  must be sent directly to the university by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).We will not review applications that do not include GRE scores. It is essential that you complete the GRE exam in time for the scores to reach the university by our December 15 th deadline or very soon after this date.

See  ETS's website for testing information, including the option for At Home Testing. Our Institution code is 4854 , and our Department code is 1902 . We do not accept scores that are more than five (5) years old. The ETS Political Science test is not required.

GRE MINIMUM SCORES: GRE scores provide the Admissions Committee with an additional gauge of competitiveness for the specific abilities that are measured by the test. We do not set minimum scores, but most applicants who are admitted to the program have combined verbal and quantitative scores substantially higher than 315 and a cumulative college grade point average greater than 3.4 (B+). As noted above, the Admissions Committee examines the complete set of materials for each applicant in order to identify promising individuals whose scores or grades might not fully represent their potential.

International Applicant Information

International applicants must meet additional requirements. See the Graduate School's International Applicant Information page, especially UW's financial ability requirement (note that all applicants admitted to our program are considered for our funding package ), and their Admissions FAQs .

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate BOTH English language proficiency (see the Graduate School's  Memo 8, Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements ) AND spoken English proficiency (see the additional requirements listed in Memo 15, Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English ).

These are the minimum proficiency scores for admission to our program, but most international applicants who are admitted to our program have significantly higher scores:

English proficiency test scores must be sent directly to the university by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or other agencies. Photocopied score reports are unacceptable. For TOEFL, our Institution code is 4854, and our Department code is 89 .

Official scores should be sent to the university by the deadline (December 15th) or very soon after. Only completed applications will be reviewed.

Our department strongly believes that a diverse graduate student community strengthens our program, benefiting both faculty, fellow graduate students, and undergraduates.  In 2004, we made a collective decision to build in the field of Race and Ethnicity Politics (REP). We now have one of the strongest (and growing) REP faculties in the United States and are the host department of the Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race (WISIR), a research center dedicated to the study of political inequality.

Optional personal statement for admission :  Because varied cultural experiences, education and economic backgrounds contribute to the intellectual and social richness of our program, we encourage applicants to provide an optional personal statement. This statement might include information about family background, influences on your intellectual development, social and economic disadvantages that you have had to overcome, and the ways in which these experiences helped to shape you. See the Personal History Statement for more information.

Graduate student commitment . In 2015, the department’s graduate students created the the Equality Initiative in Political Science (EIPS) which is committed to supporting graduate students of all backgrounds and identities while also foregrounding the voices of marginalized students. Recent activities include:

• An event centered on teaching during election times, where experienced TAs shared tips, resources, and ideas for teaching during contentious political times.
• A mental health survey to gauge how the pandemic was affecting graduate students and to gather information on how the department and EIPS could provide support.
• Virtual socials during the pandemic to bring students together and promote solidarity.
• Brown bag lunch events for graduate students to discuss classism and racism in academia.
• How to navigate aspects of the profession for first-generation students, including the job market, conferences, and developing a professional network.

University Initiatives. The Office of Graduate Student Excellence and Equity (GSEE) provides leadership and advocacy to achieve equitable representation, access and success for graduate students of color at the University of Washington. Additional information about the UW’s many commitments to diversity in teaching, research and the broader community can be found at  Diversity at the UW .

UW Graduate Student Housing Child Care at UW Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP) U-PASS for regional transit- most graduate students qualify for a subsidized pass Graduate and Professional Student Senate

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Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

Our doctoral students are advancing political science as a discipline. They explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that improve the way governments and societies function. As a result, MIT Political Science graduates are sought after for top teaching and research positions in the U.S. and abroad. Read where program alumni are working around the world.

How the PhD program works

The MIT PhD in Political Science requires preparation in two of these major fields:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Models and Methods
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

We recommend that you take a broad array of courses across your two major fields. In some cases, a single course may overlap across the subject matter of both fields. You may not use more than one such course to "double count" for the course distribution requirement. Keep in mind that specific fields may have additional requirements.

You are free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools.

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

You will need two full academic years of work to prepare for the general examinations and to meet other pre-dissertation requirements. Typically, a minimum of eight graduate subjects are required for a PhD.

2. Scope and Methods

This required one-semester seminar for first-year students introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.

You must successfully complete at least one class in empirical research methods.

5. Philosophy

You must successfully complete at least one class in political philosophy.

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

You must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by successfully completing two semesters of intermediate-level coursework or an exam in that language, or you must demonstrate your knowledge of advanced statistics by successfully completing three semesters of coursework in advanced statistics. International students whose native language is not English are not subject to the language requirement.

7. Field research

We encourage you to conduct field research and to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

You must complete an article-length research paper and related workshop in the spring semester of the second year. The second-year paper often develops into a dissertation project.

9. Two examinations

In each of your two elected fields, you must take a general written and oral examination. To prepare for these examinations, you should take at least three courses in each of the two fields, including the field seminar.

10. Doctoral thesis

As a rule, the doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection. Writing the dissertation usually takes a substantially longer time. The thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense. Be sure to consult the MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation as well as the MIT Political Science Thesis Guidelines . Consult the MIT academic calendar to learn the due date for final submission of your defended, signed thesis.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

A Commitment to Excellence

The Ph.D. program in Politics seeks to train students to assume faculty positions at a range of institutions of higher education and supports students pursuing a range of substantive research in the discipline. If you ask graduate students to identify the program’s strengths, they will mention:

• An across-the-board commitment to excellence in research and teaching.
• Respect for a variety of methods and approaches to political research.
• A strong sense of community among both faculty and graduate students.
• Unparalleled institutional support for research, ranging from one of the finest university libraries in the world to abundant resources for data collection, field work and conference travel.

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The Department of Government at Harvard is a world leader in the study of political science, and the department’s faculty covers a wide range of fields and methodologies. The department’s breadth and depth allows you to pursue ground-breaking research on a variety of topics. The doctoral program’s diversity and flexibility enables scholars from all backgrounds and interests to thrive.

In the Department of Government, you will study and do research with the faculty of the department, as well as leading scholars in other Harvard departments and schools, including Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. You have access to unparalleled resources, ranging from the largest university library in the world to the Harvard research computing cluster, to a wide array of centers and institutes associated with the department.

Graduates of the department write dissertations on topics ranging from ancient political theory to the politics of cybersecurity. They go on to jobs at leading academic institutions, companies, government agencies, and non-profits.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Government and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

American Government | Comparative Politics | International Relations | Political Thought and Its History | Quantitative Methods/Formal Theory

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Government .

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and should be a recent scholarly or critical paper, 15 to 25 pages in length.

For the coordinated JD/PhD  in law and political science, applicants must apply separately to each program and indicate in the application to the PhD program that a concurrent application has been submitted to the Harvard Law School.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Required Writing Sample: Required (15-25 pages) iBT TOEFL preferred minimum score: 105 IELTS preferred minimum score: 7.5

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Government

See list of Government faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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School of Arts & Sciences

Department of Political Science

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PhD Admissions

The deadline for applications is January 8, 2024. The application fee is $70. To request a fee waiver or for any questions about the application process, please contact the Department of Political Science by email at [email protected].

How to Apply

For your application, you will need to complete the following items. Your application is complete only when you submit the online application and we receive the other required items.

Online Application

To complete the online application , you will need to identify your recommenders and prepare a personal statement. Three recommenders and the statement are submitted as part of the online application. In the personal statement, you will provide information about yourself, your aims and plans for the future, reasons for choosing graduate study in political science, areas of specific interest, and experiences in the field (300-750 words). You should include the names of specific professors, if any, with whom you especially wish to study.

Diversity Statement

The University of Rochester motto of Meliora—or “ever better”—deeply integrates critical core values into all that we do. These core values of equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability define not only who we are, but also who we hope to become. Based on our motto please share something about your background, lived experiences, or viewpoint(s) that speaks to how you can contribute to your intended field of study, your community, or the University of Rochester to make it “ever better”. The uploaded statement should be no more than 500 words.

Standardized Tests

GRE general test is required. GRE scores should be sent to department code 1902, school code 2928.

English Language Proficiency Policy: All international students are required to provide proof of English language proficiency through the submission of official test scores from one of the following exams. Scores more than two years old from the application deadline are not valid.

• IELTS: University of Rochester, Graduate Studies - AS&E, 500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd, P.O. Box 270401, Rochester, NY 14627
• TOEFL or TOEFL iBt Home Edition: submitted using the code 2928
• Duolingo: students completing the Duolingo exam can select the University of Rochester as the recipient of the scores

The English proficiency test requirement is waived for citizens of the following countries:

• Commonwealth Caribbean Nations
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Virgin Islands

The requirement may also be waived if a student has completed at least three years of postsecondary study in one of the countries listed above or the United States. We reserve the right to require demonstration of English proficiency, even if you have received your degree from one of the above mentioned countries.

Transcripts

You may scan transcripts to the online application. An original transcript will be required upon admission.

Letters of Recommendation

The Department of Political Science requires three letters of recommendation. In filling out the online application, you will be asked for the names of your three recommenders, each of whom will be sent an email with a link giving them instructions on how to submit their letters electronically.

Writing Sample

You may upload a writing sample in the application. This must be a sample of your own original academic writing in English. (Translations are acceptable, provided the translation is your own work.) Please indicate the original purpose of the writing sample, and when and to whom it was submitted.

Curriculum Vitae (optional)

You may also upload a brief resume listing any additional information you believe to be relevant to your application for admission.

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd political science acceptance rate"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Doctoral program statistics.

Use this page to explore summary statistics for research doctoral programs administered by the Graduate School. Methodology and definitions are provided at the bottom of the page.   

For additional graduate statistics, survey results, and career outcomes data, see program metrics .

Methodology and Definitions

Admissions counts.

Applied, admitted and matriculated counts are reported for new, external applications only. Current students who transfer into a different graduate program at Cornell without submitting a new application are not counted here.

Individuals may defer enrollment and/or be admitted to a program that differs from the one to which they originally applied. This can cause admitted and matriculated counts to be higher than application counts in some fields. 

Admission cycles start in the summer and continue through the following spring. For example, the 2020-21 admissions year includes data from summer 2020 through spring 2021. Because these dashboards are updated annually in the fall, the most recent year will not include data from the spring.

Average Admit Rate

Admit rate is the percentage of applicants who were admitted. Highly selective programs tend to have low admit rates. The five year average provides a good indicator of typical admit rates.

Enrollment numbers are derived from the student enrollment snapshot that is captured the sixth week of each fall term. Only students who are enrolled on the census date are counted. Students on an approved leave of absence are not included.

Average Completion Rate

Completion rate is the percentage of entering doctoral students who successfully completed the degree. Completion rates are reported by entering cohort, which is defined by the first term in which a student is enrolled in their doctoral program, regardless of any prior enrollment in a master’s program. The cohorts included here entered their programs seven to twelve years ago, and thus have had adequate time to finish a doctoral degree.

Status of Students in Each Recent Entering Cohort

This graph shows the current status of students who began the doctoral program in each of the last ten academic years. Students listed as completed have received the doctoral degree. Students are considered current in their program if they are still actively pursuing the doctoral degree or are on an approved temporary leave of absence. Students listed as discontinued have either left the university without a degree or switched to a different type of degree program (in many cases a master’s degree).

Time to Degree (TTD)

Time-to-degree degree measures the time in years from the first day of a student’s initial enrollment in their doctoral program to the day of their degree conferral. Time-to-degree measures elapsed time only, not enrolled time. It does not stop and start if a student takes a leave of absence. For Master’s/PhD students, time-to-degree starts when they begin the PhD phase of their studies. If a student was enrolled in a master’s program prior to matriculating in the doctoral program, the separate time in the master’s program is not included. Because of this, time-to-degree may appear shorter in some doctoral programs where it is common to complete a master’s prior to matriculation in the doctoral program.

The median time to degree can be thought of as the “mid-point”, where half of the students completed in a time period that is less than or equal to this value. The median is not affected by extreme values or outliers. 

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Political Science

Degree requirements.

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Political Science

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

Degree Types: PhD

The Political Science PhD Program is designed for students whose primary concern is a mastery of theories, methods of research, and substantive literature of the discipline of political science.

The program reflects an effort to address big questions in politics by combining multiple social science methodologies including quantitative, qualitative, experimental, interpretive methods. Committed to excellence in research and teaching, methodological diversity, and interdisciplinary collaborations, the department offers a stimulating intellectual community that is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity for students and faculty of all backgrounds.

We offer field training in American politics, comparative politics, political theory, international relations, and methods. Our graduate training strengths include:

• Race, Ethnicity and Politics
• Conflict Studies
• Law and Politics
• Public Opinion, Political Communication and Political Participation
• American Political Development
• International Theory
• Comparative Historical Analysis
• Feminist and Gender Studies

Students in this program are also encouraged to participate in TGS’s Interdisciplinary Initiative program. For more information on how you can have a second intellectual “home” outside of your department or program please visit the Interdisciplinary Clusters page .

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Program Statistics

Visit PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Justine Zhao Graduate Program Coordinator

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

Total Units Required: 18

Political Theory students are occasionally exempt from the requirement to take POLI_SCI 403-0 Introduction to Probability and Statistics and POLI_SCI 405-0 Linear Models .

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Research Paper Requirement:  Scholarly paper in first or second year
• Second Field Requirement :  Five courses in a student's second field, or optional qualifying examination
• Examination:  One written qualifying examination in student's first field; optional examination in student's second field
• Prospectus:  Dissertation research design presented during the quarter after passing the qualifying examination
• Final Evaluations:  Oral defense of dissertation
• Other:  Teaching requirement begins in second year in an undergraduate course

Last Updated: September 12, 2023

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Graduate program.

The Department of Political Science at Northwestern offers exceptional resources for the advanced study of politics in its various forms. Committed to excellence in research and teaching, methodological diversity, and interdisciplinary collaborations, the department offers a stimulating intellectual community that is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity for students and faculty of all backgrounds.  Our graduate students benefit from the opportunity to work closely with leading scholars in the field; enjoy access to first-rate libraries on a beautiful lakefront campus next to a world-class city, participate in a variety of research centers and institutes, and enjoy strong support for their research and scholarship – from fieldwork, to methods workshops, to conference travel in the United States and abroad. 

We provide comprehensive training in political science theory and in multiple methods of analysis including quantitative, qualitative, experimental and interpretive methods. Subfield training includes  American politics , comparative politics , international relations , political theory , and methods .

All Northwestern graduate students receive five years of guaranteed funding. We also provide generous support for professional development, including workshops on publishing, grant-writing, dissertation prospectus development, conference participation, work/life balance, and success on the academic and non-academic job markets. 

We have our own experimental laboratory . The Buffett Institute for Global Studies supports working groups and funds graduate student’s preliminary field research. Certificate programs in Comparative-Historical Social Science and Critical Theory offer unique interdisciplinary training opportunities.  Northwestern also offers a social science oriented Masters in Statistics , and dual degrees with Sciences Po and the Faculty of Law at Northwestern University Law School and the University of Copenhagen. The Program of African Studies and Equality, Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS)  and the Institute for Policy Research  greatly enrich our scholarly community.

We have an excellent placement record , with recent graduates accepting positions as assistant professors at Tulane, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, Williams College, Kenyon College, William and Mary, and the University of Montreal.

Learn more about our graduate program

• Program overview Learn about the yearly progression and our PhD program requirements, as well as affiliated programs.
• Courses Find course requirements and key links.
• Apply If interested in applying to our program, learn about the application procedure and admission qualifications.
• Fellowships and grants Discover information about funding available to current graduate students.
• Information for Current Students   Review resources about graduate student life, downloadable forms, and Department policies.
• Information for New Students  
• Biographies of our current graduate students

Graduate Program

Phd requirements.

The Political Science department at UC Berkeley admits students only for the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. program has two major phases: coursework and examinations, and dissertation research and writing. The two phases typically take approximately five or six years (three years to candidacy and two or three for dissertation research and writing).

The coursework and examination phase requires 40 units (typically 10 classes) of graduate-level coursework and competence in three of nine  Subfields . Subfield competence is demonstrated through written exams offered each semester. The Field Exams are typically taken in the student's second and third years of the program. All students must pass one exam in a major subfield (Comparative, American, International Relations, or History of Political Theory). Competency in a second and third subfield may be demonstrated by taking a prescribed series of courses in that field with a combined GPA of 3.5.

The particular sequence of courses that a student takes in preparation for the comprehensive exams is not prescribed. Rather, the faculty assist students with selection of courses that best meet their intellectual and academic interests. There are no formal foreign language or statistics requirements although many students will find that their program of study and dissertation research will require the engagement of particular foreign language or methodology coursework.

When the coursework and examination requirements have been met, the student prepares a prospectus for dissertation research. The student convenes a committee known as the Qualifying Exam (QE) committee. The Qualifying Exam committee advises on the prospectus and examines the student on specific research plans. Berkeley is highly committed to interdisciplinary scholarly engagement and this is codified in the requirement that both the Qualifying Exam committee and the dissertation committee include a faculty member from another department at Berkeley. Engagement with members of the faculty from other departments should commence during the coursework stage so that the advisement and input of the "outside member" is represented in the prospectus.

When sufficient preparation for the proposed research has been demonstrated to the Qualifying Exam committee, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy. It is expected (and for most funding packages, required) that students advance to doctoral candidacy by the end of their third year.

Doctoral candidacy initiates the second phase of the program during which the student normally devotes full attention to the research and writing of the dissertation. The student's dissertation committee is typically comprised of the members of the Qualifying Exam committee although there are sometimes changes in committee membership as the research evolves. The doctorate is awarded when the student submits a satisfactory dissertation to the dissertation committee. A reasonable estimate of the research and writing phase of the program is approximately two to three years although students whose dissertations require more extensive research may take longer to earn their degree.

• Second year
• Sixth year and beyond

The second year is used to further narrow down one's interests and to continue exploring ideas and potential advisors for a dissertation topic. Coursework continues as students prepare for the M.A./Second Year Paper and Field Exam.

Students who plan to continue in the Ph.D. program are expected to engage in advanced topical research leading to a research paper to be completed by the end of the second year, together with any additional coursework appropriate to their topical focus. Three faculty members (one of whom is selected by the student and serves as principal advisor for the paper) will review this paper. This paper, which continuing students will submit at the end of their second year, also serves as the M.A. project.

Completion of a yearlong graduate seminar (Research & Writing 290A and 290B) during the second year is strongly recommended.  Each student taking this course is advised by a faculty advisor external to the course (who will also serve as one reviewer of the second-year paper) as well as the two co-instructors of the seminar. The goal of the seminar is to assist students in preparing a high-quality research paper, which will serve as the M.A./Second-year paper as mentioned above.

All students are reviewed at the end of the second year of study on their continued overall academic performance. This overall evaluation will include GPA, successful completion of all required units, and successful completion of the M.A./Second-year paper. The Graduate Studies Committee will take these factors as well as the rigor of the academic program and the number of incompletes into consideration when determining whether to invite the student to continue in the PhD program.

Students in their second year also usually serve as a Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), which are 20-hour per week positions

During the third year, most students continue to teach as GSIs and complete their coursework in addition to taking their Field Exam. Political Science graduate students must show competency in three Subfield specialties to be eligible to sit for the oral prospectus defense (known formally as the Qualifying Exam). Instead of sitting for three Field Exams, students have the option to "course out" of two field specialties by taking a prescribed set of three-four courses in the Subfield.

Students may sit for the Field Exam as early as the beginning of the second year, but if desired, students may sit for an exam in their second year or in the third year. Field Exams are offered at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. All students are expected to have completed their Field Exam, to have “coursed out” of a two fields, and to have written and defended their dissertation prospectus (passed their Qualifying Exam) by the end of the third year. It is highly recommended (and essential to most funding packages) that students advance to Doctoral Candidacy by the end of the third year. The third year is also when students should begin to apply for extramural fellowships to support their dissertation research.

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College of Arts and Science

Truman School of Government and Public Affairs

Phd in political science, program overview .

Our program is organized into the traditional major subfields of political science (including American politics, public policy/administration, international relations and comparative politics).  Beyond that, we focus on a number of research cores on the cutting edge of political science research including race and ethnic politics, voting behavior, political movements, civil wars, American political institutions, and conflict management.  We offer comprehensive methodological training in quantitative techniques, formal modeling and game theory, and qualitative techniques (such as interviews and archival research).  Students are trained in state-of-the-art methodologies such as experiments, spatial econometrics, and techniques to collect and analyze big data (including automated data collection and text analysis).   We are looking for promising students to help us answer important research questions with the most advanced techniques.  

At Mizzou, we provide opportunities for collaborative research projects with faculty members who are experts in their area.  Our vibrant program  features professors who publish their research in top academic journals and university presses, edit leading journals in the discipline, and teach classes on advanced techniques at international methods institutes.  The result is that our PhD students consistently publish in top academic journals while in graduate school.  Nationally, it is somewhat rare to see students graduate with multiple publications, both solo and co-authored with faculty members; at Mizzou, it is the norm.   

Coursework in our program consists of small seminars, allowing for intensive study of political science concepts and research, close interaction with faculty, and individual attention to student progress. Advised by graduate faculty, students at MU are encouraged to become active scholars capable of conducting independent analysis and research of political and social phenomena. 

Mizzou Political Science maintains a low graduate student to faculty ratio, a commitment to student success, and a high rate of retention and graduation. 

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The COVID pandemic has been extremely hard on students, especially for students from the developing world, rural backgrounds, or from groups that are underrepresented in academia.  The significant disruptions caused by lockdowns, health issues, and local ordinances mean that it may be difficult to prepare for the GRE exam, or even travel to the testing facility.  In the interests of fairness, we have removed this requirement for applicants for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle.  We hope that this small step makes it easier for a diverse group of students to reach their goals at Mizzou.  

We don’t have minimum scores for the GRE.  As for the GRE averages, the above figure shows admitted students from a previous application cycle (circled) across quantitative and verbal percentiles (50th, 75th and 95th percentiles).  As you can see, higher GRE scores improve your chances of being admitted.  At the same time, it is not a perfect relationship.  Unlike other top schools, we prefer to take a comprehensive or holistic approach to evaluating applicants.  

Keep in mind that we have waived the GRE requirement for applicants for Fall 2023, so it your choice as to whether to provide GRE scores or not. 

The Truman School strives to be a diverse and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to pursue their research interests in vibrant intellectual community.  As such, we take a holistic approach to  admissions .  This means that we look for students with unique backgrounds, exceptional academic performance, research interests that overlap those of our faculty, strong letters of recommendation, and experience conducting political science research.  Exceptional performance in one area could certainly compensate for less experience in another. 

More specifically, the best personal statements are those that a) describe your post-PhD employment goals, b) lay out your skills and tools—such as experience with data analysis, statistical software, language skills, and conducting independent research—that will help you succeed in graduate school, and c) show why Mizzou’s graduate program appeals to you—this includes noting how your research interests overlap with those of our faculty. 

No, there is no need to secure a professor’s approval before noting in the personal statement that you would like to work with them.  If you would like to chat with a particular professor, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Laron Williams, and he would be happy to establish the connection and get the conversation going. 

While having an MA helps demonstrate that you are familiar with the intellectual demands of graduate school, it is not a requirement for admission.  In fact, the majority of our PhD students choose to begin the program immediately after graduating from their undergraduate institution.  In short, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds: applying straight from undergrad, after pursuing an MA, and mid-career applicants. 

All Ph.D. students have graduate assistantships and receive a tuition waiver and a health insurance subsidy.  Remaining expenses include course fees which—depending on the number of credit hours—typically do not exceed $1,000 a semester.  

Our graduate student stipends are highly competitive (over $18,000) and quite generous when one factors in the low cost-of-living of Columbia ( example ).  Historically, our students have won multiple university fellowships that provide additional funding (often $11,000-16,000). 

The Truman School is also unique in guaranteeing funding for the five years it takes students to complete their PhD requirements, rather than make acquiring funding a competition between students.  We have found that our approach reduces student anxiety about their economic situation.  When students don’t compete with each other for their funding, they are free to build lasting friendships and connections.      

Graduate assistants typically work 20 hours a week as either a teaching assistant or a research assistant.  Graduate students in RA positions are paired with faculty members with similar research interests, so promising research assistantships often evolve into full-fledged co-authored projects.  Teaching assistant duties vary according to the class, sometimes involving mostly grading while other times involving leading discussion sections. We also have opportunities for students interested in applied policy research to work as an RA with the  Institute of Public Policy .   

Students are allocated to either TA or RA positions based on a mixture of departmental need and the strengths and preferences of students.  

Most of our PhD alumni work in academia as professors, so a critical part of the graduate training at Mizzou revolves around teaching.  The ideal sequence is for students to serve as teaching assistants in substantive courses for a few semesters and then become lab instructors.  As a lab instructor, TAs build teaching experience by providing one-on-one and small group instruction to a lab.  We also encourage students to pursue guest lecturing opportunities so that they can strengthen their teaching skills.  Moreover, our students have taken advantage of the additional training offered by the  Teaching for Learning Center  and the  Minor in College Teaching . 

Advanced graduate students are allowed to take the reins and teach their own independent courses.  The goal is for our graduates to have a diverse teaching portfolio of classes so that they can hit the ground running in their first post-graduation academic job.    

Yes!  The professors in the Truman School believe that a critical part of training graduate students is collaborating with them on  research projects .  So much of the research process can only be learned by getting your hands dirty, brainstorming with coauthors, and writing on interests that you share with faculty.  Graduate education is certainly less rewarding if you don’t have these experiences.  

These collaborative opportunities arise organically, and often come out of a research assistantship position or as the result of a research paper for a graduate course.  The result is that the vast majority of students go on the academic job market with multiple publications—often with faculty and other graduate students as coauthors—which places them in a stronger competitive position than their peers.  Nationally, it is somewhat rare for graduate students to have multiple publications; at Mizzou, it’s the norm. 

We expect our students to produce high-quality, innovative political science research, so we provide the funds that help them along the way.  We group these funds into three categories: 

• All students receive  funding  to attend and present at academic conferences.  Academic conferences are a great way to network with others who share your passions, stay current on cutting-edge research, and receive feedback on your own research projects.  We encourage students to begin attending smaller or regional conferences early on so that they are comfortable with presenting research at national conferences later on in the program.  
• For some students, their research and teaching interests require additional training.  This could include immersive language training in other countries or classes on advanced methodological topics.  For example, in the past few years, we have funded students to receive additional training on Political Psychology, qualitative methods, and a variety of quantitative methods at American and international summer schools.  
• During the research process, students often discover that their project requires data that has never been collected before.  Whether the data comes from fieldwork in other countries, through experiments, or surveys, we are happy to provide small grants to get the ball rolling. 

Students choose to spend their summers in a variety of ways, whether it is taking a course or two, doing fieldwork or original data collection, gaining language training in an immersive environment, or attending summer schools in methodologies.  These decisions are made by the student in consultation with their advisor and committee. 

Departmental assistantships are based on 10-month appointments (you can spread payments over 12 months), but there are limited opportunities for 1- to 2-month summer research assistantships.  Any student with a departmental assistantship receives a tuition waiver for summer classes. 

Full-time PhD students take three classes a week and each class meets for 2.5 hours once a week.  We make sure that these graduate courses don’t conflict with the undergraduate courses related to your teaching assistantship.  

Students select a primary and a secondary field out of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Public Policy/Public Administration.  Students must take four classes from their primary field, three from their secondary field, and four methods classes.  Besides that, we encourage students to take classes outside of their two fields and outside of the Truman School.  For more information on these courses—as well as available syllabi— click here . 

Here is a rough outline of the 2.5 years of coursework. 

Fall  Methods Core I, Primary Core, Secondary Core 

Spring  Methods Core II, Substantive (Primary), Substantive (Secondary) 

Fall  Methods, Substantive (Primary), Elective from outside TSGPA 

Spring  Methods, Substantive (Primary), Substantive (Secondary) 

Fall  Methods, Core, Substantive (Primary) 

Spring  Comprehensive Examinations and Dissertation Proposal Defense 

Fall  Dissertation Research 

Spring  Dissertation Research 

Fall   Dissertation Research and Job Market 

Core Courses:  each field has a broad seminar that introduces the fundamental topics and big questions in that field: Public Policy, Introduction to International Relations, and Introduction to Comparative Politics.  American Politics offers two core courses: American Political Behavior and American Political Institutions. 

Methods Courses:  each PhD student must take at least 13 hours of advanced methods courses.  The two core courses include Introductory Statistics for Political Science (and its 1-hour lab) in the Fall of Year 1, and Linear Models in Politics in the Spring of Year 2.  After that, students can take two other 3-hour courses on topics including Maximum Likelihood Estimation, Time Series Analysis, Formal Models, and Qualitative Research Methods.  Students are also encouraged to pursue methods training from other departments at Mizzou and at summer methods schools. 

Substantive Courses:  each field offers at least one substantive course per semester on an important topic in that field.  Click on this  link  to see the substantive courses we’ve offered in the last few years.   

Elective:  students are free to take classes outside of the Truman School at Mizzou.  Oftentimes students will want to gain expertise or learn some methodological skill that is found outside of political science.  In the past, students have taken courses in Black Studies, Statistics, Economics, Philosophy, Communications, and Sociology, to name a few. 

Comprehensive Examinations:  in the Spring of Year 3, students take comprehensive examinations in both their primary and secondary fields.  The examinations take place over two days (one for each field) and assess whether students understand the foundational research on big questions in their field.  After passing comprehensive examinations, students start writing their dissertation proposal. 

The Graduate Association of Political Scientists ( GAPS ) is the student organization for graduate students involved in political science degree programs.  It hosts monthly meetings with informational sessions, seminars on health and wellness, professional development activities, and social activities. 

GAPS also runs the Truman School’s mentoring program, which connects all first-year students with an advanced student in the program with similar research interests.  The mentors provide advice and guidance about how to navigate the PhD program.  We have found that this eases the transition to full-time graduate student and improves student retention. 

Since we recruit students from diverse backgrounds, there is considerable variance in students’ previous academic experiences.  To help the transition from undergraduate education (or full-time employment) to a PhD program, we provide a comprehensive professional development program.  The goal is to train students on all the tools and skills they’ll need to make the most out of the PhD program.  The professional development program is made up of three main components: 

• Boot camp :  This 3-hour graduate class (POLS 9010: Research Design and Analysis) is offered immediately prior to the start of the fall semester and is required for all first-year PhD students.  The primary objective of the course is to make sure that all students have the necessary skills to succeed in the first year of the program, regardless of their prior training or academic experiences.  The class provides a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics and probability theory so that students have the knowledge required for the methods sequence.  Other topics covered include professionalization, writing for a political science audience, the typesetting program LaTeX, and an introduction to Stata.  
• Methods workshops : 3-4 times a semester the Truman School offers a 2- or 3-hour methods workshop for graduate students.  The workshops focus on a topic that is not covered in our graduate methods sequence, but is useful for students wanting to produce high-quality research.  While these classes are typically taught by Mizzou faculty, we are happy to give advanced graduate students the opportunity to teach their peers in their area of expertise.  Over the last four years there have been almost 30 different workshops, ranging from Race and Ethnicity to Python, to Text Analysis and Network Analysis. 
• Mini-conferences : Presenting at academic conferences is a critical part of success in graduate school.  Of course, some people might be stressed at the thought of finishing their paper, producing their presentation, and presenting it in front of strangers.  We get it, as we were students at one point too.  To help our students become more comfortable with academic conferences, we host a number of mini-conferences through the year.  These mini-conferences typically take place about a month before a major political science conference and they give students the opportunity to practice presenting and receive feedback before they attend the conference.  We have found that presenting the project in a low-stress environment not only improves the overall research quality, but also puts students in the best chance to succeed. 

Degree Options 

Doctoral students identify a primary and a secondary field among four areas of study offered in the Political Science: 

• American Politics 
• Comparative Politics 
• International Relations 
• Public Policy and Administration 

The PhD program of study consists of 45 hours of graduate course work, including: 

• 12 hours in a primary field of study 
• 9 hours in a secondary field of study 
• 13 hours in methodology 

Up to 24 hours of courses from a student's master's program may be counted toward the doctoral degree, at the discretion of the student's doctoral committee. The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 hours of course credit including reading and research hours. 

Students typically take comprehensive exams in the spring of the third year. After passing the comprehensive examination, students work on independent research and a dissertation under the advisement of a doctoral committee.   

PhD Placement 

Our assistance to students doesn’t end when the student gets their PhD.  Each student pursuing a job on the academic job market goes through the placement program, where we review job market materials, discuss strategy, and offer interview prep.  We also offer seminars on how to succeed in non-academic careers, and have placed recent graduates in all levels of government, think tanks, and the private sector. 

The Truman School is extremely proud of its recent placement efforts (see below). In addition to placing students in tenure-track professor positions in research-dominated universities, we have an excellent track record in students gaining employment at small state universities and liberal arts colleges.  Professors in the latter type of universities can engage in their teaching passions while still having the opportunity to conduct research. 

Tenure-track Assistant Professor Placement Institutions: 

• Knox College
• Anderson University
• University of Louisiana-Lafayette
• Luther College
• Mount St. Mary's University
• Texas Tech University
• University of Macau
• University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
• Lincoln University
• Baylor University
• State University of New York—Geneseo 
• University of South Carolina 
• Arkansas State University 
• University of Stavanger (Norway) 
• Georgia Southern University 
• University of Reading (UK) 
• University of South Carolina—Aiken 
• University of York (UK) 

Post-Doctoral Fellowships Placement Institutions: 

• Stanford University
• University of Kentucky
• Dartmouth College
• Korea University
• University of Georgia
• Ohio State University
• University of Gothenburg 
• Arizona State University 
• University of Copenhagen 
• Columbia University
• Vanderbilt University

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Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. program in politics.

The Ph.D. program in Politics is an intellectually vibrant home for students interested in pursuing academic careers focused on the analytically rigorous study of politics. The program offers a wide range of opportunities to learn from and work with leading scholars in American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Economy, International Relations, Political Theory, and Methodology, through substantive and methods seminars, research workshops, closely supervised research projects, and scholarly collaborations that often extend well past the end of graduate training.

Our program is unusual in its international diversity. Almost 70% of our current students come from places outside the U.S., including from countries as far-flung as Benin, Korea, Chile, China, Mexico, Russia, and Italy – just to take some examples.

Our job placement record is one of the most successful in the discipline. Recent placements include tenure-track appointments at Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Rochester, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Southern California, UCSD, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, ITAM, Texas 2 A&M, Emory, Vanderbilt and other leading research universities, and postdoctoral appointments at Princeton, LSE, the Harris School, UCSD, IAS-Toulouse, and others.

This Handbook , which was put together with invaluable help from our Ph.D. program staff, lays out some details of the expectations and requirements of the program and provides a guide for students and faculty to various logistical details related to the doctoral training in the Department.

Gwyneth McClendon Associate Professor of Politics Director of Graduate Studies

For Students and Faculty

The program is summarized by the Politics Doctoral Program Handbook . The Spring 2024 Course Schedule has now been published. Additional information for current students and faculty, including the workshop sign-up sheet and forms, can be found on the Ph.D. program Google site .

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Our PhD in Political Science covers four fields: American government, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. The curriculum introduces students to all four fields, though each student will concentrate on a primary and secondary field.

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The curriculum introduces students to all four fields: American government, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy and additionally, develops their research skills through a series of interdisciplinary methodology courses.

Our students learn how to develop and conduct ground-breaking research in their own chosen areas of specialty. They master the relevant literature and engage with a range of theories central to political processes, institutions, actors, and ideas in the core scholarly areas of political science. They also have the opportunity to develop expertise in a range of methods from archival research and interviews to statistical analysis and machine learning.

Learn more about the PhD program in Political Science from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

• All doctoral students receive a five-year stipend graduate assistantship
• “PoliTea” – doctoral student-led professional development sessions, often in collaboration with departmental faculty, to enhance student publishing, research and teaching
• Departmental and University funding is available for doctoral students’ participation in professional conferences and other skills training programs in the U.S. and abroad
• Opportunities for students to participate in internships, field research, and other experiential learning activities

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

Tenure Track: • Bentley University • Beloit College • Simmons University

Non-Tenure Track: • Emmanuel College • Merrimack College • Northeastern University

Postdocs and Research: • Center for Policy Research • The Fletcher School at Tufts University • Wesleyan University

Other Opportunities: • Journal Editor of International Journal of Urban and Regional Research • US Congress

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Personal statement
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
• English proficiency for international applicants
• Three letters of recommendation
• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – Optional
• Writing sample

Admission deadline for Fall term: December 1

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Political Science and International Relations: Ph.D.

The Department of Political Science and International Relations currently offers a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree, which consists of coursework during the first six semesters followed by dissertation research and writing. Students earn an M.A. as part of their Ph.D.​ studies. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) at the time of matriculation to be eligible to apply to the Ph.D. program. The Department does not currently offer a terminal M.A. degree. The Ph.D. program is a 57-credit program.

Graduate study in the Department is organized around four major subfields within the discipline of Political Science: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Ph.D. students are required to pick one of these major subfields within the discipline as their primary field and a second subfield as their secondary field. In addition to the four major subfields, students can choose Methods as their secondary field.

Application Deadlines

The  2023-2024  UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1028 .

All admitted PhD students receive a 9-month stipend and full tuition scholarship for 5 years.

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PhD in Political Science

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PhD Political Science (On-Campus)

Dive deeply into US and global politics. Learn empirical methods that allow you to produce meaningful research with profound impact. Prepare yourself for university-level teaching.

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At the Heart of Policy and Politics

The PhD in Political Science at the School of Public Affairs draws from the breadth and depth of intellectual resources within the Department of Government and across American University, providing our students with rigorous substantive and methodological training. Students work closely with prominent scholars who have made major contributions to academic research and national and global policy via cutting-edge research and professional activities.

Our students organize their programs around a choice of three fields of study. For their primary and secondary fields, students specialize in American politics, comparative politics, or political methodology. Students may also take courses in other departments and schools within the university and even at other Washington, DC-area universities.

Learn and Make Professional Connections

In addition to their coursework, doctoral students are introduced into the discipline and make professional connections through a variety of research workshops in the Department of Government and the School of Public Affairs. They also benefit from exposure to activities, conferences, and research opportunities offered by the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies , the Women & Politics Institute , the Center for Data Science , and the Center for Environmental Policy , all of which are directed by Department of Government faculty.

Publish and Present

We encourage graduate students to present research papers at major academic conferences, co-author papers with faculty members, publish in top journals, and seek prestigious awards to fund their research. All students receive a yearly stipend to attend research conferences.

Become an Expert

Our students wield multiple skills at graduation. They have already produced original research and taught classes, and are prepared for careers in academia and beyond.

The PhD degree in Political Science requires 36 credit hours of approved graduate work. Most students complete 12 credits in their primary field of study, 12 credits in research design and methodology, 6 credits in their secondary field of study, and 6 credits of electives, which they choose in consultation with their advisor.

As work on the dissertation project progresses, students register for dissertation credit to maintain active status. They take  Doctoral Continuing Enrollment (GOVT-898)  during the third year of study and  Doctoral Dissertation (GOVT-899)  after their dissertation proposal is approved.

A minimum grade point average of 3.20 in all coursework is required to remain in good standing and to earn the degree. Full-time status is considered to be nine credit hours per semester. Students are expected to complete the degree in four to five years.

Students advance to PhD candidacy by successfully completing all required courses, passing a qualifier paper and two written comprehensive exams (one in each of their fields of study), and defending their dissertation proposal. To earn the degree, students must complete the dissertation and pass a final oral defense of the dissertation.

More information about course requirements can be found here .

For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or  [email protected] .

Applicants are considered and students admitted for the fall semester only. Please refer to the  application deadlines  page for the deadline to apply. 

While previous academic or professional work in politics or political science is not required, applicants need to demonstrate a serious commitment to a career in this field. The personal statement on reasons for pursuing graduate study in the program is essential, along with the other required application materials .

We accept PhD applicants for full-time study only. Students must be funded either by the School of Public Affairs or by an external sponsoring organization (self-funding is not permitted for newly admitted doctoral students).

For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or [email protected] .

The PhD in Political Science is a 36-credit-hour program. To estimate the cost of tuition, please see the  current cost per credit hour  for graduate students.

Unless applicants expect to be funded through a reliable external source, they must request consideration for funding on their application. Upon acceptance into the program, students selected for AU funding are granted a fellowship with full funding for four years of study, contingent on maintaining satisfactory progress each year. Some limited funding is available on a competitive basis for a fifth year of study.

As a requirement for the fellowship, students work 20 hours a week with a faculty member. If possible, our graduate office will assign students to faculty members with expertise in their areas of research interest. 

Students must advance to candidacy by the end of their third year of study to continue receiving funding.

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Alumni updates – May 2024

Jennifer Kammerud (MA ’98) helped to publish an Educator Preparation and Workforce Analysis Report , which provides an overview of the educator workforce in Wisconsin and identifies retention as the primary  reason Wisconsin has an educator shortage. Kammerud serves as director of the Licensing, Educator Development and Advancement Team in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Ken Smith (MPA ’18) started a new position as senior land use specialist at Waukesha County. Previously, Smith worked as a planner at the City of Glendale (Milwaukee County). He received an MPA and a master of science in urban and regional planning from UW–Madison in 2018.

Samuel Epstein (certificate in public policy ’21) will start a master’s program in security studies at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service this fall. Epstein graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and certificates in public policy, management and human resources, and history. He works as a senior consultant and defense congressional analyst at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Brennan Gallagher (certificate in public policy ’22) will join Georgetown University’s Master in Public Policy/Master of Business Administration program in the fall. Gallagher, who grew up in Manhattan, has worked in Aon’s consulting practice in London since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and certificates in public policy and criminal justice in 2022.

Dylan Helmenstine (MPA ’22) was elected to the Black Earth village board as a trustee. Helmenstine works as a health care rate analyst in the Bureau of Rate Setting, Division of Medicaid Services at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, where he conducts analysis and program improvement for the state’s Medicaid waiver program.

Maša Bezbradica (certificate in public policy ’23) will start a master’s program in urban planning and policy design at the Politecnico di Milano. Bezbradica received a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and a certificate in public policy in 2023.

Ciboney Reglos (certificate in health policy ’24) received the 2024 College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Senior Award, which recognizes students for their scholastic performance, leadership, and service. Reglos graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in global health and a certificate in health policy.

Sophia Schoenfeld (certificate in health policy ’24 ) received the 2024 College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Senior Award, which recognizes students for their scholastic performance, leadership, and service. Schoenfeld graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a certificate in health policy.

Haoyan (Ken) Wang (MIPA ’24) will start a master’s program in committees on international relations at the University of Chicago. He has also been awarded a Midway Research Scholarship. Wang graduated with bachelor’s degrees in political science, international studies, and journalism with certificates in German, public policy, and European studies in 2023. He completed his MIPA degree from the La Follette School in May 2024. While at UW, Wang worked as an editorial intern at Ballotpedia, deputy editor in chief at The Wisconsin International Review, and as a communications and multimedia intern at the UW–Madison Language Institute.

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Janabel Xia: Algorithms, dance rhythms, and the drive to succeed

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Senior math major Janabel Xia is a study of a person in constant motion.

When she isn’t sorting algorithms and improving traffic control systems for driverless vehicles, she’s dancing as a member of at least four dance clubs. She’s joined several social justice organizations, worked on cryptography and web authentication technology, and created a polling app that allows users to vote anonymously.

In her final semester, she’s putting the pedal to the metal, with a green light to lessen the carbon footprint of urban transportation by using sensors at traffic light intersections.

First steps

Growing up in Lexington, Massachusetts, Janabel has been competing on math teams since elementary school. On her math team, which met early mornings before the start of school, she discovered a love of problem-solving that challenged her more than her classroom “plug-and-chug exercises.”

At Lexington High School, she was math team captain, a two-time Math Olympiad attendee, and a silver medalist for Team USA at the  European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad.

As a math major, she studies combinatorics and theoretical computer science, including theoretical and applied cryptography. In her sophomore year, she was a researcher in the Cryptography and Information Security Group at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, where she conducted cryptanalysis research under Professor  Vinod Vaikuntanathan .

Part of her interests in cryptography stem from the beauty of the underlying mathematics itself — the field feels like clever engineering with mathematical tools. But another part of her interest in cryptography stems from its political dimensions, including its potential to fundamentally change existing power structures and governance. Xia and students at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University created  zkPoll , a private polling app written with the Circom programming language, that allows users to create polls for specific sets of people, while generating a zero-knowledge proof that keeps personal information hidden to decrease negative voting influences from public perception.

Her participation in the PKG Center’s  Active Community Engagement Freshman Pre-Orientation Program introduced her to local community organizations focusing on food security, housing for formerly incarcerated individuals, and access to health care. She is also part of  Reading for Revolution , a student book club that discusses race, class, and working-class movements within MIT and the Greater Boston area.

Xia’s educational journey led to her ongoing pursuit of combining mathematical and computational methods in areas adjacent to urban planning.  “When I realized how much planning was concerned with social justice as it was concerned with design, I became more attracted to the field.”

Going on autopilot

She took classes with the  Department of Urban Studies and Planning and is currently working on an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) project with Professor Cathy Wu in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.

Recent work on eco-driving by Wu and doctoral student  Vindula Jayawardana investigated semi-autonomous vehicles that communicate with sensors localized at traffic intersections, which in theory could reduce carbon emissions by up to 21 percent.

Xia aims to optimize the implementation scheme for these sensors at traffic intersections, considering a graded scheme where perhaps only 20 percent of all sensors are initially installed, and more sensors get added in waves. She wants to maximize the emission reduction rates at each step of the process, as well as ensure there is no unnecessary installation and de-installation of such sensors.  

Dance numbers

Meanwhile, Xia has been a member of MIT’s  Fixation ,  Ridonkulous , and MissBehavior groups, and as a traditional Chinese dance choreographer for the  MIT Asian Dance Team . 

A dancer since she was 3, Xia started with Chinese traditional dance, and later added ballet and jazz. Because she is as much of a dancer as a researcher, she has figured out how to make her schedule work.

“Production weeks are always madness, with dancers running straight from class to dress rehearsals and shows all evening and coming back early next morning to take down lights and roll up marley [material that covers the stage floor],” she says. “As busy as it keeps me, I couldn’t have survived MIT without dance. I love the discipline, creativity, and most importantly the teamwork that dance demands of us. I really love the dance community here with my whole heart. These friends have inspired me and given me the love to power me through MIT.”

Xia lives with her fellow Dance Team members at the off-campus  Women's Independent Living Group (WILG).  “I really value WILG's culture of independence, both in lifestyle — cooking, cleaning up after yourself, managing house facilities, etc. — and thought — questioning norms, staying away from status games, finding new passions.”

In addition to her UROP, she’s wrapping up some graduation requirements, finishing up a research paper on  sorting algorithms from her summer at the University of Minnesota Duluth Research Experience for Undergraduates in combinatorics, and deciding between PhD programs in math and computer science.  

“My biggest goal right now is to figure out how to combine my interests in mathematics and urban studies, and more broadly connect technical perspectives with human-centered work in a way that feels right to me,” she says.

“Overall, MIT has given me so many avenues to explore that I would have never thought about before coming here, for which I’m infinitely grateful. Every time I find something new, it’s hard for me not to find it cool. There’s just so much out there to learn about. While it can feel overwhelming at times, I hope to continue that learning and exploration for the rest of my life.”

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Cool Course—Design and Development: Couture/Culture

A mid-19th century advertisement. Shankland's American fashions, ca. 1849. [Philadelphia: John R. Shankland]. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.

For many, the fashion world is synonymous with venerable spectacles such as Fashion Week, the Met Gala, and the pages of Vogue . But in recent years, journalists and cultural commentators have broadened conversations about the industry to include questions about  sustainability , labor , and gender inequality .

For more than a decade, an undergraduate Global Liberal Studies and College of Arts and Science course, “Couture/Culture: Fashion and Globalization,” has taken that kind of multi-faceted approach to examine larger issues through fashion.

The class, taught by Liberal Studies Clinical Professor  Jessamyn Hatcher  and Arts & Science Professor  Thuy Linh Tu , considers the industry’s past and present in order to better understand broader commercial, cultural, and political processes.

These include the role of department stores in racial integration and how social media users work to spot knockoff fashion and design theft—topics that are explored in the syllabus through works such as  Working Girls: Sex, Taste, and Reform in the Garment Trades, 1880-1919  and  Threads: Gender, Labor, and Power in the Global Apparel Industry , guest speakers from the design industry, and visits to local exhibitions.

Designer and fashion executive Liz Claiborne, right. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Bernard Gotfryd.

“Using fashion as a lens to examine histories of capitalism and colonialism encourages students to recognize how these have shaped clothing production, consumption, waste, and reuse in the present,” Tu says. “This helps students not only broaden their understanding of the industry, but arms them with ways to conceive of alternatives to our existing social and economic systems.”

Liberal Studies Clinical Professor Jessamyn Hatcher, left, and Thuy Linh Tu, a professor in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, react to their students' fashion revival projects. Photo by Tracey Friedman.

The semester culminates with a group project in which students, working in teams, identify a social problem illuminated in a specific component of the fashion system by tracing the historical roots of this problem and then developing a future-focused remedy.

For another assignment, a “textile revival workshop,” students “revive” each other’s garments. After receiving an article of clothing or similar item from a classmate, each student performs a “ fashion hack ” to transform the piece, guided by the owner’s recounting of its history and why the owner would like it revived. Should it serve a new purpose? Or be made more durable to preserve its sentimental value?

“We dedicate a great deal of time in this class discussing the global garment industry and the labor it takes to produce the clothes we wear,” Hatcher explains. “But students might not have ever worked on a garment themselves—or know the difference between a knit and a woven fabric. It becomes important when, for instance, we are trying to puncture the myth that sewing is ‘unskilled labor’ or that garment workers are not ‘creative’ for students to see just how much skill, creativity, and time it takes to perform even simple transformations.”

Photo by Tracey Friedman.

Among this spring’s revivals were a white tank top that was renovated using special leather paints (which bond more effectively to fabrics than do acrylic paints) to add a hand-painted lily in the middle (pictured above at right) and an Ariana Grande “Thank U, Next” sweatshirt altered in ways that randomized the letters, thereby turning concert swag into conceptual art (pictured below).

“Giving students the chance to experiment with creative methods to extend, support, or imagine strategies to positively impact the social and environmental costs of fashion production, distribution, consumption, use, and disposal, even if in small but meaningful ways, is vital to the learning process,” Hatcher says. “We want the students to explore the possibilities, but also the limitations, of projects like the textile revival workshop to enact change.”