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PhD in Political Science

The Ph.D. in Political Science program  prepares students  to be outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and U.S. and international institutions. Working in small classes and with experienced faculty mentors, doctoral students construct a program around a major and minor field of study.

Recent dissertation topics have spanned women's organizations and the partisan gender gap, judicial politics in the Middle East, media freedom in Turkey, social justice in the corporate world, and coercive kidnappings in violent political organizations. Our students present their research at conferences around the country, earn awards and prestigious research grants for their scholarship, and publish articles in major journals, such as International Security, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, and Journal of Politics.

Funding is guaranteed for five years, conditional on adequate progress.

Admissions & Requirements

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Join the Graduate Programs Open House: October 21–November 1

Registration is now open for GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) Graduate Programs Open House! The event features program-specific information sessions and opportunities to interact with current graduate students, faculty and our admissions team.

The Political Science Department will host virtual information sessions for prospective graduate students on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. EDT. Attendees will receive an application fee waiver.

Registration and Details

The deadline for our MA program is April 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 admission. Our next PhD application deadline is Dec. 15, 2024, for Fall 2025 admission. If you have questions, please contact the Department Administrator by email: [email protected] .

Major and Minor Fields

Doctoral students choose both a major and minor field of study. Any of the major fields is also an option for a minor.

Major Fields

• American Politics
• International Relations
• Comparative Politics

Minor Fields

• Political Theory
• Public Policy
• Research Methods

Learn About Research by Field

Course Requirements 

Additional requirements

In addition to required coursework, program requirements consists of two comprehensive examinations covering a primary and supporting field, an original research paper, and a dissertation demonstrating the capacity to undertake original and significant research. The research paper, to be completed by the second year in the program, must reflect the student's ability to conduct original research. Students prepare for the comprehensive exams by taking at least five courses in their primary field and at least four courses in their supporting field, selected according to departmental guidelines. Three primary fields are available: American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. In addition, political theory, public policy, and research methodology are available as supporting fields. Petitions for a self-designed minor field (e.g., political communications) composed primarily of courses not offered by the established fields can be jointly proposed by students and faculty. All students must complete a sequence of courses in research methodology comprising PSC 8101 , PSC 8108 , and PSC 8109 . 

A recommendation to the Dean for Admissions to candidacy, or the dissertation research stage, will be considered upon satisfactory completion of all coursework, research paper, field examinations, and successful defense of the dissertation prospectus. Students must pass their primary field examination with a satisfactory pass or above and must pass their supporting field examination with a bare pass or above in order to be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy. Admission to candidacy is permitted only if the student’s performance on the examinations and in the coursework gives a good indication of success in the second unit. Passing the field examinations does not in itself ensure admission to candidacy.

The dissertation prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, which all faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend. The full dissertation must be similarly defended. A dual degree program enables students to earn the master of public policy along with the PhD in the field of political science.

Political Science, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences.

The Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science is known for its strength in theory and in innovative and trans-disciplinary approaches to uncovering new knowledge, and the program of doctoral study draws on these strengths to provide rigorous training. Our program is designed for highly qualified, intellectually curious, and creative graduate students who can benefit by learning from and contributing to this community of scholars.

Doctoral students develop in-depth knowledge of a major field and a minor field (or two major fields), chosen from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, law and politics, and political theory. In addition, doctoral students may complete a certificate in comparative racial politics.

Students have opportunities to work closely with faculty and to pursue independent research, and faculty and doctoral students benefit from strong connections with colleagues in other social science and humanities disciplines and opportunities to collaborate with them.

The preparation of the next generation of scholars in the field of political science is a key part of the Johns Hopkins political science department faculty's commitment to research and advancing the understanding of politics. The doctoral program reflects the distinctive strengths of the department's cross-cutting intellectual orientations (encompassing the themes of power and inequality, identities and allegiances, agency and structure, and borders and flows), realized in faculty and PhD student research and teaching.

The department and Krieger School of Arts and Sciences provide opportunities for developing teaching and other career-related skills.

Financial Support

The department ordinarily provides financial aid to all students admitted to the graduate program unless they hold fellowships from sources outside the university. Departmental fellowships cover full tuition and an annual stipend. Assuming satisfactory progress toward the PhD, students can normally expect to receive funding for five years. Teaching experience is regarded as an important part of the graduate program, and graduate students are required to teach during their program. More details are available in the handbook.

Admission Requirements

The Department of Political Science admits approximately 7-9 new graduate students each year, selected from approximately 200 applications. 

The deadline for application for admission to graduate study and the award of financial assistance is December 15 (most years). Decisions are made exclusively in late February or early March and announced by March 15.

A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) is required for application.  Inclusion of a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is optional.  Each applicant must have three letters of recommendation.  Students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL examinations or provide other evidence of fluency in English (such as a degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English).  A broad background in the liberal arts and sciences is preferred.

More information on applying can be found at  http://grad.jhu.edu/apply/application-process/ .

All applications should be submitted online.

We recognize that it can be financially burdensome to relocate to a new city to attend a Ph.D. program.  Students who are accepted to Ph.D. programs at JHU can apply to receive a $1,500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to JHU.  These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to relocate to JHU for their Ph.D. program.  This is not a merit-based grant.  Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.

Program Requirements  

The requirements for the PhD in political science are divided between those that must be satisfied by all candidates for that degree and those particular to the student's major and minor fields.

Department-wide Requirements

All candidates for the PhD must satisfy the following requirements:

Course Requirements

• To fulfill the requirements for the PhD in Political Science students must complete 12 courses at the 600-level with a grade of B or better.
• Of these 12 courses, eight must be graduate-level (600-level) courses taken in the Political Science Department.
• No more than two of these eight courses (600-level) may be Independent Studies.
• If a graduate student is interested in taking an undergraduate-level course, the student must make arrangements to take a graduate-level Independent Study with the professor teaching that course. (NB: As noted above, a student may take no more than two Independent Studies for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD).
• A graduate student may take no more than one graduate-level course at another division of Johns Hopkins University (i.e. SAIS, Public Health, etc.) for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD in Political Science.
• Students may make a formal request to the DGS to have up to two graduate-level courses taken at another institution count for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD in Political Science at JHU.

Foreign Language Requirement

All students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement can be fulfilled as follows:

• Demonstrate fluency in a foreign language (granted automatically for students whose first language is not English).
• Complete four semesters of college-level foreign language instruction.
• Pass a translation exam.
• Earn a degree from a University where instruction is not in English.
• With a degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is a language other than English.
• Place into a third-year foreign language course through online placement tests (see GRLL website).

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

Students are required, at a minimum, to take comprehensive exams in one major field and one minor field. Students may also elect to take two major exams or a major exam and two minor exams (one of which may be outside the Department of Political Science).

Faculty members in the field write and evaluate the exams and determine the format. Major field comprehensive exams take place over two days (8 hours per day); minor field exams take place over one day. The fields within the department are: American Politics, Law and Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics and International Relations.

Students choosing a second minor outside the Political Science Department must devise a coherent program of study in that discipline, in consultation with their Political Science faculty advisor and with faculty from the other department. Students choosing an external minor must complete a minimum of three courses at the 600 level in the external minor's discipline, earning a grade of B or better. They must also pass a comprehensive examination prepared and evaluated in consultation with faculty of the Department of Political Science by the instructors in those courses.

Dissertation

The dissertation is the capstone of doctoral education, and it must be a substantial work of independent scholarship that contributes to knowledge in the student's field of study. Students must identify a tenure-track or tenured member of the Political Science faculty who is willing to supervise the preparation of their dissertation. A dissertation prospectus must be submitted to two professors (one of whom must be the dissertation advisor) and that prospectus must be accepted by them both.

Students must pass a final examination that takes the form of a defense of the doctoral dissertation that is conducted under the rules of the Graduate Board of Johns Hopkins University.

Note: Exceptions may be made to some of these requirements but only with the approval of the graduate student's advisor and the Political Science Department's Director of Graduate Studies.

Field-specific Requirements

Field-specific basic expectations, procedures, and requirements are stated below. These are implemented, interpreted, and adjusted in the light of the intellectual orientations and objectives of individual students. It is important that students work closely with their advisors and with the faculty in their major and minor fields in constructing and pursuing their programs of study.

American Politics

Students majoring and minoring in American Politics will work with at least two faculty members to develop a plan of study that includes recommended course work and other preparation needed to pass a comprehensive exam. Students completing a major are expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge sufficient for framing a dissertation in the relevant disciplinary literature and teaching undergraduate courses in the field; students who pursue a minor may focus more narrowly on an area of study in which they demonstrate fluency. These may include, but are not limited to, the following areas of faculty interest:

• American Political Institutions (Congress, Courts, and the Executive)
• Urban Politics
• American Political Development
• Race and Politics
• Political Behavior and Public Opinion
• Public Policy
• American Political Thought
• Political Parties and Elections

In addition, students majoring in the field are strongly encouraged to take AS.190.602 Introduction to Quantitative Political Science as part of their course of study.

Comparative Politics

All students majoring and minoring in this Comparative Politics will become conversant with major substantive and methodological debates in the field, and be able to comment on the key theoretical literature in several of those debates. They will normally also develop knowledge of at least one world region. Students majoring or minoring in Comparative Politics are required to take AS.190.625 Theories of Comparative Politics and at least one seminar in quantitative or qualitative methods. Students are expected to master the material covered in these courses, as well as others with more specialized topics.

Students will take a comprehensive exam that will test their ability to engage with several areas of theoretical debate in Comparative Politics, and their ability to use comparative examples to support their arguments. Students may focus on (but are not limited to):

• Civil Society
• Institutional Theories
• Transnational Relations, Social Movements, and Contentious Politics
• Political Parties, Interest Groups, Representation, and Political Behavior
• Comparative Political Economy
• Comparative Racial Politics, Nationalism, and Migration and Citizenship
• The Political Economy of Development
• Economic and Political Transitions
• Ideas and Politics

Within the spirit of this division of the overall field, students may propose alternative delineations of thematic subfields.

Students working in specific thematic and substantive subfields within Comparative Politics will be required to demonstrate competence in methodologies and bodies of theory judged by the faculty to be necessary for quality research and teaching in those subfields.

Requirements for the Major Exam

Student taking the major exam are expected to compile a reading list that includes at least six fields, including a general "Theories of Comparative Politics" field. The reading list must be approved by the student's advisor at least six weeks before the exam. We strongly advise students to submit their reading lists to all of the CP faculty for feedback at least a few months before the exam. A minimum of three CP faculty members will read each major exam.

Requirements for the Minor Exam

Students taking the minor exam should seek two readers among the CP faculty for their exams. Students are expected to compile a reading lists that includes at least four fields, including a general “Theories of Comparative Politics” field. The reading list must be approved by the two readers at least six weeks before the exam. We strongly advise students to submit their reading lists to all of the CP faculty for feedback at least a few months before the exam.

International Relations

All students majoring or minoring in International Relations will be required to have deep knowledge of the scholarship relevant to their area of research and to be conversant with the major theoretical, substantive, and methodological themes and debates of the field.  It is strongly recommended that students take AS.190.676 Field Survey of International Relations (or a similar course) and a methods/epistemology course chosen in consultation with their faculty advisers.

Students majoring in International Relations will take an examination covering two subfields. The first subfield must be International Politics. The other subfield is to be determined in consultation with faculty teaching International Relations. Choices include but are not restricted to:

• International Law and Diplomacy
• International Relations Theory
• International Security Studies
• Science, Technology, and Art and International Relations

Global Political Economy

Students minoring in International Relations will take a comprehensive examination in International Politics.

Political Theory

Students majoring in Political Theory will take a comprehensive examination covering the following two subfields:

• Contemporary Political Theory
• History of Political Thought

Each student preparing for a major comprehensive exam will propose six or seven thinkers in the history of thought, six or seven recent or contemporary thinkers, and three or four issue areas. Examination questions are composed in light of the theorists and issues articulated in the exam prospectus.

The minor comprehensive exam in political theory asks the student to select half the number of thinkers required for the major exam and three issue areas.

Preparation for these examinations will be arranged in consultation with relevant faculty.

Students majoring in political theory will also take at least one minor field from American Politics, Law and Politics, Comparative Politics, or International Relations.

Law and Politics

Law and politics focuses on American constitutional thought, judicial politics, law and society, and philosophy of law. Students learn not only about the history and context of American constitutional developments, but also about the operation of the judicial branch of government in the past and the present. Studying how courts and judges do their work, students also consider how that work has changed over time. Students explore how legislation, as well as court decisions, reflect and influence a society’s policies, politics, and moral commitments. In addition, they examine how social movements, interest groups, and professional networks help to shape law’s content and implementation.

Students may major or minor in law and politics. In either case, students work closely with at least two members of the faculty to develop a plan of study regarding coursework and additional reading to prepare them for comprehensive exams. Majors are expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in the field sufficient for framing a dissertation and for teaching undergraduate courses; minors may focus more narrowly on a particular area of study.

Progress Toward the PhD

The time necessary to obtain a PhD in the department varies according to the preparation individual students bring to the program, the scope and complexity of their dissertation topics, and other factors. Students are required to make satisfactory progress, meaning that they must work toward fulfilling the requirements in a timely manner. Students are encouraged to satisfy the department's foreign language requirement by the time of their first comprehensive exam. Most students take their comprehensive examinations in the third year in the program. Students who have completed all requirements except the dissertation must work to complete their dissertations as quickly as is reasonable given the unique circumstances of their course of study, and they must periodically demonstrate progress on the dissertation.

The Master of Arts degree is offered only to students who have been admitted into the PhD program. For the M.A., the student must complete at least seven (7) 600-level courses in the department, all with a grade of B or better.

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Political Science

Last updated March 30, 2022

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your PhD , here is a list of universities that offer full funding for a Ph.D. in Political Science. These programs are designed to produce exceptional researchers and scholars in the fields of American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, Political Science Research Methodology, Constitutional Studies, and more. Graduates from these programs typically go on to work at top universities, think tanks, consulting firms, and government and non-government organizations (NGOs), both domestically and abroad. With the  average cost of a doctorate degree exceeding $100,000, gaining acceptance to a program with full funding is ideal.

“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full-time Ph.D. students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which is usually 3-6 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their doctoral students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

The  ProFellow database  for graduate and doctoral study also spotlights external funding opportunities for graduate school, including dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, and summer work experiences.

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1. University of Chicago

(Chicago, IL): The University of Chicago provides full funding to all admitted doctoral students to its Ph.D. in Political Science Program. The funding package includes full tuition, an annual stipend, and health insurance, and is guaranteed for the duration of a student’s studies provided they remain in good academic standing.

2. George Washington University

(Washington, D.C.): The George Washington University Ph.D. in Political Science program provides five years of guaranteed funding. The program is designed to produce outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and government institutions. Ph.D. students choose one major study: American Politics, International Relations, or Comparative Politics, and one minor study: Political Theory, Public Policy, or Research Methods.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(Cambridge, MA): The MIT Ph.D. in Political Science program aims to provide merit-based funding to all incoming doctoral students. The funding package is for five consecutive years with full tuition, health insurance, and a 9-month stipend. The program aims to produce new scholarly insights that improve the way governments and societies function and requires preparation in two of these major fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Models and Methods, Political Economy, and Security Studies.

4. University of Minnesota

(Minneapolis, MN): The University of Minnesota Ph.D. in Political Science program offers full funding to all incoming doctoral students. The funding provides five years of guaranteed financial support through fellowships, research and teaching assistantships, or graduate instructorships. Research specialties of the program include American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Methodology, Political Psychology (minor), Political Theory, and Political Economy.

5. New York University

(New York, NY): The NYU Ph.D. in Politics program offers full funding to all incoming students through MacCracken fellowships that guarantee five years of support, including tuition and a stipend. The program views teaching as a vital part of the doctoral degree, therefore students who participate in the teaching program are provided additional compensation for each teaching opportunity. There are no department-wide course requirements, but students must take at least three courses in each of at least two of these fields: American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, and Methodology.

6. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

(Chapel Hill, NC): The UNC Ph.D. in Political Science program offers most students fellowships and assistantships to fund their academic studies and living expenses. These awards require ten to fifteen hours per week of service duties, which may include teaching, conducting recitation sections, or assisting a faculty member in research and/or teaching. After the first year, graduate students must demonstrate the ability to teach in English in order to be eligible for further financial support. The program’s focus is to prepare students for professional careers in political science at academic institutions, government agencies, and NGOs.

7. University of Notre Dame

(Notre Dame, IN): The University of Notre Dame Department of Political Science provides guaranteed financial support to admitted students for five years. The funding package includes full tuition and a fellowship stipend. Additional funding is also available for students to pursue research and professional development, including covering costs associated with conference travel. The program also offers a joint Ph.D. in Political Science and Peace Studies that provides a full tuition scholarship, generous stipend, health insurance, and additional funding for research and travel.

8. Stanford University

(Stanford, CA): The Stanford Ph.D. in Political Science program offers a fully funded financial package for doctoral students for up to five years. The funding package covers the full cost of tuition and an additional amount for living expenses during the academic year. The latter amount comes in the form of a stipend during the first year and a combination of teaching and research assistantships during years 2-5.  The Department also provides students with annual funds for professional development, health insurance fees, and a living stipend for the first two summers. The aim of Stanford’s Political Science Ph.D. program is to produce scholars, most of which go on to conduct research and teach at universities.

9. Vanderbilt University

(Nashville, TN): The Vanderbilt Ph.D. in Political Science program provides full funding to all doctoral students for five years of study. The financial package includes a university tuition scholarship – a service-free award that covers all tuition costs, and a graduate award consisting of either a university fellowship, graduate teaching assistantship, graduate research assistantship, traineeships, or teacher training award. The program encourages individuals from diverse, under-represented populations to apply and aims to bring the most diverse, talented, and innovative students in the world to Nashville to study political science.

10. Washington University in St. Louis

(St. Louis, MO): Washington University’s Ph.D. program in Political Science provides full funding to all incoming students. The funding package includes full tuition and a stipend for living expenses. The Political Science program is designed to prepare students for careers in academia and prides itself in successfully placing graduates in academic jobs.  The program places about 90 percent of its Ph.D. graduates in jobs, most of them tenure-track positions.

Next step: Narrowing down the list of universities to apply to is important, and a critical factor in your decision should be your potential Ph.D. advisor. As a next step, we recommend that you learn how to find your ideal Ph.D. advisor .

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

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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 .

PhD Admissions

How to Apply

Applicants to the graduate program should use the online application , which is available on the Graduate School site.

The department accepts applications for September admission only . Applications for Fall 2025 open on October 1, 2024 . The deadline for all Fall 2025 applications is December 15, 2024 .

In keeping with the policy of BU’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences , the Department of Political Science practices holistic admission, considering all components of a Ph.D. application for every applicant. We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively affected some applicants’ Spring 2020 grades, and others may have opted for a modified grading option (e.g., pass/fail). We will evaluate applications with these circumstances in mind. Applicants are encouraged to explain any unusual personal circumstances either in their personal statement or in a separate document uploaded with the application.

Applicants are expected to hold a B.A., preferably in political science or in a related discipline such as economics, philosophy, sociology, international relations or history. Depending on their qualifications, applicants from other disciplines will also be considered.

Application Requirements

We require applicants to submit the following:

• Online Application Form
• All relevant transcripts – unofficial copies (official transcripts are only needed for students who have accepted an admission offer)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement outlining plans for graduate study
• Academic writing sample
• A $95 application fee must be paid in order for your application to be considered complete. This fee is non-refundable. Information on fee waivers for MA and PhD applicants is available on the Graduate School website. Please do not submit the application until you have received a decision regarding your fee waiver application.

GRE scores are optional for admission into the program. (our ETS code is 3087; we do not have a minimum GRE score for admission)

International students whose native language is not English should refer to the   English Proficiency Requirement instituted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Because English-language proficiency is crucial for success in our program, we do require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (600 for the paper-based test) or an IELTS score of 8. The English-language proficiency requirement is waived only if the applicant has received or expects to receive an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in any of the following countries prior to enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland.

Applicants should apply online and all supplementary materials should be uploaded with the application.  Please do not direct materials to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences or to the Department of Political Science.

We recommend all applicant submit their transcripts, recommendations, and test scores prior to submitting the online application to ensure all documents are received before the deadline.

It is your responsibility to contact the Department of Political Science to determine if your application is complete. 

Financial Assistance

All applicants accepted for the PhD program will receive full funding for 5 years. This includes tuition and University related fees. Aid is restricted to students in the PhD program. The department strives to support every student in good standing as fully as possible. PhD students entering in Fall 2023 will receive summer stipends in addition to service or non-service fellowships in the academic year. Students in their fifth year with an approved Dissertation Prospectus qualify for a non-service fellowship to support full-time work towards their dissertation.

Helpful Links

Boston University Graduate Education Website

Bulletin of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Main Page

Further Information

Admissions faqs.

Graduate Program

Ph.D. Funding

Ph.D. Placements

Graduate Program Contacts

Rosella Cappella Zielinski

Associate Professor of Political Science; Director of Graduate Studies

Lincoln Alex MacVeagh

Program Coordinator

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Ph.D. Program

As the major research institution in the Northwest, the University of Washington affords an expansive learning environment for the approximately eight thousand students who are working toward advanced degrees in the University's graduate and professional schools. The Department of Political Science, one of the largest social science disciplines, offers a graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Graduate students working towards the Ph.D. will also complete a Masters of Arts degree as a part of the overall requirements of the program.

Visit the pages below for details about application procedures, program requirements, and departmental resources:

• Program Requirements
• Placement Record
• Graduate Student Guide
• Office Policies and Procedures
• Department and University Policies
• Teaching Assistant Job Descriptions
• Visiting Student Status
• Additional Graduate Student Resources

Questions? Contact [email protected]

More About Our Graduate Program

As a discipline, political science concentrates on the theory and practice of government and politics. At the graduate level, study of political science involves in-depth investigation into a broad range of political phenomena in areas as diverse as regional specializations in comparative politics, international peace and conflict resolution, feminist political theory, and American voting behavior. The breadth of the discipline, which is exemplified by the theoretical and research interests of the political science faculty at the University of Washington, in addition to the supportive philosophy of the faculty, gives students the freedom to shape an individualized program of study to meet their personal interests and career goals.

Located in Gowen Hall, at the center of campus, the Department of Political Science maintains a graduate program of about 50 students in residence, with approximately twelve to fifteen new students entering the program each year, and a full-time and adjunct faculty of fifty members. The program remains small enough to offer students a strongly supportive environment for study and research. In addition, an active student association, which sponsors both academic and social events, fosters a collegial spirit among the graduate students.

Graduate courses, which average from eight to fifteen students, are conducted in a seminar setting where student inquiry and interaction are encouraged. Upon entering the program, each student meets with the Graduate Program Coordinator to outline the first year's course work. However, by the third quarter of residence, each student selects a faculty supervisory committee to advise the student about a program of study that meets individual needs and interests.

The University of Washington provides equal opportunity in education without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University of Washington policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.

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PhD in Political Science

You are here: american university school of public affairs phd programs phd political science.

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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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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The Bush School of Government & Public Service

Public Service is a noble calling.

PhD in Political Science

PhD in Political Science Courses | Fields of Study | Requirements | Funding | Admissions

The PhD in Political Science program emphasizes theoretical and methodological rigor and is designed to train applied social-scientists for careers in research. To this end, the program mandates that all students complete a common core of applied formal theory and statistical modeling coursework in addition to the general substantive requirements. Though malleable apart from this core sequence, program requirements are designed to give all students: (1) a firm grasp of the general field of political science; (2) a sophisticated understanding of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline; and (3) a thorough familiarity with the literature and intellectual problems of the fields each student chooses to emphasize.

All fields of study involve the role of incentives, institutions, and strategies in the aggregation of preferences and ultimately the allocation of resources. Major fields of study mirror the disciplinary norm: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Public Administration/Public Policy. All students must also declare two minor fields from the list above or substitute Advanced Research Methodology or Race, Ethnic, and Gender Politics.

Fields of Study

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Graduate Programs

Political science.

Our faculty and students profit from the many outstanding institutes, centers and programs at Brown that relate to the study of politics.

The Department of Political Science covers the four main subfields in the discipline:

• American politics focuses on the behavior of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; state and local politics; the influence of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on decision-making; and issues of race and gender.
• Comparative politics focuses on the comparative study of the behavior of governments and political institutions, non-governmental actors across the world, and on the relationships between political and economic factors in different cultures and societies.
• International politics considers how political decisions are made in a world without a central authority above the nation-state. Recent emphases include a significant role for international law, norms, and organizations.
• Political theory seeks to analyze both historically and philosophically the origins and underpinnings of political values.

Additional Resources

Our faculty and students profit from the many outstanding institutes, centers, and programs at Brown that relate to the study of politics. These include the  Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions , the  Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs , the  Master of Public Affairs program , the  Urban Studies Program , the  Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia , the  Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies , the  Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics , the  Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America ,  Middle East Studies ,  Development Studies , the  Population Studies and Training Center , and  Africana Studies .

Application Information

In addition to the GRE and writing sample, applicants are required to submit a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, transcript(s), and, if applicable, proof of language proficiency. For further application information, please also see the  Political Science admission guidance  and the  Graduate School's admission guidance .

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Official transcripts:, letters of recommendations:.

Required (3)

Writing Sample:

Personal statement:, dates/deadlines, application deadline, completion requirements.

The Ph.D. requires passing thirteen graduate-level courses with a minimum grade of B or better, though A grades are expected, including methods, field proseminars, course(s) in political theory, and Prospectus Writing. Students must also pass a written and oral preliminary examination in their primary field; a written and oral presentation of a dissertation proposal; and a written and oral presentation of a dissertation. A minimum of two semesters as a teaching assistant is also required.

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Contact and Location

Department of political science, mailing address.

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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 groundbreaking 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 and 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 nonprofits.

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 the 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.

Personal Statement

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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Graduate Tuition and Fees​

Fall 2024 and spring 2025 tuition and fees ​.

Tuition rates are released annually each June and are subject to change. Examples below are based on current tuition rates; costs for future semesters may be higher.​

Tuition and Fees for:  Master of Biodefense, Global Commerce and Policy, International Security, Organization Development and Knowledge Management, Public Administration, and Public Policy; PhD Biodefense and Public Policy​.

Tuition and Fees for: Master’s and PhD in Political Science​

Full-time Master's Student Tuition and Fees Example​

Based on a 36-credit program using the tuition rates for master's programs other than Political Science. A full-time credit load is 9 credits per semester. ​

Part-time Master's Student Tuition and Fees Example​

Based on a 36-credit program using the tuition rates for master's programs other than Political Science. A part-time credit load is 6 credits per semester or less. This example shows a 6 credit hour registration load. ​

*Masters, certificate, and nondegree students domiciled in D.C. and Maryland may qualify for the Regional Tuition Rate, which is equivalent to the Schar School in-state tuition rate. Please see more information about the DMV Regional Tuition Policy . This policy applies to students starting a Schar School graduate program in the fall 2023 semester or later only. PhD and undergraduate programs are not eligible.

View a full breakdown of tuition vs. fees .

FAQ for Prospective Ph.D. Students

What is your department's philosophy, what graduate degrees does the department of political science offer, how long is your program, what are the requirements for the ph.d. degree, how is your placement record, where can i get more information on life at stanford, housing, financial aid or being an international student, can i complete the program via distance learning, online or on a part time basis.

• Can you tell me more about the JD/PhD program? How do I apply for it? How long does it take? How much does it cost? 

Can you provide any advice on applying for graduate school, how to prepare myself for graduate school or how to prepare and strengthen my application?

Financial support, what is the annual cost of attending your program, what type of financial support do you offer, do you offer support for the summer months, is there support available for field work, how do i apply to the knight-hennessy scholars program, what are your research areas.

• How can I find out if any of your faculty members does research in my area of interest?

Preparing for Admission

Am i required to secure an advisor before applying to your graduate program.

• Is Political Science a required major to apply to your graduate programs?
• Is a master's degree required for admissions?

Are applicants expected to have taken advanced coursework in mathematics and statistics?

If admitted, can i obtain credit for previous work.

• Can you provide some guidelines for preparation? How are applications evaluated? 

What are the admissions committee's expectations of prospective students?

Do you have a minimum gre score or gpa requirement, if admitted, may i defer my offer until a later year, application procedures, how do i apply, what is the application deadline, are applications reviewed and admissions decisions made on a rolling basis, how can i check the status of my application can you tell me if you received my application/transcripts/test scores/letters of recommendation, when will admission decisions be announced, when will the application for the 2025-26 academic year be available, can i apply for winter, spring, or summer quarter admission, what are the application requirements, do i need to submit a separate application for departmental fellowships or assistantships, what is a statement of purpose, can i submit a cv as part of my application, can i apply for an application fee waiver, can i update my application materials (cv, writing sample, statement of purpose or unofficial transcripts) after i submit my application.

• Does the 20-35 page writing sample page limit include the bibliography?

I am having technical problems with my online application. What do I do?

Gre and toefl, are gre scores required for the political science phd program, do i have to submit gre scores if i already have a master's degree, i sent my official gre or toefl scores but it still says they haven’t been received on my application status page. should i resend them.

• Will my application be reviewed if my official GRE/TOEFL scores arrive after the deadline?
• I asked ETS to send my GRE scores in a previous year. Do I need to resubmit my GRE scores?

My GRE/TOEFL scores are not recent. Will you accept them?

Can i list multiple sets of gre/toefl scores on my application , letters of recommendation, some of my letters of recommendation might arrive after the deadline. is this okay.

• One of my letter writers is having technical issues submitting their letters of recommendation. Who should they contact?

Will you accept letters of recommendation mailed from Interfolio or my university's career center or letter service? Can my letter writers submit letters via email, mail, or fax?

I'd like to make changes to my letters of recommendation writers after i submitted my application or sent the letter of recommendation request. how can i do that, may i submit more than three letters of recommendation, and will they all be included in the review process, can you provide guidance on who i should ask for a letter of recommendation, do my recommenders need to wait for me to submit my application in order to submit their letters, do i need to wait for my recommenders to submit their letters in order to submit my application, transcripts.

• Do I need to send official transcripts at the time of application? 

Does Stanford want an updated transcript with my fall quarter/semester grades?

Do i need to list schools i attended for less than one year or on a part-time basis, i just started a graduate program and will not have any grades at the time i apply to stanford. do i need to upload a transcript, my transcripts are not in english. will you accept them, my school’s grading system does not use a 4-point scale. how do i enter my grade point average in the online application, international students, are there any special application requirements for international applicants, does my foreign degree qualify me for graduate study at stanford.

• Do I need to submit TOEFL scores?
• Am I exempt from submitting TOEFL scores?

Can I request a TOEFL waiver? 

My toefl scores are not recent. will you accept them , may i submit ielts scores instead of toefl scores, my school's grading system does not use a 1-4 scale. how do i enter my grade point average in the online application, as an international student, am i eligible for funding, i went to school outside of the united states. do i have to use certifile/chesicc/the collegenet document service to submit my official transcripts, can i contact the admissions committee to inquire about my preparation in advance of my application, should i contact stanford faculty to discuss my interest in the program, will i have a chance to talk to someone before i decide to accept an offer of admission, master's degree for doctoral students, can i get a master’s degree from the department of political science.

The Department of Political Science does not embrace any particular philosophy or approach to the study of political science. We offer courses and research opportunities in a wide variety of fields in the discipline (see  Research Areas  below). Our principal goal is the training of scholars. 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.

Our graduate 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.

We offer a PhD in Political Science. The Department does not offer a master’s degree for external applicants. Only students currently enrolled in a PhD or professional school program at Stanford University may apply for a Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science.

The Ph.D. program is designed to be completed in five years of full-time study. Actual time depends on students' progress, research and travel requirements, and fields of study. The minimum residence requirement for the Ph.D. degree is 135 units of completed coursework, which takes approximately four years.  The fifth year is typically spent writing the dissertation.

Requirements vary depending on which fields a student elects to study. The minimum residence requirement for the Ph.D. degree is 135 units of completed coursework, which takes approximately four years.  The fifth year is typically spent writing the dissertation. All students must complete five units of graduate instruction in Political Theory unless previously taken as an undergraduate, and take a two-quarter sequence in quantitative methods. A language might also be required if the student and advisor think it appropriate for dissertation research. Beginning in their second year, students serve as teaching assistants in undergraduate courses for a minimum of three quarters, but most will serve as many as five quarters.

Students are required to satisfy the Ph.D. comprehensive examination requirements in one field as well as take coursework and fulfill any additional requirements in a second and third field and write at least one research paper. Upon completion of these three requirements, the student is eligible to be recommended for Ph.D. candidacy. It is expected that students will attain candidacy by the end of the second year. In their third year, students are asked to submit a formal dissertation proposal for approval. Doctoral candidates form a Dissertation Reading Committee in the fourth year and take the University Oral Examination after they have made substantial progress on their dissertations. Students must finish all requirements and file a thesis to receive their Ph.D. degree.

See the  requirements page  for more details.

Most students who receive doctorates in the program do research and teach at colleges or universities. In recent years, they have obtained positions in political science departments at such institutions as the University of California at Berkeley, UCLA, Harvard, NYU, M.I.T., Princeton, Yale, Southern California, Virginia, and Wellesley. Others have positions in research organizations like RAND, and still others have positions in university administration and government. Click to see the  list of recent placements .

Visit the  Graduate Student Gateway .

No. The Ph.D. program requires students to be present on campus and in-person for each quarter enrolled. The Ph.D. program is a full-time program and may not be completed on a part time basis. 

Can you tell me more about the JD/PhD program? How do I apply for it? How long does it take? How much does it cost?

Information on the JD/PhD program is available  here . 

Please review the information on the ‘ Guide on Getting Into Grad School .’ We are not able to speculate on an applicant's chances of admission, or review application materials prior to application, or provide guidance on individual applications beyond what is provided on the Political Science department website and the Guide to Getting Into Grad School.

The costs of pursuing graduate study at Stanford depend on various factors, including student's housing preferences and family circumstances, among other factors. Information about financing graduate study and typical expenses for graduate students can be found through  Graduate Admissions.  Information about our financial support, which usually covers tuition and living expenses, follows below.

The Department intends that all graduate students (both domestic and international) should have adequate support to enable them to complete their studies while enrolled full-time.  The standard financial package offered to admitted students covers the full cost of tuition and an additional amount for living expenses . The latter amount comes in the form of a stipend during the first year and a combination of teaching and research assistantships during years 2-5.  The Department also provides students with annual funds for professional development and health insurance fees. The Department provides five years of support for Ph.D. students who are making sufficient progress towards degree.   Current information regarding tuition, fees, and living expenses .

Funded PhD students in good standing are eligible to receive 12 months of funding each year, for as long as five years.

In addition to providing the standard package described above, the Department will provide each student $1,500 in discretionary funds every year in year 1-5.  Most students use this money to fund professional development expenses, including language study, faculty guided research and field work. In addition, funded PhD students in good standing are eligible to receive 12 months of funding each year for as long as five years, which provides students with the possibility of conducting field work during the summer. It is also possible to use pre-doc fellowship funds to support field work during the later years of the program. There are also numerous opportunities to supplement the funding by the department with grants and stipends from university research centers, such as the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies , the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS), and the Stanford King Center on Global Development . 

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 9, 2024. Learn more about KHS admission .

The department offers teaching and research opportunities in  five major research areas : American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Methodology, and Political Theory. In addition, there are ample opportunities for graduate study in related departments at the university.

How can I find out if your faculty does research in my area of interest?

You can access more specific information about particular faculty members by going to the  faculty page.

No. It is not necessary or possible to secure an advisor before admission to the program. Offers of admission are made to the program, not to work with particular advisors. Applicants are encouraged to read the  Admissions FAQ  and contact politicalscience [at] stanford.edu (subject: Admissions%20Enquiries) (politicalscience[at]stanford[dot]edu) with any general admissions questions before contacting faculty.

Is Political Science a required major to apply to your graduate program?

No, the department does not require that prospective students be political science majors. On the other hand, the department does expect that prospective students have had sufficient exposure to the field for them to develop a clear statement of purpose for attending our graduate program. In addition, as part of the application materials, applicants are required to submit a written sample that will certainly justify students having previously studied political science.

Is a master’s degree required for admission?

No, a master’s degree is not required for admission, although roughly one-third of our applicants have completed a graduate degree prior to application to the PhD program.

No, students are not required to have taken advanced courses in quantitative methods as a prerequisite for admission. In fact, the department offers a four quarter sequence in quantitative methods that introduces first and second year students to methodological tools that they can later use in their chosen fields of study. This sequence does not assume that students have had prior exposure to statistics or advanced mathematics. In addition to the sequence, the department offers a math refresher course for three weeks prior to the start of classes in the fall for all students. Note, however, that there are certain areas of study (such as American politics and political behavior) that will require more training in quantitative methods beyond the first-year sequence. Opportunities to pursue advanced work in quantitative methods exist both within and outside the department (e.g., taking courses in the economics and statistics departments).

The Department rarely accepts the transfer of previous graduate work toward fulfilling pre-candidacy course requirements. However, students with previous graduate work may be able to count some of their previous course credits toward the university residency requirement, thus reducing the time required for the Ph.D. degree. The university may allow a maximum of 45 units for work done elsewhere in another graduate program. Transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Office of the University Registrar, and there is no guarantee that transfer credit will be awarded. Students cannot apply for transfer credit until they have completed at least one quarter of study at Stanford. 

Can you provide some guidelines for preparation? How are applications evaluated? 

Admission to our program is highly competitive. The selection of PhD students admitted to the Department of Political Science is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the applicant’s academic record, the letters of recommendation, the scores on the General GRE (Graduate Record Examination), the statement of purpose, and the writing sample. About 12-15 students, chosen from a large pool of applicants, enter the program every year. These students are chosen on the basis of a strong academic background as evidenced by previous study, test results, writing sample, and letters of recommendation. Although we have no official score requirement, admitted students typically have GRE scores of 166+ verbal, 163+ quantitative, and a score of 5.5 in the analytical section.  Admitted students typically have a GPA of at least 3.8 in their previous studies. Please be assured that the department reviews each application very carefully and makes decisions on an individual basis.

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.

Regrettably, we are not able to speculate on an applicant's chances of admission, or review application materials prior to application, or provide guidance on individual applications beyond what is provided on this website. 

Admission committees follow guidelines established by the university and the department to ensure a fair review of application materials and the selection of a high quality pool of incoming students. An  overview of graduate admission  and study at Stanford is available.

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.  

No, all applications will be considered. However, admission to our program is highly competitive. Admitted students typically have very high GRE scores (approximately 166+ verbal, 163+ quantitative, and a score of 5.5 in the Analytical section).  Admitted students typically have a GPA of at least 3.8 in their previous studies.

One year deferrals are granted only for serious and unforeseen circumstances that occur after the time of application. The one exception to that policy is that one year deferrals are allowed for students who will spend the next academic year at Stanford Law School as part of the Stanford joint JD/PhD program. Deferral requests to allow students to attend another university for a different degree program (such as a JD) are highly unlikely to be granted. Deferrals for longer than one academic year are not possible. Students should only apply during this admissions cycle if they intend to be at Stanford for the next academic year.

You must apply online via the  Graduate Admissions  web site. Note that online applications require the use of a credit card.

The deadline to apply for admission for the 2025-26 academic year is 11:59pm (Pacific time) on December 3, 2024. Regrettably, we are unable to accept  late applications.

No. We begin reviewing all applications after the application deadline and make all admissions decisions by the end of February. There is no advantage to applying early.

To check your application status, click the Visit Your Status Page button here . Due to the number of applications that we receive we cannot confirm receipt of any application documents or tell you if your application is complete. 

Letters of recommendation: Your Status Page will update automatically when letters of recommendation are received. Contact your recommendation writers (not the department) if you are missing letters of recommendation. Additional information about letters of recommendation is below in the Letter of Recommendation section of the FAQ's. 

Transcripts:  Official transcripts are not required at the time of application. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts that show your degree conferral. Please do not send official transcripts with your application.  

All applications, even those marked as "awaiting materials," will be considered by the committee.  

Offers of admission will be made in late February. Admitted applicants will be invited to attend our Ph.D. Admit Visit to be held in early April.

September 15, 2024

No, students may only enter the program during the fall quarter.

A complete application consists of the following documentation:

• Stanford online application including  statement of purpose
• At least three  letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts from each institution you attended for at least one year (Official transcripts are not required at the time of application. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts that show your degree conferral.) 
• General  GRE and TOEFL scores  reported directly to Stanford (code 4704) - Learn more about these  test requirements .  GRE scores are required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle.  We will accept results from the ETS home tests.
• Writing Sample : a recent scholarly or critical paper (20-35 pages, double-spaced). Applicants may submit two or three shorter samples if they do not have a long one. Writing samples must be written in English. 
• Application fee of $125. Information on Graduate Fee Waivers is available  here . 

Please refer to the  Office of Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions  for additional information on the application process and requirements.

In general, no. In most cases, you will be considered for any available departmental funding awards when you apply for graduate study, and a separate application is not necessary. Note that in order to be considered for Knight-Hennessy Scholars , you must submit a separate application.

The Statement of Purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at Stanford, your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. The Statement of Purpose should not exceed two single spaced pages (this is approximately 1,000 words). Additional information on crafting your statement of purpose is available here . 

Yes, submitting a CV is required. Applications may upload a CV under "Experience" in the application. 

Fee waivers are available for some applicants. Please visit Graduate Admissions for information on applying for an  Application Fee Waiver . Please do not contact the Department to request a fee waiver as unfortunately, we are unable to grant them. 

Be sure to submit your fee waiver request at least 10 business days (two weeks) before the application deadline to ensure a timely decision.

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 9, 2024. Learn more about KHS admission .

Applying to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars is not required in order to be admitted to the Political Science PhD program or to receive a funding package from the department. 

You may update your application on your status page after submitting your application as follows:

• Recommenders, Test Scores and Contact Information (email, phone, address) may be updated anytime before or after the application deadline. However, after December 10 there is no guarantee the Admissions Committee will see the updates as they will have already begun reviewing applications.
• Statement of Purpose
• Writing Sample
• Unofficial transcripts
• The application system will allow you to update items in Additional Information anytime before or after the deadline.  However, after December 10 there is no guarantee the Admissions Committee will review the updates as they will have already begun reviewing applications. In addition, the Committee will still see the original versions of your documents if you submit new versions under Additional Information. 

Does the 20-35 page writing sample page limit include the table of contents, bibliography, and appendices?

No. The table of contents, bibliography, and appendices are not included in the 20-35 page writing sample.

Submit a request to Graduate Admissions (application login required).

Yes, GRE scores are required for all applicants. We are not able to grant waivers or make exceptions to the GRE requirement. We will accept test results from Educational Testing Service (ETS) home tests. If you are unable to take the GRE either at a testing center or via the at-home testing service by the application deadline, unfortunately you will need to wait until the next application cycle to apply. 

No other exams (including the LSAT or GMAT) are accepted in lieu of the GRE. 

Yes, all applicants must submit GRE scores, even if they have completed an advanced degree.

If you instructed ETS to send your test scores Stanford more than two weeks ago and your GRE or TOEFL scores are still shown as "Awaiting" on your Status Page, please  submit a help request  to Graduate Admissions. 

Important: it may take up to two weeks from the date you you asked ETS to send the scores for test scores to be "Received" on your Status Page.  Please do not request that ETS send scores again or contact Graduate Admissions to ask why your scores are listed as "Awaiting" if it has been less than two weeks since you submitted your application to Stanford. For example, if you sent your scores on December 1st, you can expect your test scores to appear as "Received" on your status page by December 15th.

If we haven't received official scores by the time the admissions committee begins review, we will consider your application with unofficial scores. This will not harm your chances of admission. We will, however, need to receive official scores from ETS before making an offer of admission.

Will my application be reviewed if my official GRE/TOEFL scores arrive after the deadline?

Yes. Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial but sufficient for the initial review process. If we haven't received official scores for all sections by the time the admissions committee begins review, we will consider your application with the unofficial scores submitted in your online application. We will need to receive official scores for all sections of the GRE from ETS before making an official offer of admission. 

However, your unofficial GRE/TOEFL scores for all sections of the tests must be included in your application by the application deadline. This means that you must have taken the GRE/TOEFL prior to the application deadline. If you are unable to submit unofficial test scores for all sections of the test by the application deadline, we recommend that you wait to apply until the next application cycle.   

I asked ETS to send my GRE scores in a previous year. Do I need to resubmit my GRE scores?

If you had ETS send scores to Stanford prior to June 1, 2023 you will need to resubmit them.  

We follow ETS policies on score validity (five years for GRE scores, two years for TOEFL scores). Refer to Test Scores for the earliest test date Stanford considers to be valid for the current application cycle.

Yes. List all GRE tests you took within the past five years that you wish to be considered by the admission committee. Do not enter “superscores” (a single entry that includes your highest section scores from multiple test dates). The application system will automatically display to the admission committee the highest score you earned in each section as well as all reported scores.

Please ask your letter writers to upload their letters no later than December 10th. If you do not have three letters of recommendation by then, your file will still be passed to the faculty committee for consideration.  While recommenders may upload outstanding letters after December 10th, there's no guarantee they will be read as the committee will have already begun its work.  

One of my letter writers is having technical issues submitting their letters of recommendation. Who should they contact?

They should use the link in the recommendation request email they received when you registered them as a recommendation writer to request technical support.  Please do not instruct letter writers to contact the department for help with technical issues. Additional information for recommendation writers is available  here .  

No. As recommenders are required to respond to specific evaluation questions on the recommendation form, Interfolio is not compatible with the online system. Please ask your recommenders to submit their letters directly using the online application system. Please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes.

You may manage your recommenders on the same Recommendations page where you registered them. This includes sending reminder emails and changing recommenders. You continue to have access to this page after you submit your application.

To change one of your recommenders: on the Recommendations page of the application, click on the recommender’s name you wish to replace, then click Exclude at the bottom of the resulting popup window. You then will see the option to add a new recommender. The recommender you exclude will not receive an email notification.  

The department expects to see three letters of recommendation per application. Applicants may enter up to four recommenders and all letters of recommendation submitted by the December 10th deadline will be considered in the review process. However, there is no automatic advantage or disadvantage to submitting more than three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation will be evaluated solely on what they say about an applicant’s academic potential for graduate work, not on how many are submitted. 

Letters of recommendation should come from academic or professional references who know you well and are qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these letters be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Please see here for additional information.  

No. Your recommenders may submit their letters before or after you submit your application.

Do I need to submit official transcripts at the time of application?  

No. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application. You must list and provide your unofficial transcript for every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled — or are currently enrolled — in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts that show your degree conferral.

No, this is not necessary. Applicants may upload updated transcripts via their Status Page until the application deadline. 

If you were enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at that school, then yes. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will not be required to submit official transcripts for schools you attended for less than one academic year or on a part-time basis.

In lieu of a transcript, please upload a document that includes the courses that are in progress.  

Yes, as long as you must submit original language records with official English translations. We accept translations issued by the institution or a professional translating service. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.  

You are asked to enter both GPA and GPA scale for each institution you list on the application. Enter your GPA as it appears on your transcript. Do not convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it's reported on a different scale.

Information for international applicants  is available from Graduate Admissions.

Stanford’s assessment of a post-secondary degree is based on the characteristics of a national educational system, the type of institution you attended, and the level of studies you completed. Refer to the Eligibility page to view the minimum level of study you should have achieved from a recognized academic institution to enroll in graduate study at Stanford. Contact  Stanford’s Office of Graduate Admissions  (not the Department of Political Science) with any further questions.

Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) to be eligible for admission, unless you are exempt or successfully apply for a waiver (see below). 

Applicants must score at least 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL in order to be eligible for admission, though admitted applicants typically score at least 115. 

We accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition if you are unable to take the traditional TOEFL iBT test in a test center. If you take the Home Edition or Paper Edition, you may be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment.

Am I exempt from submitting TOEFL scores? 

You are automatically exempt from submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one the following criteria:

     A. You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally- accredited college or university in the United States (territories and possessions excluded).

     B. You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

If you are offered admission, the official transcript must be received showing conferral of the degree from the qualifying institution or TOEFL exam scores will be required to enroll. 

You may request a TOEFL waiver in the online application if you (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction.

• You will be asked to provide the URL for the page on your institution's official website stating the language of instruction.
• If your institution offers instruction in languages other than English, you must upload an official statement from your institution certifying that your program was taught exclusively in English.

Your waiver request will be routed to Graduate Admissions after you submit your application. Allow up to 15 business days after submitting your application for a response. This will not delay the receipt of your application by your graduate program.

Please note that the department of Political Science does not evaluate TOEFL waiver requests. Direct all questions to Stanford's Office of Graduate Admissions. 

For the current application cycle, TOEFL scores from tests taken on or after September 1, 2023 are valid.  

No. We do not accept TOEFL Essentials scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE) or coursework in lieu of the TOEFL. 

Yes, both international and domestic students receive the same funding package from the department. See  here for further information .

No, the use of these services is encouraged but not required. See here for more information on submitting transcripts.

No, the admissions committee is not available for consultation. We are not able to speculate on an applicant's chances of admission, or review application materials prior to application, or provide guidance on individual applications beyond what is provided on this website. 

Applicants may try to contact faculty before applying to discuss their interest in the PhD program, though it is not required nor expected. It is not necessary or possible to secure an advisor before admission to the program. Applicants are admitted to the program, not to work with particular faculty. Applicants are encouraged to read the  Admissions FAQ  and contact  politicalscience [at] stanford.edu (politicalscience[at]stanford[dot]edu)  with any admissions questions prior to contacting faculty.

Yes. The department invites admitted students to campus for a visit in April. This event is an excellent opportunity to talk to faculty and students about specific concerns or questions a prospective student may have.

The Department does not offer a master’s degree for external applicants. Applicants interested in a master’s degree should look into the  Ford Dorsey Masters in International Policy . Current doctoral students from within the Stanford Political Science department or in another Stanford University department may apply for a Master of Arts in Political Science during the course of their Ph.D. program. Master's candidates must take 45 units of course work, and 25 of those units must be in graduate seminars. There is no examination or thesis requirement.

Graduate School

General Information

Program offerings:, director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The graduate program in the Department of Politics leads to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in politics. The program is designed to offer broad professional training in political science and to enable students to specialize in any of the main subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory), as well as public law and formal and quantitative analysis. There is no separate program for a master’s degree.

Additional departmental requirements

Sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d..

Each student must complete at least six graded seminars by May of the first year, and a total of at least 12 graded seminars by May of the second year. If students take two rather than three of the general examinations, then they must complete 14 graded seminars by May of the third year. The required seminars must include at least one in three of the seven regular fields offered by the department. The director of graduate studies must approve all course selections.

Seminars (500-level courses) may be chosen from the 20 to 30 typically offered in the department each year. Students may also take Ph.D. seminars offered in neighboring departments and in the School of Public and International Affairs. These may be counted toward the seminar requirement if they have political content. All students taking courses outside the department must complete a comparable writing or examination requirement to politics seminars in order for those courses to be counted toward the seminar requirement.

Students participating in the Program in Political Philosophy may compose a special field made up of courses in one of the other cooperating departments in the program (classics, history, philosophy, and religion). Other departments that have been of interest to students include economics, sociology, psychology, East Asian studies, and Near Eastern studies.

In addition to regularly offered seminars, graduate students may create reading courses under the direction of a faculty member to explore more specialized topics. Reading courses typically include one faculty member and one student, although some include several students.

Seminars end on the last regular day of classes (December and April), and students must complete all assigned short essays within one week of that day. Students complete their fall-term research papers by approximately the third week of January, and their spring-term research papers by the third week of May.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement Each student is required to write at least three research papers in the first three years, at least two of which must be completed in the second year. With the approval and advice of the instructor, a research paper may be completed in a seminar and counted toward the seminar grade.

In addition, each student is required to take one term of directed research (POL 591) in the spring term of the second year. This project is independent of any seminar. To encourage students to become involved in research and collaboration with faculty as soon as possible, students select their independent work adviser and the general topic of their paper by mid-term in the spring term of the first year. Students convey these choices to the director of graduate studies in writing. This paper often builds on prior work done in a seminar. Students are required to present the POL 591 paper in the appropriate research seminar during the fall or spring term of the second year. The final paper is due by August 30 before the fifth semester.

Students are urged to use these various research and writing experiences to build toward a dissertation. For example, a student with a promising seminar paper might use POL 591 to do more extensive research on the subject and to develop a dissertation proposal based on it.

In order to encourage students to write papers of article length, all research papers are limited to 22,000 words. This applies to papers written for seminars and for POL 591.

Research Seminars Every year the department offers research seminars in each of the four major fields of political science (political theory, comparative politics/systems and culture, American politics, and international relations). Each enrolled student in residence is required to join one of these seminars each year, attend it regularly, and present their research at least once during the year. Research seminars are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Students present forms of work appropriate to their standing in the graduate program. First-year students typically offer seminar papers (sometimes in draft form), usually in the spring. Second-year students usually present their POL 591 paper.

General exam

Each student must successfully stand for the general examination and be recommended for continuation in the program before undertaking dissertation research. The purpose of the general examination is to ascertain a student’s knowledge of political science and his or her preparedness for advanced research. The best preparation is extensive seminar work in the department, supplemented as necessary by independent reading and study.

The general examination consists of written examinations in three separate fields and an oral examination. Students may opt to take written examinations in two rather than three fields on the condition that they complete 14 (rather than the required 12) graded seminars, including a coherent three-course 500-level sequence in a third field (but not including SPI 507b, 508b, or 508c). Students must receive an average grade of B or better in these three courses in order for them to be used for the third field. These courses must be chosen from outside the fields covered by the two written exams.

Normally at least two of a student’s general examination fields are selected from the seven regular examination fields listed below. A student may design a third, “substitute” field to replace the third regular examination field. Substitute fields should cohere with the student’s educational and research interests, and must not substantially overlap with the student’s other fields. A student may propose either a standard exam from another department (for example, political economy in economics) or in unusual circumstances a special examination. Special examinations require the agreement of a sponsoring faculty member in another department and the director of graduate studies. Alternatively, the “substitute” third field may be completed under the two-exam, 14-course option described above.

The politics faculty regularly sets examinations in the following seven fields: political theory, comparative politics, regional studies, American politics, international relations, public law, and formal and quantitative analysis. The Regional Studies exams test for mastery of theoretical and empirical knowledge about one of the following world regions: Africa, Asia (with the possibility to specify East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia), Latin America, the Middle East, Western Europe, or the Former Soviet Union and East Europe.  Students must specify in advance the region in which they are specializing.

All written examinations are four hours in length, with an additional hour for preparation. All written examinations are closed-book. An oral examination will be administered in every case in which the candidate’s grade on the overall written examination averages to 1.995 or worse or the candidate’s grade on any individual field exam is 1.995 or worse. For students receiving a grade better than 1.995 on the overall written exam and each field of the written exam, the requirement of an oral examination is waived. The oral examination is conducted by a faculty panel, with one member from each of the fields in which the student is being examined. For students taking only two written exams, the faculty panel for the oral examination will include two members of the primary field.  The faculty panels of the oral examination are constituted by the DGS.

Students must stand for the general examination no later than the end of the fourth term of enrollment. They may opt to take the examination sooner. All students must complete at least seven graded seminars at Princeton before taking the general examination.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy. To qualify for the award of the M.A., a student must earn an average grade of B- or better in 12 seminars and complete two research papers with a grade of B- or better. The M.A. may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met. 

Each student must lead undergraduate preceptorials during the five years of enrollment. Students typically teach after passing the general examination. A preceptorial is a discussion section of up to 13 undergraduates, which meets once a week as a supplement to a faculty-taught lecture course.

By April of each year, each student must inform the department manager which semesters they are available to teach in the next academic year. Each student is ultimately required to be available to teach for a minimum of four semesters. The student must accept any number of precepts offered in a class during the agreed upon semesters, up to a maximum of three precepts. The requirement that a student be available for teaching is waived once the student has led a minimum of nine preceptorials. Each student is expected to lead preceptorials in at least one undergraduate class as part of satisfying the teaching requirement.

The teaching requirement may be reduced to as few as six preceptorials if a student obtains substantial funding from outside the University or work as a research assistant for a faculty member during an academic year or term. The teaching requirement is reduced to three preceptorials if students graduate within four and a half years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within five years.  The teaching requirement is waived entirely if students graduate within three years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within three and a half years.

Certain fellowships for which post-generals students may be eligible do not allow teaching during the tenure of the fellowship. These include University honorific fellowships, Prize Fellowships of the University Center for Human Values, and the Fellowship of the Woodrow Wilson Society. Students who expect to be candidates for these fellowships are advised to accelerate their teaching so that their teaching obligation will not interfere with their eligibility.

Dissertation and FPO

Before presenting the prospectus in the student’s subfield research seminar, the student should select three advisers for the prospectus.  At least two members of the prospectus committee must be regular members of the politics department.  Before the end of the fifth semester, with the approval of the prospectus committee, each student will present a draft prospectus or first dissertation chapter to the student’s subfield research seminar, if possible with the advisers present. The seminar will function as a workshop where advice can be given about the definition of the topic and plan of research. The prospectus or dissertation chapters should be 12,000-25,000 words. Students are required to secure final acceptance of the prospectus from their advisers before the end of the sixth term of enrollment in order to remain in good standing.

After the prospectus has been approved, students should designate at least two readers to advise the writing of the dissertation.  Students may change this designation as needed.  In order to serve as first or second readers, the advisers must be members of the Princeton faculty at the rank of assistant professor or above, and at least one must be a member of the politics department. During the third, fourth, or fifth year, a third reader is identified by the student in consultation with the first two readers.  Students must first secure the consent of the third reader and submit the name for approval by the director of graduate studies (DGS).  The third reader is normally a Princeton faculty member, but may instead be a faculty member at another university holding the rank of assistant professor or above. Any external readers must be of comparable standing in a relevant branch of the scholarly community.  Third readers are less involved in advising than are the first two readers. The DGS appoints a fourth reader.  Students should submit the names of three appropriate faculty members, along with the title of the dissertation, to the DGS in order to initiate the process of appointing a fourth reader.  The fourth reader is normally a member of the politics department.  The fourth reader is expected to read only the final version of the dissertation.

A final public oral examination is scheduled no fewer than fourteen calendar days after the approval of the thesis.  At least three examiners, two of whom have not served as first or second readers of the dissertation, and at least two of whom are members of the University faculty, conduct the examination.  Normally, therefore, the committee must consist of the first and/or the second reader and the third and fourth readers.  After the student successfully defends their thesis, he or she is recommended to the Graduate School for receipt of a doctoral degree.

• Kristopher W. Ramsay (interim)

Associate Chair

• Layna Mosley

Director of Graduate Studies

• Arthur Spirling

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Gary J. Bass
• Mark R. Beissinger
• Charles R. Beitz
• Carles Boix
• Charles M. Cameron
• Rafaela M. Dancygier
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Paul Frymer
• Robert P. George
• Matias Iaryczower
• G. John Ikenberry
• John Kastellec
• Melissa Lane
• Frances E. Lee
• John B. Londregan
• Stephen J. Macedo
• Nolan McCarty
• Tali Mendelberg
• Helen V. Milner
• Andrew Moravcsik
• Jan-Werner Müller
• Alan W. Patten
• Grigore Pop-Eleches
• Markus Prior
• Kristopher W. Ramsay
• Jacob N. Shapiro
• Rocío Titiunik
• James Raymond Vreeland
• Leonard Wantchekon
• Ismail K. White
• Jennifer A. Widner
• Deborah J. Yashar

Associate Professor

• Gregory A. Conti
• Jonathan F. Mummolo
• LaFleur Stephens-Dougan
• Hye Young You

Assistant Professor

• Christopher W. Blair
• German S. Gieczewski
• Tanushree Goyal
• Naima N. Green-Riley
• Saad A. Gulzar
• Gleason Judd
• Nicholas Kuipers
• Elizabeth R. Nugent
• Temi Ogunye
• Rebecca L. Perlman
• Guadalupe Tuñón
• Andreas B. Wiedemann

Associated Faculty

• Christopher L. Eisgruber, President
• Daniel Garber, Philosophy
• Elizabeth L. Paluck, Psychology
• Philip N. Pettit, Center for Human Values
• Kim Lane Scheppele, Schl of Public & Int'l Affairs
• Michael Smith, Philosophy
• Brandon M. Stewart, Sociology

Lecturer with Rank of Professor

• Allen Carl Guelzo
• Tolgahan Dilgin
• Darren Geist
• Marzenna James
• Corrine M. McConnaughy

Visiting Associate Professor

• David Tubbs

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ECO 520 - Economics and Politics (also POL 577)

Gss 543 - interest groups and social movements in american politics and policy (also aas 543/ams 543/pol 543), phi 503 - plato's political philosophy (half-term) (also cla 530/pol 556), pol 502 - mathematics for political science, pol 503 - survey analysis, pol 505 - experimental methods in political science, pol 506 - qualitative methods (also spi 595), pol 507 - topics in plato (half-term) (also cla 507/hls 507/phi 507), pol 511 - problems in political theory (also phi 529), pol 516 - politics of middle east authoritarianism in comparative perspective (half-term), pol 517 - international political theory, pol 518 - political philosophy, pol 519 - john stuart mill's politics: ideas and context, pol 520 - democracy and its enemies (half-term), pol 521 - the study of comparative politics, pol 524 - introduction to critical theory (half-term), pol 528 - the study of comparative politics: institutions and behavior, pol 530 - the politics of growth & redistribution, pol 533 - clientelism and state capture, pol 538 - comparative political behavior, pol 541 - judicial politics, pol 542 - american political institutions, pol 544 - introduction to american politics, part i: political behavior, pol 547 - identity politics, pol 548 - political psychology, pol 549 - seminar in american politics, pol 550 - international organization, pol 551 - seminar in international politics, pol 552 - seminar in media and politics, pol 553 - political theory, athens to augustine: graduate seminar (also cla 535/hls 552/phi 552), pol 554 - international security studies, pol 561 - constitutional theory, pol 563 - philosophy of law (also phi 526), pol 565 - theories of judicial review, pol 568 - hegel and marx, pol 570b - seminar in formal theory: american politics theory (half-term), pol 571 - empirical research methods for political science, pol 572 - quantitative analysis i, pol 573 - quantitative analysis ii (also soc 595), pol 574 - quantitative analysis iv, pol 575 - formal political analysis i, pol 576 - formal political analysis ii, pol 578 - seminar in quantitative analysis, pol 581 - advanced political institutions, pol 584 - foundations of political economy (also eco 576), pol 585 - international political economy, pol 588 - political theory of french revolution, pol 589 - states, democracies, nations, pol 591 - directed research, pol 592 - social movements and revolutions, pol 593 - research seminar, pol 594 - research seminar, pol 595 - research seminar, pol 596 - research seminar, pol 597 - research seminars, pol 599 - responsible conduct of research in political science, spi 556b - topics in ir (also las 566/pol 564), spi 556d - topics in ir (also pol 522), spi 561 - the comparative political economy of development (also pol 523), spi 590b - politics of inequality and redistribution (half-term) (also pol 598), spi 595b - phd seminar: qualitative research design (also pol 509).

The Department of Political Science

• PhD Requirements
• Graduate Courses
• PhDs on the Job Market
• Alumni Job Placement
• Honors & Fellowships

The Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science is known for its strength in theory and in innovative and trans-disciplinary approaches to uncovering new knowledge and the program of doctoral study draws on these strengths to provide rigorous training. Our program is designed for highly qualified, intellectually curious, and creative graduate students who can benefit by learning from and contributing to this community of scholars.

Doctoral students develop in-depth knowledge of a major field and a minor field (or two major fields), chosen from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, law and politics, and political theory. In addition, doctoral students may complete a certificate in comparative racial politics.

Students have opportunities to work closely with faculty and to pursue independent research, and faculty and doctoral students benefit from strong connections with colleagues in other social science and humanities disciplines and opportunities to collaborate with them.

The preparation of the next generation of scholars in the field of political science is a key part of the Johns Hopkins political science department faculty’s commitment to research and advancing the understanding of politics. The doctoral program reflects the distinctive strengths of the department’s cross-cutting intellectual orientations (encompassing the themes of power and inequality, identities and allegiances, agency and structure, and borders and flows), realized in faculty and Ph.D. student research and teaching.

The department and Krieger School of Arts and Sciences provide opportunities for developing teaching and other career-related skills.

Interested in Pursuing an MA?

Our sister schools offer a variety of degree programs.

• Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Study
• Johns Hopkins Advanced Academic Programs

Graduate Program

Introduction.

The graduate program in Government at Cornell prepares students for academic and research careers in political science. All students admitted to the program are expected to earn a doctoral degree. In exceptional circumstances, students who choose to leave the program or who fail to fulfill the requirements for admission to doctoral candidacy may be granted a Master’s degree. Completion of the Ph.D. program normally requires two-to-three years of full-time course work at Cornell and several additional years of dissertation research and writing.

The Ph.D. Program

The Graduate Program is divided into four subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory . To be admitted to doctoral study, students are required to take a comprehensive written exam in one of these subfields for their major. For their second subfield, students choose to take an exam or complete coursework in a second subfield or a Course of Study of their own design.  Constructed around intellectual concerns and research problems of the student’s own choosing, the Course of Study is not to be conceived as a specialization within the student’s major field: rather, it should pursue issues which link several fields of study within political science and related disciplines. Students are expected to complete their subfield examinations by the end of their third year.

We expect our graduates to possess a broad understanding of the discipline, specialized expertise in one or more areas, and competence in social science methods. Students are required to take at least one reading course in three of four subfields before advancing to candidacy. During their study at Cornell, students must complete 12 graduate-level courses in Government and related fields. (Up to three courses may be transferred from graduate programs at other institutions.)

Doctoral students must demonstrate competence in either a foreign language or methods. In addition, they are expected to serve as teaching assistants for at least one semester. Experience in undergraduate teaching under the supervision of a faculty member is essential preparation for an academic career and an important component of the graduate program at Cornell. Most Ph.D. students serve as teaching assistants for at least two years.

Research Facilities and Resources

Cornell’s library system contains nearly five million volumes and is among the leading university research libraries in the United States.

Cornell offers intensive instruction in virtually all modern languages, including many of those less commonly taught, such as the Andean languages of South America and numerous languages of South and Southeast Asia.

Graduate students are encouraged to participate in Cornell’s distinguished network of interdisciplinary research activities. Those include the programs affiliated with the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies: separate area studies programs in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Latin America; Slavic and Eastern European Studies; the Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies; the Western Societies Program; Gender and Global Change; and the International Political Economy Program to name only a few. Other important centers for students include: the Institute for European Studies, Center for the Environment (with ten topical programs), the Society for the Humanities; the Women’s Studies Program; the Program on Ethics and Public Life; the Program in Visual Culture; the Africana Studies and Research Center, and the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research (CISER), and the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development.

The English Language Support Office (ELSO) provides writing and speaking support to international multilingual graduate and professional students free of charge. This support includes credit-bearing writing and speaking courses; tutoring on writing projects, presentations, and pronunciation; workshops; and a conversation program. To learn more about ELSO’s programs, click here .

Submitting the Application

All application materials are to be submitted online at  http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/applying/apply-now . Questions can be directed to [email protected]. 

Application must include copies of full academic transcripts from each institution previously attended, three letters of recommendation, an academic research statement of purpose, a writing sample, and TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable). Applicants are required to submit an academic statement and a personal statement describing how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This is an opportunity for you to provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and innovate productively and positively together. We do not rank candidates by comparing their personal statements, but we do use them to acquire a fuller, contextual understanding of each applicant's strengths.  We do not require special formatting or page limitations for your writing sample.

Effective 2023, we no longer accept GRE scores.

If your native language is not English, you must submit a TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum scores are Writing: 20, Listening: 15, Reading: 20, Speaking: 22 and an overall band score of a 7.00 higher on the IELTS Academic exam. Scores must be sent electronically (e-delivery) to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions, Caldwell Hall e-download account. E-delivery may also be referred to as an e-TRF by your test center.  For admissions purposes, Cornell University's Graduate School does not require IELTS or TOEFL scores from applicants who meet a Standing Exemption .  Click here for additional information on Standing Exemption

The deadline for all applications and additional materials is December 15. This deadline is FIRM, no late applications or additional materials are accepted. Cornell University expects all applicants to complete their application materials without the use of paid agents, credentials services, or other paid professional assistance. The use of such services violates University policy, and may lead to the rejection of application materials, the revocation of an admissions offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the University. Applicants are informed of the admission decision before April 1 and are expected to notify the field of their acceptance before April 15.

Application fee waiver:  In cases of financial hardship, the Graduate School will consider a request for a fee waiver. Fee waivers can be requested on the application. You will need to provide a brief but well-considered explanation of how the application fee presents a financial hardship for you. Relevant factors include unemployment or underemployment, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from a recent FAFSA, economic conditions in your home country, etc.  More information on fee waivers is available through the Graduate School website.

Applications are reviewed and evaluated without reference to financial need. Under normal circumstances, and contingent on satisfactory academic progress, we provide full financial support for five years of graduate study. Regularly admitted students typically receive a full fellowship for their first year and last year. The remaining financial support usually takes the form of teaching assistantships. Students who do field research for their dissertation typically require support from external sources. Several of the area studies programs at Cornell provide fellowships for this purpose on a competitive basis. We encourage and help our students pursue these and other opportunities for outside support.

Graduate Courses

Methodology

• Introductory Probability and Statistics
• Advanced Regression Analysis
• Comparative Methods
• Formal Theory and Modeling
• Foundations of Social Sciences
• Experiment and Survey Design

American Politics

• Government and Public Policy
• The United States Congress
• Field Seminar: American Political Organizations, Institutions and Party Systems
• Democratic Theory and Institutions
• Political Economy of American Development
• Social Movements and State Expansion in the 20th Century
• American Foreign Policy
• Public Opinion

Comparative Politics

• Comparative Political Ecology
• Criminality and the State
• Comparative Democratization
• Administration of Agricultural and Rural Development
• Agrarian Political Economy
• Chinese Politics
• Comparative Labor Movements (Europe & Latin America)
• Comparative Political Economy (advanced industrial countries)
• European Parties and Party Systems
• Social Movements, Collective Action, and Reform
• State and Economy in Comparative Perspective

International Relations

• Field Seminar in International Relations
• International Political Economy
• International Security Politics
• Ethical Issues in International Affairs
• U.S. Foreign Policy in Perspective
• The Politics of Transnationalism
• Asian Security
• International Strategy
• Foreign Policy Analysis

Political Theory

• Secession, Intervention & Just War Theory
• Modern Social Theory
• American Political Thought
• Contemporary Democratic Theory
• Republicanism and Liberalism
• The Western Political Tradition
• Language and Politics

Life in Ithaca

Cornell University is situated in Ithaca, a small city in central New York on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes. The expansive campus, overlooking the lake and bounded on two sides by deep glaciated gorges, is acknowledged to be one of the most scenic in the world. About 3000 acres of trails, ponds, gardens, and biological research facilities are administered by Cornell Arboretum.

Ithaca is a pleasant and livable city of humanscale, with varied and affordable shopping establishments and restaurants (including the world famous Moosewood Restaurant). There are excellent facilities for most indoor and outdoor sports. The area has a lively arts community; year-round concerts, theater, and musical events are presented at Cornell and Ithaca College featuring world-class performers. In addition to the films at numerous commercial theaters, a year-round program from early classics to the most recent avant garde offerings-are presented by Cornell Cinema. Formal lectures, conferences, and seminar series bring to the Cornell campus leading international figures in all the academic disciplines and in public affairs.

Housing for graduate students is available within walking distance of the campus, in residential areas within the city of Ithaca which are served by Ithaca Transit, and in the rural surrounding areas. Excellent medical services can be found in the City of Ithaca and at Cornell’s Gannett Health Center.

Click here for more information on planning a visit to the Cornell University campus and the Ithaca area.

Graduate Faculty

Cornell’s graduate field of Government has a large and diverse faculty representing the major theoretical, methodological, and substantive areas of contemporary political science. The ratio of faculty to graduate students is excellent; students have the opportunity to work closely with one or more members of the faculty. The faculty makes a special effort to place successful Ph.D. candidates in their first professional position in what has become a highly competitive and very selective academic market.

Click here for a directory of our graduate field faculty.

Graduate Awards

Our graduate students have won a number of prestigious awards, grants and fellowships. Click here for a list of recent award winners.

Graduate Student Handbook

Click here for the Graduate Student Handbook

Ph.D. in Political Science

Ph.d. program contact.

Program Director: Associate Professor Jeremy Gelman, Ph.D.

Application deadlines

Fall application and assistantship deadline: January 15

Please note: the department does not offer application fee waivers.

Questions? Jump to the Frequently Asked Questions below.

GRE updates

The GRE requirement is suspended for Ph.D.s applying to start in the Fall 2024 semester.

The strength of the Ph.D. program in political science lies in its small size and the diversity of its faculty. Students accepted into the doctoral program are expected to have a major and minor field in the areas the department offers as specializations, which include:

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Public administration
• Public policy

The program requires major and minor comprehensive exams in students' selected fields.

Within this context, the University confers the Ph.D. degree for work of distinction in which the student makes clear contributions of original scholarship. The degree is awarded in recognition of marked ability and achievement. The political science doctoral program is specifically designed to allow students to:

• Develop research skills through the advanced study of research design and methodology, political processes and problems, and policy issues
• Prepare for careers in research and teaching institutions of higher education, in public administration and public policy as well as for careers in the private or public sector requiring sophisticated analytical, writing, oral presentation and methodological skills
• Engage in advanced research involving issues of politics and public policy

Admissions process

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive; a limited number of applicants are accepted each year. To be considered, all application must be complete and submitted through the University's Graduate School. A departmental selection committee makes the admission decisions.

Minimum requirements

• Undergraduate Degree (B.A./B.S.)
• GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.25 or higher (on a 4.0‐point scale) for all prior coursework at the undergraduate level.
• 18 previously completed credit hours (six courses) in social science courses (broadly defined)
• GRE Scores ( Please note: The GRE requirement is currently waived) : GRE scores are normally required by the department and the Graduate School, and must be from an examination taken in the previous five years. However, this requirement is currently suspended for the Department of Political Science.

Please note that these are minimum requirements; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Students are admitted on an increasingly competitive basis. We take into consideration a student's overall record, as well as the department's ability to accommodate a student's research/teaching interest.

Application materials need to be mailed to the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate School website for deadlines. The following documents must be submitted to the Graduate School, University of Nevada, Reno:

• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• GRE scores (The GRE requirement is currently waived. Scores optional.)
• TOEFL scores (if applicable)
• Three letters of recommendation of which at least one is from a professor with whom you have taken and completed coursework.
• Statement of purpose: this one-to-two-page statement should be double-spaced and printed in a standard font. In this statement, you should discuss your career and educational goals and how those goals fit into the research specializations of the department. Please make sure your name is at the top of each page.

Apply to the program today

The Ph.D. degree requires 60 credits beyond the B.A. degree. Please see the Graduate School's webpages for program of study requirements and the General Catalog. Six credits are required for comprehensive examinations.

Whether a student pursues the degree part-time or full-time, students must complete all requirements for the degree within the Graduate School's eight-year limit. The course requirements that follow are the minimum standards established by the department. Students may take courses beyond the minimum in preparation for comprehensive exams and their dissertation research.

The Ph.D. program requires all students to fulfill the following minimum course requirements:

Scope and methods: 9 credits

At the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, students with prior graduate-level training that covers the material in these courses may have some of these courses waived. Pending on approval by the Director of Graduate Studies, students may also take one or two method courses from other departments/programs to substitute some of these courses. Students still must meet minimum credit hour requirements.

First field: 12 credits

To be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor/committee chair.

Second field: 9 credits

To be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor/committee chair

Field seminars and/or electives: 9 credits

Dissertation: 15 dissertation credits

Comprehensive examinations: 6 credits

Typically three credits in the fall and three credits in the spring. Also, see Ph.D. comprehensive examinations in the graduate program handbook.

For the most updated course offerings, please check the University General Catalog. You should also discuss courses with your advisor and/or Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate grades and grade point average standing

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) to maintain graduate standing with the Graduate School. If a student's GPA falls below a 3.0, the Graduate School will give the student one semester to increase their GPA to a 3.00 level. If the student fails to do so, the Graduate School will dismiss them from graduate studies at the University; this decision is not made by the Political Science Department. In graduate studies, generally grades below a "B" are considered failing by the faculty and are frowned upon. In addition to satisfying minimum requirements of continuous enrolment by the Graduate School, all funded students must satisfy departmental expectations to receive continuous funding (see Financial aid and graduate assistantship in the graduate program handbook).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What is a ph.d what is the degree for.

The Ph.D. is a research degree for those who want research careers inside and outside the academy (higher education). It leads to research-focused jobs such as professors and research positions in government, not-for-profit or for-profit institutions.

Do I need a MA first?

No, we admit students to the Ph.D. program who have BA and BS degrees and who have demonstrated an understanding of the purpose of the Ph.D., demonstrated research ability and are prepared for graduate-level work.

What do I put in the statement of purpose?

The statement of purpose is a document that indicates to the admission committee the subfield of political science, research topics and—to the extent possible—research methodologies the student is interested in. This helps the committee identify whether the department can support the student’s academic goals and allows the committee to assign an appropriate adviser. Please note, the statement of purpose is not intended to be focused on the student’s personal life experience more than is necessary to establish the student’s research interests and experiences related to social science research.

Do I need an adviser before I apply?

You are welcome to reach out to a faculty member to see if their interests align with your own and inquire whether they are working with graduate students. Some faculty may have funded Graduate Teaching or Graduate Research Assistant positions, in which case they may conduct interviews or other evaluations. General admission to the program is handled by a Graduate Committee for those not seeking funding or interested in one of our generally assigned GTA lines. One does not need permission for general application.

I am from (X) country and have (Y) TOEFL score…

Requirements on language proficiency are set by the Graduate School, not our department.

Graduate School language proficiency rules

Do you offer fellowships/what do I need to do to obtain a fellowship?

We do offer what we call ”Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowships” for some Ph.D. students. They are limited and highly competitive. We generally admit 1-2 funded Ph.D. students per year. You can indicate your interest in a Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowship on your application. No other form is required at the departmental level.

Can you review my CV before I apply?

Unfortunately, we cannot. We are a small department and cannot offer pre-review.

Do you offer application fee waivers?

Application fees are collected by the Graduate School, not our department. We cannot offer any waivers under any circumstances.

What is included in a Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowship?

Graduate teaching assistant fellowship information

Does your assistantship cover summer months?

Standard GTAs are for 10 months.

Do I need to have a Political Science undergraduate degree to apply?

No, we only require that students have 18 previously completed credit hours in social science.

What methods are used in your department?

Our faculty is methodologically pluralist, including scholars who work in quantitative, qualitative, experimental and normative traditions. Please feel free to look at faculty members’ websites or contact them for more detailed information.

Is there an online option?

Political Science

Political Science Ph.D.

Headline info.

The Department of Political Science at the University of Iowa offers a rich program of graduate study that has as its foundation a group of faculty members who are committed to first-rate research and teaching. The University of Iowa Political Science Department ranks among the best in the country in terms of scholarly quality as measured by faculty publications in the leading professional journals.

Students receive graduate training through seminars, through collaborative work with other faculty, and through daily interaction with other students. The result is that graduates from the University of Iowa frequently enter the job market with publications in hand. According to our past experience, after obtaining the doctoral degree, graduates can expect to find employment in high-quality colleges and universities.

Five fields of study are available: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, formal theory, and research methods . Each student chooses three fields of study for qualifying examinations. The Department of Political Science at the University of Iowa offers comprehensive study in each of these fields, provides training in a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches, and provides opportunities for individualized programs of learning. After having completed a sequence of study, each graduate student can expect to be prepared to teach and to conduct research in three fields. Because of the importance of statistical methods for the conduct of political science research, the first-year course curriculum includes a compulsory sequence in quantitative methods. Advanced graduate students have a wide array of seminars from which they can select and build a general program of study. The Department of Political Science at the University of Iowa focuses on training skilled researchers. Graduate students can expect to receive rigorous training and complete professional preparation.

Department rules and procedures described in the Guide to Doctoral Study together with the general University rules set forth in the University of Iowa Bulletin and the rules of the Graduate College set forth in the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College constitute the body of regulations which govern students pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Political Science.

All applicants should upload unofficial transcripts from all academic institutions into the Application for Graduate Admission.  Department of Political Science is currently not accepting hard copies as staff are working remotely.  Graduate Students who are admitted into the program will be asked to submit official hard copy transcripts after admissions decisions are released.

Note: The application and all supporting documents must be submitted by December 1st, 2024. No extensions will be granted. Please read the instructions prior to contacting the graduate office.

Application Instructions

To apply for admission to the UCLA Political Science Department’s Ph.D. program, you must use the form on the Graduate Division website ( http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/applicat.htm ). That online form will guide you through the process. Be sure to select “Political Science” as your academic program in the “Plans for Graduate Study” section in the online admissions form. Note that the department does not have a separate  master’s degree  program, so if you’re interested in doing graduate work in our department you must apply for admission to the Ph.D. program.

As part of the application process, we are going to need three  letters of recommendation . You should not ask your recommenders to send their letters directly to the department. Instead, you will provide names and contact information online for three people who have agreed to write letters for you. The letter writers will be contacted directly via email, and will also submit their letters electronically. This procedure is described in more detail on the application form website. For this purpose, you will not use the application form but will instead click into the link for “Recommendations” on the lower left-hand side of the online application form.

You must submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample. The section on  “Statement of Purpose”  in the application form will give you a good sense for what the Statement should be. It should be about three to five pages, double-spaced, in length.

Your  writing sample  is another requirement that will be taken into account when your application is assessed. We are not interested simply in seeing how well you write English, although that of course is important. We are also interested in getting some sense for your analytical abilities. Normally, the writing sample would be a paper you did in college or in a master’s program that you are particularly proud of, but one that is not purely descriptive in nature. An applicant will sometimes send in a copy of his or her senior thesis or master’s thesis. The sample should be at least five pages and at most 25 pages long (double-spaced).

You are also required to send in your official transcripts from previous academic work you have done. Upload transcripts onto the application form and mail official hard copy transcripts to the department. The one exception has to do with applicants who have gotten their undergraduate degree from UCLA. Those applicants do not have to provide an official transcript, but they will still need to submit an unofficial copy of their final transcript after they graduate, which they can get from the registrar’s office, to prove they have actually gotten their degree. If your undergraduate transcript does not show explicitly that you have been awarded a bachelor’s degree, at some point before you actually enroll you will need to send us a copy of your  diploma , as officially issued by your university registrar. If that diploma is in a foreign language, you should also submit, in hard copy, an official English language translation of the diploma which you would get from the registrar (or equivalent office) at the institution that awarded it.

Finally, an international student who has been admitted and has decided to enroll in our program will have to send us a copy of his or her  passport  by April 11, so that the visa-issuance process will have enough time to run its course. All hard-copy material should be sent to:

Graduate Students who are admitted into the program will be asked to submit official hard copy transcripts after admissions decisions are released.  Please send them to this address below.

ATTN: Graduate Advisor, UCLA UCLA Political Science Department BOX 951472, 4289 Bunche Los Angeles, CA 90095-1472

You will also have to take the  General Graduate Record Examination  and have the results sent directly to the department. You should take the GRE’s no later than November 1 so that we receive the test results before your application is processed. UCLA’s institution code for this exam in 4837 and the department code is 1902. The Educational Testing Service, which administers the exam, should be provided with this information so it knows where to send the results of the test.

Applicants from abroad whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and have the results reported directly to the department. UCLA’s institution code is 4837 and the department code is 89. More details can be found at  https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/english-requirements/ . The minimum scores you would need to get are described on that webpage. We recommend that you take your TOEFL or IELTS exam by November 1st so that we can receive the results by the time applications are reviewed. Since it is very important that we know that your English is good enough to do graduate work in our department, we may at some point arrange for a Skype interview. Please note that in order to work as a teaching assistant, non-native speakers will also need to get a passing score on the University’s Test of Oral Proficiency examination.

When your application is complete you will be automatically prompted to pay the application fee. The fee is to be paid via credit card. If you think you’ve completed the form but are not prompted to pay the fee, click the link for “Check Your Application” on the lower left-hand side of the online application form to see what is missing. As you’ll see on the “Fee Waiver” section of the application form, certain applicants are eligible to have that fee waived. More information on fee waivers is available on the Graduate Division website at  http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/admisinfo.html#Fees .

The application for students planning to enter in the fall of a given year will be available by mid September of the previous year. (Our department accepts applications only for students planning to enter the Ph.D. program in the fall). The application is due on December 1st, 2024. Note that the application has to be complete in order to be submitted, so please plan accordingly. The applications will be reviewed by the faculty in December and January, and for those students who are admitted, acceptance letters will generally go out in early February. Those letters will also include information about the financial package an applicant is being offered. Students who are offered admission will normally have until early April to let us know whether or not they are going to come.

If you have additional questions about our program, please first read the section on the graduate program on the department website here and also the department’s graduate handbook, which is available  here  (new hyperlink should be:  http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/content/graduate-handbooks ). If after reading this material you still have questions about the program or about the application process, please feel free to contact the graduate advisors in the department’s graduate office  [email protected] .

Financial Aid Information

The department tries to provide whatever financial support is needed to enable a student who is accepted into the program to make satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. But this is just a goal, and, if you are offered admission, what we will actually be able to promise you will be outlined in the offer letter.

You will need, of course, to find some way—generally with the department’s help—of covering both your living costs and tuition and fees, if those costs exceed what you were promised in the offer letter. Here are some basic facts that relate to this problem. What you would have to pay, in theory, for tuition and fees depends on whether you have California residency. California residents pay only in-state tuition (formerly called the “Educational Fee”). U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are not California residents must in addition pay “Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition” (NRST) in the first year in the program. They can, however, be reclassified as California residents for tuition purposes after the first year, and, if approved, will no longer be charged for NRST. For more information about this, go to  http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Fees-Residence/Residence-Requirements .

International students cannot become California residents for tuition purposes and must continue to pay non-resident tuition until they advance to Ph.D. candidacy (i.e., until they have completed all course and program requirements except the dissertation). Thereafter, there will be a 100% reduction of NRST (but not of basic Tuition) for a total of three years after they advance to candidacy.

Thus for the academic year 2024-2025, California residents paid a total of about $18,136 in tuition and fees. The corresponding figure for non-residents (both from out-of-state and abroad) was about $33,238. Students, however—and this applies to both California residents and non-residents, including international students—who work as teaching assistants, research assistants, and in many cases as readers (i.e., graders) receive substantial fee remissions. For more information, including current figures, see the “Graduate Student Fees and Fee Remissions” page on the Graduate Division website ( http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gss/library/feesintro.htm ).

Living costs will be covered by a stipend you receive from the department, by the salary you receive by being a teaching assistant, or in other ways (e.g., by various fellowships or mentorships you are awarded after you are enrolled).

Note that you do not have to apply separately to be considered for financial aid. If you are accepted into the program, you will automatically be considered for a fellowship and the offer you receive will include provisions relating to financial support. If, however, for one reason or another you might not need any, or much, financial support from the department, you should let the graduate advisors ( [email protected] ) in our graduate office know about this as soon as you apply. If, for example, you are getting funding, or have a good chance of getting funding, from some source outside of UCLA (like a foundation or a government agency), we would need to know about this so we can take it into account in the admission process. This also applies to students who are prepared to pay for their own education. If you are an international student with external funding that will cover NSRT, you should make this clear in your application.

If you’re interested in being considered from one of the special Graduate Division fellowships listed on the application form, you will simply need to fill out the corresponding section on that form. But please don’t check the box for any of the fellowships listed there that you don’t really feel you’re qualified for.

The most important of the Graduate Division fellowships is the Cota-Robles fellowship, which “is intended to help ensure access to graduate study for students who have experienced significant socioeconomic disadvantages or overcome other major educational or physical disadvantages in their pursuit of higher education.” More information about this program is available on the Graduate Division website at  https://grad.ucla.edu/ . As noted above, you apply for it directly on the application form.

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Loyola University Chicago

Department of political science, phd in political science.

The PhD program in political science is intended for students who wish to acquire careers in teaching and research or work in the government or the private sector. The focus includes the four fields of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Students will take most of their courses and specialize in two fields. One of the two fields will constitute the major field and the other the minor field.  Interested students should refer to the Prospective PhD Students information page .

Degree Outcomes and Professional Success  

The PhD in Political Science offers students:

• An in-depth understanding of the theories and scholarly literature in the subfields of Comparative Politics (study of political regimes, including the state, development and modernization, political, economic, and social movements), International Relations (study of global processes throughout the international system), American Politics (study of U.S. institutions and political processes), and Political Theory (study of political philosophy ranging from Ancient to Modern and Contemporary political thought).
• Extensive methods training, including research design and statistical analysis, that will enable the successful candidate to effectively design and conduct research.
• Research and teaching training by serving as both a research assistant for department faculty and professor of record for at least one class during the period of the PhD student’s funding.
• An enhanced ability to express their thoughts in writing (all Political Science graduate classes include a significant writing component).
• Preparation for careers in research and teaching at colleges and universities or work in the government, non-profit, and private sectors.

We also encourage our PhD students to take advantage of additional learning opportunities:

• Advanced methodological training
• Advanced language training/proficiency in a language other than English
• Advanced research skills
• International, cross-cultural experience
• Professional development and experience
• Networking opportunities

Degree Requirements

1. Completion of the Master's degree (those students who did not come to Loyola with an M.A. can take the MA comprehensive exam after having completed 10 courses, including PLSC 401, 475 and 476, and earn an MA).

2. Forty-eight semester hours (16 courses) of work, six hours (2 courses) of which can be in a related discipline. Required coursework includes:

a. Methodology (475 must be taken in the first fall semester):

• PLSC 401: Research Design                   
• PLSC 475: Techniques of Political Analysis I
• PLSC 476: Techniques of Political Analysis II

b. Four classes (12 credits) in major field (International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, or Political Theory) and three classes (9 credits) in minor field (International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, or Political Theory).

c. Any 5 elective courses (15 credits), chosen from at least two subfields (International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, or Political Theory).

d. One Directed Readings course (PLSC 499) to develop a dissertation proposal. This course should be taken in the last semester of that the student takes courses.

Note: Students may be required to develop language proficiency to conduct research for their doctoral dissertations. The Graduate School can offer tuition credit for PhD students who need to take language courses that are necessary for dissertation research.

3. Comprehensive Exams: Candidates must pass comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive examinations have both written and oral components. All course requirements, including removal of all existing incompletes, must be fulfilled before students can take the written comprehensive exam.

4. Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation: Candidates must complete and successfully defend both a dissertation proposal and the completed dissertation. Sometime in the third year of study, students are expected for form a dissertation committee, with the assistance of the Graduate Program Director.

Note: Students may transfer up to 12 semester hours (4 courses) of graduate credit from another university program based on an evaluation of their transcript. Students must complete four semesters of residence, including at least two consecutive semesters at Loyola. At least one academic year (two consecutive semesters) must be spent as a full-time student.  

Acceptance is based on a consideration of the following:

• Online application (free)
• Undergraduate academic record (applicant must provide all college transcripts)
• Three letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose, not to exceed two single-spaced pages, describing academic interests and professional goals
• Please see the Prospective Doctoral Students Webpage for additional explanation of the above requirements.

Acceptance will be on a rolling basis, with a February 15 th  application deadline.

Program Length & Time Limits  

The average time-frame nation-wide for students to earn the PhD is six years. Completing the course work and passing the comprehensive exams normally takes two-and-a-half to three years, the remainder of the time to degree is principally up to the student. Some of our students have completed the PhD in just under five years.

Graduate School regulations require students entering the program with a Bachelor's Degree to complete all Ph.D. requirements, including the dissertation, within eight years of taking their first course in the degree program. Students admitted to the doctoral program with a Master's degree must complete all Ph.D. requirements, including the dissertation, within six years of the start of their program. A student failing to meet these deadlines may submit a petition to the Graduate Studies Committee requesting an extension of the relevant deadline. The final authority to extend the time limits resides in the Graduate School.

For further information, please contact Professor Eric Hansen, Graduate Program Director for Political Science, at [email protected]  or 773.508.3053.

• Undergraduate
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