best political science phd programs

2024 Best Political Science & Government Doctor's Degree Schools

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Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

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

How the PhD program works

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

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

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

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

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

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

2. Scope and Methods

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

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.

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

5. Philosophy

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

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

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

7. Field research

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

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

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

9. Two examinations

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

10. Doctoral thesis

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

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

A Commitment to Excellence

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

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

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Ph.d. in political science.

We are ranked as a top-ten research department and our graduate program has an excellent job placement record. Over the past decade, the vast majority of our PhD graduates have gone on to attain tenure-track positions, and many other students have become leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. 

In addition to a demanding sequence of courses during the first two years, our graduates begin working with faculty from the very first day, to gain an appreciation of the challenges involved in producing innovative research.

This paves the way to their own intellectual development, the first major milestone of which is a solo-authored research paper to be presented to the department during their second year in the program. From that point on, until the completion of the dissertation in year five, the focus is primarily on independent and collaborative research.

Our graduate program is organized around subfields that address major theoretical questions about political life, encourage collaboration across intellectual boundaries, and place us at the frontiers of the discipline. As a graduate student here, you will become certified in two major fields and gain exposure to other fields through our graduate workshop series.

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Department of Political Science

The Political Science Ph.D.

The Vanderbilt Ph.D. program in political science ranks among the top programs of its kind, both overall and by subfield (American Politics, Comparative Politics, with International Relations on the rise).

Our faculty and students study many varied subjects using a diverse slate of methodologies. Vanderbilt’s political science department is known for its deep expertise in several areas of excellence that cross subfield boundaries, including bureaucracies, political violence and conflict, the politics of gender, democracy in middle-to-low-income countries, mass political behavior, survey methodology, and formal theory.

Our graduate program offers intensive training in three fields of political science: American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. We admit between eight and twelve doctoral students per year and prepare them for successful careers in academia, government, international organizations, or research-centered jobs.

While we admit a small percentage of applicants for our program, we aim to bring the most diverse, talented, and innovative students in the world to Nashville to study political science. As a student in our program, you are joining a supportive intellectual and social community.

Some of the key benefits of Vanderbilt’s political science Ph.D. program are:

• A top-ranked faculty with deep expertise in substantive political science and the methodologies needed to answer important questions about our political world
• Access to research-supporting resources like the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions , the Latin American Public Opinion Project Lab, the Research on Conflict and Collective Action Lab, and the Research on Individuals, Politics, and Society Lab
• A nearly 1:1 student: faculty ratio, allowing for close mentoring and support
• A rigorous program of coursework and research milestones that pair deep substantive knowledge with cutting-edge methodological and data science skills
• Membership in a community of smart, hardworking, and supportive doctoral candidates who prioritize collaboration and discovery
• Residence in Nashville, a fast-growing mid-size city with a high quality of life and wide array of entertainment and recreational offerings

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Like Vanderbilt University, the Department of Political Science defines diversity broadly to include experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and identities. We believe such diversity among our faculty and students enhances the intellectual experience and achievements of this academic community. As such, we are committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action, and we encourage individuals from diverse, under-represented, and traditionally excluded populations to apply to our program.

Our graduate program seeks to:

• Continually strengthen the climate for current students and faculty from traditionally excluded groups and foster a welcoming and vibrant community of scholars.
• Recruit more graduate students from underrepresented and traditionally excluded groups to the department and discipline.
• Give all students and faculty the tools to succeed and support one another in a diverse discipline.

Applying to the Program

The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is December 1 for the coming fall semester. We welcome applicants from all institutions, backgrounds, and experiences with a passion for research in political science. The application fee is $95.00.

When you apply, you are applying to the program as a whole and the faculty decides together who would be the best fit. Individual faculty members do not review and accept individual doctoral students they want to advise. There is no need to secure a faculty mentor ahead of your application .

Please direct all Ph.D. admission inquiries to Director of Graduate Studies, Sharece Thrower .

Qualifications

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in any major and show evidence of a passion for research in political science. The most successful applicants demonstrate mathematical or statistical proficiency and experience in original research. There is no minimum score for the GRE, TOEFL, or minimum required GPA. It is optional for applicants to submit their GRE scores. Strong letters of recommendation (generally from faculty members) are essential. Finally, but most importantly, we look for a fit between the student's intellectual interests and our faculty's scholarly expertise.

Information to Submit

The Graduate Studies Committee reviews all aspects of an applicant's file. We try to get a sense of an applicant’s many facets, skills, and experiences across the different materials:

• Statement of purpose (see details below)
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended
• 3-5 letters of recommendation speaking to academic abilities
• Writing sample of 15-25 pages (preferably a paper from a course that illustrates the candidate's ability to write and to conduct research)
• Unofficial or official GRE scores are optional
• Students from non-English-speaking countries should also submit a recent TOEFL score; students graduating with a degree from a four-year English-speaking institution are exempt from this requirement.

Statement of Purpose

Successful applicants should use the personal statement to clearly articulate their interest in pursuing a doctorate in political science and their research objectives. There are no required elements, but some questions that can help guide the statement include:

• What questions or puzzles in political science fascinate you?
• What approaches do you think will help you answer those puzzles?
• Why do you want to earn a Ph.D., and why in political science?
• How have your studies and experiences prepared you for a challenging Ph.D. program?
• Why do you think the Vanderbilt program and its faculty are the best place for you to study your questions of interest and develop needed skills?

Visiting Campus

We hold a recruitment visit in March for all applicants who receive offers of admission to the program. Visits consist of meals with current graduate students and faculty, group meetings to learn about program requirements and benefits, and one-on-one meetings with those faculty members and students you are most likely to work with.

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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.

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PhD Job Placement Data

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.

Ph.D. Program

Thank you for visiting the graduate program website and for giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves. We take special pride in our Department’s high national ranking in the discipline — and in the shared determination of our faculty to continue to build an exciting intellectual community. Our graduate program combines outstanding faculty and students, a broad-ranging curriculum oriented toward research, and the resources of one of the nation’s great universities. In addition to housing many leading departments in the social science, humanities and natural sciences, UCLA offers one of the world’s foremost research libraries, exceptional computing facilities, and an extensive network of interdisciplinary centers and institutes that foster linkages across disciplinary boundaries.

Our Department is a fairly large one, staffed by approximately 45 core faculty. Each year we aim for an entering class of about 15 to 20, which allows for considerable personal attention to each of our students. Currently, we have about 150 students in residence. We consider ourselves a “full service” department: our large and intellectually diverse faculty offers coursework and opportunities for research in all of the major sub-fields of the discipline. In addition, our graduate students have found that our curriculum facilitates intensive study in a number of cross-cutting areas – empirical and theoretical, contemporary and historical. Among these interdisciplinary concentrations are political economy, American political development, race and politics, and the philosophical, historical, and literary dimensions of political theory. Because UCLA is home to a large number of centers for language and area studies our students often focus their doctoral research on the politics of specific world regions while drawing theoretical and empirical leverage from sources that transcend conventional boundaries.

Our emphasis on rigorous academic training and independent research creates a diverse and intellectually exciting graduate student community. Most of our doctoral graduates go on to careers in academic institutions, but many have also found challenging employment in the public sector or in private organizations that emphasize research and analytic skills. In the past decade or so, our graduates have obtained tenure-track academic positions at Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Harvard’s Kennedy School, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Michigan, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. Others have joined such institutions as the World Bank, the State Department, the Federal Reserve Bank, RAND, and the Carnegie Endowment.

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The Department of Political Science

• PhD Requirements

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The requirements for the Ph.D. 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 Ph.D. must satisfy the following requirements:

Course Requirements

• To fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. 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 Ph.D. 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 MLL 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 department must devise a coherent program of study in that discipline, in consultation with their political science faculty adviser 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 by faculty from that department in consultation with faculty of the Department of Political Science.

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 adviser 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 advisers 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 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 typically 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:

Students 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 list 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 of 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 focus 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 the 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.

Ph.D. Admissions

Apply here . 

Preparing to Apply

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

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

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

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

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

Graduate Admissions FAQ

Please visit our list of  frequently asked questions.

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

Vice Provost of Graduate Education (VPGE)

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Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 9, 2024. Learn more about KHS admission .

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.

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

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).

100 Best Political Science schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 131M citations received by 5.34M academic papers made by 1,596 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

For Political Science

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

3. Stanford University

4. University of California - Berkeley

5. Columbia University

6. University of Washington - Seattle

7. University of Chicago

8. Yale University

9. Cornell University

10. University of Pennsylvania

11. University of California - Los Angeles

12. New York University

13. Pennsylvania State University

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

15. Johns Hopkins University

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

19. Ohio State University

20. University of Texas at Austin

21. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

22. University of Southern California

23. Princeton University

24. Michigan State University

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

26. University of Maryland - College Park

27. Duke University

28. Carnegie Mellon University

29. University of Pittsburgh

30. University of Virginia

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

32. University of California-San Diego

33. University of Arizona

34. University of Florida

35. University of California - San Francisco

36. Northwestern University

37. University of California - Davis

38. Boston University

39. Texas A&M University - College Station

40. University of California - Irvine

41. University of Illinois at Chicago

42. Georgetown University

43. Washington University in St Louis

44. Emory University

45. University of Iowa

46. Vanderbilt University

47. University of Utah

48. George Washington University

49. University of Rochester

50. Georgia Institute of Technology

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

52. Indiana University - Bloomington

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

54. Florida State University

55. George Mason University

56. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

57. University of Notre Dame

58. University of Georgia

59. University of South Carolina - Columbia

60. University of Kentucky

61. Iowa State University

62. University of Colorado Boulder

63. Purdue University

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

65. University of South Florida

66. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

67. University of Miami

68. Case Western Reserve University

69. University of Kansas

70. Boston College

71. Temple University

72. Georgia State University

73. University at Buffalo

74. Brown University

75. Providence College

76. University of Connecticut

77. Syracuse University

78. Dartmouth College

79. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

80. Brigham Young University - Provo

81. Wayne State University

82. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

83. University of Cincinnati

84. Tufts University

85. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

86. University of Delaware

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

88. University of Houston

89. American University in Washington

90. California Institute of Technology

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

92. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

94. SUNY at Albany

95. Stony Brook University

96. University of Central Florida

97. University of Alabama

98. University of New Mexico

99. California University of Pennsylvania

100. University of Alabama at Birmingham

The best cities to study Political Science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge , Ann Arbor , Stanford , and Berkeley .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the United States

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PhD in Political Science

Doctor of philosophy in political science.

Our program maintains the traditional concentrations of the field. Students must select one major and one minor concentration in either

• political philosophy/political theory
• American politics/constitutional law; or
• comparative politics/international relations.

Each of these three traditional areas of concentration, however, will be informed by a set of questions and themes, grounded in the training and research of our faculty, which make this program unique. We focus on the foundations and operation of constitutional government, the character and cultivation of political leadership, and the relation of both to civil society and to the task of educating citizens for the exercise of liberty. Civic education involves learning the mechanics of government, but it also involves the formation of citizens through involvement with civil society and service to the community. Proper civic institutions do not merely buttress individuals from the abuse of political power; they also shape the habits of mind and heart necessary for responsible citizenship and political leadership.

Our program also allows doctoral students to work in an interdisciplinary concentration , such as "Religion and Politics" or "Politics and Literature." This concentration allows students to draw on programs throughout the university, such as Church-State Studies, English, history, philosophy and sociology.

Most importantly, our doctoral program takes as its calling not simply the education of future scholars but also the education of teachers. Teaching apprenticeships -with a one-on-one relationship between an apprentice and a teacher-is another distinguishing feature of our program. Graduate students serve as apprentices for undergraduate courses, and are then given the opportunity to teach them. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to work in Baylor's long-established program in Philanthropy and Public Service.

Political Philosophy/Political Theory

We offer courses in the history of political thought, from the Greeks to the present, as well as in contemporary debates in political theory and in the social sciences as a whole. Related to our program themes of the philosophic origins and development of constitutional government and the character of statecraft and citizenship, are questions about the future and evolution of liberalism; the nature and function of civil society; the condition of its complex web of intermediate institutions such as family, church, and civic organizations; the nature and preconditions of justice; the virtues demanded by good citizenship; and the challenges of politics in a global society.

Our graduate seminars in the history of political thought - Classical Political Thought, Medieval Political Thought, and Modern Political Thought - provide students with an exceptional foundation in the history of Western political thought. "Contemporary Political Thought" explores such thinkers as Oakeshott, Voegelin, and Strauss, or a theme such as just war theory. "Contemporary Democratic Theory" explores recent debates concerning a properly "deliberative democracy" and assesses the special challenges for citizenship and public culture posed by a radically multicultural and pluralistic political setting. Our course in "Politics and Literature" may focus on such topics as "Shakespeare as a Political Thinker," "The American Political Novel," and "Greek Drama and Political Theory." Finally, "Advanced Study in Political Phlosophy" allows professors and students to explore a particular thinker or theme in great depth, and prepares students for their own dissertation research.

American Politics/Constitutional Law

In addition to our courses in institutions, policy, administration, and behavior, our doctoral program in American politics emphasizes the study of constitutional government, especially constitutional law. Our "Seminar in Public Law," which can be taken up to three times for credit, covers a broad range of questions concerning the American judicial system, including judicial politics, constitutional and judicial theory, and jurisprudence. "The American Founding" studies the politics and principles that played a role in the American Founding, utilizing the debates at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the First Congress, and early fundamental decisions of the Supreme Court that were seminal in its future interpretation. "American Political Development" examines the interaction between institutional structures created by the Constitution and the practice of American politics from the founding period to the present. At issue in both these courses is the relation between political ideas and practical politics, including the institutional, economic, and social constraints both in which statecraft operates and which are in turn shaped by political ideas and actions. We also offer "Presidential Rhetoric," which surveys theories of the rhetorical presidency and genres of presidential discourse in selected eras of American history, from the early republic through the present.

"Comparative Constitutional Law" enables students to study constitutional and legal issues in a comparative perspective. However important the American contribution to the theory and practice of constitutional government, constitutionalism is today a global phenomenon. Through this course students explore the problems and prospects of the fastest growing form of government in the world today. Moreover, this course not only helps to complete their education in American politics and constitutional law, but also serves as a bridge to our third subfield: comparative politics/international relations.

Comparative Politics/International Relations

In addition to our basic seminars in "International Relations" and "Comparative Politics," which offer graduate students introductions to these fields, and "Comparative Constitutional Law," mentioned above, we offer a range of graduate seminars. "American Foreign Policy" examines the intellectual background of American diplomacy, the interaction of constitutional, legal, and informal institutions that shape official actions, and the dilemmas confronting the United States at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Students with interests in both international relations and political theory will enjoy "The Development of International Relations Thought," which studies the realist, rationalist, and revolutionary traditions, as articulated by such thinkers as Hobbes, Grotius, and Kant, and the relation of these traditions to contemporary international relations thought. So, too, "The Development of Strategic Thought" examines the ideas of strategic thinkers who lived in a variety of historical periods, including Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, and Clausewitz.

We also offer senior-level courses for graduate credit (as in the other subfields) in courses in "Grand Strategy," "Terrorism," "Intelligence and Covert Action," "Diplomacy," "International Law," "International Organizations," "International Political Economy," and "Power, Morality, and International Relations." In the area of comparative politics, we offer courses in the governments and politics of such countries or areas as Britain, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Mexico, and Russia.

Course work in other departments

Having elected a major and minor field of study in political science, graduate students may take approved courses in other departments that supplement their overall plan of study in political science. In the past, graduate students who have wished to study politics and literature, for example, or religion and politics, have supplemented Political Science offerings in these areas with courses in other departments, such as English, Philosophy, History, Communication Studies, Religion, and Great Texts. We think that such courses can deepen a student’s understanding of the contributions of theology, philosophy and literature (epic poetry, comedies and tragedies, novels, etc.) to fundamental questions of political philosophy and to the formation of a nation’s or an individual’s spiritual and political self-understanding. Such courses can also deepen a student’s grasp of constitutional and political issues, such as religious freedom and its place in liberal government, or the role of civil society in linking the individual to the broader political community and in fostering a responsible and engaged citizenry.

Methodology Requirement

"Seminar in Research Design and Research Methods" provides an introduction to the discipline of political science, introduces the logic of research design as well as specific research strategies and techniques, whether quantitative or qualitative, and discusses questions related to the philosophy of science.

In addition, students are required either to demonstrate competence in one foreign language (Classical or Modern), as defined by the Graduate School, or to take an advanced methodology course, such as SOC 5312, Social Science Data Analysis (cross-listed as PSC 5312).

Teaching Apprenticeship Requirements

In their second and third years of the program, students have the opportunity to serve in an apprenticeship with a faculty member each semester. Apprenticeships will be arranged on an individual basis by the student in consultation with the graduate director. The apprenticeship will ordinarily involve full participation in planning and executing an undergraduate course. Apprentices will attend the classes of their faculty mentor, and help with student evaluation.

While apprentices, students may take a section of the 5000-level course, "Teaching Political Science," a directed readings course with a faculty member for whose course they serve as apprentice. The readings will involve the subject matter of the undergraduate course, and the requirements might involve a graduate level paper on those materials, or an annotated bibliography of materials that might be used in the undergraduate course. One section of 5396 is required of all graduate students, but no more than two are permitted to count toward the PhD requirements. "Teaching Political Science" courses count toward the major and minor.

During the third or fourth year of their program, students will have responsibility for at least one course, in most cases a course of the same kind in which they served their apprenticeship. For example, an apprentice for "Government and Politics of Latin America" or for "Government and Politics of the Middle East" might then teach a section of "Comparative Politics," depending on student preference and departmental need. "American Constitutional Development" has proven particularly useful for apprenticeships, which have prepared many of our doctoral students to teach sections of their own of this course. Student evaluations administered by the University will be given and become part of a student's placement file, along with the faculty member's evaluation.

In addition to the department's teaching apprenticeships, Baylor graduate students have the opportunity to participate in Seminars for Excellence in Teaching .

Department of Political Science

One Bear Place #97276 Waco, TX 76798-7276

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