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 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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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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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.
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 .
For questions regarding the Graduate School, please reach out to Graduate Admissions and Enrollment .
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.
Financial Aid Plan Your Ph.D. Apply Now
2024 Best Political Science Doctor's Degree Schools
Featured political science programs, choosing a great political science school for your doctor's degree, overall quality is a must, other factors we consider, one size does not fit all, best schools for doctorate students to study political science in the united states, 15 top schools for a doctorate in poly sci, additional noteworthy schools.
Rank | College | Location |
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16 | Notre Dame, IN | |
17 | Nashville, TN | |
18 | Berkeley, CA | |
19 | New York, NY | |
20 | Los Angeles, CA | |
21 | Atlanta, GA | |
22 | Madison, WI | |
23 | Washington, DC | |
24 | Ann Arbor, MI | |
25 | Claremont, CA |
Political Science by Region
Region |
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Other Rankings
Best associate degrees in political science, best master's degrees in political science, best bachelor's degrees in political science, best overall in political science, rankings in majors related to poly sci, majors similar to poly sci.
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
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15 |
Notes and References
Popular reports, compare your school options.
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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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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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Graduate Program Overview
Doctoral Program
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.
Ph.D. Admissions
The application for Fall 2024 entry is now closed. The application for entry for the 2025-26 academic year will be available in September 2024.
Prospective Ph.D. Students FAQs
Frequently asked questions about admission to the doctoral program.
Resources for Current Students
Forms and useful links for current students.
APSA 2017 Jobs Report
Job Market Candidates
Graduate students on the job market.
Masters Program
The Department of Political Science offers a Master of Arts in Political Science for current Stanford University doctoral or professional school students.
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.
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
World-class resources. Ground-breaking research. A wide range of fields and methodologie s. Welcome to the Department of Government.
Harvard University’s Department of Government is home to a vibrant and diverse intellectual community of political science scholars, researchers, visionaries, leaders, and changemakers. Our dedication to excellence and our strength in teaching and research in all fields of political science is reflected in both our faculty and our curriculum.
Harvard University is a world leader in the study and scholarship in political science. The University’s Department of Government programs of study include:
- American Politics
- Comparative Politics
- International Relations
- Political Thought and its History
- Quantitative Methodology
- Formal Theory
Our programs of study represent a broad and changing spectrum of interests and approaches.
We combine innovation and excellence in teaching and research to deliver an intellectually robust, diverse, and flexible political studies graduate program. It’s a department where scholars of all backgrounds and interests thrive. Graduates go on to careers at leading academic institutions, companies, government agencies, and non-profits.
Prospective Graduate Students Current Graduate Students Programs Of Study Phd Placements Program Contacts
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Ranked in 2021, part of Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools. Political science is a discipline that combines history, current events and analysis. Graduate students are often able to ...
15 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Political Science. 1. Yale University. New Haven, CT. 14 Annual Graduates. Yale University is a great decision for individuals pursuing a doctor's degree in political science & government. Yale is a large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of New Haven.
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.
Best Political Theory Programs. Ranked in 2021, part of Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools. In political theory courses, students analyze major issues throughout political history, such ...
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 ...
For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or [email protected]. ool of Public Affairs program provides comprehensive instruction in women and politics, allowing students to interact with leading researchers at American University. This PhD political science program focuses on women in politics and ...
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 ...
All questions regarding graduate admissions should be directed to [email protected]. 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 ...
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 ...
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.
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...
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...
Harvard University ·. Graduate School. ·. 9 reviews. Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
5. Stanford University. Stanford, CA. Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type. 20 Annual Graduates. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Stanford. More information about a doctorate in political science from Stanford University.
These are the top political science programs for American politics. ... part of Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools. A graduate degree in American politics will give students an advanced ...
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.
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 ...
Doctoral Program. 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.
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The Schar School's political science graduate programs are ranked in the top 20 percent in the world, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. With more than 80 full-time faculty, the Schar School is one of the largest and most vibrant schools of its kind. The faculty hold degrees not only in political science, but also in ...
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 ...
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.
World-class resources. Ground-breaking research. A wide range of fields and methodologies. Welcome to the Department of Government. Harvard University's Department of Government is home to a vibrant and diverse intellectual community of political science scholars, researchers, visionaries, leaders, and changemakers. Our dedication to excellence and our strength in teaching and research in ...
Queen's is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022) Internationally Renowned Experts. Ours is an excellent department in which to pursue a wide range of postgraduate research projects in close collaboration with academic supervisors, leading to the degree of PhD.