Admissions
The online application for admissions is available at the Office of Graduate Studies website.
The application deadline for fall admission is January 4.
For admission to the graduate program in Political Science, an applicant should provide the following via the online application:
- Please submit a 1-2 page statement of purpose describing how your personal and/or professional experiences and background have shaped your research interests and led you to pursue a PhD. What specific research areas are you most interested in exploring, and what are your goals for pursuing a PhD, and why?
- A curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation from those who can judge academic potential
- Unofficial transcripts from all degree-granting universities attended
- An academic writing sample
- The GRE is not required.
- International students admitted to graduate study in Political Science must submit an official minimum TOEFL score of 88 or an IELTS score of 6.5. For more information on English language proficiency requirements, see here.
The admissions committee evaluates each application for overall strength. No single criterion determines admission.
Most applicants have an undergraduate major in Political Science or a similar field of study, however, an undergraduate major in another area may be acceptable. Twelve hours of upper-level course work in political science is recommended.
An applicant for graduate study should have at least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) overall, in undergraduate political science courses, and during the last two years of college.