Superb Training

We offer a small, research-oriented program that will help you acquire the broad methodological training needed to succeed as a political scientist before building specialization in a topic of your choice. Our faculty is particularly well suited to train students in:

• Political behavior
• International political economy
• International Conflict and Security
• Race, ethnicity, and identity
• Comparative political institutions
• Civil-military relations
• Latin American politics
• Skepticism, liberalism, and hermeneutics

Small Classes

Our graduate program is small with about 40-50 students in residence and a very favorable student-to-faculty ratio. Consequently, our graduate classes are small. First-year classes typically have fewer than 10 students, which makes for an effective learning environment.

We also encourage close working relationships among faculty and students. This makes for a collegial atmosphere that will help your academic development.

Great Conferences

We have actively participated in (and often initiated) workshops and conferences that rotate among the major academic institutions in the area. These include a conference series on Comparative Political Institutions; Political Behavior; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; and Experimental Methods. These conferences provide opportunities for you to present your work and interact with fellow scholars working in your field of study.

High-Energy Department

Ours is a young and energetic department. Many of our faculty have been hired within the past few years and comprise a community of scholars active throughout the profession. Many faculty members work with graduate students on joint projects and form working relationships that often extend beyond the completion of the dissertation.

In recent years, our graduate students have been well represented at major professional conferences and have published in leading professional journals. 

See recent publications co-authored by faculty and current/former graduate students.

Excellent Placement

We have a strong record of placing our graduates in good academic positions at universities and colleges. Learn more about placement.

Explore our master’s program Explore our doctoral program