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Best Political Science Programs

Ranked in 2021, part of Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools

Political science is a discipline

Political science is a discipline that combines history, current events and analysis. Graduate students are often able to specialize in a certain area of politics. These are the best political science programs. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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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 .

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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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UC Merced Political Science Graduate Program Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

Political science is a discipline that combines history, current events and analysis. Graduate students are often able to specialize in a certain area of politics. U.S. News & World Report ranked the 2021 Best Political Science Graduate Schools.  These are the best political science programs. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions.

For the first time in its history, UC Merced's Political Science Graduate program appears in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of Best Political Science Graduate Schools.  UC Merced debuted at #63, tied with Purdue University, University of South Carolina and CUNY Graduate School.  

Congratualtios to the faculty, support staff, and students who made this possible!  

See the methodology and entire rankings list here . 

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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 11, 2023. Learn more about KHS admission .

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.

The Department of Political Science

Governance and power.

The Department of Political Science provides training in American politics and law, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

• Degrees Offered BA, PhD
• Major Political Science, International Studies

Explore the Department

The department's faculty has expertise on American and comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and more.

PhD in Political Science

Our PhD program emphasizes training and experience in the research methods essential to developing new knowledge.

Major in Political Science

The undergraduate program offers a broad range of courses about politics and government at local, state, national, and international levels.

News & Announcements

Daniel schlozman’s new book mentioned in nyt.

Daniel Schlozman’s new book, The Hollow Parties, is mentioned in a recent New York Times article on a “new centrism” in Washington DC.

Professors Sarah Parkinson and John Yasuda promoted to Associate Professors with tenure!

Professors Sarah Parkinson and John Yasuda were promoted to Associate Professors with tenure. Congratulations, Sarah and John!

Professor Jennifer Luff named Davis Center Fellow at Princeton University

Professor Jennifer Luff was awarded a Davis Center fellowship for Fall 2024, continuing her work titled “The Mendacious State: Political Policing in Interwar Britain.” Congratulations, Jennifer!

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2024 Best Political Science & Government Doctor's Degree Schools

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a doctor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 654 doctor's degrees in political science & government to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

• Best Doctor’s Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Political Science & Government School for Your Doctor's Degree

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their doctor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their doctor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

• Major Focus - How much a school focuses on political science & government students vs. other majors.
• Major Demand - The number of political science & government students who choose to seek a doctor's degree at the school.
• Educational Resources - How many resources are allocated to students. These resources may include educational expenditures per student, number of students per instructor, and graduation rate among other things.
• Student Debt - How much debt political science & government students go into to obtain their doctor's degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized political science & government related body.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for political science & government students working on their doctor's degree.

More Ways to Rank Political Science & Government Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings , including this Best Political Science & Government Doctor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.

Featured Political Science & Government Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Political Science

Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Political Science & Government in the United States

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for political science & government students seeking a a doctor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

15 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Political Science

Yale University is a great choice for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in political science & government. Yale is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New Haven. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Yale University

Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a doctor's degree in political science & government. Located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Harvard University

University of Chicago is a good option for individuals pursuing a doctor's degree in political science & government. UChicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from University of Chicago

Columbia University in the City of New York is a great option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in political science & government. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Columbia University in the City of New York

Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Stanford University

Located in the large city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Rice University

UPenn is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from University of Pennsylvania

Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Northwestern University

Located in the small city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Princeton University

Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Durham. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Duke University

Brown is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Providence. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Brown University

Georgetown is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Washington. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Georgetown University

Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Cornell University

Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Johns Hopkins University

WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis. More information about a doctorate in political science & government from Washington University in St Louis

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Political Science & Government students that almost earned our Best Political Science & Government Doctor's Degree Schools award.

Political Science & Government by Region

View the Best Political Science & Government Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in political science & government, best master's degrees in political science & government, best value in political science & government, best for non-traditional students in political science & government, best online in political science & government, most popular online in political science & government, best bachelor's degrees in political science & government, best overall in political science & government, highest paid grads in political science & government, best for veterans in political science & government, most popular in political science & government, most focused in political science & government.

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Rankings in Majors Related to Political Science

One of 13 majors within the Social Sciences area of study, Political Science & Government has other similar majors worth exploring.

Political Science Concentrations

Most popular related majors, notes and references.

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia . More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

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Political Science, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Political Science

The PhD program in political science is intended to develop scholars who demonstrate a high level of excellence in teaching and research as professional political scientists. It offers a variety of areas of specialization within and between the four main subfields of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Students interested in a political theory specialization should consult with the academic unit prior to application.

Program faculty have particular strengths in Latino and Latina politics, women and politics, ethnoreligious dynamics, political violence, human rights, political psychology and political economy.

The school is host to the Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research, the Future Security Initiative and an experimental lab. Faculty are also affiliated with other centers at ASU, such as the Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab; the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict; the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies; as well as the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty. Many faculty members are active in collaborative interdisciplinary research at ASU and with scholars at other universities, and they have won major grants and awards, as have the school's doctoral students.

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (3 credit hours) POS 503 Empirical Political Inquiry (3)

Electives and Research (69 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) POS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information A maximum of 12 credit hours of approved coursework outside the department but within ASU may count toward the required 84 credit hours.

Coursework beyond the 12-credit-hour maximum may be taken outside the department with permission of both the director of Graduate Studies and the faculty advisor.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. If students do not have a previously awarded master's degree, the 30 hours of coursework is made up of electives and research to reach the required 84 credit hours.

Also required is a formal oral defense of the dissertation and a written comprehensive examination in the major field.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• personal statement
• writing sample
• three letters of recommendation
• list of political science courses taken
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition.

To assist in evaluating all candidates, the applicant should list titles and related information for all previous undergraduate and graduate courses or coursework in political science or related fields. The file must be saved in a .pdf, .doc, .rtf or .txt format and uploaded with the online graduate admission application. The information should be in a table with the following column headings: Course Title, Undergrad Credit Hours, Graduate Credit Hours, Grade, Institution, Year.

Undergraduate coursework in political science is not a prerequisite for admission. However, applicants to the doctoral program should have a basic understanding of elementary statistics and the undergraduate content of the political science fields of specialization that they wish to study. Students without this background should allow sufficient time to acquire it.

The personal statement (one to three pages) should describe the areas of political science the applicant wishes to study, post-graduation goals, and why the School of Politics and Global Studies is the best fit for the applicant. Applicants may also mention any particular faculty members with whom they are interested in working and why, as well as provide context for any discrepancies in their educational background.

The writing sample is typically a previously written research or other similar paper that best demonstrates the applicants critical thinking and writing skills in political science or a related field. There is not a length requirement for the writing sample, but it should be of sufficient level to allow the admissions committee to evaluate the applicant's knowledge and skills.

Students are expected to take courses for the first four semesters that will prepare them for comprehensive exams by the beginning of their fifth semester.  Each subfield has required methods courses, research courses, and core seminars for major and minor fields and these must be included on the IPOS. The faculty advisor and the student will set timelines for course completion and exams, bearing in mind the goal of being prepared to take comprehensive exams by the beginning of the fifth semester at ASU. 

A minimum of 84 hours is required.

Core Courses (3 credits)

POS 503 - Empirical Political Inquiry

Research methods and techniques of the discipline, emphasizing empirical foundations and analytic methods employed in subfields.

Electives and Research (69 credits – 39 if previous MA applied to program)

If your field is American Politics:

• POS 603 - Polimetrics I
• POS 604 - Polimetrics II
• POS 530 - American Politics
• Three elective courses in subfield

If you field is Comparative Politics:

• POS 550 - Comparative Politics

If your field is International Relations:

• POS 560 - International Relations
• POS 604 – Polimetrics II or approved Methods course

Culminating Experience (12 credits)

POS 799 – Dissertation

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, career opportunities.

Program graduates have a strong track record of obtaining positions in academic, public and private sectors. The program works closely with students so they have the opportunity and tools needed to achieve their career goals. The doctoral program provides advanced education for students preparing for teaching, research or applied careers in political science in government, nonprofits and the private sector.

Career examples include:

• campaign consultant
• campaign strategist
• data analyst
• research specialist
• tenure-track or instructional faculty in political science

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-8563

PhD Political Science

Program overview.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science program serves students interested in academic positions as well as research and policy careers. The department and its  faculty  are committed to providing doctoral students with an excellent educational experience through coursework, comprehensive examinations, and the dissertation. 

The curriculum introduces students to all four fields and also develops their research skills through a series of methodology courses. Students may develop a traditional, academic focus in one of the fields, or they may combine it with public policy to highlight a policy orientation.

The PhD in Political Science covers four major fields in the discipline:

• American Government and Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Public Policy

All PhD students are fully funded for 5 years via a Tuition Assistantship which includes stipend, full tuition, and student health insurance. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here from the department and here from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

For more information on curricular requirements for the PhD program see the  Course Catalog .

Type of Program

• PhD Program

Get more information about this graduate program.

More programs, bachelor of arts, political science, bachelor of science, political science, certificate in security and resilience studies, master of arts in political science, master of science in resilience studies.

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Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. program in politics.

The Ph.D. program in Politics is an intellectually vibrant home for students interested in pursuing academic careers focused on the analytically rigorous study of politics. The program offers a wide range of opportunities to learn from and work with leading scholars in American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Economy, International Relations, Political Theory, and Methodology, through substantive and methods seminars, research workshops, closely supervised research projects, and scholarly collaborations that often extend well past the end of graduate training.

Our program is unusual in its international diversity. Almost 70% of our current students come from places outside the U.S., including from countries as far-flung as Benin, Korea, Chile, China, Mexico, Russia, and Italy – just to take some examples.

Our job placement record is one of the most successful in the discipline. Recent placements include tenure-track appointments at Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Rochester, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Southern California, UCSD, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, ITAM, Texas 2 A&M, Emory, Vanderbilt and other leading research universities, and postdoctoral appointments at Princeton, LSE, the Harris School, UCSD, IAS-Toulouse, and others.

This Handbook , which was put together with invaluable help from our Ph.D. program staff, lays out some details of the expectations and requirements of the program and provides a guide for students and faculty to various logistical details related to the doctoral training in the Department.

Gwyneth McClendon Associate Professor of Politics Director of Graduate Studies

For Students and Faculty

The program is summarized by the Politics Doctoral Program Handbook . The Spring 2024 Course Schedule has now been published. Additional information for current students and faculty, including the workshop sign-up sheet and forms, can be found on the Ph.D. program Google site .

Contact Information

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University of Rochester

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Department of Political Science

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Prospective Students

Why come to rochester.

Rochester approach: At Rochester, we’re committed to the rigorous analysis of substantive questions in politics . Our faculty and PhD students apply advanced formal and statistical methods to study substantive problems of democratic accountability, civil conflict, political parties, voting rights, authoritarian politics, and more.

PhD curriculum: All students take sequences in formal modeling and statistical methods in the first year of study, giving them a foundation and allowing them to go deeply into advanced seminars. Students learn methodological tools in their technical courses (PSCI 401, 404, 405,407, 408); they learn how to identify and solve interesting problems in our substantive courses; and they learn how to convert results into publishable papers in the research and writing course, PSCI 501. Check the Department website for a listing of courses with detailed descriptions.

Common language: Our faculty and graduate students use a range of methods, from qualitative analysis to sophisticated techniques in game theory, maximum likelihood estimation, and structural modeling. But we are on the same page as to what constitutes good research, and all faculty and grad students share a common language. At Rochester, an applied comparative political scientist can talk to a pure formal theorist, who can talk to someone doing experiments in American politics. This expands your effective set of colleagues and promotes cross fertilization of ideas.

Training by faculty by who regularly produce advanced research on applied problems in political science: The figure to the right shows how Rochester stacks up compared to the US News top 10 political science departments, using per capita publications in a set of top journals as our metric. In the figure, the x-axis is the size of the department (we’re small!), and the y-axis represents faculty productivity. The graphic shows that despite its small size, Rochester competes with the very best departments, and that our PhD students receive training and advising from faculty who are pushing the frontiers of their fields – and who have the record of research productivity to show for it. The Department website provides a list of selected faculty publications , with article titles and placements.

Collegiality: As the figure shows, Rochester is small. It’s also a collegial place: PhD students are on a first-name basis with faculty; they share office space in the same building as faculty; and it’s common for faculty to coauthor with students . These relationships often become long-lasting partnerships, with many collaborations lasting long after students receive their degrees and start their academic careers.

Student publishing: Along with giving students the tools and substantive knowledge to do good research, a main focus of the program is to get our PhD students publishing by the time they enter the job market. The PhD program is designed to train students how to write, submit, and publish their work. All students are required to take the writing and research course , PSCI 501, in spring semester of their second year, and this is where they learn to combine their technical training and substantive backgrounds to produce publishable work. Financial support from the Lanni fund is available for PhD students to work as research assistants to faculty over the summer; most of our students take advantage of this opportunity, and it often leads to coauthored work between faculty and graduate students.

Cutting edge training in formal and statistical methods: Students who want to specialize in theory and methods will be hard pressed to find a better program than Rochester. We are ranked among the US News top 10 departments in the area of political methodology, but Rochester is a distinct alternative: compared to the other top programs in political methodology, we emphasize the importance of mechanisms, and the role of formal modeling and statistical analysis in isolating and studying those mechanisms. In this respect, our PhD program takes a back seat to no other in political science.

Placement: Rochester has a long tradition of successful placement at political science departments, and even business schools and policy schools. The Rochester PhD is a trademark, and training at Rochester gives students credibility and the potential to land at the top departments in the discipline. In fact, many of the departments we commonly compete with have at least one Rochester PhD among their faculty ranks, including Duke, Emory, NYU, Princeton, Rice, Texas AandM, Vanderbilt, and Wash U.

Wallis Conference on Political Economy: The annual Wallis Conference has been a fixture in the political economy landscape for decades: we held the 25 th anniversary conference in 2018, and the conference continues to go strong. This is a special event that brings about 45 economists and political scientists to Rochester for a two-day conference, where the latest work is presented by a mix of senior leaders and young, productive scholars. The Wallis website contains an archive of past programs, which feature a mix of theoretical and empirical work in the broad area of political economy. All of our graduate students are invited to attend, and the opportunity to see the presented papers and interact with the assembled researchers is a tremendous comparative advantage of Rochester.

Related centers and institutes: Our PhD students can benefit from resources, training, and events underwritten by the Wallis Institute of Political Economy , the Watson Center for Conflict and Cooperation , the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies , the Goergen Institute for Data Science , and the Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies . Check out the websites of these centers and institutes for more information.

Rochester Stylized Facts

Rochester in a nutshell: Rochester is a diverse city of just over 200,000, with a metro area population of 1.1 million. It offers a host of cultural amenities, including an active music scene and the university's own Eastman School of Music, a vibrant food and restaurant landscape (including a burgeoning brewery culture ), and a wide range of theatrical, museum, and festival experiences throughout the year. With easy access to the beautiful Finger Lakes region, living in Rochester combines many of the best features of urban and rural living.

Weather: With Rochester weather, you know what you’re going to get. Yes, we have winters, but we have three other seasons, which are not widely recognized. In fact, our weather is very stable, as we don’t often get severe storms from the Midwest, and we usually don’t feel storm fronts coming off the Atlantic.

• Winter: We get a good helping of snow, so you will need a coat, hat, and gloves for the winter months. On the other hand, it doesn't slow us down, because Rochester has the infrastructure to deal with winter weather, so a few inches of snow doesn't faze us, unlike some other cities. Every few years, there’s a big snowstorm, but it’s a pause, not a crisis: roads are cleared and salted within a day, and we get back to work. Full disclosure: some people may think the winters last a little too long; we won’t take a position on this, but we’ll point out that others admire the aesthetics of the season, and enjoy outdoor activities like downhill skiing at Bristol Mountain , cross country skiing at Mendon Ponds Park , or ice skating in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park .
• Spring: On the other hand, spring is short, but nice. It’s greeted by the annual Lilac Festival at Highland Park, and festivals in the area continue throughout the spring and summer. Check out the Clothesline Festival and the Park Ave. Festival , for a sampling.
• Summer: Summer is a wonderful season in Rochester, and a well-kept secret. We get plenty of sunny days (with a few thunder showers mixed in), but without the humidity experienced on the coast, and without the intensity of southern locations. You won’t feel the need to retreat to air-conditioned structures to escape the heat, so you could take a cruise on the Erie Canal , for example. That said, we do recommend 50 SPF (or higher) sunscreen!
• Fall: Fall is beautiful, and not just because that’s when the annual Wallis Conference on Political Economy is held. Rochester offers a striking change of colors, especially if you drive a few minutes outside the city. The Finger Lakes and (a bit further) Letchworth State Park are excellent vantage points to view the fall foliage and other natural scenery.

Finger Lakes: Did we mention the Finger Lakes ? This is a beautiful area south/east of Rochester that features natural surroundings with hiking, water activities, and a noteworthy wine region .

Cultural life: The Rochester area is small and known for its good schools and family-friendly environment, but there’s also a cultural scene featuring art, music, and cinema. Check out ArtisanWorks , the Neighborhood of the Arts , the annual Rochester International Jazz Festival , the Rochester Fringe Festival , and the Little Theatre and Dryden Theatre , to get an idea. Most graduate students live in the South Wedge or Park Avenue neighborhoods, which are just minutes from campus and these amenities.

Cost of living: Obviously, Rochester is not as expensive as large, metropolitan areas, but you might not realize how big the contrast is. As of spring, 2021, according to NerdWallet, the cost of living in Manhattan is 2.6 times higher than in Rochester: for example, pre-tax income of $71,000 is equivalent to $27,000 in Rochester. Compared to San Francisco , it’s a little closer: pre-tax income of $55,000 is equivalent to $27,000 in Rochester. And compared to Boston , it's a little closer yet: pre-tax income of $42,000 is equivalent to $27,000 in Rochester.

Livability: Rochester is a livable city, and was recently ranked among the top 25 places to live by US News ( placing #2 in New York State , by the way). If you like to eat and drink, Rochester has a lot to offer: we were recently named a top "foodie city" ; the area supports many farmer's markets , including the Rochester Public Market, which was voted best in the US in 2010; the "Super" Wegmans in Pittsford is a one-of-a-kind experience for the most discerning shoppers; and if you want to go out after you're done eating, Rochester has plenty of options for breweries and cocktails (we suggest moderation, since you'll be taking classes or working on your research!). And if you need a break or have visitors, there are plenty of things to do in the area, including performing arts , museums and activities , and local sports (including the famous Oak Hill and Locust Hill golf courses). Finally, if you need a change of scenery or have to pick up those visitors, the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is small, easily navigable, and literally five minutes from campus .

Parting Thoughts

You get the idea: Rochester is an easy place to live, and that means it’s easier for you to focus on your graduate training and to realize your potential as a political scientist. We encourage all prospective PhD students to factor in academics and personal considerations to choose the best program for them; that decision depends on your preferences and goals, and so the right choice is a subjective one. But we advise all students to take an appropriately farsighted perspective on your choice of graduate program, because your decision now will determine a major investment in (and thus the long-run trajectory of) your academic career.

Best of luck with your decision!

Covering a story? Visit our page for journalists or call (773) 702-8360.

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Uchicago women’s tennis team wins first ncaa title, faces of convocation: meet the people who play vital roles in uchicago’s celebration, prof. stuart rowan elected to the royal society, new uchicago course applies scientific reasoning to political decision making, in ‘sense & sensibility & science,’ undergraduates get hands-on experience with scientific method.

A new course offered this past spring, Sense & Sensibility & Science @UChicago: Scientific Thinking in a Democracy , highlights how scientific reasoning and tools can help both policy novices and policy experts address today’s pressing problems.

“The idea is to get scientific methods out of the science labs and extract the mindsets, concepts, and tools, and then make that accessible to undergrads,” says course coordinator Julia Koschinsky, executive director & senior research associate at the Center for Spatial Data Science. “And not only conceptually; it's not only about understanding these mindsets and concepts, but also gaining hands-on experience.”

The Big Problems course was originally developed and taught at UC Berkeley by Nobel Laureate and astrophysicist Saul Perlmutter, philosopher John Campbell and social psychologist Robert MacCoun. More recently, the class has been taught at Harvard University and UC Irvine—but it’s been tailored for UChicago, where it is coordinated by the Center for Spatial Data Science of the Social Sciences Division and funded by the College’s 25-year-old Big Problems program.

UChicago’s version of the class was customized by UChicago instructors and teaching assistants in collaboration with the UC Berkeley team over the course of a year. Though physics was front and center in the original course design, the UChicago version accentuates behavioral science and adds discussions on scientific empiricism and spatial patterns.

Show don’t tell

Sense & Sensibility & Science teaches students how to better incorporate a scientific mindset and problem-solving techniques into their thinking and decision making. The course focuses on the errors humans tend to make, and the approaches scientists have been developing to reduce those errors as well as to harness our human strengths. It is designed as a general introduction to scientific thinking with opportunities for interaction and hands-on experience with a scientific reasoning toolkit.

“The motto of the course is show don't tell,” Koschinsky said. “There's a lot of going back and forth between lectures and experiential activities. For instance, the third class is called Senses and Instrumentation, and it's about how we need to use instruments to go beyond our senses. The topic is introduced by Jordan Kemp, a physicist, and then there are several activities with equipment from the Astronomy Department that let students experience movement that can only be captured by slow motion cameras or light spectra that require diffraction glasses.”

A core mindset of the course is to teach students how to not fool themselves, or reduce the likelihood of fooling oneself. But that also means getting comfortable with being wrong — something that the instructors hope to model to students by engaging alternative perspectives.

This is balanced by the can-do spirit of science. Other core concepts in the course include the purpose and limitations of science, dealing with noise and uncertainty, human reasoning quirks, and more.

“I find it so inspiring to see there are a teachable set of tools we can use to think better both individually and collectively,” said course teaching assistant, Noa Perlmutter. “I’m excited to share that sense of optimism and the idea that we can become more effective in understanding and changing the world with everyone who will take the class.”

Of course, the current political turmoil in the U.S. and globally played a role in the desire to offer such a class, designed around the ability to use scientific reasoning to address political problems.

“Everyone who teaches the course felt like they wanted to step up and do something to help strengthen democratic debate,” Koschinsky said. “It’s our way of contributing to more reasoned debate, both in terms of mindsets as well as tools.”

The interdisciplinary team leading the UChicago course includes: Reid Hastie, the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science at the Booth School of Business; Jordan Kemp, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the Department of Physics; and Eamon Duede, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University who recently completed a joint Ph.D. at UChicago’s Department of Philosophy and the Committee on Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science and Philosophy. And teaching assistants Noa Perlmutter (cognitive science) and Doug Williams (public policy/data science).

—This story originally appeared on UChicago’s Center for Spatial Data Science website.

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“You have to be open minded, planning to reinvent yourself every five to seven years.”

• Political Science
• College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Undergraduate

Undergraduate advising.

The University of Houston 3551 Cullen Boulevard, Room 447 Houston, TX 77204-3011 Tel: 713.743.3890 Fax: 713.743.3927

Meet the Political Science Advising Team!

Norma Sides:  [email protected] Sandra E. Gold-Singleton:  [email protected] Aketra Bowens:  [email protected]  

All appointments will be made through Navigate . Other communications should be by email only, and the questions need to be such that we can respond to them with a simple answer. No information that is bound by FERPA is to be included. If an email response is not appropriate, we will send an email request for you to make an appointment for further discussion. We are usually working with students so please do not call or use TEAM chat.    

Information about the major:

The political science major is a 30-credit major (10 courses). We offer both a B.A. (includes foreign language requirement) and a B.S. degree (additional math and science). You can find the checklists for both at the following link: https://www.uh.edu/class/political-science/undergraduate/degree-requirements/

To complete the degree, you will need 120 credits with a minimum of 36 of those hours advanced (3000 and 4000 level). Included in the 120 hours will be the core requirements, requirements for the selected B.A. or B.S. degree, CLASS diversity and block requirements as well as a second option (minor, major, etc.). 

You will need to make an appointment through Navigate to declare the major. An overall GPA of 2.0 and registration in a minimum of one POLS class is required. 

Information about the minors:

The political science department offers several minors: 

• Political Science B.A.
• Political Science B.S.
• Political Science Minor  
• Law, Value and Policy Minor
• Quantitative Social Science Minor  
• National Security Studies Minor 

Political science majors are able to minor in any minor at the University which includes any of these except the Political science minor. All students will need an appointment through  Navigate  to apply for their minor. A UH GPA of 2.0 is usually the minimum requirement.

To declare a minor, you must make an appointment through  Navigate  with the advisor from the department that houses the minor. This is the link to find an advisor:  https://uh.edu/provost/students/advising/

Access to degree plans and transfer credit report: 

Do you need your GPA or your GPA in the major?  Are you curious how many credits you may have left or if your transfer credits have posted?  You can look at your own Degree plan or transfer credit report at any time.

My UH Self Service  > Student Center > My Academics (View My Transfer Credit Report, or view   My Advisement Report).  Note: The My Academics tab is on the left side of the screen in the Academic area. 

Student’s need to be aware that the Degree plan is not a perfect document.  There are occasionally issues with it.  Please do not panic if something seems incorrect.  Instead make an appointment with your advisor.  We are aware of many of these issues and have ways of getting the degree plan corrected.

Transfer courses:  If a course you took elsewhere did not get evaluated as you expected, you can always petition it to be re-evaluate by the specific department of the course in question.  You will need a syllabus for the course you took.  Information about transferring credits can be found here: https://uh.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/transferring-credit/

When you are ready to submit petitions use this link: https://uh.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/transferring-credit/transfer-credit-petition-eform---student.pdf

Transfer students:  We look forward to working with you when you are officially at the University of Houston.  We are fortunate to have Transfer Student Advisors that are available to assist you.  Please  contact them directly, they definitely are more versed in how many of the courses will transfer to the University.  Find your Transfer advisor in this list:  https://uh.edu/provost/students/advising/#tap-business

Texas Direct : Students who complete the Texas Core Curriculum and Field of Study at any public two-year institution automatically qualify to transfer their courses as a block applied directly to the Political Science Major.  Please find more details  here .

General election latest: Sunak defends 'bold' national service policy after young Tory defects

Rishi Sunak has defended his national service idea after Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the proposal as a "teenage Dad's Army". It's also not gone down well with a now former young Conservative, who has defected over the policy.

Monday 27 May 2024 16:18, UK

• General Election 2024

General election called for 4 July

• PM defends 'modern' national service plan
• 'Teenage Dad's Army': Starmer dismisses Sunak's idea
• Policy 'sprung on' candidates | Young Tory president defects
• Defence minister criticised national service last week
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler  and (earlier)  Ben Bloch

Expert analysis

• Beth Rigby: Starmer's message is potent - but he has to seal the deal
• Tamara Cohen: Farage's incendiary claims a question for Reform
• Adam Boulton: Why PM's big bet on security likely won't pay off

Election essentials

• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Subscribe to Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: What happens next? | Which MPs are standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency's changing | Sky's coverage plans

We've just been hearing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has been discussing his plan to reintroduce national service for 18-year-olds.

Defending this proposal - which has faced heavy criticism - Mr Sunak argued it was the "right policy at the right time".

He told reporters in Buckinghamshire: "This is the right thing to do because this is how we will deliver a secure future for everyone and our country.

"We are not going to do that without taking bold action and that's the type of leadership that I offer."

Mr Sunak added that this "modern form" of national service will "mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities" that will "serve them very well in life".

He said: "It's going to foster a culture of service which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive and in a more uncertain and dangerous world it's going to strengthen our country's security and resilience.

"For all these reasons I think this is absolutely the right thing to do. 

"Yes, it is bold, but that's the kind of leadership I offer."

There's been a great deal of discussion today over the prime minister's announcement that the Conservatives would reintroduce national service if they are re-elected in July.

There has been a lack of clarity over whether parents could face fines or even prison sentences if their children refuse to take part.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, described this uncertainty as "absolute chaos".

He said: "The Tory campaign is in absolute chaos, with more positions on their flagship policy than the Kama Sutra.

"Now, Tory MPs are arguing among themselves about whether they are going to arrest parents, whether it will apply to Northern Ireland and how much it will cost.

"It is a shambles, total chaos, and the country deserves so much better."

Until voters go to the polls on 4 July, the Politics Hub will be looking back at some memorable moments from previous general election campaigns.

How would you react if someone threw an egg in your face?

In the case of John Prescott, the answer was to punch them.

The former deputy prime minister threw a fist at the voter who targeted him ahead of a campaign rally in Wales.

The incident came on the day Labour launched its 2001 election manifesto, and went down in such infamy it has its own Wikipedia page.

Mr Prescott, then Tony Blair’s deputy, insisted the hefty jab was an act of self-defence - but him choosing violence divided the party leadership, with Gordon Brown more sympathetic than the prime minister was.

Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide you through their top predictions for the next seven days in British politics.

On this week's episode, Jack and Sam talk about their "epic fail" and reveal how they missed the biggest political story of the year - that Rishi Sunak would call a general election for 4 July.

Now the campaign wheels are in motion, Jack and Sam discuss what's in store over the next few weeks leading up to the vote, and whether we'll see the return of some familiar faces as candidates after a mass exodus of Conservative MPs.

Also in this episode, from campaign plane rides and party manifestos to TV debates, Jack and Sam unpack how Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are hoping to steer the narrative of what could be the most consequential election in 14 years.

👉  Listen above then tap here to follow Politics at Jack at Sam's wherever you get your podcasts   👈

Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: [email protected] or [email protected]

A leaked memo published by The Times this afternoon appears to show Tory HQ staff complaining that MPs have failed to "get behind" the campaign - and are also short of money.

Of James Daly, Tory deputy chair, the paper reports that the memo said there are "low funds, circa £2k" available for him, with no donations forthcoming.

But Mr Daly told Sky News he is "absolutely not" struggling to raise money, saying he has had "no issue with donors whatsoever".

Rishi Sunak was also asked about Tory attempts to paint the Labour leader as "Sir Sleepy", claiming the 61-year-old lacked the stamina for a general election campaign.

The Labour leader has dismissed this narrative as "desperate", and the prime minister didn't appear keen to embrace it either.

He reiterated his pitch that he is a man with a "clear plan", prepared to take "bold action", whereas Sir Keir has "no ideas" and "no plan".

"You don't deliver any change without those things," he added, saying voters had a "clear choice at this election".

'I will take bold action'

Mr Sunak goes on to point out he has "been out and about across the entire United Kingdom".

"I want to deliver a secure future for everyone in our country, particularly in the uncertain time that we live in," he said.

"And as I've demonstrated with our policy on national service, our policies to increase our investment in defence reform, welfare, get to net zero in a more sensible way, control our immigration and secure our borders. 

"I'm the one that's going to take bold action to deliver that secure future."

Mr Sunak claims Sir Keir didn't present "a single new idea" in his own speech earlier today.

We asked Tory party deputy chair James Daly why the national service policy is a vote winner.

He said it "creates resilience" and will give young people the "opportunity to upskill", give back to their communities, or work with a government agency or charity.

He said he has been door-knocking this morning, and voters "like it".

Just last Thursday, a Tory defence minister said the government had no plans to bring back national service, so we asked what has changed between now and then.

Mr Daly did not answer the question, instead saying the policy is "very clear" and is similar to other countries in Europe.

Asked about the comment from a Tory minister and candidate that the policy has been "sprung on" them ( more on that here ), Mr Daly disagreed.

He said it is "typical of the prime minister" to give opportunities for community service, and denied the suggestion it was unconservative to have something like this forced upon people by the state.

Mr Daly insisted it was "completely in line" with the "ultimate conservative policy" of "creating pathways for people to thrive".

He also defended the fact that money earmarked for levelling up will be used for this policy instead.

"Levelling up is about levelling up opportunities, and this is part of the levelling up agenda."

We've just been speaking with Tory party deputy chair James Daly, and we started by asking when they will be filling the roughly 160 candidate vacancies the party still has.

"Very, very shortly" is the answer, with the process in those seats "happening imminently".

But he said the election being called so early is "absolutely not" a spanner in the works for the party, saying at every election there are vacancies that need filling.

"The party's working very efficiently to ensure that we get great candidates in the seats where we need them."

Earlier this morning, the Lib Dem leader launched his party's campaign in Scotland.

Surrounded by his party's activists, Ed Davey declared the election is "our chance for change across the UK, for the people of our great country who desperately want change".

He argued the Scottish people have been "doubly let down", referring to the Tories in Westminster and the "out of touch SNP government in Holyrood".

"It really is time for change and in so many parts of Scotland - it's a vote for the Liberal Democrats who can deliver that change and beat the SNP."

Electing the Lib Dems, he argued, would lead to the health and care system being fixed, stopping the "sewage scandal", and getting voters "a fair deal".

He said this deal would deliver "decent" homes for all, a "comfortable retirement when the time comes", "high quality health care" and all children having access to a "decent school".

Our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey  is following the Conservative campaign around Buckinghamshire today, and Rishi Sunak is due to campaign in the region this afternoon.

He said it's "fascinating" to see the prime minister there today, as it's a reminder the Tories are "fighting on lots of different fronts".

"The focus today is very much on the Liberal Democrats."

He noted the Lib Dems are focusing on winning back marginal seats in the so-called Blue Wall, traditional Tory strongholds, and the PM "feels he needs to respond".

"It's quite a defensive strategy, the very fact that the PM is in the Blue Wall trying to retain these seats.

"It is a sign, I think, of the strain that the party's feeling not just from Labour, but the Lib Dems too."

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Traditional Undergrad

Political Science (BA, Minor)

Are you fascinated by the dynamics of political systems, intrigued by public policy, and eager to make a difference in the world? The Political Science program at William Peace University (WPU) offers a transformative educational experience that goes beyond traditional learning. As a Political Science major, you will not only acquire valuable analytical skills but also benefit from an innovative curriculum taught by seasoned professors with real-world experience in law, government, political campaigns, and media.

A Comprehensive Curriculum with Real-World Insight

Our Political Science program is designed to equip students with a broad skill set, emphasizing the analysis of data, effective written and oral communication, and the art of making impactful decisions. What sets WPU apart is our commitment to providing an unparalleled educational journey. Our faculty, with their rich background in law, government, political campaigns, and media, bring a unique perspective to the classroom, ensuring that you receive practical insights that extend beyond textbook theories.

Prepared for the Future

At WPU, we understand the importance of preparing students for the future. Our Political Science program not only provides academic knowledge but also emphasizes practical skills through internships, fieldwork, and research projects. This hands-on approach ensures that our graduates are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges and excel in their chosen careers.

Embark on a journey of intellectual growth and practical application with the Political Science program at William Peace University. Join us in shaping the leaders of tomorrow who will make a positive impact on the world through their understanding of political systems, effective communication, and decision-making skills.

Start your application today.

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Possible Careers

Diverse Career Opportunities

A major in Political Science from WPU opens doors to many career paths. By focusing on governmental organizations and public policy, you’ll be well-prepared for roles in business, law, consulting, public service, journalism, urban planning, and government relations, among other fields. The skills you develop during your studies will be applicable in various professional settings, making you a versatile and sought-after candidate in today’s competitive job market.

Success Stories of WPU Political Science Graduates

WPU takes pride in the success stories of our Political Science graduates who have embarked on diverse and impactful careers. Our alumni have found themselves in roles such as Wages and Hours Investigator at the United States Department of Labor, Coordinator at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and Disability Determination Specialist at the Social Security Administration, Disability Determination Services.

Additionally, our graduates have been accepted into prestigious programs, showcasing the recognition of the quality education they received at WPU. Some of these programs include UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, New England School of Law, East Carolina University’s Public Administration program, Campbell University School of Law, Thomas Cooley School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and Stetson School of Law.

Endless Possibilities with a Political Science Degree

The versatility of a Political Science degree from WPU extends far beyond conventional career paths. Graduates of our program have found fulfilling roles in city management, urban planning, international organizations, and non-profit institutions. The dynamic curriculum and practical experiences offered at WPU prepare you not just for a job but for a meaningful career where you can contribute to positive change in society.

WPU political science graduates have gone on to jobs such as: 

• Wages and Hours Investigator, United States Department of Labor
• Coordinator, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• Disability Determination Specialist, Social Security Administration, Disability Determination Services

Graduates have also been accepted into the following programs: 

• UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law
• New England School of Law
• East Carolina University, Public Administration
• Campbell University School of Law
• Thomas Cooley School of Law
• North Carolina Central University School of Law
• Stetson School of Law

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our program allows flexibility for students to tailor their Political Science major to align with their specific interests. Whether your passion lies in law, public service, or urban planning, our diverse curriculum provides options for specialization, ensuring you receive a well-rounded education that caters to your individual goals.

Join us at William Peace University and explore the limitless possibilities that a Political Science degree can offer. Your journey to becoming a well-rounded and impactful professional begins here.

Our program is designed to provide a solid foundation for those considering further studies. Many of our graduates have been accepted into renowned graduate programs, including law schools and public administration programs, highlighting the academic strength and preparation our Political Science degree offers.

A Political Science degree from WPU opens doors to diverse career opportunities, including roles in business, law, consulting, public service, journalism, urban planning, and government relations. The program’s focus on governmental organizations and public policy equips you with skills applicable in various professional settings, making you a versatile candidate in the job market.

WPU understands the importance of hands-on experience in shaping a student’s academic journey. We offer a range of opportunities for internships, fieldwork, and research projects. These experiences allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their practical skills and preparing them for success in their chosen career paths.

Related Programs

Criminal Justice (BA)

Interdisciplinary Studies (BA)

Pre-Law (BA)

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Quick links, uw-stevens point graduate aims to advocate for justice.

Having immersed herself in knowledge of the legal system in and out of the classroom, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point political science May 2024 graduate Destiny Lloyd is now reaping the rewards of her work as she sets off to law school.

Lloyd was accepted to attend The George Washington University Law School as 1 of 10 Open Door Scholars, receiving $135,000 in scholarships.

Witnessing racial and social injustices within minority populations inspired Lloyd to be part of the solution in addressing these issues. Her goal is to make an impact for disadvantaged communities and people who find themselves without the means to defend themselves and their rights.

“I was seeing patterns of injustice, which makes me want to make a change in that area,” said Lloyd. “I felt I could make an impact legally advocating for people.”

Lloyd made the most of her time at UW-Stevens Point through involvement in student organizations and an internship through Justice Point, a nonprofit organization that promotes evidence based criminal justice programs and policies.

It was in her role as an intern with the local drug treatment court where she started to build connections. She attended group counseling sessions and honed her advocacy skills. Lloyd also assisted with a number of cases and analyzed data on tendency rates of convicted criminals to reoffend to gain an understanding of how the restorative justice policy was performing for helping to keep people from re-entering the criminal justice system. 

“It was very versatile. I had different options regarding the kind of work I wanted to do, such as working with clients, as a group, and even individually,” said Lloyd. “Justice Point runs some great programs and it’s important for other students and our community to see the differences they make in the lives of others.”

As the oldest of three siblings, Lloyd said she has always been disciplined. Aiming to constantly improve her understanding of the legal system, she joined organizations that helped nurture her career path. She served in the Student Government Association at UWSP as a senator and chair.

In 2023, Lloyd helped relaunch the UWSP Student Legal Society. The organization’s main goal is to aid students interested in pursuing a legal career, or who are generally interested in the law, by assisting in preparing for the Law School Admission Test and applying to law schools.

Lloyd served as club president, helping provide students with information about law school exams and presenting on topics such as restorative justice, race and the criminal justice system.

“I really love what I’m studying, that gives me the drive,” said Lloyd.

“Destiny’s academic background in political science, sociology/criminal justice and law and policy made her a very competitive applicant for law school,” said Professor John Blakeman. “She arrived with a focus on going to law school, and it’s wonderful to see her success in the law school admissions process.

Lloyd plans to complete her Juris Doctor degree, focusing on criminal law, and looks to find employment in the Washington D.C. area.