Frequently Asked Questions

Home Graduate Program Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of applicants are offered admission to your program each year?
Since 2001, the Department has generally received approximately 75 applications each year. Of these, about 15 are generally offered admission (although not all accept).

What are the average GPA and GRE subscores for applicants accepted?
As a rule, the Department considers only applicants with undergraduate GPAs of 3.0 or higher. A lower undergraduate GPA may be offset by a high GPA (3.6 or higher) in a Master’s program. GRE scores are less important, although the University requires that admission of applicants with low GRE scores receive permission from the Graduate Division.

What criteria are weighted most heavily in admission decisions (i.e., letters, GPA, GRE, scores, etc.)?
Letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, writing sample.

What is the expected time to completion of a Politics Ph.D.?
Six to seven years.

What are the research opportunities?
See the Politics Graduate brochure and website for information.

Do Politics grad students participate in professional conferences?
Yes. The Department offers, on a competitive basis, up to $500 to students to travel to such conferences. Students may receive such funding only once each year.

Do you offer a Master’s degree?
We do not offer a terminal MA degree. Students in the PhD program may, however, receive an MA upon completion of two years of required coursework and submission of a journal-quality paper.