Top Schools with Political Science PHD Programs
Political scientists study political systems, as well as human and societal behavior. Political science programs leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) usually prepare students for academic careers in teaching and research. Two of the best political science doctoral programs in the U.S. are offered by the University of California - San Diego (UCSD) and Washington University in St. Louis.
Top Doctoral Programs in Political Science
1. University of California - San Diego
UCSD was established in 1960 and is one of the campuses of the University of California System. Although relatively young, the university has received national recognition from a number of ranking organizations, including a seventh place ranking among top U.S. public universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2011. In 2009, the magazine also named UCSD the seventh best graduate school in the nation for political science.
The Department of Political Science at UCSD has over 50 professors and admits 15-20 students to the Ph.D. program each year. The program stresses a holistic education across various political science subfields. Before advancing into their research field, first year doctoral candidates are required to take six quarters of courses in foundational politics and research methods. The program can be completed in 4-6 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093
- Phone Number: (858) 534-2230
2. Washington University in St Louis, MO
Washington University is a private research university that was ranked 13th in U.S. News & World Report's 2011 list of top national universities. It was also ranked third for best quality of life in the Princeton Review's 2011 edition of The Best 373 Colleges. In 2009, the university awarded 760 doctoral degrees and received $576.5 million in federal research support.
The political science Ph.D. program admits eight students a year. The department doesn't admit students who want to pursue a master's degree only, but doctoral candidates may achieve a Master of Arts during their track to a Ph.D. Since 1998, 26 out of 35 graduates of the program have achieved tenure track jobs at various universities.
Contact Information
- Address: One Brookings Dr., Saint Louis, MO 63130
- Phone Number: (314) 935-5000
List of U.S. Good Schools with Political Science and Government Ph.D. Programs
| School Name | Total Student Enrollment | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | 51,659 | 100 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 | (612) 625-5000 |
| New York University | 43,404 | 70 Washington Square S., New York, NY 10012 | (212) 998-1212 |
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 41,674 | Ann Arbor, MI 48109 | (734) 764-1817 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | 38,550 | 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095 | (310) 825-4321 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 28,916 | Chapel Hill, NC 27599 | (919) 962-2211 |
| University of California - San Diego | 28,418 | 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093 | (858) 534-2230 |
| University of Pittsburgh | 28,328 | 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260 | (412) 624-4141 |
| Harvard University | 27,651 | Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138 | (617) 495-1000 |
| University of California - Irvine | 27,142 | Irvine, CA 92697 | (949) 824-5011 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 24,599 | One College Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104 | (215) 898-5000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 24,230 | 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 | (212) 854-1754 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 20,383 | 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218 | (410) 516-8000 |
| Northwestern University | 19,853 | 633 Clark St., Evanston, IL 60208 | (847) 491-3741 |
| Stanford University | 18,498 | Stanford, CA 94305 | (650) 723-2300 |
| Georgetown University | 16,520 | 37th and O St. N.W., Washington, DC 20057 | (202) 687-0100 |
| University of Chicago | 15,094 | 5801 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 | (773) 702-1234 |
| Duke University | 14,350 | Durham, NC 27708 | (919) 684-2813 |
| Washington University in St Louis | 13,575 | One Brookings Dr., Saint Louis, MO 63130 | (314) 935-5000 |
| Vanderbilt University | 12,506 | 2101 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37240 | (615) 322-7311 |
| Yale University | 11,593 | New Haven, CT 06520 | (203) 432-1333 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 10,384 | 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 | (617) 253-1000 |
| Brown University | 8,574 | One Prospect St., Providence, RI 02912 | (401) 863-1000 |
| Princeton University | 7,592 | Princeton, NJ 08544 | (609) 258-3000 |
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- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
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School locations:
- Georgia (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Georgia include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
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School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Human and Social Services
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School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Texas Tech University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Consumer Sciences
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Social Science and Studies
- Social Studies and History
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School locations:
- Washington (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Social Services
- Liberal Arts, Humanities, and General Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
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- New York (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Syracuse University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
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- Geography and Cartography
- Human and Consumer Sciences
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School locations:
- Connecticut (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Connecticut include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
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