Welcome to the Graduate Program in Political Science

Professor Ian S. Lustick, Chair
Pat Kozak, Administrative Coordinator
246 Stiteler Hall, 215-898-5625

SKIP INTRODUCTION

Program Brochure (PDF Version) / Penn Graduate Catalog

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The Graduate Program in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania reflects the methodological diversity of the discipline. The Department’s areas of strength include comparative politics and political economy; international political, economic, and military problems; the domestic politics and foreign relations of major powers and geographic areas, American politics and political development, political theory, and constitutional theory.

Courses in each field clarify important intellectual and conceptual issues affecting the formulation of research problems and objectives. The option of an individualized specialization makes available unusual opportunities for in- depth study of distinctive national experiences or aspects of political science not constituted as one of the Department’s standard fields. Courses in research methods provide students with the basic knowledge and proficiency required for the selection and application of appropriate research skills in each field of specialization.

The Graduate Program offers the Ph.D. degree. Candidates completing the Ph.D. degree follow careers in university teaching and scholarship, and in private or public research institutions.

Information about the interests of our faculty is available on our faculty web pages. All students admitted to our program receive financial support from either a teaching fellowship or a research fellowship. This year, we accepted 18 students to our program, and 10 of those students matriculated. Individuals interested in applying to our Ph.D. program may read about the application requirements, deadlines, admission policies, and information on how to obtain application forms here. You may also apply Online by going to Expressapp or download an SAS Application Form.

Ph.D. Requirements

To earn the Ph.D. in Political Science, each student must:

1 . accumulate twenty course units in credits (typically 15 regular courses,
the Research Colloquium, and 3 dissertation research credits)

2 . satisfy the research skills requirements (methods, Research Colloquium,
and foreign language competence)

3 . pass the preliminary examinations in two of the four general or thematic
fields and display competence in a third field (either general, thematic,
or specialized)

4 . prepare and defend a dissertation prospectus

5 . write and successfully defend a dissertation

6 . satisfy the teaching requirements

For additional information, please contact:

Pat Kozak
Administrative Coordinator for the Political Science Graduate Group
246 Stiteler Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6215

(215) 898 5625 or email: poligrad@psci.sas.upenn.edu.