Requirements for Applying to Our Program

For admission to the department’s graduate programs, an applicant must present:

1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university either in political science or a field relevant to the applicant’s program of study.
2. An overall GPA and a Graduate Record (GRE) General Test examination score predictive of success in the program. The GRE is required.
3. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from teachers or those who know the applicant's academic work.
4. A “statement of purpose," describing the applicant's major area of intellectual interest and explaining how the degree sought facilitates the applicant’s academic and professional goals (1-2 pages). The statement should express areas of academic/research interests that are compatible with those of our graduate faculty.
5. A writing sample (e.g., an undergraduate paper of 10-12 pages).

*Admission and financial aid for our PhD program are very competitive. Average GRE scores of all the doctoral students are 96th percentile.

*Decisions about admissions and financial aid will, in each case, be based on evaluation of these materials as a whole.

Application Procedures

Applicants wishing to be considered for financial awards beginning in the Fall 2026 semester must submit a complete application by December 1.

The applicant must have issuing institutions send all transcripts and standardized test scores (GRE) to the Graduate School. TOEFL is required if English is not your primary language. 

The applicant must pay an admission fee to the Graduate School.

The applicant must have three letters of recommendation sent to the Graduate School.

Apply Online

• Apply Now to the Ph.D. Program

• Apply Now to the M.A. In International Relations Program