Political Science

Political Science

The doctoral program in political science at Washington University is one of the top programs in the country. Graduate students take classes and engage in research with a faculty recognized nationally and internationally as among the most expert, active, and productive in the country.

Our graduate program is relatively small. We admit around eight students into the PhD program each year, and most of these complete the doctorate, generally in four to five years. There are approximately forty graduate students currently in residence.

Washington University's PhD program in political science is designed to prepare students for academic careers in research and teaching at major institutions across the country. While our program stresses the importance of political methodology (applied statistics) and formal theory (game theory and mathematical modeling), our program is designed to train all students in these methods, regardless of their mathematical background. We provide professional training in the discipline through our professional development seminar and we encourage our students to attend professional meetings and participate in convention programs.

Areas of Study: American politics (including law and courts); Comparative politics; Formal theory; International politics; Normative theory; Political methodology