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If you are considering applying for graduate study in
political science at Emory, please read the following carefully. You will
find answers here to the questions most frequently asked by prospective
students.
Click below to jump to the following catagories of questions:
Do you admit students seeking only the Master's
(M.A.) degree?
No. Students in our program may elect to receive a Master's degree once
they complete coursework and comprehensive exams and begin work on the
dissertation, but we only admit students who intend to complete the Ph.D.
degree.
Do you offer a degree in public policy or public
administration?
No. We offer only degrees in political science. The emphasis in our program
is on training students to do research and teach in the political science
field. We do offer a subfield in Public Policy Processes for students
whose major field is American Government and Politics.
Do you offer a degree in international affairs?
No. We offer only degrees in political science and our program focuses
on training students to do research and teach in the political science
field. We do offer International Relations as a major field of study,
with subfields in International Political Economy and International Security
and Conflict.
Do you offer night courses? Is it possible to
pursue the Ph.D. through part time study?
No. Our program is structured for full time study only.
Do you offer regular graduate courses in the summer?
No. However, many students receive financial support from the department
to participate in summer programs involving training in foreign languages
and research methods.
What is the application deadline? If I miss the
deadline, will my application still be considered?
The application deadline is January 3rd. If you decide to apply, make
sure ALL of your materials are in by that date. Also, be sure to take
the GRE early enough that your scores will arrive at Emory by January
3rd. Late or incomplete applications may not receive full consideration.
Where should transcripts be sent?
One official transcript from each college or university attended should be sent to the following address:
Graduate Program Administrator
Department of Political Science
1555 Dickey Dr., 327 Tarbutton Hall
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322
When will I be informed of whether I have been
admitted to the program?
By mid-March, possibly earlier.
Do you admit students to begin their studies in
the Spring Semester, or do I have to start in the Fall?
Students begin the program in the Fall.
Are there any circumstances under which you will
waive the requirement that applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE)?
No. All students must submit GRE scores.
I took the Graduate Record Examination several
years ago. Are the scores still valid or must I retake the examination?
This is not a problem so long as the scores are less than five years old.
If the scores are more than five years old, you must retake the exam.
I've heard that some graduate programs place almost
exclusive emphasis on Graduate Record Examination scores in deciding who
to admit. Is Emory such a school?
No. GRE scores are considered along with a student's academic record,
letters of recommendation, relevant experience and personal statement.
No single part of the application file alone determines admission. However,
because of the strength of our applicant pool, admission is very unlikely
if the score on any of the three portions of the GRE is below the fiftieth
percentile.
Does the Department require a writing sample?
No, only a Personal Statement describing your academic background, area
of interest, and tentative plans for research.
How important is the Personal Statement in the
application process?
Very important. It allows the admissions committee to get a sense of why
you are interested in studying at Emory, where your interests lie, and
how these fit with the strengths and interests of our faculty.
Is an undergraduate major in political science
necessary for admission to your graduate program?
An undergraduate major in political science is preferred, but students
with strong preparation in related fields (economics, sociology, history,
international studies, etc.) have also been admitted to our program.
Will the specific field in which I hope to specialize
have any bearing on the admissions process?
It may. We are especially interested in students whose interests match
up well with the areas in which our faculty specialize.
How many students are admitted each year?
Seven or eight students are admitted each year. Currently there are about
45 students in our Ph.D. program.
Many students have completed internships, done
volunteer work, or held several jobs before applying to graduate school.
Should students submit letters of recommendation from supervisors in these
activities, or is it better to get letters from college instructors?
It is most important to have letters from college instructors who are
familiar with your academic work. The most useful recommendations are
from professors who know the student well, especially those who have supervised
a student's work on a major research paper, project, thesis, etc.
I received my degree a number of years ago and
have been working full time since then. Will this hurt my chances to be
admitted to your program?
Not necessarily. Some students we admit have just completed B.A. or M.A.
degrees, while others have been working in public or private sector positions.
Admission will depend on the overall strength of each applicant's file.
I'd like to see Emory and talk to some faculty.
What would be the best time to visit? Should I call ahead first?
All students who are admitted to the program will be invited to visit
Emory at our expense during specific dates in the Spring.
Is there a separate application for financial
awards?
No.
All applicants are automatically considered for financial awards. All
students admitted to the PhD. program are also offered a full five-year
package of financial assistance.
If I receive financial support, do I still have
to pay tuition?
No.
The financial award package includes a full tuition waiver. However, there
are some fees (computer and facility use) that must be paid by all Emory
students.
Does the financial award package involve a research
assistantship? What obligations does this involve for the student?
Yes.
The financial support package includes a research assistantship. Students
are assigned to assist a faculty member with research. The obligation
is for approximately fifteen hours per week during the academic year.
Do Emory graduate students serve as teaching
assistants?
Yes, on a limited basis. Every student in our program will serve as a
teaching assistant in at least one undergraduate course. Each student
will also spend one semester as a teaching associate, which
involves co-teaching a course with a regular faculty member in the student's
field. Both are requirements of the Emory TATTO
program.
Are international students eligible for financial
awards?
Yes, international students admitted to the program will received
the same financial aid package awarded to domestic students.
I have taken graduate work at another institution.
Will my credits transfer?
Only if you have completed an M.A. degree in political science. If you
have received an M.A. in political science, you will be admitted in Advanced
Standing, and fewer courses will be required for the Ph.D.
I would like to specialize in political theory.
Would Emory be a good place for me to study?
No. Political theory is only offered as a minor field in our program.
I really do not enjoy math or statistics. May
I substitute other courses for the required courses in research methods?
No. While our graduate students employ a wide variety of both qualitative
and quantitative approaches in their research, all are expected to become
familiar with some basic quantitative research techniques.
How many years does the average student take to
complete the Ph.D.?
In most cases, it will take a minimum of five years to complete the Ph.D.
Do I have to take a foreign language?
There are no specific foreign language requirements for the graduate program.
However, students whose doctoral research requires knowledge of a foreign
language must acquire and demonstrate the necessary proficiency.
Are the faculty at Emory accessible to students?
We currently have about 45 students in the graduate program, and 30 full-time
faculty, so the faculty-student ratio is excellent. In addition, there
is a strong commitment at Emory to close interaction with graduate students.
Do faculty ever include students in their research?
Do they ever coauthor papers or publications with students?
Students frequently become involved in faculty research. It is quite common
for students to co-author papers with faculty for presentation at professional
conferences, or to be co-authors on articles submitted for publication.
How many first year students come back the second
year?
In recent years, over 90 percent of first-year students have come back
to continue the program in the second year.
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