Admissions
Our Ph.D. program in Political Science is highly selective and small by design, fostering close faculty-to-student and student-to-student interaction and collaboration.
Generally, six or seven new students matriculate each year. New students enter our program in the fall semester. At any one time, our program has approximately 35-40 full-time students enrolled at various stages of study. Our program is structured exclusively for full-time study.
The Political Science Department accepts applications online through the Laney Graduate School beginning in early-to-mid September of each year. Our Graduate Admissions Committee, comprised of a diverse subset of Political Science faculty, reviews all application materials and makes all admissions decisions. Individual members of the Department – including the Graduate Program Coordinator, Director of Graduate Studies, and Director of Graduate Admissions – do not accept any applications or application materials unilaterally.
Applicants to our program should have strong academic preparation in political science or related social science disciplines. Our program is STEM-designated and emphasizes quantitative methods of inquiry. Many of the most successful applicants to our doctoral program enter with prior exposure to or experience with statistical or mathematical concepts and methods, along with some demonstrated experience involving original research (e.g., undergraduate or graduate theses). Finally, and most important, we seek a solid fit between the intellectual and scholarly interests of our applicants and our faculty.
The major components of our Political Science PhD program application include:
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation, especially from faculty who know the academic potential of the applicant
- Writing sample
- Curriculum Vitae
- Additional personal experiences that position the applicant for success
Please see the Laney Graduate School (LGS) Admissions Requirements webpage for more detailed information about the Statement of Purpose, Transcripts, Letters of recommendation, and Curriculum Vitae.
The writing sample should be a product of the applicant’s own scholarly research in or related to Political Science. Ideally, the writing sample presents original research, not just a summary of existing research. Samples can include chapters from master's or senior honors theses, undergraduate research papers, conference papers, or peer-reviewed journal articles. They must be written in English by the applicant. (Translations are acceptable, provided they are the work of the applicant.)
Applicants are asked to identify three Emory faculty members with whom they would like to work. However, we do not admit students to work with specific faculty members. Once admitted, students are encouraged to learn from and consult with a wide variety of faculty who make the most intellectual sense; students then choose a primary advisor by their third year in the program. For this reason, prospective applicants do not need to secure the support of individual faculty members before applying to our program.
GRE scores are recommended but not required. Our Graduate Admissions Committee reviews every application, whether it includes or excludes GRE scores. GRE scores may be helpful in overall evaluations of candidates for admission. If you have GRE scores, submit them. There is no minimum score required for the GRE.
We require either TOEFL scores or IELTS-Academic Scores for applicants whose native language is not English and who do not possess an undergraduate degree from a four-year English-speaking institution. Non-native English speakers who matriculate in the Laney Graduate School will take an English as an Additional Language (EAL) assessment upon arrival on campus for placement in EAL courses, if needed. There is no minimum score required for the TOEFL or IELTS.
Additional information for international applicants (i.e., those who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States) is available from the Laney Graduate School here.
There is a $75 application fee. Limited Application Fee Waivers are available from the Laney Graduate School for those who qualify.
Financial Support
Every student we admit to our Ph.D. program is offered a five-year financial award for full-time study. Financial awards are merit-based, and contingent upon a student maintaining adequate progress toward completion of the Ph.D.
Financial awards include full-tuition scholarships, monthly stipends, and health insurance subsidies. Tuition scholarships are awards for tuition credits; they are neither cash awards nor stipend dollars.
For more information, please visit the Laney Graduate School Financial Support Overview and Funding webpages.