PHD, Political Science & International Affairs

Degree Program Summary:

The PhD degree is administered jointly by the Departments of Political Science and International Affairs and prepares students for research and teaching at universities and colleges. Students must complete four classes in research methods, as well as coursework and comprehensive examinations in a major and a minor field. Major fields include international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political theory. Minor fields include these five fields plus others: law and courts, public administration and public policy.

The PhD program in Political Science and International Affairs invites students who wish to study politics in its many forms, but who also want to develop the analytic skills necessary to achieve mastery in their areas of study. Dedicated to providing the substantive political knowledge any advanced student of politics would want and need, the program also provides the exposure to cutting-edge research tools that distinguishes the very best graduate programs. Some faculty are senior members of the discipline, while others are rising stars who are already receiving national recognition. All are committed to the core mission of the graduate program.

A large number of teaching and research assistantships and scholarships are available.

The Departments of Political Science and International Affairs are in the School for Public and International Affairs, which also includes the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Students therefore have access to over 50 faculty in the School without sacrificing strong collegial relations and diverse classroom and research opportunities.

The PhD accepts applications for the Fall semester only. The application deadline for priority consideration for assistantships, fellowships, and other SPIA funding is December 1. Applications received after December 1 will be considered on a rolling basis until February 15. Funding offers will be awarded until funding is exhausted. No applications will be accepted after February 15. The GRE is required of all applicants. Interested applicants should consult the department’s website for further application information. Inquiries should be directed to the Graduate Office at polgrad@uga.edu or to the Graduate Program Administrator, Dr. Megan Morgan, at meganjs@uga.edu.