Thank you for considering the Ph.D. program at the University of Maryland! Our focus is on training Ph.D. students to conduct research that creates new knowledge in political science on the path toward a successful career as a professional political scientist, as faculty members at an academic institution and in policy and private industry. We offer rigorous training in the major subfields of political science and the methodological tools necessary to conduct cutting-edge research. We facilitate faculty and student interaction by pairing each incoming student with a faculty mentor from their area of study and by maintaining small class sizes. The Department has a culture that supports faculty and student collaboration that leads to publications in the top political science journals. In the last few years alone, articles that faculty and students have co-authored appeared in the following journals: American Political Science Review; American Journal of Political Science; The Journal of Politics; International Studies Quarterly; Journal of Conflict Resolution; Legislative Studies Quarterly; Political Behavior; and Public Opinion Quarterly.
In addition to access to the renowned scholars, workshops, dissertation research grants, and speaker series in the Department of Government and Politics, our Ph.D. students have access to outstanding programs throughout our world-class university, and the wider research community that includes top-notch universities in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. We have strong relationships with faculty at the other area programs and students have the opportunity to establish their own connections with these faculty and their Ph.D. students. Being in the DC area also affords our students access to governmental agencies, and major domestic and international organizations, allowing our students to collect unique and invaluable data.
It is an especially exciting time to be part of our program. Our recent efforts to strengthen existing areas of research and expand into new areas have been extremely successful. We hired a number of outstanding faculty members all of whom produce cutting edge research and share our dedication to training the next generation of scholars.
We are highly selective but offer the top applicants a variety of multi-year funding packages (assistantships, fellowships, and internships). For more information about the application process, requirements, funding, and our regularly held online Q&A sessions, please see our admissions page.
Sincerely,
Kristina Miler
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Ernesto Calvo
Professor and Director of Admissions
Find our more about our department at our YouTube Channel! Watch interviews with our Chair, Center Directors and Directors of Grad Studies.
Access the current Doctoral Program Handbook here.
