Department of Political Science

yale university phd political science

Introduction

Building on its historical strength, Yale is a leader in research and teaching in contemporary  Political Science. The Department is home to around 45 faculty, whose scholarship and teaching span across the subfields of Political Science and the countries of the world. The undergraduate major is among the largest on campus, and the graduate program produces Ph.D. students who have taken leadership positions in the discipline. 

Many Political Science faculty also play active roles in related programs at Yale, such as the Program in Ethics, Politics, and Economics; Directed Studies; the Institution for Social And Policy Studies; and the MacMillian Center. The Department also sponsors numerous seminars, lectures, and conferences that are open to all members of the Yale community.

  • Political Science

Fields include American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political economy, political theory, quantitative empirical methods, qualitative and archival methods, and formal theory.

  • Programs of Study
  • PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
  • Combined PhD
  • Department of Political Science

Hélène Landemore

Director of Graduate Studies

Colleen Amaro

Departmental Registrar

Admission Requirements

Standardized testing requirements.

GRE is required.

Program-Specific Application Requirements

The prompt for the Statement of Academic Purpose for applicants to Political Science is as follows:  In a succinct statement of no more than 1,000 words, please (1) discuss your motivation for conducting research, (2) provide a detailed summary of your research experience and training and how it prepares you for doctoral study in your proposed program (the standalone Ph.D. in Political Science), (3) the topic(s) you plan to study in graduate school and how you would approach those questions, and (4) why Yale is a good fit given your interests.

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

Combined Degree Program Application Deadline

*The deadline to submit an application to a combined program is always the earlier deadline of the two individual programs, or December 15, whichever comes first.

Academic Information

Combined phd information.

Political Science offers a combined PhD in conjunction with African American Studies and Statistics and Data Science .

Program Advising Guidelines

GSAS Advising Guidelines

Academic Resources

Academic calendar.

The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.

Featured Resource

Registration Information and Dates

https://registration.yale.edu/

Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.

Financial Information

Phd stipend & funding.

PhD students at Yale are normally fully-funded. During their programs, our students receive a twelve-month stipend to cover living expenses and a fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition and student healthcare.

  • PhD Student Funding Overview
  • Graduate Financial Aid Office
  • PhD Stipends
  • Health Award
  • Tuition and Fees

Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.

IMAGES

  1. Alissa Ardito Ashcroft (PhD ’04, Political Science)

    yale university phd political science

  2. Contact Information

    yale university phd political science

  3. Department of Political Science

    yale university phd political science

  4. Colleen Shogan (PhD ’02, Political Science)

    yale university phd political science

  5. Department of Political Science

    yale university phd political science

  6. Department of Political Science

    yale university phd political science

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