The University of Arizona, Department of Political Science Graduate Program takes pride in the fact that we produce top-notch scholars and first-rate teachers. As reflected in our placement, our students have been tremendously successful over the years. Our graduates have taken tenure track jobs at a number of the leading research universities and liberal arts colleges in America, including the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), the University of Iowa, the University of Georgia, the University of Mississippi, the University of New Mexico, Rice University and Texas A & M University, among others.

Terrific Faculty
Our program’s success is tied directly to our terrific faculty. We have 18 full time faculty with publications in many of the top journals and top academic presses— click here to read faculty bios or our faculty publication listing.

Three Areas of Study
Oriented toward the Ph.D., we offer three areas of study: 1) American Politics, with concentrations in political institutions (including the U.S. Congress, U.S. Supreme Court, the presidency, state legislatures, and state courts), voting and electoral behavior, minority politics, public policy, political parties and interest groups; Comparative Politics, with emphasis on the cross-national study of political institutions, leaders, and electoral behavior; and International Relations, with emphasis on the scientific study of conflict, conflict management, and institutions/organizations.

A Great Variety
Graduate students will be exposed to a number of approaches to the study of political science. In addition, the department offers a variety of methodology courses, including advanced statistical techniques, formal and mathematical models. Our graduate seminars are relatively small, which allows faculty to give students individualized attention. Graduate students may participate in research beginning in their first year of study and often make presentations at academic conferences during their second year. The program is designed primarily to prepare students for academic careers, although some graduates pursue careers outside academia.