Why Pursue Graduate Studies in Political Science?
Our graduates are successful, as our program is an effective springboard into both academic and non-academic careers.
- We prepare students for successful careers in the academic, public, and private sectors. Many of our best students have gone on to leading Ph.D. programs and law school, as well as successful careers in politics, not-for-profit leadership, and business.
- Showing excellence in a Master's-level graduate program is a great way to increase
the likelihood of being accepted into a top Ph.D. program, and our graduates have
gone on to many of the top Ph.D. programs in political science, including:
- University of Arizona, University of Colorado, Emory University, Florida State University, University of Indiana, University of California at Santa Cruz, University of California at Irvine, University of Kansas, Leeds University, University of Missouri, Purdue University, the State University of New York at Binghamton, University of Washington, and University of Wisconsin.
Our assistantships cover all fees and tuition, and stipends are quite competitive with other graduate programs.
- Graduate assistants work for 20 hours per week with graduate faculty. They have enriching and stimulating opportunities to assist faculty in the undergraduate classroom and on faculty research projects
Our students develop a critical and versatile skill-set.
- Many of our students have worked as paid research assistants on externally-funded
projects such as the Urban Child Institute (www.theurbanchildinstitute.org). Some
students present papers at professional conferences and submit papers for publication
in research journals. For students seeking employment outside of academia, we offer
the necessary analytic and methodological tools so
necessary for success in the private sector.
We have an excellent student-to-faculty ratio in our graduate program.
- Our average graduate seminar has about 10 students. This enables faculty to give a lot of individual attention to each of our graduate students
We offer a well-rounded curriculum.
- We have productive scholars with active research agendas in American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Our faculty publish in the leading journals and presses of our discipline and have respected reputations in their fields. Our varied expertise allows us to accommodate a large range of student interests – both in the classroom and individual graduate research projects. You can learn more about our faculty at: memphis.edu/polisci/people
Our program has national visibility.
- Over the past several years we have attracted students to our MA program from a number of prestigious undergraduate programs such as Hendrix College, Rhodes College, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, Florida State University, Valdosta State University, Tulane University, Vanderbilt University, Wilmington College, Loyola University, and Rutgers University. Additionally, we have placed graduating MA students in several PhD programs recognized nationally for their excellence.
How to Apply to the Graduate Program in Political Science
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page.