Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science - Political Theory

The primary mission of the Political Science Department's graduate program is to prepare students for careers in academia. The department gives equal emphasis to training students for both the research and teaching sides of such a career. Many of our graduates also successfully apply their political science training to non-academic careers. The Ph.D. program offers study in four broadly defined fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. The Ph.D. program seeks primarily to develop the research skills and substantive knowledge necessary for successful completion of a dissertation. Conduct original scholarly research and form advanced pedagogical skills with the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science at Temple University's College of Liberal Arts. Students in this 46-credit doctoral program critically examine topics such as global politics, political behavior, political thought and the role of the state in the economy in preparation for careers in academia and research. The Political Science Department's faculty members are nationally recognized in their fields and integrate their current and published research with PhD coursework. Faculty research and expertise focus on American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, which also serve as primary subject matters in the curriculum. PhD students are an integral part of the learning and teaching experience across the Political Science Department. They conduct research, teach courses and work closely with various faculty members and students throughout the department. Learn more about current Political Science PhD students and their research.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A master's degree is not required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required.

Statement of Goals: Approximately 500 to 1,000 words include your interest in Temple's program, your research goals, your future career goals, and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required. Minimum scores of 156 verbal and 148 quantitative are expected.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 100
IELTS Academic: 7.0
The minimum admissions standard for all graduate students is ordinarily an undergraduate grade point average of B or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the functional equivalent for students who have attended universities outside of the United States.
Resume: Current resume required.

Writing Sample: The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be no more than 25 pages and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual.