uc davis political science phd admission

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Political science, about the program, learn more about the program.

Students gain advanced knowledge of American government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, methodology and political theory. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in political science.

College of Letters and Science

Admissions and Fellowship Information

UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements

Admissions Actions

Program contact information, primary program contacts.

Program Coordinator Sarah Mayorga [email protected]

Graduate Program Chair Amber Boydstun (530) 754-0965 | [email protected]

Department Chair Benjamin Highton (530) 754-0958 | [email protected]

Additional Contacts

Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Amber Boydstun Political Science (530) 754-0965 | [email protected]

Internal Fellowship Analyst Heidi West (530) 754-9473 | [email protected]

Senior Academic Advisor Sarah Hamid (530) 752-0650 | [email protected]

External Fellowship Analyst Yvette Garcia [email protected]

Department of Political Science

International applicants, fees and information for international applicants..

Please note : The figures quoted below reflect information available at the time this document was prepared. 

The Graduate Program of Political Science believes a student’s first priority should be their studies. With this in mind, we work to insure that all of our students have the appropriate financial support in order to allow them the freedom to focus on their personal scholarship. We generally offer comprehensive funding packaged for the duration of our standard time to degree through a combination of fellowships, and employment opportunities.

For more information please contact  Jennifer Larr , the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Estimated cost per year

For an international student the estimated cost per year at UC Davis is  $55,800 . This sum covers fees, tuition and living expenses. The most common kind of financial assistance a new international student is likely to receive is a Teaching Assistantship ("TAship") and / or a Nonresident Tuition Fellowship. 

Graduate Student Fees

All graduate students (international and domestic) must pay "Graduate Student Fees." 

Current Tuition and Fees

(Graduate Student Fees are reduced for Teaching Assistants)

Non-Resident Tuition Fee

In addition to Graduate Student Fees, international students (and domestic students who are not California residents) must pay the "Non-Resident Tuition Fee":

Admission and financial aid decisions about many international student applicants probably will not be made until sometime after March 1  because many applications are received and need to be compared, in order to admit the best applicants. The department can not predict exactly how soon decisions will be made, but applicants will be informed after decisions have been made.

Required Forms

The formal admission letter you receive from the Graduate Admissions Office will direct you to the  Services for International Students and Scholars  website, where you can find a " UC Davis Request for I-20 / DS-2019 Form ." International students are required to fill that out and submit it, indicating that they can afford $55,800 for their first year at UC Davis, before the university will send them another form (such as I-20) needed to order a visa to come to Davis ($55,800 is the estimated cost of the first year at UC Davis for international students). Consult that website for full instructions and information.

If you have received a financial aid offer:

Indicate on the " UC Davis Request for I-20 / DS-2019 Form " that you have received the aid offer and send a photocopy of your aid offer letter along with it when you mail it back to the university, to prove that you have been offered that amount of aid. Subtract the total amount of the aid offer from the $55,800 and also indicate on the form that you can afford to pay the remaining balance.   Also, if you received a multi-year aid offer, be careful to subtract only the amounts of the aid offer that are for your first year.

Department of Political Science

Graduate courses.

This roster lists graduate-level courses in the Department of Political Science, with prerequisites and brief descriptions, and units of credit shown within parentheses.

• POL 201 - 215

POL 201. Urban Government and Politics (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Survey and analysis of the literature in the field of local government and politics in the United States. Approaches to the study of political reform, local autonomy, community power, representation, expertise, service delivery, policymaking and political change. Offered in alternate years.

POL 202. American State Government and Politics (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Survey and analysis of the literature in the field of state government, politics and policy. Approaches to the study of the American states as political systems, including their governing institutions and processes and their role in the Federal system. Offered in alternate years.

POL 203A. American Government: The Presidency (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Thorough overview of the current research on political executives, with particular emphasis on the American presidency. Two principal goals: the development of important and innovative student research programs; and adequate preparation for qualifying examinations.

POL 203B. American Government: Congress (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Thorough overview of the current research on Congress, with particular emphasis on political representation. Two principal goals: the development of important and innovative student research programs; and adequate preparation for qualifying examinations.

POL 203C. American Government: Courts (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Survey and analysis of the literature in the field of American government with a focus on courts. Emphasis on the development and testing of theories of behavior and processes.

POL 207. Environmental Public Policy (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Analysis of the interface between the world of academic reflection about ecological and environmental problems and the world of political action. Evaluation of alternative approaches to policy analysis and recommendation. Individual research, including field research, will parallel discussion of the literature.

POL 208. Policy Analysis (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Social science techniques applied to public policy formation and evaluation.

POL 209. The American Political System (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Analysis of selected theoretical and empirical issues posed by contemporary research in American government and politics.

POL 210. Research Design in Political Science (4)

Seminar—3 hours; discussion/laboratory—1 hour. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Introduction to philosophy of science and research design for political science. Topics include: logic of empirical research; overview of research design approaches for political science research.

POL 211. Research Methods in Political Science (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Pass 1 open to graduate majors; pass 2 open to graduate students. Introductory seminar introducing data analysis methods critical to basic empirical investigations in political science.

POL 212. Quantitative Analysis in Political Science (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 211. Pass 1 open to graduate majors; pass 2 open to graduate students. Introductory statistics course with an emphasis on applications in political science. Topics include descriptive statistics for samples, probability and probability distributions, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, bivariate regression, and introduction to multiple regression.

POL 213. Quantitative Analysis in Political Science II (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: courses 211, 212. Pass 1 open to graduate majors; pass 2 open to graduate students. More advanced topics in the use of statistical methods, with emphasis on political applications. Topics include: properties of least squares estimates, problems in multiple regression, and advanced topics (probit analysis, simultaneous models, time-series analysis, etc.).

POL 214A. Research in Political Science (4)

Discussion—2 hours; lecture—1 hour; term paper. Prerequisite: course 213. Research seminar sequence required of all Ph.D. students. Design, execution and defense of an original piece of research in political science, culminating in a paper of publishable quality. (Deferred grading only, pending completion of sequence.)

POL 214B. Research in Political Science (4)

Discussion—2 hours; lecture—1 hour; term paper. Prerequisites: courses 212 and 214A; advanced level graduate students in the Department of Political Science only. Research seminar sequence required of all Ph.D. students. Design, execution and defense of an original piece of research in political science, culminating in a paper of publishable quality. (Deferred grading only, pending completion of sequence.)

POL 215. Introduction to Modeling Political Behavior (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: courses 211, 212. Pass 1 open to graduate majors; pass 2 open to graduate students. Introduction to formal and game theoretic analyses of politics. Students will learn basic game theory and modeling skills. We examine the benefits of modeling, and look at examples of formal analysis in a variety of political science subfields.

• POL 216 - 231

POL 216. Qualitative Research Methods (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Methodology for utilizing theoretically-oriented case studies and controlled comparison of a small number of cases to develop and test theories. Examination of how the case study method compliments experimental, statistical and deductive modes of research. Offered in alternate years.

POL 217. Social Choice Theory and Spatial Modeling (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Introduction to social choice theory and formal spatial modeling, including Arrow’s Theorem, the paradox of voting, cycling and agenda control. Focus on mastering modeling techniques as well as interpretation of classic works. Offered in alternate years.

POL 218. Topics in Political Theory (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Topics vary and may be the work of a single theorist, time period, or political concept, such as justice. May be repeated three times for credit when topic differs.

POL 219A. Political Theory Sequence (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Survey of the great works in ancient and medieval political theory, including writers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine, Aquinas, Alfarabi and Marsilius. Discussion of various interpretations of these authors. Offered in alternate years.

POL 219B. Political Theory Sequence (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Survey of the great works in early modern to contemporary political theory including writers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill, Nietzsche and Rawls. Discussion of various interpretations of these authors. Offered in alternate years.

POL 219C. Contemporary Political Theory (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Survey of important works in contemporary political theory including writers such as Nietzsche, Heidegger, Arendt, Rawls, Nozick, Sandel. May be repeated for credit if topic differs.

POL 220. Seminar in Political Theory (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Introduction to political theory and current debates over its study. Readings from and textual interpretations of political theory including the Federalist Papers and major works by thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Rawls. Other readings addressing issues of textual interpretation.

POL 223. International Relations (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper.

POL 225. The International System (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Analysis of the international system by means of theory formulation and integration; critique of research designs; use of various techniques of data generation and analysis.

POL 226. Seminar in International Political Economy (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students. Research in international political economy. Structure of the global economy, as well as specific dimensions of international economic relations, including trade, capital flows, global production structures and migration. Offered in alternate years.

POL 229. Theories of International Relations (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Central concepts, debates and paradigms in international relations; overview of research in international security and international political economy; interstate and intrastate war; cooperation and conflict resolution; trade and finance; relationship between domestic and international politics, norms and institutions. Open to political science graduate students only unless instructor has given consent. Offered in alternate years.

POL 230. American Foreign Policy (4)

Pol 231. u.s. political culture and foreign relations (4).

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Relates U.S. political culture to formulation of foreign policy. Analyzes American ideological preferences in historical perspective, contemporary public opinion, decision making and implementation. Concludes by examining linkages between foreign policy behavior and democratic process. Offered in alternate years.

• POL 241 - 284

POL 241. Communist Political Systems (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 141 or the equivalent, or consent of instructor. Systematic analysis of selected topics dealing with the political process of communist political systems.

POL 242. Seminar in Comparative Politics (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Systematic survey of theories and methods used in the study of comparative politics.

POL 243. Comparative Institutional Change (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students. Comparison of institutional changes in countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the period of transition to democracy. Special attention to institutions of mass representation—electoral and party systems and national legislatures. Offered in alternate years.

POL 246. Policymaking in Third-World Societies (4)

Seminar—3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Included in an analysis of policymaking process in Third-World countries are topics such as political resources, institutional resources, decision making, resource allocations, planning, and budgeting, implementation and distribution of world resources. Offered in alternate years.

POL 250. Policy Development and Impact in U.S. Courts (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Thorough overview of the literature regarding courts as policymaking institutions of government, with emphasis on the formation and implementation of judicial policy. Differences and similarities across the judicial, congressional and executive branch policy processes. Offered in alternate years.

POL 260. Political Parties (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Survey of selected topics in American and comparative parties.

POL 261. Political Behavior (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Survey of selected topics in political behavior and public opinion. May be repeated three times for credit when topic differs.

POL 274. Political Economy (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students. Politics of economic policy as reflected in taxation, spending and regulation; impact of prices, employment and growth on political demands; government responses to economic conditions; electoral politics and the political business cycle. Offered in alternate years.

POL 279. Political Networks: Methods and Applications (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Structure of political networks, socio-matrices and affiliation networks; general networks characteristics: density, centralization, polarization, interdependence, dyadic and triadic characteristics: structural and role equivalence; subsets of networks: cliques, blocks and bloc modeling; characteristics of individuals in networks: centrality and prestige.

POL 280. Bayesian Methods: for Social and Behavioral Sciences (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 212 or equivalent. Pass 1 open to graduate majors only; pass 2 open to graduate students. Methodology seminar introducing Bayesian quantitative methods to issues and problems in political science and other social and behavioral sciences. Offered in alternate years.

POL 281. Statistical Computing Issues in Political Science (4)

Seminar—3 hours; discussion/laboratory—1 hour. Prerequisite: course 213 or equivalent; graduate standing. Methodology seminar introducing computing issues in empirical models for political science and other social and behavioral sciences. Offered in alternate years.

POL 282. Advanced Modeling of Political Behavior (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 215 or equivalent; graduate standing or consent of instructor. Applications of formal theory to political science. Review of relevant contributions in other social sciences. Consideration of advanced techniques in game theory. Rational and behavioral approaches.

POL 283. Organizational Behavior (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Organizational behavior as it relates to public sector decision making.

POL 284. Advanced Network Analysis (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 211, 212, 279. Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMS) of networks, game theoretic models of network formation and network dynamics, diffusion processes, shocks and network collapse, percolation, cross-network spillover processes, social and political applications of advanced network models. Offered in alternate years.

• POL 290 - 396

POL 290A. Research in American Government and Public Policy (4)

Seminar—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students. Special research seminar on problems and issues in the study of American government and public policy. May be repeated up to six times for credit if topic differs.

POL 290B. Research in Political Theory (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Special research seminar on problems and issues in the study of political theory. May be repeated six times for credit if topic varies.

POL 290C. Research in International Relations (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Special research seminar on select problems and issues in the study of international relations. May be repeated six times for credit if topic varies.

POL 290D. Research in Judicial Politics (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing in political science or consent of instructor. Contemporary research on judicial politics, judicial institutions, jurisprudence and judicial behavior.

POL 290E. Research in Political Parties, Politics and Political Behavior (4)

Seminar—4 hours. Special research seminar on selected problems and issues in the study of political parties, politics and political behavior.

POL 290F. Research in Comparative Government and Policy (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper. Restricted to graduate students only. Special research seminar on select problems and issues in the study of comparative government and policy. May be repeated six times for credit if topic varies.

POL 290G. Research in Methodology (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: course 212. Special research seminar on selected problems and issues in methods in political science. May be repeated three times for credit if topic varies.

POL 297. Internships in Political Science (2)

Seminar—2 hours. Prerequisite: open only to persons who have internships or other positions in governmental agencies, political parties, etc. Application and evaluation of theoretical concepts through work experience or systematic observation in public and political agencies. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)

POL 298. Group Study (1–5)

(S/U grading only.)

POL 299. Research (1–12)

Pol 299d. directed reading (1–12).

• Professional

POL 390. The Teaching of Political Science (1)

Seminar—1 hour. Prerequisite: graduate student standing in Political Science. Methods and problems of teaching political science at the undergraduate level. (S/U grading only.)

POL 396. Teaching Assistant Training Practicum (1-4)

Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)

Philosophy Department

How to apply.

March 2 2024: Applications for Fall 2024 admission have now closed, and all applications have been reviewed. We have made an initial round of PhD admission offers, and notified the successful applicants. If you have not heard from us, then your application is still under consideration. We may be in a position to make further PhD and MA offers before mid-April 2024.

The admission application (required) and fellowship application (encouraged, but not required) must be completed through the online application system. The admission application and fellowship application, along with instructions, are available through the  Office of Graduate Studies website  beginning in early September. Applications are accepted for fall quarter only.

For full consideration and review your application must be completed by January 15.

To support graduate students, we offer teaching assistantships and fellowships with a competitive stipend and remission of basic tuition and fees. Our goal is to provide five years of full financial support for all students making satisfactory progress in the PhD program.

Please note:  The Philosophy program has chosen to permanently remove the GRE requirement. GREs will neither be accepted nor considered for any applicants.

The following information is required and must be submitted online as part of your online admission application:

• Statement of purpose.
• Personal history and diversity statement.
• Application fee, paid by credit card only through the online application system. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted. Consult the  Graduate Studies  website for fee information.
• Three Letters of Recommendation. Your letter writers must upload their statements through the online application system; no paper letters will be accepted. Your recommenders will receive instructions for submitting their recommendations online.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores if you have not studied at an institution and received a degree where the language of instruction is English. These scores must be current (taken with the past two years). TOEFL should be sent electronically directly from ETS to UC Davis. IELTS scores should be mailed directly to UC Davis from IELTS.
• A writing sample of 12 to 30 double-spaced pages, in English, must be submitted with the application. Your writing sample should be an original work of philosophy, typically in the style of a scholarly journal article. (Some well known scholarly journals in philosophy, chosen more or less at random, are  Ethics ,  Journal of the History of Philosophy ,  Philosophy of Science ,  Ergo , and  Philosophers' Imprint .) Your writing sample should not be primarily expository; it should display your ability to argue for a thesis. The word 'thesis' should be understood broadly here. For example, each of the following would qualify as a thesis that you might argue for: an interpretation of a certain passage in a work of ancient philosophy, a new analysis of the meanings of racial slurs, the denial of a certain premise in philosopher X's argument for substance dualism, and so on. Your writing sample should also display your ability to engage with the scholarly literature and to write at the graduate level.
• Transcripts. All applicants must upload PDF versions of their transcripts or academic records (for all institutions of higher learning they attended) directly to our system. Paper transcripts are not acceptable. Consult the  Graduate Studies website  for instructions about uploading transcripts.

Vashishtha (Vash) Doshi

Associate Director for Career Development and Admissions, Master of Science in Business Analytics

Vashishtha (Vash) Doshi is the associate director for career development and admissions for the UC Davis Master of Science in Business Analytics program in San Francisco. Doshi joined UC Davis in 2024 from UCLA Anderson’s MSBA program, where he served as manager of industry relations. During his tenure at UCLA, he delivered innovative programming and value to both students and the institution. Notable achievements include organizing the first-ever company treks to the Bay Area and New York City, increasing corporate partnerships by 25%, facilitating the largest number of companies for annual capstone projects, and introducing new companies and intellectual topics to the workshop roster. Prior to UCLA Anderson, Doshi worked at UC Santa Barbara Career Services. He served over three years in career services and industry relations, assisting business and entrepreneurship-focused undergraduates and Ph.D. students in crafting meaningful careers. He also led UCSB’s Beyond Academia conference, helping Ph.D. students explore additional professional paths, and served as the designated career counselor for international students. Doshi has extensive public service experience, having interned at the U.S. Department of State, Department of Commerce, and City of Tampa. He is completing his Ph.D. in political science at UCSB and holds an M.A. in international studies from the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Doshi is passionate about food and travel, often sharing tips on the best local spots and international destinations. He has visited 33 countries and 26 national parks.

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Department of Political Science

Ucd school of law program for undergrads to learn about law school admissions.

• September 24, 2022

Our majors have benefitted from participation in KHOP , which "is designed to equip high-potential undergraduate students from underrepresented communities with the skills necessary to excel in the law school admissions process, while also introducing students to current law students, lawyers, and faculty members at UC Davis School of Law.   Click here to access the application .

What Can I Do With My Political Science Major?

• by Riddhi Puranik
• April 06, 2023

Are you looking for a major that will challenge your critical thinking and analytical skills? Look no further than the political science program at UC Davis. The exciting field of political science navigates the relationships between individuals, governments, and institutions that shape our world.

At UC Davis, the political science major offers students a robust and comprehensive education. Whether you're interested in American politics, global governance, or international relations, our program has you covered. The major offers engaging coursework and hands-on experiences. You'll develop the skills to navigate the complex and ever-changing political landscape of the 21st century.

At UC Davis the political science division is divided into three majors:

• Political science
• Political science — public service
• International relations

Undergraduate advisor Saira Delgado explains the difference between the two political science majors. “The political science major is intended to give students a broader understanding of political concepts, political institutions, political behavior, political processes,” Delgado says. “The political science — public service major is a little bit different. It focuses on American politics and policy, but really focusing on how policy is formulated and implemented and how that works in terms of governing and governance.” Students can choose which major fits their interests in the diverse field of politics.

What is it like to major in political science?

Political science majors dive into the fundamental concepts that underpin the field. They examine power, authority, and democracy. They explore the origins of political institutions. And they analyze contemporary challenges of governments around the world.

But the political science program at UC Davis isn't just about theory. The program also provides opportunities for students to engage with real-world political issues. They become informed and engaged citizens. Students in the major take on internships with local political organizations or participation in political campaigns. You'll have the chance to put your skills and knowledge to work in the real world.

The major also teaches students how to collaborate. “I would say the culture is one of working together,” said political science department chair Benjamin Highton . “There's not a competitive zero-sum nature where, you know, for one student to do well requires another student not to do well. So that helps reduce, I think, at least some of the competitiveness.”

Resume-building opportunities for political science majors

The political science major offers opportunities to gain experience outside of the classroom. Every year, the Global Learning Hub offers several study abroad programs. "Many of these programs are good fits for political science students," said Ryleigh Parker, peer advisor for political science. "Past programs have taken place in Europe, Asia, and South America. And they have covered topics such as culture, economics, and environmental policy. The breadth of the major means everyone has a different combination of interests and specialties. There’s something for everyone. Many students are involved in a variety of extracurriculars, like student government, pre-law organizations, mock trials, student papers, activist groups, and more.”

Political science majors can also participate in the UC Davis Washington Program and the UC Center Sacramento Program . There, students get first-hand experience working in government, public policy, and advocacy. The programs supplement classroom education with real-world experience. You can build a network of professional contacts that can serve you well in your future career.

What can you do with a political science degree?

Graduates in political science can apply their skills to many different fields. Students learn critical thinking, collaboration, and fundamental concepts behind organizations and power. These skills open doors both during and after college.

“Students have certainly gone into law and law school government positions at the local, state, federal levels,” said undergraduate advisor Saira Delgado. “Nonprofit work, international security, and certainly academia. I have also seen students go into sales, technology, education, consulting, marketing, PR, communications.”

Department Chair Benjamin Highton added that he’s seen students go to professional schools, such as business and law. Though students can still land a variety of jobs after undergrad. “There's a range of jobs that we will see them go into depending on their focus,” Highton said. “Then you also will sometimes see them going into academics and then pursuing a Ph.D. whether in political science or other fields”

Advice for political science majors 

The community at UC Davis helps political science majors to navigate undergraduate life. Faculty and students offer their tips for any student wondering if the major is right for them:

Try out some lower-division courses

"The most important advice I would give them is take a couple courses in the department and see if you like it. We all have in our heads preconceived notions about what all these different majors and possibilities are in college. And one thing to find out is what they are actually like. And really the only way you can do that is by taking courses." — Benjamin Highton, political science department chair

Consider double-majoring or minoring

"The political science majors are relatively short majors. There's not a ton of units that students need to take to complete these majors. That actually leaves space for students to be able to explore potentially a double major or maybe a minor or two. Or just being able to take elective courses that may just be able to help them in furthering their career goals or their academic goals. If you want to declare a POL major, also consider what kind of things you may want to study outside of political science." — Saira Delgado, political science undergraduate major advisor

Speak with a peer advisor

"If you are interested in political science, I recommend taking a lower division course (POL 001-004 are good bets) to see if you enjoy it! These four courses are the basic background classes for each of our four concentrations. So they provide a good overview. If you’re interested in Poli Sci, I also recommend visiting peer advisor drop-in hours to discuss requirements and any questions." — Ryleigh Praker, peer advisor for political science and political science — public service

R iddhi Puranik is a second year double majoring in communication and design. She's currently a writing intern with Strategic Communications. 

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University of California, Davis

PhD in Political Science

University of California, Davis, California

College of Letters and Science

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Political Science

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PhD in Political Science at the prestigious University of California, Davis is a prestigious degree that offers in-depth learning in Political Science. Being a renowned university, University of California, Davis receives enough funds to ensure the best education facilities for its students across all programs. This doctorate program offered full-time primarily focuses on the practical implementation of fresh ideas through rigorous study and research. The students are encouraged to add new aspects and findings to the existing area of knowledge. PhD in Political Science at UC Davis is ranked globally by estimated organisations. Such recognition speaks volumes about the course’s importance and effectiveness in the present scenario. The top-notch faculty, modern facilities, and the aura of creativity and innovation in the UC Davis campus is a life-changing experience for the students looking forward to kickstarting or upgrading their careers. Overall, a PhD in Political Science at University of California, Davis is an excellent opportunity to grow into a learned professional and bring new developments in the world.

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$26,544 / year

$1,32,720 / 60 months

5000+ Students

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Minimum english score required

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Political Science

College of Letters and Science

Political science is the study of politics and political systems at the local, national and international levels. It concerns not only the institutions of government but also the analysis of such phenomena as political behavior, political values, political change and stability, parties, pressure groups, bureaucracies, administrative behavior, justice, national security and international affairs. Both the proximity of UC Davis to the state capitol and the programs offered by the UC Washington Center afford exceptional internship possibilities in local, state, and national government offices, providing students with actual experience in politics and government service while still attending school.   

Minor Requirements

Contact information.

Admissions - Ph.D. in Literature

The Graduate Admissions Application is closed until early Fall https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply

The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024

The Graduate Studies  Application Components  page covers many admissions questions, but feel free to contact our program's staff if you need more information. Regarding your application status, please check online or contact us.

Application Requirements In preparing your materials, please note the department implements holistic review of applications, which considers every element of the application in an effort to reach a contextualized assessment of students' accomplishments an potential.

• Writing sample (see below for details)
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History & Diversity Statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
• Copies of transcripts
• Application Fee 2023-2024 cycle: $135 for U.S. and $155 for international applicants
• Admissions Requirements and Eligibility   as set by UC Davis Graduate Studies  

Writing Sample

• One-two research or term papers written for English courses; the total should not exceed 30 pages excluding images and bibliography.
• If your research or term paper(s) are not recent (e.g., written in the past 2-3 years or so), it is advisable that you revise the papers to include more current research/sources on your topic.
• Be sure that you closely proofread any research or term paper(s) you submit in order to present your best work possible.

We are actively recruiting graduate students with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.

There is no independent application for admission to the M.A. program, emphasis in Literature; this degree can only be earned by those admitted to the Ph.D. program,  en route  to their Ph.D.

International applicants ,  please review the  following application information .

Graduate Studies only offers application  fee waivers  to applicants who have participated in   specific graduate preparation programs .   Applicants who are affiliated with these programs must indicate their participation AND must provide the name and contact information for their program coordinator in the relevant section of the online application system to receive a fee waiver.

Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specializations, and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.

Preparation and Motivation:  may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, studio projects, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.

Interests, Specializations, and Career Goals:  may include your research interests, disciplinary sub-fields, areas of specialization, and professional objectives.

Fit:  may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work, how their interests match your own, and how you would benefit from engaging with their research.

• Personal History and Diversity Statement

The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.

The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and a potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and under-served segments of society with your graduate education.

Three Letters of Recommendation

• From professors or other persons situated to speak about your potential for graduate study. In general, letters from professors or instructors involved in post-secondary academic studies who can speak to your research and/or the potential for your research profile, as well as any other aspect of your academic profile (e.g., any experience teaching, tutoring, or mentoring others) are preferred. These persons may also address your extra-curricular and personal histories as applicable.

Transcripts

• Copies are allowed. Once admitted, Graduate Studies requires official transcripts.
• UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended - instructions can be found  here .

Prospective students may also submit a  Fellowship Application  after applying to the program.

For the Fall 2023 cohort, we received 137 applications, admitted 19, and 6 matriculated.

• Funding Your Ph.D.

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program are provided guaranteed funding for 5 years in the form of Teaching Assistant and Associate Instructor positions. These appointments provide a  tuition waiver  which covers the Resident Regular Tuition and Health Insurance and pays a  monthly salary . A limited amount of Graduate Student Researcher positions are available each year where students assist faculty with various projects.

Departmental funds are also available, such as the Miller Travel Fund, for students to attend conferences, interviews and conduct research. Additional progress-based and summer language and travel fellowship stipends are awarded with funding allocated to us by Graduate Studies.

The  UC Davis Humanities Institute  offers various fellowships students can apply for to fund their projects. Admitted students are also considered for University-wide fellowships.

  Questions? Contact Us

UC Davis Humanities Graduate Show Shines Light on Excellence from Art to Music to Political Science

Back in person after 2 years, exhibition on view at manetti shrem museum june 2-19.

• by Jeffrey Day
• May 23, 2022

Quick Summary

• New endowed art prize to expand opportunity, collection
• Prizes will be announced at public event June 2

University of California, Davis, College of Letters and Science graduate students will share their work with the public again as the multidisciplinary “Arts & Humanities 2022 Graduate Exhibition” returns to the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art in June following two years of virtual exhibitions due to COVID-19.

At A Glance

The “Arts & Humanities 2022 Graduate Exhibition” is on view June 2-19 at the Manetti Shrem Museum, 254 Old Davis Road, Davis.

Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Visit manettishrem.org for information about UC Davis’ safety protocols. Admission is free for all.

A free, public opening celebration with a poetry reading, music and dance will take place June 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The exhibition, on view June 2 through June 19, showcases 27 M.F.A., M.A. and Ph.D. students from art history, art studio, creative writing, design, mathematics, music, performance studies and political science. Many of the students take on the pressing issues of our time, including environmental destruction, political divisions, racism, immigration, disability justice and more, while others engage with personal experiences, memory and aesthetic practices. Their projects take a wide range of forms, including sculpture, photography, ceramics, painting, experimental music, virtual reality, drawing and thesis presentations by art history master’s students.

Some examples include:

Trace Manuel (design) showcases DARB 1000, a n eager-to-please prototype chatbot developed to help design students and educators seamlessly (and joyfully) integrate reflective writing into studio curricula.

Whitney Vangrin (art studio) presents a geodesic viewing dome in the museum’s courtyard that will offer visitors an immersive video experience designed to “awaken a viewer out of passive observation.”

Joseph Vasinda (music) composed a full-len gth album, Hidden Gems , based on the colors of different crystals. He believes in using everyday materials to create music; the album’s electronically modified sounds stem from music made with a mallet and a metal Bundt cake pan.

Emily Szasz (art history) examines the 2017 sale of a painting — attributed to Leonardo da Vinci — for $450 million to show how the implications of attributing an artwork to a famous artist undermine forms of qualitative evaluation.

“We are pleased to partner with the museum in presenting the wide and imaginative range of art, design, music, writing and more from our graduate students,” said Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science. “The annual exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for our students, and also for the campus community and those beyond, to see the excellence of the college on display.”

New art prize offered

A new award celebrates UC Davis’ art innovators. The inaugural LeShelle & Gary May Art Purchase Prize will award $5,000 to an art studio M.F.A. student, joining the Keister & Allen Art Purchase Prize and The Savageau Award in the Department of Design.  

“It’s very exciting news for students that two art prizes are being awarded in addition to a design award,” said museum Founding Director Rachel Teagle. “This generous support and recognition underscores our commitment to elevating the achievements of our graduates both within this exhibition and as they launch their careers.”

The art prizes enable the museum to continue the tradition of purchasing graduate student work for the university’s Fine Arts Collection and building an endowment to eventually acquire a work from every graduating M.F.A. student. Works gifted to the collection or acquired by purchase prizes comprise 594 objects by M.A. and M.F.A. artists and include pieces by renowned graduates Bruce Nauman ’66, Stephen Kaltenbach ’67, Deborah Butterfield ’73 and Kathy Butterly ’90.

Performances at opening; art history the next day

The public opening June 2 features a poetry reading by Amanda Hawkins (creative writing); a music and dance collaboration between   Trey Makler (music composition) and   choreographer-dancer Moscelyne ParkeHarrison   inspired by tarot, theories of utopia and   the late Professor Emeritus   Manuel Neri’s figurative sculptures ; and a demonstration by doctoral students Orkun Akyol (music) and Kyle Johnson (math) of a sound synthesis tool they developed using chaos theory models.

The prize winners will also be announced at the opening event.

Art history students will present their work at a colloquium June 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the museum.

Media Resources

Media Contacts:

• Laura Compton, Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 530-304-9517, [email protected]
• Jeffrey Day, College of Letters and Science, 530-219-8258, [email protected]

Publicity images available upon request — view a gallery and list of participants here .

Primary Category

2024-2025 General Catalog

Political Science, Master of Arts College of Letters & Science

Office & Contact Information

Political science is the study of politics and political systems at the local, national, and international levels. It concerns not only the institutions of government but also the analysis of such phenomena as political behavior, political values, political change and stability, parties, pressure groups, bureaucracies, administrative behavior, justice, national security, and international affairs.

Graduate Study

The Department of Political Science offers a program of graduate study and research leading to a Ph.D. degree or an M.A./J.D. joint degree. The M.A./J.D. joint degree is done only in conjunction with UC Davis School of Law. Information concerning admission to these programs and requirements for completion are available in the Graduate Program Coordinator office.

The Master of Arts degree is offered only en route to the Ph.D.

Graduate Advisor

Contact the Department of Political Science . 

Ph.D. in Literature

Students in our Ph.D. program gain advanced knowledge of literature from the British Middle Ages and colonial America to global/postcolonial and U.S. contemporary, as well as knowledge of literary theory, literary analysis, and interdisciplinary methods. The course of study balances coverage of national literary traditions with innovative methods and topics such as literature and science; literature and environment; translation; gender and sexuality studies; and critical race studies.

Our Ph.D. students are involved in a range of interdisciplinary and public initiatives. For example, some affiliate with interdisciplinary  Designated Emphases ; others have received grants to create  podcasts , convene interdisciplinary  working groups , or organize annual graduate student conferences. Each year one student participates in a year-long exchange program with the  Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies  in Mainz, Germany; some have worked as Graduate Assistants and researchers for research centers such as the  Medieval and Early Modern Studies Program , the experimental media  Modlab , and the university’s  Datalab .

Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in English, as well as extensive pedagogical training and a range of teaching experience that includes writing and composition, as well as designing and teaching Introduction to Literature courses. Our  Alumni Directory  includes titles of recent dissertations, as well as information about the diverse careers for which the Ph.D. has helped prepare our graduates. There is  an option to complete an MA in literature , but it is not a stand-alone program.

Questions? Contact:

Aaron Barstow Graduate Program Coordinator, Ph.D. Program in Literature [email protected]   (530) 752-2738 Pronouns: he/they

• Ph.D. Program Requirements

Degree requirements for the Ph.D. program   (links to more details) include 50 units of coursework with at least 44 units taken for a letter grade, proficiency in one foreign language proficiency before degree conferral, preliminary and qualifying examinations, and a dissertation. In addition, there are also opportunities for students to pursue a  Designated Emphasis  and gain teaching experience.

Coursework Requirements

3 Core Courses (8 units) • English 200: Introduction to Graduate Studies (taken as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) • One survey course in literary theory (Critical Theory 200A or 200C taken for a grade) 1 Workshop (2 units) English 288: Prospectus Workshop (taken as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory); students may petition to complete this course independently with a Prospectus Adviser.

10 Graduate-level Seminars (40 units) • All courses must be taken for a grade • Five courses must satisfy the breadth requirement (see below) • Five courses will be comprised of electives (see below) • Students may count one undergraduate 100-level course as one of their ten required courses • Aside from ENL 200, no course graded Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory may count as one of the twelve required seminars • Independent and group studies may not be taken for a grade

13 Total Graduate Courses (50 units; 44 units taken for a grade)  Additionally, students who enter the Ph.D. program without a MA degree can earn one en route to the Ph.D. degree.

• Foreign Language Requirement

The English Ph.D. requires a reading knowledge of  one  foreign language before completing the degree; it is not an admissions requirement. This could be satisfied through previous or current coursework or an exam. Any of the following demonstrates proficiency:

Completion within the past eight years of 3 semester-length, or 4 quarter-length courses in a foreign language at the undergraduate level. Students must earn a passing grade, but courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Students may take the Placement Test offered by the  UC Davis Language Center , testing out of the language at the intermediate level.

A Pass in the language exam offered in the English Department at the beginning of Fall or Spring quarter each year.

• Breadth Requirement

The breadth requirements must be fulfilled by coursework in the Department of English or coursework taught by English Department faculty.  Five courses (of the total 40 units above) will satisfy this requirement. Students must complete two Earlier Period courses, and two Later Period courses, and one Focus course. 

Earlier Period Courses Pre-1800; or Pre-1865 if the course focus is on American literature

Later Period Courses Post-1800 or Post-1865 if the course focus is on American literature

Focus Course Interdisciplinary, Identity, Genre, Other National, Method, Theory

Faculty and/or the Graduate Advisor may choose to designate a course as fulfilling more than one category, but students may use the course to fulfill only one requirement. For instance, a student could use a course on women in Early Modern literature to satisfy the Earlier Period requirement, or the Focus (Identity) requirement, but not both. A student could use a course on Cold War Drama to satisfy the Later Period requirement or the Focus (Genre) requirement, but not both.

• Electives Requirement
• The electives requirement can be fulfilled by actual offered seminars inside or outside the English Department. Five elective courses will satisfy degree requirements. UWP 390 is acceptable as one of the electives. Also, be aware 299s are ungraded but still count towards overall units. With the approval of the Graduate Adviser, students may also enroll in a graduate class at another University of California campus through the  Intercampus Exchange Program .
• Course Waiver and Course Relief

Students who enter the Ph.D. program with MA coursework from another institution may petition the Graduate Adviser for a Course Waiver up to three of the twelve required seminars; each approved petition will reduce the number of required courses by one. Students may not reduce their coursework to fewer than nine seminars.

Students holding an MA may also petition the Graduate Adviser for course relief for up to five of the breadth requirements; each approved petition allows the student to substitute elective courses. ENL 200 may not be waived or relieved.

For each waiver or relief request, students must submit to the English Graduate Office a Course Waiver or Relief Request form (available in the office) along with the syllabus from the course and the student's seminar paper.

• Designated Emphasis
• Graduate students may participate in a  Designated Emphasis (DE) , a specialization that might include a new method of inquiry or an important field of application which is related to two or more existing Ph.D. programs. The DE is awarded in conjunction with the Ph.D. degree and is signified by a transcript notation; for example, “Ph.D. in Literature with a Designated Emphasis in Native American Studies.”  More information
• Preliminary Examination

In the Spring Quarter of the second year or Fall Quarter of the third year of graduate study, students take a Preliminary Examination in two historical fields and one focus field. Three faculty members conduct the oral examination, each representing one of the fields. Prior to taking the Preliminary Examination, students must have completed the following:

• Introduction to Graduate Studies (ENL200) • Survey of Literary Theory (CRI200A or CRI200C) • Four of five Breadth Requirements • Four of five Elective Requirements

Additionally, students select one focus field.  A student may devise her/his own focus list in collaboration with two faculty members or, as is more common, choose one from among the following:

• Black Studies • Critical Theory • Disability Studies • Ecocriticism and Environmental Humanities • Feminisms • Film Studies • Marxism • Media Technologies • Performance Studies • Poetics • Postcolonial Theory • Psychoanalysis • Queer Feminisms • Queer Theories • Race and Ethnicity Studies • Science and Literature • Science Fiction

English 299 (Independent Study) is ordinarily used the quarters before the Preliminary Examination to prepare for the oral  examination and is graded Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory. Students may register for ENL 299 under the Graduate Advisor or a faculty member in the field of their exam for the quarter(s) they intend to study.

In the event that the student does not pass the exam, the exam chair will report the decision to the Graduate Adviser, who will work with the committee to decide whether the student should be given a chance to retake the exam (no less than six months later) or whether the student should be dismissed from the program. The Graduate Adviser will report this final decision to the student within 72 hours of the exam’s conclusion.

Any remaining requirements after taking the Preliminary Examination must be completed before scheduling the Qualifying Examination.

Students will select two historical fields from among the following list.   Students who would like to do non-consecutive historical fields need to get prior approval from the Graduate Adviser.  These lists and additional helpful documents can be accessed via our box folder  "Preliminary Exam"  in the English Graduate Program file.

• Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination  happens as early as the spring of the third year and should be taken no later than the spring of the fourth year. The reading list for this exam, which is conducted orally, is constructed by the student in consultation with his or her three-person dissertation committee. When making their lists, students may consult the standard lists for preliminary exams available on the department's Box site. If the student has elected a designated emphasis (DE), materials from that field should also be incorporated into the Qualifying Exam reading list.

Graduate Studies requires the  Qualifying Examination Application (GS319)  to be submitted at least 30 days prior the the scheduled exam date.

Qualifying Examination Committee  The student, in consultation with their Prospectus Adviser and, if needed, the Graduate Adviser, nominates  four  faculty to serve on the Qualifying Examination Committee: 

- The three proposed Dissertation Committee members 

- One member must be from outside the English graduate program (this may be a member of the Dissertation Committee). 

The QE Committee is responsible for administering the exam. Neither the “Prospectus Adviser” nor the Dissertation Director (in many, though not all, cases these will be same) may be the chair of the QE Committee. Students with a designated emphasis (DE) must include one faculty member affiliated with the DE on both their qualifying and dissertation committee. DE paperwork must be approved before the QE application is submitted. The exam will focus on the Prospectus and the Qualifying Exam reading list. The bibliography of the prospectus will normally overlap substantially with the Qualifying Exam reading list.

The  Qualifying Exam Report (GS343)   must be submitted withing 72 hours of the exam. Upon successful completion, students receive the  Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Plan B (GS321) .

• Exam Accommodations
• If you are disabled, you are entitled to accommodations for all requirements of the program you’re enrolled in, a process formally handled by the  Student Disability Center . We recommend starting the process of coordinating with the SDC early in your graduate school journey, as it can take time for the Center to process information.  We must work with the SDC to implement your accommodations for your exams.  Please indicate your need for accommodations to us as soon as possible, so we can include the Center in our exam scheduling process.  Please notify us by the fourth week of the quarter in which you intend to sit the exam.
• Dissertation
• The dissertation must be an original work of scholarship and/or interpretation. It may be critical, bibliographical, historical, or biographical in its subject. Students work with a dissertation director and consult with two official readers as well as with other faculty knowledgeable about the project.  Additional details