Graduate Study in Political Science at Texas Tech University

Announcements

The Department of Political Science has set the stipend level for incoming students at $16,500 for 9-month TA assignments. The Department will also have the ability to hire several online graders with a $11,000 stipend for 9 months. All TAs and graders will also receive a tuition waiver that covers most of the costs of tuition. The department also provides graduate students with an opportunity to work as a TA or a grader during summer with a $4,000 salary. In addition, the department supports graduate students' travel for research presentations in professional conferences up to $1,000 per year. The department also provides financial support for international students' health insurance. 

The Department of Political Science and the Graduate School will be awarding several graduate fellowships to highly qualified applicants: Helen Jones Graduate Fellowship ($4000 for four years), Distinguished Graduate Student Assistantship ($25,000 for four years, with the stipend included, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress), Graduate Recruitment Fellowship ($5000 per year for four years for Ph.D. students and for two years for master's students), and Diversity Recruitment Fellowship ($4000 per year for four years for Ph.D. students and for two years for master's students, and a $500 research/travel allowance).

Admissions

The admissions process is selective and we only admit students who show research potential. Our students often have significant political science training; however, it is not a requirement. We admit students primarily for the fall semester; however, we on occasion will admit students for the spring semester.

The Department reviews and ranks students based on a holistic admission process that includes reviews of students' academic transcripts, Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE), letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. International students are required to provide their TOEFL scores. These will be used by the Department to evaluate international candidates. B.A.-M.A. applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam.

Applications will be considered at any time throughout the year. However to be fully considered for all available financial assistance, completed applications should be submitted by January 15 of the year the student expects to begin graduate study. Applicants to the B.A./M.A. program should submit completed applications at least two months prior to beginning their senior year of undergraduate work.

To begin application process for graduate study in political science, please click the APPLY button below.

 

Degree Programs

The faculty of the Department of Political Science cover a wide spectrum of political science research in its three major fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. We offer opportunities for students interested in American Politics to study not only political institutions, such as Congress or the courts, but also political behavior. The Department houses the Earl Survey Research Lab, which provides comprehensive survey research services to the university community and to public sector agencies and organizations. The Comparative Politics faculty provide research and training on a number of critical areas such as political parties, democratization, political behavior, electoral systems, and comparative political economy. They cover regions as diverse as Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and Post-Communist Europe. The International Relations faculty offer a diverse set of opportunities for students, in particular in security and conflict, international political economy, and globalization. Graduate degree programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts - Master of Arts in Political Science
• Master of Arts in Political Science
• Master of Public Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Studies

Dual Degree Programs

• Master of Public Administration / Doctor of Jurisprudence

Fields of Study

Graduate students at Texas Tech are offered a rigorous theoretical and methodological training. Students will be introduced to sophisticated methodological tools to advance their own, personal research interests. The bulk of students' course work will fall into two fields of study of their own choosing (American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations). Students are also given the opportunity to minor in any one of our major fields, but also in Research Methods, Public Policy, or Public Administration. Working with their faculty advisors, students will have significant discretion over their coursework as well as their future research. More Information

Financial Aid

The Department provides significant financial resources. Students may apply annually for teaching assistantships and department scholarships. The Department also provides travel support for graduate students to attend conferences. These funds can be supplemented with monies from the Graduate School. In addition, students may apply for Summer Research and Training Scholarships to fund trips to the Inter-University Consortium for Political Science Research, language study, or research. More Information

Research

The University and the Department provide graduate students with significant research resources for students. The University Library has significant holdings in all political science fields and offers electronic access to almost all essential political science journals. The Library also provides computer facilities for students. The Department funds the graduate-student computer lab that gives student's access to critical computer and Internet resources.

Job Placement Services

The Department will, at a students request, maintain a placement file doctoral students may use to apply for positions.

The placement file will contain the students vita and other material supplied by the student. In addition to student-supplied material, the placement file will contain letters of reference requested by the student. Unless the student explicitly requests otherwise, and so notifies his or her referees before they compose their letters, all letters of reference will be treated as confidential and will not be available to the student. More Information