Graduate Study in Political Science at Texas Tech University

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 only for the fall semester.

 

The Department reviews and ranks students based on a holistic admission process that includes reviews of students' academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. For further information on this requirement, refer to the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not currently required, but students are welcome to submit scores for further consideration. B.A./M.A. applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam. All international applicants must provide proof of English proficiency before their applications can be considered for admission. Only your most recent measure of English proficiency is considered for admission purposes. This test is waived only for graduates of U.S. universities or universities in English proficiency-exempt countries. Applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years at a college or university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country, are also exempt from the English proficiency requirement. 

 

The application deadline is June 1. 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 the 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 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 research opportunities on topics including security and conflict, international political economy, international organization, 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 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 Research Methods. 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 students’ 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