Graduate Study in a collaborative, innovative environment

Political Science is nested in a rich intellectual climate in a highly-ranked, innovative university with many opportunities to collaborate in interdisciplinary research programs and research centers with scholars across the university.

Mentoring and a sense of community are at the heart of our program

Graduate study in Political Science at Purdue offers specializations in traditional fields as well as cross-cutting research areas, such as environmental politics, sustainability policy and sustainable development, human rights, human security, political violence, and politics related to group identity and group conflict. 

We have an excellent record of mentoring students from diverse backgrounds and whose research interests cut across traditional field or disciplinary boundaries.

Students in our program form strong connections with faculty and peers leading to many opportunities for collaborative research. Our faculty are active in many areas of research and are connected with interdisciplinary centers and programs across campus. 

Students receive rigorous training in a wide range of research methods in the department and through workshops, coursework, and speakers in the cross-college initiative Advanced Methods at Purdue (AMAP). 

Students enjoy a great quality of life at Purdue where the cost-of-living is low, and the department community is friendly and welcoming.  

We offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Political Science. Students without a Master's Degree in political science are welcome to apply and can receive the M.A. as part of the M.A./Ph.D. program with no added time to degree. We admit students only in the fall semester of each year, and the application deadline is December 15, 2022.