
Political Science

Join a community of scholars dedicated to the tasks of acquiring, expanding, and transmitting reliable knowledge about political phenomena.
Learn more about the ProgramDegree Offered
Ph.D. in Political Science
Full-time
5 Subfields
M.A. in Political Science
Full-time/Part-time
5 Subfields
Admissions Deadlines
December 15 for fall Ph.D. enrollment (Ph.D.)
April 15 for fall enrollment (M.A.)
(No spring enrollment)
The essential function of the Political Science program at the Graduate Center is to educate professional political scientists, capable of independent research and qualified for careers in academic institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.
Our program includes over 55 faculty, who conduct innovative research and teach courses on a wide range of important political phenomena.
Students in the Political Science program are trained to become professional political scientists. Students develop a substantive knowledge of politics and increase their analytical and critical skills. The program offers an M.A., an en-route M.A. to the Ph.D., and a Ph.D.
Students focus their studies in one of five subfields, and can specialize in Writing Politics, which trains them to write serious political analysis for audiences outside of the discipline.
The Graduate Center’s location in the heart of Manhattan allows students to participate in opportunities unique to New York City. Home to the United Nations, policy research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and the heart of one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities, there is nothing quite like studying politics in New York.

Meet our students and alum
See the latest news and updates from our current students and recent alum, learn about their research, and read their thoughts on their GC experience.
Student and Alum HighlightsLatest News
May 5, 2022
The Russia-Ukraine War Sets Dangerous New Precedents
Political scientist Julie George comments on President Putin’s defiance of the West and the U.S. foreign policy response to the conflict.
- Podcast
May 1, 2022
Scholars to Know This AAPI Heritage Month
Meet Graduate Center faculty, students, and alumni who study and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
- Alumni News
- Faculty News
- Student News
- GC Stories
Mar 11, 2022
How Our Scholars Played Heroic Roles in the Pandemic
Graduate Center scholars have been at the forefront of research to understand the virus and the larger pandemic.
- Faculty News
- Student News
- GC Stories
- Alumni News
Mar 8, 2022
It is not irrational. It’s about Putin’s legacy: The Russian invasion of Ukraine with Julie George
Prof. Julie George, Queens College/Graduate Center, discusses the Russian invasion of Ukraine on International Horizons.
- Podcast
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