graduate admissions

Policies & Regulations	Admissions Process for Graduate Study in Political Science The general prerequisite for admission to graduate study is a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent. A student is not required to have an undergraduate major in political science but normally will have had at least nine semester hours of course work in political science. Ordinarily, we do not accept terminal Master students. Applicants who do not wish to continue to the Ph.D. may want to explore the Masters in Public Administration and the Trans-Atlantic Master's program. All applicants for admission to graduate study are required to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Applicants from non-English-speaking countries also must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have a degree from a university in the US. Students should take these tests early enough to enable them to submit official reports of scores with their applications. Decisions on admission of applicants may be withheld until test scores are provided. (The subject test is not required). In considering applicants for fellowship awards, we give GRE scores heavy emphasis. Please note that students are admitted only for the fall. Requests for applications should be directed to the UNC Graduate School Web site. The online application is faster and easier than the traditional process and provides for the prompt receipt and distribution of application information. The application, application fee, and transcripts should be sent directly to the Graduate School. In addition to the application, prospective students are required to submit the following items directly to the department: A list of other schools the applicant is applying to is most helpful to the department, although it is not required Transcripts of all schools attended. This material should be sent to: Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina, CB #3265, Hamilton Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3265, Attn: Coordinator of Graduate Studies The deadline for applying to the PhD program for Political Science is January 1st The following information should be submitted online: A personal statement, of approximately 400-500 words, highlighting information (such as training, areas of particular interest in graduate study, and career objectives) that will help provide the Admissions Committee with a descriptive picture of the total student. A writing sample of approximately 10-20 pages demonstrating the candidate's writing skills and powers of analysis; it can be on any subject, although preferable it will relate to political science or to an allied discipline, such as economics, history, sociology, or philosophy. Three letters of recommendation. We understand that waiting for admissions decisions can be an anxious process. However, contacting the department regarding your application status only slows the admission process. You will be contacted as soon files are processed, and any missing material will be requested. If you have additional questions about admissions procedures that are not answered on this Web site or the Graduate School's Web site, please contact Chris Reynolds at ckreynolds@unc.edu or (919) 962-0437.
Admissions Process
Job Placement
Fellowships & Assistantships
Graduate Courses