Ph.D. in Political Science

UC Irvine political science Ph.D. student Pharrell Allen combines political insight with a passion for research to examine how perceptions - not preferences - shape electoral outcomes for Black candidates

About our Program

From a lensworthy location and culture of collaboration to field-shaping faculty and powerhouse programs, the reasons top students choose the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences for graduate study are many. Ranked #20 among all public political science programs in the country (U.S. News & World Report), the UCI graduate program in political science offers students six years of funding.

UCI political science faculty publish regularly in top academic journals, and graduate students have ample opportunities to publish alongside them. Faculty and graduate students consistently present research at conferences, universities, and before governmental entities across the globe. Their expert advice is sought by journalists in the national media, lawyers, and policy makers. Members of the faculty have received national and international awards and testified before Congress to impact policy.

And if that wasn't enough, the UCI campus is located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach, is the #1 university doing the most for the American dream (New York Times College Access Index), the #9 best value university (Princeton Review), and the #09 ranked public university in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report).

Learn more about

Political Science Ph.D. at UC Irvine

Recent Rankings

#01

university committed to economic diversity and upward mobility
- New York Times College Access Index

#09

best value university
- Princeton Review

#09

public university in the U.S.
- U.S. News & World Report

#20

best public political science program in the U.S.
- U.S. News & World Report

Quick Facts

LOCATION
Campus is located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach.

FUNDING
Admitted students are offered 6 years of funding.

FIELDS
Primary research fields exist in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

DEGREE
Ph.D.; a master's degree may be earned while in pursuit of the Ph.D.

ENROLLMENT
Full-time, on-campus with housing.

CURRENT MASTERS
Political science Ph.D. students can simultaneously pursue an M.A. in demographic and social analysis.

Recent Job Placements

American Council on Learned Societies

Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Canadian Federal Government

Carnegie Mellon University

Loyola Marymount University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Rice University

University of Florida

Learn more about Alumni Job Placements

Student Voices

The electability gap

UC Irvine political science Ph.D. student Pharrell Allen combines political insight with a passion for research to examine how perceptions - not preferences - shape electoral outcomes for Black candidates

Applying knowledge beyond academia

With three master’s degrees and a political science Ph.D. in the works, UC Irvine’s Nahreen Aref brings a clinical approach to refugee policy

Exploring global political institutions and refugee protection

UCI political science graduate student Tauhid Sayeed Bin Kashem earns Guggenheim Emerging Scholar Fellowship to support his dissertation research

Research in action

Shauna Gillooly, '21 political science Ph.D., studies peacebuilding and transitional justice processes in Colombia following the country’s 54-year long civil war. She's currently a Leading Edge Fellow with the American Council of Learned Societies.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Katelyn Kelly

Graduate Student Spotlight: Anna Setyaeva

What makes us UNIQUE

UC Irvine political scientists explore changing notions of citizenship, politics of race/ethnicity, studies in the global supply chains and contested notions of democracy.

Students select a primary field from among American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory. They select a secondary field from these or from a more specialized area. Examples of secondary fields include critical theory; democracy studies; ethics; methodology and modeling; political economy; political psychology; public law; and race, ethnicity and politics, among others. Faculty actively mentor doctoral students and encourage them to become productive, publishing scholars before completing their graduate studies.

Students have an opportunity to earn a master's degree while in pursuit of their Ph.D., and are encouraged to enroll in interdisciplinary coursework.

Alumni have entered tenure-track positions at top research universities, highly competitive post-doctoral positions, and research-oriented jobs in both the public and private sectors.

A top-ranked program with research strengths in American and comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

Learn More

UCI's campus is beautiful, with Aldrich Park, a 19-acre botanical garden with more than 11,000 trees, at its center. The campus is also less than 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and beaches.

If funding, opportunities to publish, and a proven track record of excellence in the field are what you're looking for in a graduate program, contact us today to learn more about UC Irvine political science.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Learn more about the Ph.D. Program in Political Science

MEET OUR EXCITING FACULTY

Core Faculty

REQUIREMENTS

Program Requirements & Typical Program