duke phd in political science

G-POLI-PHD - Political Science - PhD

Degree designation.

The Department of Political Science offers graduate work leading to the MA and PhD in political science.

Instruction is designed to prepare the student primarily for teaching and research. Instruction is currently offered in the following fields: political economy; behavior and identity; security, peace, and conflict; political methodology; normative political theory and political philosophy; and political institutions.

Further details on the graduate Program in Political Science, the departmental facilities, the staff, and available financial aid may be obtained from the director of graduate studies, Department of Political Science.

Paula D. McClain

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science Professor of Public Policy Past Dean of The Graduate School Duke University

• Publications

Paula D. McClain is James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Professor of Public Policy and is the former Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education (2012-2022). She moved to Duke from the University of Virginia in 2000. She also directs the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche Summer Institute hosted by Duke University, and funded by the National Science Foundation and Duke University. A Howard University Ph.D., her primary research interests are in racial minority group politics, particularly inter-minority political and social competition, and urban politics. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals, most recently the Journal of Politics , American Political Science Review , Urban Affairs Review , The Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race and Politics , Groups and Identities , among others. Westview Press will publish the eighth edition of her book, “Can We All Get Along?" Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics , with coauthor Jessica D. Johnson Carew in early 2024. Her 1990 book, Race, Place and Risk: Black Homicide in Urban America , co-authored with Harold W. Rose, won the National Conference of Black Political Scientists' 1995 Best Book Award for a previously published book that has made a substantial and continuing contribution. American Government in Black and White: Diversity and Democracy , co-authored with Steven Tauber, won the American Political Science Association’s Race, Ethnicity and Politics Organized Section Best Book Award for a book published in 2010. The 6th edition of the book was published in 2023. She is past president of the American Political Science Association, past president of the Midwest Political Science Association, and past president of the Southern Political Science Association and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. She is a past vice president of the American Political Science Association, served as Program Co-Chair for the 1993 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, served as Program Chair for the 1999 annual meeting of Midwest Political Science Association, served as Vice President of the Midwest Political Science Association, served as Vice President and 2002 Program Chair of the Southern Political Science Association, and served as a Vice President and Program Co-Chair of the 2003 International Political Science Association World Congress which was held in Durban, South Africa in July 2003. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Duke University Blue Ribbon Diversity Award (2012), the Graduate School Mentoring Award (2010), the Frank J. Goodnow Award for contributions to the profession of political science from the American Political Science Association (2007), a Meta Mentoring Award from the Women’s Caucus for Political Science of the American Political Science Association (2007), the Manning Dauer Award from the Southern Political Science Association (2015), and 2017 Midwest Women’s Caucus of Political Science (MWCPS) Outstanding Professional Achievement award. In 2014, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Publications include:

American Government in Black and White . 6th edition. Co-authored with Steven C. Tauber. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2023).

“Can We All Get Along?” Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics , 8th edition. Co-authored with Jessica Johnson Carew. (forthcoming Boulder: Westview Press, 2024).

What's New About the New South? Race, Latino Immigration, and Inter-group Relations

As a result of the Durham Pilot Project: St. Benedict the Black meets the Virgin of Guadalupe, we now have site-specific answers to some of the questions raised earlier, but in order to see whether attitudes identified in Durham manifest themselves in other Southern cities that have been the recipients of substantial Latino immigration. Thus, I submitted a proposal to the Russell Sage Foundation to resurvey Durham and expand the project into four additional cities—Memphis, TN, Little Rock, AR, Greensboro, NC, and Dalton, GA. The Russell Sage Foundation awarded a grant to fund three of the cities, e.g., Durham, Memphis and Little Rock. I will be searching for additional funds to include the other two. The grant is for $157,000 and runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008.

The Durham Pilot Project: St. Benedict the Black meets the Virgin of Guadalupe

The past 10 to 15 years has seen a tremendous increase in the Latino population in the South. What is different about the South, especially the states of the Old Confederacy, from the other cities that I have studied over the years, is that Latinos, for the most part, are an entirely new population introduced into the region. Historically, the racial dynamic, rooted in slavery and solidified during Jim Crow, has been wholly black and white. The increasing presence of this third group, Latinos, has created and is creating conflicts and tensions among blacks, Latinos and whites. This project is aimed at identifying the sources of the conflict among blacks, whites and Latinos, and the effect Latinos are having on the politics and socioeconomic status of blacks and whites in a Southern context. It is a pilot study using Durham as the research site. The project, begun in 2001, has several data sources--historical, elite interviews and a survey. We developed a questionnaire and are in the process of interviewing black, Latino, and white elites. Our goal is to complete fifty interviews. The Ford Foundation has funded the city-wide survey which was conducted by the Center for Survey Research at the University of Virginia and completed in July 2003. The sample consists of 500 black, white, Latino and other residents of Durham, NC.

PS316.01: Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics

This course in a graduate-level introduction to the politics of the United States’ four principal racial minority groups. The importance of race and ethnicity in American politics, and the politics (historical, legal, attitudinal and behavioral) of blacks, Latinos, American Indians and Asian Americans are explored. The course will describe and analyze how the structures of the American political system and its present operation seriously disadvantage blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans and American Indians as they attempt to gain the full benefits of American society. Other aspects of the black, Latino, Asian and Indian peoples experience will be discussed to give a more balanced perspective of black, Latino, Asian and Indian peoples participation in the American political arena.

• PS316.01 Syllabus

PS505S: Race in Comparative Perspective

This course explores the comparative way race is socially constructed in the United States, several European, Latin American, and selected other countries in the world. At times, we will also examine the concept of ethnicity within race and within these countries. In addition, we will examine the historical context in which the notion of race developed, and the very real effects of this social construction on the social and political lives of communities of color in these countries. Race as a defining characteristic is present in many countries; unfortunately, we are only able to explore a few. Nevertheless, you should think about and explore notions of race in countries that we do not cover. The material in the course falls under the emerging subfield of race and politics known as comparative race.

• PS505S Syllabus

PS141D: Introduction to Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics

This course is about the continuing importance of race and ethnicity in American politics, and the politics (historical, legal, attitudinal, and behavioral) of four of the United States' principal racial minority groups--blacks (African Americans), Latinos, Asians and to a lesser extent, American Indians. The course will describe and analyze how the structures of the American political system and its present operation seriously disadvantage blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans and Indian peoples as they attempt to gain the full benefits of American society. Other aspects of the black, Latino, Asian and Indian peoples experience will be discussed to give a more balanced perspective of black, Latino, Asian and Indian peoples participation in the American political arena. For example, the course will describe and analyze how and in what ways the structures and functions of the Presidency, Congress, and the bureaucracy affect the aspirations of these four groups.

• PS141D Syllabus

PS278S: Race and American Politics

The definition and meaning of race have been, and continue to be, shaped by U.S. political and legal institutions. Hence, politics and race in the United States have been inextricably intertwined. The course focuses on the continued salience of race in American politics, and its influence on white and black political attitudes and behavior, and on the behavior and attitudes, where information is available, on Latinos. Attention is paid to the historical context in which the concept of race and race relations developed, and addresses the current context in which racial dynamics are played out. The course will provide a broad overview of the salience of race in the American political fabric and how it structures racial attitudes on a number of political and policy dimensions. Spring 2010.

• PS278S Syllabus

American Government in Black and White - Diversity and Democracy

The third edition of American Government in Black and White (co-authored with Steven C. Tauber) was published by Oxford University Press in 2021.

“Can We All Get Along?" Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics

Westview Press published the seventh edition of her book, “Can We All Get Along?" Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics, in 2017. It was coauthored with Jessica D. Johnson Carew. (The first edition in 1995 won the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America Award for Outstanding Scholarship on the Subject of Intolerance, 1996.)

Race, Place and Risk: Black Homicide in Urban America

Her 1990 book, Race, Place and Risk: Black Homicide in Urban America, co-authored with Harold W. Rose, won the National Conference of Black Political Scientists' 1995 Best Book Award for a previously published book that has made a substantial and continuing contribution.

Political science needs a resource that serves as a core reference to the central ideas, concepts, and frameworks underlying the study of politics and that highlights the intersections of politics with other disciplines. The Encyclopedia of Political Science (TEPS) is designed to fill that need. It is the encyclopedia for political science in the twenty-first century.

Dr. McClain's articles have appeared in numerous journals, including:

Journal of Politics

American Political Science Review

Urban Affairs Review

The Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race

Educational Background

Ph.D., Political Science, Howard University, 1977

M.A., Political Science, Howard University, 1974

B.A., Political Science, Howard University, 1972

University of Michigan, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, Summer 1978 and 1979

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Analysis Center, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1981-1982

Academic Administration

July 1, 2012 - September 2022: Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Duke University

Academic Employment

September 2000 - present: James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science (with tenure): Professor of Public Policy, Department of Political Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Joint-appointments with the Sanford Institute of Public Policy. Program Director, Race, Ethnicity and Politics Program. Director, Ralph Bunche Summer Institute. Former Co-Director, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Gender in the Social Sciences (REGSS). Teaching areas: Racial and Ethnic Minority Politics, Race and Politics, Comparative Race, Public Policy, Urban Politics.

1997-98: Shannon Center for Advanced Studies, University of Virginia.

September 1991 - August 2000: Professor (with tenure) Woodrow Wilson Department of Government and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Department Chair, 1994 -1997. Director, Ralph Bunche Summer Institute, 1996-2000. Director, Master of Arts in Public Administration and Public Policy Program, 1992-1994. Director, Mid-Career Executive Program, 1993-1994. Teaching Areas. Urban Politics, Public Policy, and Racial and Ethnic Minority Politics.

The Graduate School Website

REGSS Website

Department of Political Science Website

140 Science Drive, 208 Gross Hall, Box 90204 Durham, NC 27708 Tel (919) 660-4303 Fax (919 660-4366 [email protected]

Adriane Stewart Fresh

I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Duke University. I received my PhD in Political Science at Stanford in 2017, and my MA in Economics at Stanford in 2015.  Prior to arriving at Duke, I was a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions at Vanderbilt University. 

I study the political economy of development. My research concerns how elites respond to dramatic economic and institutional changes. I'm interested in the effects of these changes on elite persistence and the strategies that elites employ to contend with potential disruptions to their power. I study a diverse set of historical time periods and country contexts including the Industrial Revolution in Britain, regime change in Chile, and black enfranchisement in the US. I am interested in quantitative methods, and I have a particular interest in causal inference in the context of observational research, as well as natural language processing using large corpuses of historical and historiographical text.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Education, training & certifications.

PhD candidate Jared Clemons talks about studying the politics of social justice

Jared is studying the politics of social justice. His dissertation, “Paying the Price? How Racial Capitalism and Self-Interest Condition White Liberal Commitments to Racial Justice” asks the question “how does personal self-interest condition Whites’ commitments to addressing racial inequality?” To answer this question, he considers how neoliberal conceptions of individualism inform the behaviors of even Whites who are ostensibly sympathetic to notions of antiracism. More specifically, he decenters “racial attitudes” as an explanatory factor in explaining social inequality and, instead, consider the ways in which race and capitalism converge to set the terms of the contemporary antiracism agenda in America.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m a political science PhD at Duke and majored in political science as an undergrad at Louisiana State University. I also received a master’s in elections and campaign management at Fordham University. I’ve always had an interest in politics and curious how people (Americans) think of the political domain.

Why Political Science?

One thing that drew me to Duke specifically was the political science department and its race and ethnic politics focus. My research looks at the ways in which race shapes our American politics and the ways that people understand public policy and inequality. Paula McClain is my dissertation chair and it’s amazing working with her since she’s one of the foremost scholars in political science and studying race.

I didn’t know I wanted to do a PhD. As a political science undergrad, the next step was to head to law school: get my undergraduate degree, take a couple years off and work, regroup, and then study for the LSAT. But as I was studying, I quickly realized I wasn’t really drawn to questions of law, constitutional law, or similar types of inquiry. I ended up enrolling in a master’s program and the very first course I took was a theoretical/political behavior course and I was hooked. I was drawn to asking big questions and liked the opportunity to question things that we often take for granted.

The one thing that I really enjoy as a social scientist is the ability to just stop and think about why things are the way they are. We know that this is the world, but this is a world that we all collectively create, so I like being able to ask these questions that in other spaces, you probably wouldn’t get to ask.

My advisor nudged me into considering a PhD since I expressed interest in asking questions about race and politics. So my master’s program definitely opened my eyes to the PhD, which I simply wasn’t considering when I first began my studies.

I come from a really politically active family. My grandmother was super involved in the NAACP and so I was always really interested in understanding racial justice and social justice more broadly. I knew that I wanted to be somewhere where I could ask questions about race and inequality.

What do you think are the pros/cons of pursuing a PhD?

If you are very inquisitive, it gives you the opportunity to kind of wet that curiosity. You have the opportunity to really question things. As an undergrad you’re assigned work and are consuming knowledge, but in a PhD program, you’re learning how to be a producer of knowledge. For people who are really interested in learning, wanting to read a lot about a very small subset of things, and find that fulfilling, then a PhD is a great move for you. Sometimes it can be pretty isolating, especially in the dissertation phase. I wouldn’t say you are on your own because you still have your committee and there’s other grad students, but once you get really enmeshed in your own research, at some point, it can feel very isolating. If you are more of an extrovert or someone that thrives on working on a team, transition from coursework to dissertation can be difficult.

Any advice for current PhD students?

I always tell people your first year is like being thrust into the deep end of the pool and you’re just having to learn how to stay afloat. But I think one thing you quickly learn is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t let yourself burn out your first year or two. It’s important to realize this is a long game and you’re not expected to know everything on day one.

Stay intellectually humble. Don’t lose sight of the fact of who you are. While we are being trained to be producers of knowledge, we’re also recognizing that there’s so much about the world that we don’t know. Recognize that saying ‘I don’t know’ is not a weakness. In my opinion there’s something liberating about saying ‘I don’t know,’ and so I think if you can keep the intellectual humility and curiosity, you’ll enjoy the PhD process much more.

Why is social science research so important?

In a lot of ways, social science research helps us think about how we can make the world a better place. With the pandemic, one thing we saw immediately, is that the pandemic isn’t just a question of science. We need to take a closer look at how the pandemic has had differential impact on various populations and think about how we might reach out to different populations who have been disproportionately affected by it. We need to understand the way historical systems have created some of these inequalities, if you do in fact want to improve them.

What’s next for you?

I study racial inequality, but I look at it from a somewhat different lens. There’s a lot of research that looks at why people don’t support certain types of social policies, but I’m interested in looking at the conditions that might shape people’s interpretations of certain social policy. I want to stay in academia and continue to do work that is accessible to everyone. In my opinion, some of the best academic research is research that is written in a way that can be used to solve our social problems. I want to be at an institution that allows me the ability and the flexibility to work outside of the academy, in addition to doing my own research, so in a perfect world, I would be at an institution that allows me the freedom to kind of pursue my own academic interests

• Click here for Measuring Morality

The Worldview Lab is an interdisciplinary collaborative research group funded by the Kenan Institute for Ethics, directed by Stephen Vaisey (Professor of Sociology and Political Science and Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics) and Christopher Johnston (Associate Professor of Political Science). Its goal is to better understand diversity in values, goals, and worldviews both internationally and within contemporary American society.

The Worldview Lab brings together faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates to work on shared empirical projects. Participants seek to understand how people differ in their judgments about politics and culture and in their conceptions of what makes a “good life.” Lab members aim to discover how these differences affect individuals and societies using methods such as surveys, experiments, in-depth interviewing, and computational methods. Lab activities include presenting works in process, discussing new research, and designing new research projects together. To visit the Worldview Lab’s website, follow this link .

Stephen Vaisey is a co-director of the Worldview Lab.  The main goal of Professor Vaisey’s research is to understand moral and political beliefs: what they are, where they come from, and what they do. He leads the  Measuring Morality  project, the goal of which is to understand how different ideas of morality fit together and  influence politics  and other domains of life.

He also works quite a bit on statistical methods for observational data, including  panel data ,  treatment effects analysis , and  multilevel modeling . These days he has been thinking a lot about how to use simple patterns in repeated cross-section and panel data to help adjudicate between theories of social change and socialization.

Christopher Johnston is a co-director of the Worldview Lab. Professor Johnston teaches courses in public opinion, political behavior, and political methodology, with an emphasis on the application of psychological theory and methods to mass politics. His teaching and research examine the motivational underpinnings of political judgment and decision making. His research appears in a wide range of journals in political science, and he is co-author of The Ambivalent Partisan: How Critical Loyalty Promotes Democracy (2012, Oxford University Press), which won book of the year in mass politics from the International Society of Political Psychology, and book of the year in political psychology from the American Political Science Association. Professor Johnston is a member of the editorial board for Advances in Political Psychology.

Published Research

Below are links to research members of the lab who have published in peer-reviewed journals:

Trent Ollerenshaw, “The Conditional Effects of Authoritarianism on COVID-19 Pandemic Health Behaviors and Policy Preferences”

Trent Ollerenshaw and Christopher D. Johnston, “The Conditional Relationship of Psychological Needs to Ideology: A Large-Scale Replication”

Turgut Keskintürk, “Religious Belief Alignment: The Structure of Cultural Beliefs from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood”

Turgut Keskintürk, “The Organization of Political Belief Networks: A Cross-Country Analysis”

Curtis Bram, “The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime: Focalism and Political Participation”

Christopher D. Johnston and Gabriel J. Madson, “Negativity Bias, Personality and Political Ideology”

Brian Guay and Christopher D. Johnston, “Ideological Asymmetries and the Determinants of Politically Motivated Reasoning”

Kevin Kiley and Stephen Vaisey, “Measuring Stability and Change in Personal Culture Using Panel Data”

Stephen Vaisey and Kevin Kiley, “A Model-Based Method for Detecting Persistent Cultural Change Using Panel Data”

Christopher Johnston and Trent Ollerenshaw, “How Different are Cultural and Economic Ideology?”

Joshua Doyle, “Institutionalized Collective Action and Environmental Beliefs and Behaviors”

Kevin Kiley and Stephen Vaisey, “Measuring Stability and Change in Personal Culture Using Panel Data”

M.B. Fallin Hunzaker and Lauren Valentino, “Mapping Cultural Schemas: From Theory to Method”

Location: All meetings are currently being held in the lab Tuesdays at 11AM. For an invitation to our meetings, or to present a paper, please contact Stephen Vaisey.

If you have questions about the Worldview Lab and/or would like to get involved, please contact Stephen Vaisey.

Political Science

Welcome to political science.

Our major combines (1) a classical liberal arts education with (2) advanced analytical techniques and (3) an understanding of the basic operating systems of human societies. In a world beset by problems that stubbornly ignore the narrow boundaries of academic disciplines, Political Science is the perfect bridge to leadership in a wide variety of fields. In addition to careers in government and political careers, our graduates work as leaders in non-profits, management consulting, new media, law, Silicon Valley start-ups and other fields that are central to the world of tomorrow. It's a mistake to think your undergraduate courses "lead" directly to the career you expect to enter. The whole reason to study at Duke - and to major in Political Science in particular! - is that a liberal arts background teaches you how to learn . In your job, or your graduate training, you'll learn narrow technical skills. The reason to major in Political Science is that you will have context, and a depth of knowledge about the ethical and engineering problems of working in groups.

Departmental website : https://polisci.duke.edu/

First and second majors select their faculty advisor after declaration of the political science major. The faculty advisor is your resource for course selection, research opportunities, graduate or professional school information and such.

Once you have officially declared the major, please fill out the Advisor Selection Form to select your advisor, and email the completed form to Tosha Marshall , the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. You should receive confirmation of your advisor with 48 hours of your submission. We highly recommend that you select a faculty member within your planned field. If you have any questions about selecting an advisor, contact Tosha Marshall, or talk to any faculty member.

Prior to the course registration period each semester, each faculty advisor will contact his or her advisees to set up an appointment to discuss course selection. Students are required to meet with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator Tosha Marshall each advising period prior to course registration. It is during these meetings that the major requirements will be reviewed in detail to make sure that students are on the right track for completion of the major. More detailed information is sent to students prior to the advising period. If you have questions, fee free to contact Prof. Alexander Kirshner , the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Requirements and General Information

Learn more about major and minor requirements , and general information for new majors.

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Five trinity faculty members among those awarded new distinguished professorships for 2024, march 19, 2024.

Sanford faculty members Nicholas Carnes and Kristin Goss have been named Duke distinguished professors, effective July 1.

Carnes will be the Z. Smith Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Public Policy. In 2021, he received the Alan T. Waterman Award from National Science Foundation, the U.S. government’s highest honor for an early career scientist or engineer.

Carnes joined the Duke faculty in 2011. As professor of public policy and political science, Carnes’s groundbreaking research focuses on the obstacles that keep lower-income and working-class people from going on to serve their communities as elected politicians in the U.S. and around the world.

Carnes is the author of two books, White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making and The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office—And What We Can Do About It. He is also the co-editor (with Lilly J. Goren) of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe .

Goss has been named the Susan B. King Distinguished Professor of Public Policy. Goss directs the  "Duke in DC"  program, an undergraduate immersive experience combining work experience and policy-oriented seminars. She is also the director of the Duke Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism.

Goss’ research focuses on why people do (or don't) participate in political life and how their engagement affects public policymaking. Her current research projects focus on the role of philanthropic billionaires in policy debates and on the evolution of gun-related advocacy over the past decade.

She has written or co-produced three books on gun politics and policy:  The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know,  with Philip J. Cook; Gun Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Politics, Policy, and Practice , co-edited with Jennifer Carlson and Harel Shapira; and  Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America . She is also the author of  The Paradox of Gender Equality: How American Women's Groups Gained and Lost Their Public Voice.

Goss joined the Duke faculty in 2005. She is also a faculty affiliate with the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society, the Hart Leadership Program and the Duke Center for Firearms Law. She received the Susan E. Tifft Teaching and Mentoring Award from Sanford in 2021. Dean Judith Kelley congratulated Carnes and Goss on their distinguished professor roles.

“Nick’s scholarship on the nature and drivers of representation in our legislatures has been novel and important in helping us understand the consequences of who comes to power. This work has won him numerous accolades. Likewise, Kristin’s work is characterized by deep questions about how our society functions. She has done path-breaking work on gun control issues, civil society and philanthropy. Together, their work brings light to crucial issues around our democracy and politics at every level of government, a cause so important today. I am delighted that Kristin and Nick are joining a growing group of distinguished faculty at Sanford,” Kelley said.

Carnes and Goss will be recognized at a Duke reception May 23.

March 19, 2024

Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024

M.A. in Political Science

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 33
• Students: 32
• Students receiving Financial Aid: No financial aid available for M.A. students
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Spring, Fall
• Application deadlines: Spring: October 2; Fall: February 15

Kyle Beardsley Director of Graduate Studies Department of Political Science Duke University Box 90204 Durham, NC  27708-0719 Phone: (919) 660-4300

Email:  [email protected]

Website:  http://polisci.duke.edu

Program Description

The graduate program in Political Science is designed primarily to prepare students for research and teaching. Major fields of specialization are:  Political Institutions; Political Economy; Security, Peace and Conflict; Political Behavior and Identities; Political Methodology; and Normative Political Theory and Political Philosophy.  Students can also integrate courses of study around a common theme, such as Race, Ethnicity and Politics; Religion and Politics; or Law and Politics. Students can supplement their training with coursework in other departments including Anthropology, Computer Science, Economics, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Psychology, Public Policy, Sociology, and Statistics.

Our department goals are served by close and supportive relations with the faculty and with other students.  Typically, about 10-13 new graduate students enter each year.  The ratio of students in residence to faculty is approximately 2:1.

Resources for study include the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI); Duke Initiative on Survey Methodology; Political Institutions and Public Choice (PIPC); Program in Asia Security Studies; Social Science Workshop for Chinese Scholars; Triangle Institute for Security Studies (TISS); and Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models (EITM), among others.

• Political Science: Master's Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Political Science: Master's Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Spring, Fall

Application Deadlines:  Spring: October 2; Fall: M.A.: February 15

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (See department guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General Required
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required
• Writing Sample (see departmental guidance below)

Writing Sample The submission of a writing sample (limited to fewer than 15 pages) is required. Writing samples should be uploaded to the Departmental Requirements section of the application.

Additional Component Applicants to the joint Ph.D. program in Public Policy and Allied Disciplines must submit an additional essay for admission to the program. Regardless of your selection of primary department, please respond to the following prompt:

In 500 words or less, please explain your interest in the joint Ph.D. program offered between Public Policy and an Allied Discipline. Highlight how your research interests and past experiences lie at the intersection between Public Policy and the Allied Discipline and how participation in the joint program will facilitate your professional goals after receiving your degree.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying:  Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

Sanford Faculty Named Distinguished Professors

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Sanford faculty members Nicholas Carnes and Kristin Goss have been named Duke distinguished professors, effective July 1.

Carnes will be the Z. Smith Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Public Policy. In 2021, he received the Alan T. Waterman Award from National Science Foundation, the U.S. government’s highest honor for an early career scientist or engineer.

Carnes joined the Duke faculty in 2011. As professor of public policy and political science, Carnes’s groundbreaking research focuses on the obstacles that keep lower-income and working-class people from going on to serve their communities as elected politicians in the U.S. and around the world.

Carnes is the author of two books, White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making and The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office—And What We Can Do About It. He is also the co-editor (with Lilly J. Goren) of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe .

Goss has been named the Susan B. King Distinguished Professor of Public Policy. Goss directs the  "Duke in DC"  program, an undergraduate immersive experience combining work experience and policy-oriented seminars. She is also the director of the Duke Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism.

Goss’ research focuses on why people do (or don't) participate in political life and how their engagement affects public policymaking. Her current research projects focus on the role of philanthropic billionaires in policy debates and on the evolution of gun-related advocacy over the past decade.

She has written or co-produced three books on gun politics and policy:  The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know,  with Philip J. Cook; Gun Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Politics, Policy, and Practice , co-edited with Jennifer Carlson and Harel Shapira; and  Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America . She is also the author of  The Paradox of Gender Equality: How American Women's Groups Gained and Lost Their Public Voice.

Goss joined the Duke faculty in 2005. She is also a faculty affiliate with the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society, the Hart Leadership Program and the Duke Center for Firearms Law. She received the Susan E. Tifft Teaching and Mentoring Award from Sanford in 2021. Dean Judith Kelley congratulated Carnes and Goss on their distinguished professor roles. “Nick’s scholarship on the nature and drivers of representation in our legislatures has been novel and important in helping us understand the consequences of who comes to power. This work has won him numerous accolades. Likewise, Kristin’s work is characterized by deep questions about how our society functions. She has done path-breaking work on gun control issues, civil society and philanthropy. Together, their work brings light to crucial issues around our democracy and politics at every level of government, a cause so important today. I am delighted that Kristin and Nick are joining a growing group of distinguished faculty at Sanford,” Kelley said.

Carnes and Goss will be recognized at a Duke reception May 23.

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European Union Policy Studies Concentration

James Madison University's M.A. in Political Science is a 10-month program with a concentration in European Union Policy Studies (EUPS). The program is based in Florence, Italy, though all coursework is held in English. While Florence is a global cultural destination, accessible to English speakers, students receive Italian language instruction in the fall at a level corresponding to their proficiency.

While in the program, students conduct applied assignments within their coursework and refine their cross-cultural competencies by working with a dynamic international faculty, by living abroad, and by talking with policy and political practitioners based in Europe and in the United States. These conversations take place in our facilities in Italy and via video conferencing. In addition, students participate in  academic trips to Brussels (in the fall) and Rome (in the spring) in which they meet with various political & policy practitioners in and out of government.

In the summer session, professional development is a key focus as our students hold mock job interviews; create a professional portfolio of policy and political analyses; and conduct either an internship or an applied research project. The EUPS program prepares students for careers in politics and policy, government agencies, policy research & advocacy, government relations, consulting for the private sector, and nonprofit organizations.

To learn more about this program, we welcome you to explore this website's content -- including the embedded 60-second video tied to the banner photo on the top of this page.

To speak with the program director, current students, and our alumni, click on the link below to register for the next virtual information session held on Zoom.

Top Stories

New EUPS professor at JMU Florence campus, Christine Bakker, PhD, shares her professional journey, her experience working for the European Commission, and how she came to live in Florence, Italy full-time.

Married JMU alumni, Mr. Richard Shapiro and Mrs. Alexis Shapiro stop by Florence, Italy to lead a consulting workshop and share their professional advice with the EUPS cohort.

JMU Semester in Florence alumnus, Mr. Andrew Spannaus, speaks with students about his experience living in Milan and building a successful international career.

Connect with JMU EUPS

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