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Political Science

Graduate Program Summary

Graduate Degrees Offered

M.A.; Ph.D.
Specializations - what's a specialization?
Environmental Studies; International Human Rights and Diversity; Media (Ph.D.); Water Resources Planning and Management (M.A.); Women's and Gender Studies
Areas of Study
American Politics; Comparative Politics; International Relations; Political Theory; Public Policy

Application Checklist

Required by Office of Graduate Studies
Required by Political Science
  • Entrance exam(s): GRE
  • Minimum TOEFL:  Paper-600  Computer-250  Internet-100
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample (a college term paper, research report, or essay)
  • Statement of purpose (Ph.D. only)
Application Deadline
For Financial Consideration
     Fall: February 1

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Description of Program

Graduate study in the Department of Political Science offers students the opportunity to work directly with nationally and internationally known scholar-teachers in American politics, international relations, comparative politics, public policy, and political theory. Students in the program have close working relationships with faculty and receive quality training for careers in academia, government, the nonprofit sector, and business. Graduate students often collaborate with faculty on research and jointly publish articles in national journals and present at conferences together.

The department is actively involved in several interdepartmental initiatives: international human rights and diversity (an interdepartmental area of specialization which examines the diversity of the human condition and human rights issues), the Nebraska Public Policy Center (which seeks to facilitate research and analysis for policy issues important to Nebraskans), the Sorenson Forum (which addresses the difficulties of finding able people who will enter public life), the Gallup Research Center, and the Preparing Future Faculty Program. The department also offers a certificate in public policy analysis and program evaluation.



For course descriptions:

Contact

Graduate Chair
Professor Kevin Smith
ksmith1@unl.edu
402-472-2343
Department Address
511 Oldfather Hall
Lincoln NE 68588-0328
Department Website
http://polisci.unl.edu/i...

Faculty and Research

Michael Combs Judicial Politics; Constitutional Law; Black Politics; Urban Politics
John Comer Public Opinion; Political Parties; Interest Groups
David Forsythe Human Rights; International Relations
John Gruhl Judicial Process; Constitutional Law; Civil Liberties; Criminal Justice
John Hibbing Legislative Politics; Public Opinion; Evolutionary Psychology in Politics
Patrice McMahon International Security; Comparative Politics; International Relations
Byron Orey American Politics; Black Politics; Voting Rights; Elections; Political Behavior
David Rapkin World System Theory; Japanese Industrial Policy; International Politics
Kevin Smith Public Policy; Public Administration; American Politics
Elizabeth Theiss-Morse Political Psychology; Public Opinion; Political Behavior
Andrew Wedeman Comparative Politics; Corruption; Chinese Politics
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.