PhD

To seek admission, students must apply directly to OU Graduate College Admissions by submitting the official online application, along with transcripts, application fee, and additional departmental required application materials, as detailed below.

All applicants for whom English is a second language must present evidence of proficiency in the English language. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit their scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL institutional code for the University of Oklahoma is 6879. Please consult the Office of Graduate Admissions English Proficiency Requirements for more information.

Application for admission to the political science doctoral program is highly selective. Applicants must demonstrate the ability and motivation to succeed in a rigorous program of graduate study, and must make the case that there is a close fit between their aspirations and the offerings of the Department of Political Science at OU. Furthermore, study for the PhD is a full-time endeavor that demands complete intellectual commitment. Outside employment is not permitted while enrolled in the doctoral degree program in political science.

The admissions committee review applications once annually, following the February 1 deadline. Only complete applications are considered. In reviewing applications, the admissions committee undertakes a comprehensive examination of all elements of the application file. In addition to the graduate admissions application described above, applicants must submit the following supplemental materials with their online application:

• Scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). While there is no fixed minimum for admission, and GRE scores are only one piece of evidence considered by the admissions committee, mean scores for admitted students have been in the range of 300-315 (verbal + quantitative) or higher in recent years. The GRE institutional code for the University of Oklahoma is 6879. The political science code is 1902. All applicants seeking admissions to the doctoral (D790) or master's (M790) in political science are required to submit scores for the GRE. While not guaranteed, the admissions committee will consider a GRE waiver on a case-by-case basis. An applicant may begin the GRE waiver process by contacting pscgradprog@ou.edu. The admissions committee will not review GRE waiver requests received after December 31 of the application cycle period. All applicants not receiving a waiver must submit GRE scores.
  
• Three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to speak knowledgeably about the applicant's academic ability. Typically, these would be academic references rather than personal acquaintances or employers. When completing the online application you will have an opportunity to provide the names and email addresses of your recommenders. Upon submission of your application, your recommenders will be sent an email notifying them to submit their letters through an electronic system. 
• A statement of about 1,000 words articulating the applicant's specific preparation for graduate study, proposed fields of study and area of focus, and career aspirations. A compelling statement is a critical part of the application; the applicant should invest substantial time in crafting the personal statement. 
• A writing sample. This sample should be a substantive piece of work that displays the applicant's writing, analytical and research skills.

All supplemental documents may be uploaded with the online application. All transcripts, test scores, correspondence, or any other supplemental material submitted in conjunction with an application for admission become the permanent property of the University of Oklahoma, and will not be returned to the applicant. Should you need copies of your transcripts for other purposes, you must obtain them from the originating institution(s).

The admissions committee request that prospective applicants do not send unsolicited email attachments (i.e., transcripts, résumé, recommendation letters, test scores) when requesting information about our graduate degree programs. The venue to submit such materials is through formal submission of your application to Graduate College Admissions.

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Minimum of 90 hours beyond a baccalaureate (master's degree not required)

Required Courses:
P SC 5923 (Introduction to Analysis of Political and Administrative Data)
P SC 5933 (Intermediate Analysis of Political Data)
P SC 5950 (Research Problems)
P SC 6003 (Political Science: Survey of a Discipline)

Concentration in three of seven fields:
A minimum of 9 hours of course work in three concentration fields: including certain required courses in each concentration field.

American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Methodology (secondary examining field or non-examining third field only)
Political Theory
Public Administration
Public Law (non-examining third field only)
Public Policy

Other Degree Requirements:
Up to 12 hours may be taken from departments other than political science, with not more than 6 hours from any other department or not more than 6 hours to be applied to any one field of study.

Comprehensive General Examination (written and oral) in first and second primary concentration fields.

Dissertation (2-44 hours, usually not more than 30 hours)

Two semesters in residence (full-time student)

Degree Checksheet

Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)

The University has made it a priority to increase Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends. Beginning fall 2024, a standard GTA stipend paid over nine months for a political science doctoral student is $20,000 and $17,500 for a master’s student. When available the financial support package typically includes a competitive stipend, graduate tuition waiver, and student health insurance. The support package does not cover university and college fees, housing, books, food, travel, and other personal expenses.

The Department of Political Science offers a limited number of multi-year, renewable GTA appointments each year. Students have the opportunity to develop and enhance teaching skills under the guidance of a tenured political science faculty member. A political science GTA will assist in classroom management, provide instructional support, and lead discussion sections for P SC 1113 American Federal Government, a multi-section course required for undergraduate students. The standard GTA employment is .50 FTE*, which is equivalent to 20 hours per week.

All prospective applicants interested in a graduate assistantship should indicate their interest on the admissions application. A separate application is not required. Nearly everyone who is accepted to the doctoral or master’s degree in political science is eligible for funding, but funding depends on how many open positions we have, and the quality of the application as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee.

* GTA employment is generally measured as a proportion of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) or 1.00 FTE status.

Carl Albert Center Fellowships

The highly competitive and prestigious Carl Albert Graduate Fellowship program is for students who are interested in studying legislative politics while earning a PhD in political science. CAC Fellows all share a work space while Center faculty actively mentor graduate students from day one by incorporating them into ongoing research projects. This lab model of training means students pick up the language and professional tools they will need much more quickly, while learning across cohorts and from one another.

The generously-funded program includes:

• up to four years (including summers) of financial support as a teaching or research assistant, plus an additional year with no work obligations to complete the dissertation. The current annual stipend amount is $19,000;
• all degree-related tuition and fees, plus health insurance;
• an allowance to cover books each semester;
• funding to attend the ICPSR summer methods program;
• funding to attend academic conferences; and
• funding for dissertation-related travel and research assistance.

Apply - Carl Albert Center

Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Fellowships

The Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (IPPRA) is an interdisciplinary team with decades of experience in addressing public policy challenges such as those posed by extreme weather and the changing climate, energy policy, environmental policy, the role of government intervention in pandemics, and national security.    

IPPRA offers competitive Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) to conduct research and data analysis and assist our affiliated faculty across a variety of externally-funded projects that span multiple policy areas. These Graduate Research Assistantships enable students to augment classroom learning; develop new analytical, research and writing skills; and conduct research on complex policy problems for institutions and clients.

IPPRA Graduate Research Assistants also receive annual travel support to offset costs associated with enhancing their ability to successfully complete their doctoral program and prepare for their chosen career paths. Travel support is generally used to attend and present at academic conferences nationwide.

Basic student health insurance and a tuition waiver are benefits that accompany these GRAships. To inquire about current fellowship opportunities, please contact Joe Ripberger, Deputy Director for Research at jtr@ou.edu or Hank Jenkins-Smith, IPPRA Director at hjsmith@ou.edu.