Graduate Admissions

Admission:

Fall 2023 Deadline: January 1, 2023

APPLY HERE

Students with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university may apply to the M.A. or to the Ph.D. program. Admission is granted without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, national origin, or disability. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

A completed application includes:

  1. A completed UNL Graduate Studies application form
  2. Payment of the Graduate Studies application fee
  3. Official grade transcripts from all colleges attended
  4. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members familiar with one's potential for graduate study
  5. GRE Scores are optional (but not required) for Fall 2023 admissions.
  6. A writing sample (a college term paper, research report, or essay)
  7. A statement of purpose (Ph.D. students only)
  8. TOEFL score (international students only)
  9. Evidence of financial resources for self-support (international students only)

Only completed applications are considered. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but priority admissions deadlines for funding consideration are listed below.

Please contact the Political Science Graduate Secretary, David Csontos, with questions about departmental requirements for graduate admissions. You can also contact the UNL Office of Graduate Studies with more general questions about the application process.

Areas of Study:

Graduate study in Political Science is offered in the following areas of specialization:

  • American Politics
  • Political Psychology and Biopolitics
  • International Relations (Security Studies | Human Rights & Humanitarian Affairs)
  • Public Policy

Core Seminars:

Core seminars involve extensive reading and provide an introduction to the literature in each area of specialization.

The following core seminars are offered:

  • American Politics
  • Political Psychology and Biopolitics
  • International Relations
  • Public Policy
  • Comparative Politics
  • Political Theory

The focus of the core seminar in each area is designed by the faculty in the area (defined as the area committee).

Each core seminar is taught by one instructor at any given time. However, collaboration and consultation among faculty in the area may be a part of the seminar.

For additional information on degree requirements, please see https://polisci.unl.edu/graduate-degree-requirements.