Political science
Doctor of Philosophy
Sustaining government structure
The Ph.D. in political science degree is a research-intensive program designed to train professionals for careers in government, think tanks and public or private sector research organizations. The program offers two specialized tracks: public opinion and public policy analysis.
The public opinion track focuses on the psychological, social and institutional factors that shape political attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Students gain advanced training in survey research, experimental methods and the study of mass and elite opinions.
The public policy analysis track emphasizes the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies at local, national and international levels. You will develop expertise in policy design, causal inference and quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the effectiveness and equity of policy interventions.
Across both tracks, students engage in rigorous methodological training and original research that contributes to the scholarly understanding of political processes.
Highlights of a Doctor of Philosophy in political science:
- Close student/faculty interaction
- Wide range of faculty expertise
Overview
The power of politics
Application information
Applicants for the Ph.D. in political science must meet the degree-specific admission requirements below:
- Education level: Master’s degree
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: No
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: 100/7.0/130 (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language)
- Number of references: Three
- Other requirements: U of I encourages pre-approval from a program faculty member before applying
Contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor Florian Justwan (fjustwan@uidaho.edu) before applying to discuss which faculty are currently taking new doctoral students.
Program availability
- Semester intake: Fall
- Eligible for international admission
- Deadlines: general application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Politics and Philosophy contact:
Florian Justwan
fjustwan@uidaho.edu
Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001
Find Department of Politics and Philosophy faculty advisor contacts
Costs, funding and research
To learn about various ways to fund your graduate degree, check out Graduate Funding.
For detailed information about the cost of attendance, visit Financial Aid.
Degree fit
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Are interested in the determinants of public opinion.
- Are interested in public policy.
- Have strong communication skills.
- Are curious about current societal issues.
- Like to be active in your community.
- Want to study politics scientifically.
Hands-on learning
As a political science student, you can get practical experience in policy analysis and data analysis. Talk with your advisor or department chair to find internship placements with state and national legislative offices, political campaigns and non-profit organizations. Expand your network and make an impact!
Clubs and organizations
Career outcomes
Current job openings
1,752 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Regulatory Affairs Managers • Compliance Managers
$97,250 - Economists • Environmental Economists
$109,305 - Political Scientists
$135,668 - Postsecondary Economics Teachers • Postsecondary Political Science Teachers • Postsecondary Law Teachers • Postsecondary Communications Teachers
$82,694 - Judicial Law Clerks
$64,904
* Career data provided by Lightcast.