To apply, submit Temple’s online graduate application along with an application fee of $60.
Applicants must have completed their bachelor’s degree. A degree in a related field is preferred; however, all applications will be considered.
Candidates will be asked to submit the following along with their application.
Current academic CV or professional résumé required.
Number required: 3
From whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members and/or employers familiar with the applicant's academic competence.
A master’s degree is not required.
A baccalaureate degree is required.
In 2 to 3 pages, describe your research interests, your relevant skills and background that will enable you to carry out this research (or the skills that you plan to acquire while pursuing a PhD), and why our department is a good fit for your interests and goals. If you have overcome adversity and/or experienced limited access to resources or opportunities, please feel free to share how that has affected the course of your education. We are also interested in how your background or experiences shape the perspective or approach that you would bring to your research, and to the field of political science.
GRE: Optional. Scores may be submitted if available.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be no more than 25 pages and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual.
For students entering the PhD program who have received an MA degree elsewhere, up to 18 credits may be applied to the doctoral program, provided they are relevant to the department's required courses. These credits must have been obtained no more than five years prior to the student’s matriculation at Temple and the grades must be “B” or better. The graduate chair decides which courses students may transfer. As a general rule, transfer students should expect that they will have to complete much of the required coursework in residence. Students transferring into the PhD program should note that it is advisable to take courses from Temple faculty in their major and minor fields before taking the PhD Qualifying Exams in those two fields.
Official electronic transcripts must be sent to [click-for-email]. Original transcripts can be mailed to the following address.
Temple University College of Liberal Arts
Dept. of Political Science
408 Gladfelter Hall
1115 W. Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6089
For applicants whose native language is not English, the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores are required. The minimum scores for these tests are as follows.
Learn more about the international application.
Fall: Dec. 15
Anna Hunter is the department coordinator.
Phone: 215-204-7796
Email: [click-for-email]
