The graduate program in Political Science and
International Relations is a part of a growing department building on our
current strengths and expanding our areas of specialty. Our degree is
organized around four subfields, International Relations, Comparative Politics,
American Politics, and Political Theory, while providing methodological
training to prepare students for independent research. The size of our
department enables graduate students and faculty to cultivate mentorship
opportunities in research and teaching and our graduates leave with a depth of
knowledge in their area of specialization accompanied by a breadth of
experience in the discipline.
Our department has several particular clusters of research interest among
faculty including a long-standing interest in the study of global governance
involving political issues that transcend the traditional borders of the
nation-state system including migration, the environment, transnational
activism, religion, security, and human rights. Several of our faculty also
study identity and politics with particular strengths in the study of
sexuality, gender, and politics across all four of the major subfields. In
addition to interest in particular substantive areas of study we also have
faculty clusters focused on different approaches to the study of politics
including political psychology, constructivism, quantitative and qualitative
methodologies, and critical theory.
While ours is primarily a PhD program, a limited number of MA students may be admitted.
To help students navigate the discipline our students select a concentration
among the subfields in consultation with faculty. PhD students pursue two
fields, while MA students pursue one. Each subfield offers students
opportunities to explore in depth complex theoretical, conceptual, and
practical questions related to particular issues, and to develop specific
research interests under the guidance of distinguished faculty.
Approximately 50 graduate students from all over the USA and the world are
currently enrolled in our graduate program. Our faculty provide close advising
and mentoring to our graduate students who find a collegial atmosphere in the
Department. Through colloquia, seminars, and an annual spring speaker series,
we offer a stimulating intellectual environment. In addition, we provide our
advanced graduate students with opportunities to teach their own courses.
Finally, we encourage our advanced graduate students to present their research
at conferences and to publish their scholarship in peer-reviewed journals.
We are excited about the growth and new directions in graduate education in our
department and at our University, and we encourage you to explore our website
to learn more about our program. Should you have additional questions, please
contact Professor Claire Rasmussen (cerasmus@udel.edu),
Director of Graduate Studies.
