Graduate Program
Dear Prospective Student:
Thank you very much for your interest in the graduate program in Political Science at Louisiana State University. LSU offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in political science, with concentrations in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political methodology. Here you will find information on basic requirements for admission into our program along with answers to several frequently asked questions.
The Department of Political Science each year admits a limited number of students into its graduate program, and presently the graduate enrollment in our program is approximately 40 students. For Fall admission, the deadline for submitting an application and receiving full consideration for admission and financial awards is February 1. After this deadline, the Department's Graduate Committee will screen all completed applications, and decisions on admittance and financial awards are usually announced in March. Late applications will be considered, although we cannot guarantee that late applications will receive full considerations for financial awards. We typically do not admit students who wish to start during the Spring.
Departmental Admissions Requirements (beyond those required by LSU's Graduate School
- A completed B.A. or M.A. in political science with at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4-point scale), or at least 18 hours of coursework in political science.
- 3 letters of recommendation from professors familiar with you work.
- A 2-3 page statement of purpose that explains why you want to attend graduate school, your familiarity with political science research, and what specific topics of research questions you want to study while in graduate school. If there are faculty in the department you would like to work with, please mention that.
- an academic writing sample. This sample should be the best example of academic work you have written on a topic related to political science.
- The GRE is NOT required for admission, although it is recommended.
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I be considered for a graduate assistantship?
We offer a limited number of assistantships that pay for tuition and offer an annual stipend to cover living expenses. All admitted applicants are considered for one of these assistantships. since funding is limited, these awards are only given to the most promising applicants.
We also typically only provide funding to Ph.D. applicants. You can apply directly for the Ph.D. program without a MA, which is relatively common. If you do so, you will be able to get your MA while working towards your PhD.
Do I need a faculty advisor to be admitted to the program?
No. You are not required to find a faculty advisor in the department willing to work with you in order to be admitted. If you know who you would like to work with, please indicate this in your statement of purpose.
Am I exempt from the English-language proficiency requirement?
If you have earned a college degree from a US institution, or from a country where English is the primary official language, your are typically exempt from demonstrating English-language proficiency. LSU's Graduate School website has more information for international applicants on the minimum requirements for demonstrating English-language proficiency.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions about the political science graduate program?
Please email Dr. Yann Kerevel, the Director of Graduate Studies, with any inquiries that you might have about graduate studies in political science at LSU. Email: ykerev1@lsu.lsu
(last updated 8/24/2023)