How to get into Political Science PhD?

[Diplomer]

Hello!

I am strongly interested in formal and quantitative political science and would like to attend a PhD in this field. But my prior education refers only to economics and econometrics.

My questions now are the following:

1. How can I make an admission into a good Political Science PhD programme more likely? Is there anything that I could prepare and that would make it easier for me? What kind of background knowledge is assumed to be supportive?

2. Can you say which universities in the EU or in the US focus on formal and quantitative methodology? I read about Rochester and NYU. Are there any other universities like them?

Kind regards
Diplomer

[Diplomer]

Perhaps, answers are more likely if I provide more information about myself:

I am going to graduate from an UK economics department next year (Master of Science in Economics and Econometrics). But I intend to switch to political science then for PhD programmes. However, the only political science courses that I can show are from a very very unknown department in Germany. That is why I would like to attend an additional Masters programme in Pol Sci with focus on quantitative methods and formal modelling as a preparation ('signalling') for an application to good universities in the US like Rochester or NYU.

However, due to several reasons, I would like to do this masters in Europe, but I do not know which department offers FORMAL political science courses. Even the LSE emphasises that they use an historic approach.

Do you have any idea which department could be suitable for my intentions? Helpfull comments would be highly appreciated!

Kind regards
Diplomer

[Median]

Hi diplomer,

I think getting another Masters in Political Science will be a waste of your time (and possibly money). With a MA in Econ you have a great methodological foundation that will help you a lot in your application. With regards to your PoliSci credentials, strong letters and a good SOP that attest to your interest in the field should be key. Think hard about your research interests and make a good case for why a PhD in PoliSci is what you want. Furthermore, I can not really strongly recommend any place that has the right connections to the US + the coursework you are looking for (there are people here and there, but a well-organized MA program...).

When you are looking for US schools that offer you a good training in formal and statistical methods, any school in the top 10-15 will be fine. Some are obviously better than others when it comes to pure Methods, but it also matters what substantive interests you have. Four schools in particular are renowned for their methods training independent of any top ten ranking: Rochester, NYU, CalTech and WUSTL. If you go there, you will get an amazing methods training and a clear profile, but you will have fewer options to combine your methodological interests with substantive ones.

Outside the top 15 and these four, you might have to research a little bit.

Hope that helps!

[Demisel]

1. I completely agree with Median's answer. There's no reason why you would want an MA Political Science just for the purpose of PhD admission. I know that NYU admitted a number of students with little or no background in political science. Moreover, students with strong math background are encouraged to take the math class in the PhD Economics program instead of the political science one. In general, they like quantitative people, and as long as your Statement of Interest shows that you know what research in political science involves, you should be in good shape.

2. Aside from the 4 universities Median mentioned, you might consider the following programs: Michigan, Stanford Political Science, Stanford GSB (Political Economics), Harvard Economics (less so, government), Princeton, and UCSD. I've heard good things about the following programs but don't know much about them otherwise: Duke, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Penn State. Among the 4 programs Median listed, I must say Caltech is most likely the hardest (and hence probably the best training). The downside is they have a very narrow focus. The same can be said of Stanford GSB.

My general impression is that PhD political science programs are not rigidly structured, and many quantitative people will need to take advantage of resources from the economics department at their school. So the difference between any two of the aforementioned programs should be quite minimal, and how you structure your own PhD plan should have a bigger impact.

[Demisel]

Another note: Historically Rochester has been the best methodology program, and people over there seem to think they still are. Although I think they're the most well-known and well-rounded program, I'm more impressed with Caltech and Stanford GSB when it comes to American Politics and NYU when it comes to International Politics.

[econofrosh!]

What about Columbia's MA QMSS (Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences) program? Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Surely, this should provide rigorous preparation.
There have been impressive placements too including Stanford GSB Political Economics PhD and Harvard Kennedy School of Gov't.

[Diplomer]

Thank you all for your helpful answers! That exactly is the kind of information that I was looking for.

Columbias QMSS programme sounds good, but since I already have a very strong statistics and econometrics background, I believe that there is little for me to learn. My deficit is that I do not have a strong political science background. As far as I can see, the QMSS course does provide good methods courses, but I would not get in touch with the current frontier in political science research. So that's no option for me.

One more question:
Would it be a great disadvantage if all LORs come from economists and no one from a political scientist?

Kind regards
Diplomer

[Demisel]

Would it be a great disadvantage if all LORs come from economists and no one from a political scientist?

I imagine having at least one LOR from a political scientist would help the credibility a little bit. But I'm just speculating on this. On the other hand, I can say that having only one poli sci letter is just fine. That's from personal experience.

[Diplomer]

Thank you for your comment! I could try to get a LOR from one political scientist who graduated from Pennstate University long time ago (PhD) and who is now a Professor in Germany. However, his last publication was in 2001, so he might be totally unknown to my adcom. Would a letter from him help me or should I try to get a LOR from a reknown economist?

However, you all sayed that graduating from economics can help me to get into political science departments. In economics, it is very very helpful to graduate in mathmatics or physics in order to start a career in academia.
So I am curious now: Are many political science professors former economists? Is "being an economist" helpful for getting a tenure track position?

Kind regards,
Diplomer

[Median]

I have to agree with Demisel, at least one PoliSci letter writer would be good. In the end what matters is how well connected and known the letter writer is. Economists that can attest to your technical ability are good, but will only go so far with a traditional Political Scientist.

There are economists (ie people with a PhD in Econ) in PoliSci departments, but they are the exception (and concentrated in the top departments). I think there was a time where you could really impress in the market coming from a top Econ program and going into Political Economy, but that is decreasing given the growing sophistication of the methods training. Having a MA in Econ will give you a leg up during the PhD in terms of knowing some of the material, but that's about it.