Graduate
The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Political Science is home to an active and diverse intellectual community of scholars, researchers, leaders, and changemakers.
Our Ph.D. program offers outstanding opportunities for intellectual growth, professional development, and successful careers, with exceptional strength in six main fields — American politics, comparative politics, constitutional studies, international relations, methodology, and political theory.
Recent Ph.D. graduates make their mark by securing postdoctoral positions at prestigious institutions like Harvard and UPenn. Our graduate students have a high success rate when it comes to receiving grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Fullbright, U.S. Institute for Peace, Spencer Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation.
Our Ph.D. program also features:
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A large department with more than 45 tenure-track or tenured professors, who are Internationally renowned and publish in top journals and presses, secure major grants, and win national and international research awards.
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A joint Ph.D. program in Political Science and Peace Studies in partnership with the Kroc Institute For International Peace Studies
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An accessible intellectual community that offers programming and funding through various institutes and centers
Meet current cohort
View all graduate students
Chase Mendoza
Ph.D. Student, Political Theory, Cohort Year 2023
When I arrived at Notre Dame, I discovered a community of scholars from a diverse methodological and ideological background who all focused their intellectual energy on investigating complex political realities. It is rare to find a group of scholars so dedicated to their craft and who approach their work with different educational backgrounds and training. Not only are my mentors ready to give their time to training graduate students, but all of my fellow students actively create a collegial environment where friendships are cultivated and ideas are shared. The power of Notre Dame’s community rests on this invigorating exchange of ideas from graduate students, professors, and visiting scholars who are frequently invited to present their scholarly work. I am immensely grateful to my professors, colleagues, librarians, advisors, and Notre Dame’s excellent support staff who spend copious amounts of time and resources to help develop graduate students into professional scholars.
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Chase Mendoza
Ph.D. Student, Political Theory, Cohort Year 2023
When I arrived at Notre Dame, I discovered a community of scholars from a diverse methodological and ideological background who all focused their intellectual energy on investigating complex political realities. It is rare to find a group of scholars so dedicated to their craft and who approach their work with different educational backgrounds and training. Not only are my mentors ready to give their time to training graduate students, but all of my fellow students actively create a collegial environment where friendships are cultivated and ideas are shared. The power of Notre Dame’s community rests on this invigorating exchange of ideas from graduate students, professors, and visiting scholars who are frequently invited to present their scholarly work. I am immensely grateful to my professors, colleagues, librarians, advisors, and Notre Dame’s excellent support staff who spend copious amounts of time and resources to help develop graduate students into professional scholars.
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Rasheed Ibrahim
Ph.D. Candidate, Comparative Politics, Cohort Year 2021
As a person interested in questions of democracy and democratization in Africa, there seemed to be no better place for me to conduct my research. Before arriving at Notre Dame, I had already read the works of many faculty members whose contributions have significantly shaped the field of literature and continue to do so. It has been incredibly fulfilling to have the opportunity to work with them throughout my time in the program.
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Adriana Pilar Ferreira Albanus
Ph.D. Student, Comparative Politics, Cohort Year 2022
The journey of every PhD student includes moments of great challenge as well as exhilarating “aha!” moments. While dedication and resilience determine much of the balance between obstacles and accomplishments, we often forget that having a vibrant community around us is an essential element on the path to success. I believe this is one of the biggest strengths of the Political Science PhD program at Notre Dame. I am thankful for being immersed in an environment where collaboration among students is strongly encouraged, and I deeply appreciate the faculty for being so accessible and engaging. Their commitment to student success, through guidance and support, has been invaluable to our academic and personal growth.
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Joseph Clarkson ’24
5+1 Postdoctoral Fellow, Political Theory, Cohort Year 2019
I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have done my Ph.D. in Political Science at Notre Dame. Not only does the community push you to greater heights than you might think possible at first, but also it is uniquely supportive and kind along the way. If I were applying to graduate school today, I would put Notre Dame at the top of my list.
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Kevin Bustamante ’24
5+1 Postdoctoral Fellow, International Relations, Cohort Year 2019
I chose the program because of their commitment to theory-driven scholarship and the cost of living in South Bend. My time is spent thinking through empirical puzzles and explaining how the world works. The faculty are extremely welcoming and sharp with their comments and feedback. It is an intellectually rich environment for those wanting to be challenged. If I had any advice for incoming students, it would be to do the work.
Questions?
Contact Tia Dacquisto (tdacquis@nd.edu)
Graduate Studies Coordinator