The graduate political science program invites students who wish to study politics in its many forms, but who also want to develop the analytic skills necessary to achieve mastery in their areas of study. Dedicated to providing the substantive political knowledge any advanced student of politics would want and need, the program also provides the exposure to cutting-edge research tools that distinguishes the very best graduate programs. Some faculty are senior members of the discipline, while others are rising stars who are already receiving national recognition. All are committed to the core mission of the graduate program: developing political knowledge and the skills to use it.

Program Highlights

• The Department offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, with specializations in American politics, comparative politics, formal political theory, international relations, law and courts, methodology, and political theory.

• A large number of assistantships and scholarships are available.

• The faculty, one of the most productive in the nation, has won numerous awards for research and teaching.

• The faculty consists of 19 tenured or tenure-track professors and is projected to grow to 21 by Fall 2006.

The Department of Political Science is in the School for Public and International Affairs, which includes only two other departments: International Affairs and Public Administration and Policy. Students therefore have access to over 50 faculty in the School without sacrificing strong collegial relations and diverse classroom and research opportunities.

Guidelines for Good Practice in Graduate Education

The expectations for each graduate student are to develop an understanding of and capacity for scholarship, independent judgment, academic rigor, and intellectual honesty. As such, graduate faculty are responsible for fostering and facilitating the student’s professional development to meet these expectations.

Guiding principles for which both graduate faculty and students share responsibility:

1. Ensure that the relationship between faculty and students and among students is constructive, encourages freedom of inquiry, and fosters mutual respect.
2. Work respectfully with diverse faculty, students and peers regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.
3. Act with professionalism, ethical conduct, and personal accountability during all academic endeavors and interactions among students and faculty.
4. Make explicit the expectations of graduate students and faculty for relevant elements of graduate student activities; assess progress in meeting these expectations and provide/use constructive feedback.
5. Put forth sufficient effort to ensure the graduate student completes the degree and assistantship responsibilities in timely manner.
6. Agree that students are expected to take initiative in learning and carrying out other responsibilities (versus expecting faculty to provide everything). Faculty are expected to facilitate learning and professional development (versus expecting students to be able to carry out all responsibilities, e.g., teaching with no guidance).
7. Have reasonable expectations for the time available for graduate student-related tasks. Faculty and students have many responsibilities. Thus, both parties need to respect the others’ need for sufficient time to complete all responsibilities.
8. Avoid conflicts of interest of any nature between faculty and graduate students.

Notes: Guidelines are for instructive purposes and do not constitute statements of institutional policy or requirements.

Approved by the University of Georgia Graduate Council on April 18, 2007.