Unlocking the political world with research, teaching, and inclusive excellence

 
The Department of Political Science at UC Irvine is committed to advancing a comprehensive understanding of the people, policies, institutions, and organizations that shape political life. Our distinguished faculty employ diverse methodologies and perspectives to explore these critical subjects, earning global recognition for their groundbreaking research.

 

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Undergraduate

Studying political science as an undergraduate will help you understand the workings of political life at the local, national and international levels and will prepare you for a lifetime of engaged and informed citizenship. The Department of Political Science has twenty-eight core faculty members that teach a wide variety of courses in multiple subject areas. You will gain essential analytical, organizational, writing, and leadership skills that can be applied to exciting careers in government, law, business, international organizations, nonprofit organizations, research, journalism, and teaching.

 

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Graduate

Graduate students engage in an innovative Ph.D. program that provides comprehensive training in both quantitative and qualitative methods of social science research. In addition to specializing in one of the four major subfields of political science—American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory—students also pursue a secondary emphasis in areas such as race and ethnic politics, methodology, citizenship, among others. Through close mentorship, rigorous writing, and professional development, the Ph.D. program equips students with a broad range of scholarly tools and networks, empowering them to make distinctive contributions to the discipline and beyond.

We invite you to come join us. For more information, please consult the other sections of our website and don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

 

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Campus Mission

The University of California, Irvine ranks among the top research universities in the nation. The campus enrollment of over 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students is large enough to provide an active university environment. Our mission: a continued commitment to excellence and your achievement.

UCI is also a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). These federal designations align with UCI’s aspiration to be a national leader and global model of inclusive excellence.