Applying to the Program | Frequently Asked Questions

Applying to the Program

Note: If you are an international student please visit the graduate school web page for comprehensive information about the application process here.

The application process for admission to the graduate program consists of four major steps:

Step 1: Preparation and Submission

The admissions committee considers the following as minimal criteria for admission:

• A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) from an accredited university in the United States, or equivalent credentials from a non-U.S. institution, or a graduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• A cumulative score on the Graduate Record Examination of at least 1100 (verbal + quantitative), with a score of at least 500 on the verbal examination. Students not meeting the GRE requirements are advised to resubmit their application after retaking the examinations and obtaining satisfactory scores.
• Three official copies of all transcripts. Transcripts must be issued to this University or Department. They may not be issued to the student.
• Three letters of recommendation from members of the profession who can judge the student's ability to participate in a graduate program.
• A statement of professional and academic goals and intent.

Two of the primary documents you will need to apply:

• The University of Colorado at Boulder's Graduate School Application can be completed online. You can also opt to download, print and mail in the application. International applicants should fill out the International Prospective Student Application.
• If you are interested in an assistantship in the department, you will need to download, print and fill out the Political Science Assistantship Application

Applications from students who contribute to the goal of ethnic and cultural diversity are strongly encouraged.

Step 2: Admission Decisions

The deadline for the submission of completed applications is December 31st. The Graduate Studies Committee, a committee comprised of five faculty members (including the Director of Graduate Studies) and a graduate student representative, serves as the admissions committee for the graduate program. This committee reads and evaluates all applications that arrive by the deadline. Admission decisions normally fall into three categories: rejection, unconditional admission and provisional admission. Provisional admission, which is the exception rather than the rule, requires the admitted student to fulfill certain individually tailored requirements.

Step 3: Financial Assistance

Recommendations regarding financial aid are also made by the admissions committee. Offers for employment as a graduate teaching assistant are generally made at the time of admission though assistantships do become available over the summer. Students admitted but not initially awarded funding often receive assistantships on a semester-by-semester basis. A graduate teaching assistantship includes a stipend, a tuition waver, and partial health insurance. As a condition of funding all students appointed as graduate assistants are required to (a) take the two-part teaching seminar (namely, PSCI 5008/7008 and PSCI 5018/7018) and (b) complete a minimum of nine credit hours per semester. To be considered for continued funding students must continue to make satisfactory progress in the program (see below).

Additional financial opportunities are available in the form of scholarships, grants, and work-study awards. Each year the Graduate Committee nominates the best applicants to compete for the university's Chancellor's Fellowship, a prestigious award won by three Political Science applicants in the past 8 years. Students are also eligible for work-study appointments; these appointments are based on financial need. To qualify for work study students must write to the financial aid office (Campus Box 106, Telephone number: 303-492-5091) and complete the FAFSA. There is no charge for this evaluation of financial need. This form should be filled out as early in the application process as possible to ensure full consideration.

Step 4: Acceptance

If the student is accepted to the program of graduate study in Political Science it will be necessary for a written acceptance to be mailed to the Department of Political Science and for the "intent to register" form to be completed and returned to the Graduate School. Prior to enrolling, each new student must pay a $200 deposit to the university. This deposit will be refunded at the termination of the student's degree program.

Frequently Asked Questions Start of Page

1. What is the deadline for applying to the political science program?
2. What are the requirements for applying?
3. How many letters of recommendation do we require and from whom - faculty, employers etc?
4. What are the requirements for an international student application?
5. Can you send an information packet about the graduate program?
6. May I still apply to the program even though I missed the deadline?
7. How many students do we admit each year?
8. How many students are admitted for each degree—MA and PhD?
9. What type and how much funding does the department provide? Does it include tuition and health insurance?
10. I am interested in pursuing a career in the non-profit or government sector. How will your program train me for this career path?
11. May I come to campus for a visit before applying to the program?
12. May I enroll in classes on a trial basis before I am admitted to the program?
13. When will I be notified about my admission status?
14. Will the department accept an application if the GRE scores are not available until after our deadline?
15. May I be exempt from TOEFL or GRE testing requirements?
16. If I am accepted to the program and find that I cannot attend may I defer my enrollment?
17. What is the residency requirement for CU graduate students?
18. May I structure my own, independent course sequence?
19. May I enroll in the department through distance learning?

1. What is the deadline for applying to the political science program?
   Our application deadline is December 31 for both the PhD and Masters programs.
2. What are the requirements for applying?
   There are five components of an application: (1) minimum cumulative GPA; (2) GRE score results; (3) three letters of recommendation; (4) three official transcripts from all educational institutions attended; and (5) a personal statement of academic and professional goals and intent. Application requirements can be viewed above.
3. How many letters of recommendation do we require and from whom - faculty, employers etc?
   Three letters of recommendation are needed from members of the profession who can judge the student’s ability to participate in a graduate program.
4. What are the requirements for an international student application?
   International students should take the TOEFL exam or show proof of English reading and speaking skills, i.e. coursework, employment, etc. Please familiarize yourself with the Graduate School’s requirements for international students here.
5. Can you send an information packet about the graduate program?
   The department does not currently have an information packet for distribution through the postal service. However, our departmental website (http://polsci.colorado.edu) contains information about the program. Please contact us at pscigrad@colorado.edu if you still have questions after viewing the website.
6. May I still apply to the program even though I missed the deadline?
   No. The department reviews applications once a year. The review occurs early in the spring semester to determine the Fall class of incoming graduate students. We welcome your application for next year if you missed the deadline for this admission cycle.
7. How many students do we admit each year?
   The graduate program admits the top 30 - 40 applicants from a pool of approx 150 - 180 applicants. Approximately 15 - 20 of the applicants admitted accept our offers of admission.
8. How many students are admitted for each degree—MA and PhD?
   We do not admit a specific number of applicants for each degree. The graduate program strives for a balance of students among the fields of study, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Policy and Data Analysis.
9. What type and how much funding does the department provide? Does it include tuition and health insurance?
   Most, but not all, admitted applicants receive a teaching assistantship covering five calendar years (ten semesters) of funding from the department as long as the student is in good academic standing. The stipend in 2008-09 was $7,641.99/semester.. Students generally teach two recitation sections for large lecture classes each semester in exchange for this stipend. The department also provides resident tuition and subsidizes student health insurance for those offered teaching assistantships.
10. I am interested in pursuing a career in the non-profit or government sector. How will your program train me for this career path?
    The Masters and PhD program at the University of Colorado in Boulder trains students to conduct original research, using rigorous tools of research design, including but not exclusively statistical training. Our strength is in training academics who want future jobs as professors or researchers in the public or non-profit sector. Students who are planning on returning to the non-profit or government sector in a career that is not research oriented may benefit more greatly from a different program. In the application process, we give great weight to the correspondence between prospective students' future research objectives and the research interests of the faculty in our department.
11. May I come to campus for a visit before applying to the program?
    Yes. We welcome applicants to stop by the department and meet with graduate students or faculty if you are in the area. The department does not fund or organize such visits, but will be receptive if you request a meeting with students or faculty to discuss the program.
12. May I enroll in classes on a trial basis before I am admitted to the program?
    Yes. The University of Colorado allows students to enroll on a trial basis through the Access Program, located here. Admission is contingent upon the instructor’s permission, which must be secured prior to enrollment.
13. When will I be notified about my admission status?
    Admission notifications are made prior to April 1.
14. Will the department accept an application if the GRE scores are not available until after our deadline?
    If your GRE scores are not available until after the December 31 application deadline your application will not be considered. You are invited to resubmit your application before the next deadline.
15. May I be exempt from TOEFL or GRE testing requirements?
    No. The Department of Political Science requires GRE scores for all applicants and TOEFL scores for all international applicants.
16. If I am accepted to the program and find that I cannot attend may I defer my enrollment?
    An applicant may defer enrollment for up to one year. Deferring enrollment does not hold the funding offer and the admitted student must reapply for funding.
17. What is the residency requirement for CU graduate students?
    Students who are admitted with funding must establish Colorado residency before their second year or they will have to pay the non-resident portion of their tuition.
18. May I structure my own, independent course sequence?
    You must complete all of the course work requirements for the MA and PhD. However, you may create independent studies focusing on a topic of particular interest with the permission of a professor in the department. Furthermore, you may take some course outside of the department, but you must secure departmental permission.
19. May I enroll in the department through distance learning?
    We require our graduate students to be present in Boulder in order to take the required courses for an MA or PhD.