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Our Department takes great pride in its prestigious national standing within the field and our faculty's collective commitment to fostering a vibrant academic environment. The graduate program brings together exceptional professors and students, a diverse research-focused curriculum, and the advantages of a top-tier university. UCLA boasts renowned departments across social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, along with world-class research libraries, advanced computing resources, and numerous interdisciplinary centers that encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration. With around 45 core faculty members, our sizable Department maintains an intimate learning environment by admitting just 15-20 new students annually, ensuring personalized guidance for each individual. We currently support approximately 150 enrolled students. As a comprehensive department, our extensive faculty provides instruction and research opportunities spanning all major subfields. The curriculum also enables deep exploration of interdisciplinary themes—both empirical and theoretical, modern and historical—including political economy, American political development, race in politics, and political theory's philosophical, historical, and literary aspects. UCLA's numerous language and area studies centers allow doctoral candidates to specialize in regional politics while incorporating theoretical frameworks that cross traditional academic borders.
An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution.
All applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and a sample of their analytical writing skills (e.g., senior or master's degree thesis, term paper).
IELTS Academic overall band score should be at least 7.0 is the minimum required.
TOEFL score on the paper and pencil test must be at least 560 or at least 87 on the internet-based test.