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Department of Political Science Poli Sci
peopletrue1695916744946dcmichelPeople/peoplePoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/peoplefdimaano1242892994698jrfritsch1549579152659facultytrue1757460789134ekumakawafacultyFaculty/people/facultyPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/facultyjrfritsch1248281878467cisachsen1410893617167stafftrue1716576016604yschinStaff/people/staffPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/staffjrfritsch1410881938147cisachsen1410893688676graduateGraduate Students/people/graduatePoli-Scicisachsen1413229101480cisachsen1413229672578http://polisci.ucsd.edu/grad/current-students/index.htmlundergraduatetrue1615233984599nbikkerUndergraduate Students/people/undergraduatePoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/undergraduatenbikker1615231157666nbikker1615231782462alumnitrue1615215913395dcmichelAlumni/people/alumniPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/alumniapalazzolo1279594254477cisachsen1413228822081indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaAbout UsThe Department of Political Science at UCSD is one of the top 10 in the country and home to leading scholars who represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds, methodologies, and approaches. J. R. FritschAbout Us/people/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/indexbpollak1244588074502ekumakawa1751568665135Instructional Supporttrue1760376990942ekumakawaInstructional SupportInformation for all types of faculty for the Political Science DepartmentnbikkerInstructional Support/people/Instructional SupportPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/people/Instructional Supportnbikker1608580353994ekumakawa1756762809773workshops-retreatstrue1695917081141dcmichel/workshops-retreatsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/workshops-retreatsjrfritsch1349549659223jrfritsch1349549659223methods-archivetrue1760376990942ekumakawaMethods ArchiveEnter Summary HereEnter Author HereMethods Archive/workshops-retreats/methods-archivePoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/workshops-retreats/methods-archivejrfritsch1485195908140dcmichel1549916607934political-theory-workshoptrue1760376990942ekumakawaPolitical Theory WorkshopEnter Summary HereJ. R. Fritschpolitical-theory-workshop/workshops-retreats/political-theory-workshopPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/workshops-retreats/political-theory-workshopjrfritsch1357936661985jrfritsch1446593342190methods-workshoptrue1760376990942ekumakawaMethods WorkshopMethods WorkshopJ. R. FritschMethods Workshop/workshops-retreats/methods-workshopPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/workshops-retreats/methods-workshopjrfritsch1351813904359dcmichel1549916628622comparative-politics-workshoptrue1760376990942ekumakawaComparative Politics WorkshopEnter Summary HereJ. R. FritschComparative Politics Workshop/workshops-retreats/comparative-politics-workshopPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/workshops-retreats/comparative-politics-workshopjrfritsch1349549743273dcmichel1549916562450speakers-seriestrue1695916931595dcmichel/speakers-seriesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/speakers-seriesjrfritsch1345155145677jrfritsch134515514567714-15-past-speakerstrue1760376990942ekumakawa2014-2015 Speakers2014-2015 Speakersoareyes2014-2015 Speakers/speakers-series/14-15-past-speakersPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/speakers-series/14-15-past-speakersoareyes1445632663837oareyes144563290331512-13-past-speakerstrue1760376990942ekumakawa2012-2013 Speakers2012-2013 Speakersoareyes2012-2013 Speakers/speakers-series/12-13-past-speakersPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/speakers-series/12-13-past-speakersoareyes1445631377445oareyes144563283647209-10-past-speakerstrue1760376990942ekumakawa2009-2010 Speakers2009-2010 SpeakersFritsch2009-2010 Speakers/speakers-series/09-10-past-speakersPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/speakers-series/09-10-past-speakersjrfritsch1348785801316oareyes1445632787959cpsstrue1760376990942ekumakawaComparative Politics Speaker SeriesComparative Politics Speaker SeriesJ. R. FritschComparative Politics Speaker Series/speakers-series/cpssPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/speakers-series/cpssjrfritsch1345155208772j4cooper1578936957525gradtrue1721688544644erluGraduate Program/gradPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/gradggoldman1245703908501jrfritsch1549579261366hire-a-phdtrue1535646642426b4choiHire a UCSD Ph.D./grad/hire-a-phdPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/hire-a-phdasvazquez1411055277588asvazquez1411055499159indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaGraduatePhD Program In Political Science at UCSDJulie ChoiGraduate/grad/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/indexggoldman1245704498807ekumakawa1750712529640prospective-studentstrue1566584842606b4choiProspective Students/grad/prospective-studentsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/prospective-studentsjevangelista1248898633372jevangelista1249595410301current-studentstrue1721688580567erluCurrent Students/grad/current-studentsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/current-studentsjevangelista1248987996653jevangelista1249595426456placementtrue1649094110814joperaltaPlacement/grad/placementPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/placementjevangelista1248989574573slocke1249925792929career-resourcestrue1651164382668joperaltaCareer Resourcesb4choiCareer Resources/grad/career-resourcesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/grad/career-resourcesjrfritsch1620086788437b4choi1625872821378undergradtrue1758837071497ekumakawaUndergraduate Program/undergradPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergradggoldman1245703929542nbikker1543431266672indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaUndergraduate ProgramPolitical Science is the sixth largest concentration on campus, with over nine percent of UCSD students graduating from our department. Our department offers a general political science major along with eight areas of concentration - American politics, comparative politics, data analytics, international relations, political theory, public law, public policy, and race, ethnicity, and politics - and two minors.nbikkerUndergraduate Program/undergrad/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/indexmquisenberry1250282884248ekumakawa1759333590703office-hours-advisingtrue1704390791955zasharifiOffice Hours (Staff, Faculty, and TAs)/undergrad/office-hours-advisingPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/office-hours-advisingslocke1250704829343oareyes1437763328498academic-advising-informationtrue1440614921936oareyesAcademic Advising Information/undergrad/academic-advising-informationPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/academic-advising-informationoareyes1440613136638nbikker1561667937988major-and-minor-requirementstrue1652397062666nbikkerMajor and Minor Requirements/undergrad/major-and-minor-requirementsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/major-and-minor-requirementsslocke1250705067692bpollak1252426616401political-science-coursestrue1598996842227nbikkerPolitical Science Courses/undergrad/political-science-coursesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/political-science-coursesslocke1250705136454nbikker1543511079998new-and-prospective-studentstrue1625611736184nbikkerNew and Prospective Students/undergrad/new-and-prospective-studentsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/new-and-prospective-studentsslocke1250705335788erlu1691616257608osd-accommodationtrue1469728759472oareyesOSD Accommodations/undergrad/osd-accommodationPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/osd-accommodationoareyes1438017742299oareyes1438022721145study-abroadtrue1563578292586nbikkerStudy Abroad for Political Science/undergrad/study-abroadPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/study-abroadslocke1250705495139nbikker1563578146322internshipstrue1721323353969zasharifiInternship Opportunities/undergrad/internshipsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/internshipsoareyes1437770913697nbikker1626803074603research-opportunitiestrue1588273057239nbikkerResearch Opportunities/undergrad/research-opportunitiesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/research-opportunitiesoareyes1437773419340nbikker1588272477740Law and Politics InitiativeLaw and Politics/undergrad/Law and Politics InitiativePoli-Scijrfritsch1506966404384jrfritsch1506966404384http://polisci.ucsd.edu/lawandpolitics/index.htmldepartmental-honors-and-pi-sigma-alphatrue1755818983696erluSenior Honors Program & Pi Sigma Alpha/undergrad/departmental-honors-and-pi-sigma-alphaPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/departmental-honors-and-pi-sigma-alphaoareyes1437773738436nbikker1559338659262careers-and-graduate-schooltrue1440614989891oareyesCareers & Graduate School/undergrad/careers-and-graduate-schoolPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/careers-and-graduate-schooloareyes1437771867345oareyes1437771867345PSSA and eventstruePolitical Science Student Association & Events/undergrad/PSSA and eventsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/PSSA and eventsoareyes1470951530338nbikker1523984010891scholarship-grant-fellowship-opportunitiestrue1588973830840nbikkerScholarship, Grant, and Fellowship OpportunitiesInformation about scholarship and fellowship opportunities for Political Science students. nbikkerScholarship, Grant, and Fellowship Opportunities/undergrad/scholarship-grant-fellowship-opportunitiesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/scholarship-grant-fellowship-opportunitiesnbikker1588958821483nbikker1588973399202alumni-spotlighttrue1759167888396ekumakawaAlumni Spotlight/undergrad/alumni-spotlightPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/alumni-spotlightekumakawa1758318308078ekumakawa1758836505184alumni-mentor-programtrue1595978774778nbikkerAlumni Mentor ProgramInformation about the Department's Alumni Mentor ProgramnbikkerAlumni Mentor Program/undergrad/alumni-mentor-programPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/alumni-mentor-programnbikker1595970155544nbikker1595978642159supplementary-instructional-resourcestrue1760376990942ekumakawaSupplementary Instructional ResourcesSupplementary Instructional ResourcesnbikkerSupplementary Instructional Resources/undergrad/supplementary-instructional-resourcesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/supplementary-instructional-resourcesnbikker1637193665766ekumakawa1750975841961undergrad-award-recipientstrueUndergraduate AwardsThis web page will include information regarding undergraduate students that have received scholarship awards. Undergraduate Awards/undergrad/undergrad-award-recipientsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/undergrad/undergrad-award-recipientszaguilar1683232323584zaguilar1683232323584researchtrue1695916482082dcmichelResearch/researchPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/researchjrfritsch1446051161112jrfritsch1446051174511Racial and Ethnic Politics Researchtrue1760376990942ekumakawaRacial and Ethnic Politics ResearchEnter Summary HereEnter Author HereRacial and Ethnic Politics Research/research/Racial and Ethnic Politics ResearchPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/research/Racial and Ethnic Politics Researchjrfritsch1601438112992ekumakawa1750975937813indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaResearch in the Department of Political ScienceResearch in the Department of Political SciencenbikkerResearch in the Department of Political Science/research/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/research/indexnbikker1599782021232ekumakawa1750975917205Social Media and Political Actiontrue1760376990942ekumakawaSocial Media and Political ActionEnter Summary HereJ. R. FritschSocial Media and Political Action/research/Social Media and Political ActionPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/research/Social Media and Political Actionjrfritsch1520361180508ekumakawa1750976964341lawandpoliticstrue1743101135265erluLaw and Politics InitiativeLaw and Politics Initiative/lawandpoliticsPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpoliticsjrfritsch1506960193328nbikker1626801758716Directortrue1760376990942ekumakawaDirectorLaw and Politics Director InfoNatalieDirector/lawandpolitics/DirectorPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/Directorjrfritsch1519245048311erlu1749063225991public law coursestrue1760376990942ekumakawaPublic Law CoursesPublic Law courses offered by the Department of Political ScienceNataliePublic Law Courses/lawandpolitics/public law coursesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/public law coursesjrfritsch1519245318601nbikker1655852503693the-initiative-at-work-drawerstrue1760376990942ekumakawaThe Initiative at WorkCompilation of students' work in POLI 104 series courses, testimonials from events, students, and alumni/event inviteesnbikkerThe Initiative at Work/lawandpolitics/the-initiative-at-work-drawersPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/the-initiative-at-work-drawersdcmichel1613772316297ekumakawa1747326063976get-involvedtrue1760376990942ekumakawaGet InvolvedEnter Summary HereJ. R. FritschGet Involved/lawandpolitics/get-involvedPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/get-involvedjrfritsch1519245196405ekumakawa1756762193527indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaLaw and Politics InitiativeKrinsk-Houston Law & Politics InitiativeJ. R. FritschLaw and Politics Initiative/lawandpolitics/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/indexjrfritsch1519140819723ekumakawa1747326138747Resourcestrue1760376990942ekumakawaResourcesInformational page relating to resources for students interested in law and politicsnbikkerResources/lawandpolitics/ResourcesPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/lawandpolitics/Resourcesnbikker1562954133725ekumakawa1756762035286contacttrue1695915282569dcmichelContact Us/contactPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/contactcisachsen1253558665008oareyes1438277967867report-an-issuetrue1760376990942ekumakawaReport an IssueResources in which faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students can report a variety of issues. nbikkerReport an Issue/contact/report-an-issuePoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/contact/report-an-issuenbikker1615590300130aparkes1681151384408indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaContact UsPolitical Science Department contact information.ownerContact Us/contact/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/contact/indexcisachsen1253560080342ekumakawa1725474508627givingtrue1695915407978dcmichelSupport Us/givingPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/givingbpollak1248210928438jrfritsch1490905244855indextrue1760376990942ekumakawaSupport the DepartmentWays to give back to the department through gift donations.ownerGiving/giving/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/giving/indexcisachsen1253557896847jrfritsch1576193377891indextrue1760376990942ekumakawa Department of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science at UC San DiegoEl Jefe Fritsch Department of Political Science/indexPoli-Scisite://Poli-Sci/indexdcmichel1549490776007aparkes1741818786287
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Admissions Statistics

Our program attracts very high-quality students, as indicated by these data.  Please note that these "quantifiables" are but one part of admissions decisions- letters of recommendation and student statements also weigh heavily.

 

GRE Scores (Average)

Average admitted applicant GRE scores by admissions cycle
Year Verbal Quantitative Analytical writing
2008 686 739 5.4
2009 710 745 4.5
2010 680 760

5.2
2011 692 770

5.1
2012 709 773 4.9
2012 (New) 165 162 4.9
2013 718 744 5.2
2013 (New) 166 160 5.2
2014 164 160 5.0
2015 163 162 4.9
2016 166 163 5
2017 164 163 4.7
2018 164 164 4.9
2019 165 164 5
2020 164 163 4.9
2021* 164 (90th percentile) 166 (87th percentile) 5 (88th percentile)
2022* 164 (91st percentile) 166 (87th percentile) 5 (84th percentile)
2023* 162 (86th percentile) 165 (83rd percentile) 5 (76th percentile)
2024* 164 (91st percentile) 166 (81st percentile) 5 (78th percentile)
 *GRE score was not required during this admissions cycle

 

GPA (Average)

Average admitted applicant GPA by admissions cycle
Year GPA
2008 3.76
2009 3.62
2010 3.80
2011 3.71
2012 3.70
2013 3.80
2014 3.80
2015 3.70
2016 3.94
2017 3.67
2018 3.65
2019 3.82
2020 3.69
2021 3.84
2022 3.76*
2023 3.78*
2024 3.82*
*GPA is standardized on a scale of 4.
 

 

Admission Ratios

Admission ratio and number of new students by admissions cycle
Year Admitted/Applications Number of New Students
2008 25% 18
2009 24% 17
2010 20% 15
2011 17% 12
2012 18% 19
2013 21% 21
2014 12% 7
2015 12% 12
2016 11% 9
2017 17% 18
2018 12% 11
2019 13% 16
2020 13% 19
2021 7.1% 15
2022
2023
2024

 

TOEFL Exam (International Applicants only)

Required of all international applicants whose native language is not English or who were not enrolled, full-time, for a minimum of one year in an academic program at an English-speaking institution.

Minimum required TOEFL scores
Computer-based test score 250 minimum
Internet-based test score 100 minimum
Paper-based test score 600 minimum