Director: Mariely Lopez-Santana
Political Science is concerned with the study of governments and politics in national and international settings. Political scientists investigate political ideas, processes, institutions, and actions with a variety of humanistic and social scientific methods.
The doctoral degree prepares political scientists for professional careers in research and/or teaching by combining academic education with opportunities for experience in the kinds of complex domestic and international political organizations they are studying. With specializations in American government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, and public administration, graduates go on to be scholars and teachers, or professionals in the public sector. The metropolitan Washington D.C. area, with its abundant links to political institutions, makes George Mason a prime location for this new kind of political science degree program.
The program attracts students from many different academic backgrounds including political science, economics, and business. In addition, the program attracts current working professionals in the intelligence and political fields, as well as members of the military. Students come from the Washington area and from all across the country and the world.
Resources for Political Science PhD Students: