The Department of Political Science offers a graduate program of study leading to the Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. The MA can be take on either of two tracks, one requiring the completion of a thesis; the other a comprehensive exam. Either leads to advanced training suitable for policy analysis, journalism, or other professional careers.  Our primary goal at the PhD level is to educate scholars who will contribute to the development of political science through careers in teaching and research.

The organization of the program is based on two convictions. One is that political science is a unique subject matter that requires specialization. The second is that in the next generation all the social sciences, including political science, will rely increasingly on systematic evidence and quantitative analysis. Foreseeing this future, we have designed a program to help students successfully participate in it.

The program emphasizes a broadly-based theoretical understanding of political behavior and institutions coupled with the ability to carry out systematic empirical analysis. PhD students choose a primary and secondary substantive focus on American Politics, Comparative Politics, or World Politics; MA students need only develop a specialization in one substantive area.  Students are prepared for employment in academia, research institutes, government, or private industry.

Many incoming Ph.D. students receive funding in the form of assistantships and tuition scholarships covering full tuition remission. The Department of Political Science also offers the Hinman Fellowship in Political Science. This fellowship provides funding for outstanding candidates during their first year of graduate school and summer support for four years. In addition, the State of New York has created the Clifford D. Clark Fellowship program to attract minority candidates. This funding provides graduate students with the opportunity to teach at one of the nation's most selective public undergraduate institutions, as well as to serve as research assistants.

PhD students are required to take five semesters of course work, including at least two and normally five semesters of training in research methodology and statistics. For additional specialized methodological training, we generally support students' attendance at the ICPSR summer program in methodology at the University of Michigan. Beyond course work, completion of the Ph.D. program requires passing comprehensive exams in one's major and minor areas of expertise. When a student successfully passes these exams, completes all the requirements outlined above, and presents a prospectus for the dissertation, she or he receives a Master's degree. Remaining requirements Ph.D. consist of researching, writing, and defending the Ph.D. dissertation.

At the MA level students take either seven or nine seminars, depending on whether they choose the thesis or exam track.  Those writing a thesis are required to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter though seven seminars, six of which must be in political science; the examination option requires nine seminars, and culminates in a comprehensive exam in the sub-field of their choice.

The program's size allows for extensive interaction between graduate students with faculty. Graduate students frequently co-author conference papers and articles with the faculty. The program's size also has allowed us to develop and maintain a strong alumni network, which allows us to consistently place our graduates. Recent graduates of the Binghamton Ph.D. program currently teach at such institutions as Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia, Old Dominion University, University at Buffalo (SUNY), University of Maryland, and the University of North Texas.

While the program's size has these clear and certain benefits, it also requires careful planning. For one thing, we take great care in course sequencing, and for that reason we do not normally admit students at mid-term (i.e., for the spring semester). Also, our size carries with it a restriction on the variety of student interests we can accommodate. We therefore look most favorably on applications from prospective students whose substantive interests match the expertise of our faculty. We ask that prospective applicants please take a moment to look over the faculty's research interests and consider how well our substantive interests coincide.

Where interests warrant there often exist opportunities to work with other departments or other interdisciplinary units as well. For instance the Women's Studies Program has a graduate certificate in Feminist Theory, and the Evolutionary Studies program (EVOS) offers opportunities to take graduate courses leading to a certificate.