How to Apply

Information on Applying and Application Materials

Application Requirements for the PhD program:

  • Undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Transcripts from all institutions you have attended or are currently attending
  • GRE general test scores
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose/personal statement
  • CV or resume
  • Application fee
  • For international applicants, English proficiency scores when required (see below)

Application Requirements for the MA program:

  • Undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Transcripts from all institutions you have attended or are currently attending
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose/personal statement
  • CV or resume
  • Application fee
  • For international applicants, English proficiency scores when required (see below)

How to Apply:

Thank you for your interest in graduate study in the Department of Political Science at WVU! The Department welcomes your application and will be happy to answer any questions that you have.  Please direct any questions to Matthew Jacobsmeier, Director of Graduate Studies: matthew.jacobsmeier@mail.wvu.edu

Students applying to the MA or PhD program should apply to start their chosen program in a fall semester.  Applications for spring starts are considered only in exceptional circumstances.

The Department considers applications for the PhD and MA programs on a “rolling” basis. However, decisions about which current students and new applicants will receive offers of funding for the next academic year are made during February. Therefore, the Department strongly encourages you to submit your application by January 15th. To be clear, this is the preferred date by which the Department wishes to receive applications. However, the Department still welcomes applications past this date. If funding is freed up because others turn it down, or because funding remains after the Department has considered applications submitted by January 15th, you may still receive funding. 

In addition, the Department sometimes nominates outstanding applicants for fellowships provided by the University. Applicants wishing to be considered for these fellowships should get their materials in even earlier. All new applicants are considered for funding automatically. 

To apply to the PhD or MA program, you must apply to the University online using the WVU graduate admissions website and note that you are applying to PhD or MA program in Political Science. All of your materials will be submitted through the University’s online system, including your GRE scores (if submitted), letters of recommendation, and so on.  Please note that the department is unable to waive the application fee upon request.

You must have three individuals who are well‐positioned to assess your potential for success in the program submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. You will be asked to provide contact information for your letter writers when you apply through the University’s online application system.  Your letter writers will then be able to submit their letters electronically.  The Department is especially interested in receiving recommendations from professors that you have had in undergraduate and/or graduate courses who are well‐positioned to assess your potential for success in graduate school. Of course, if you have a supervisor from your employment history who is well‐positioned to discuss your intellectual potential, a recommendation from them is appropriate as well.

Your statement of purpose should be approximately 200-500 words in length.  It should describe your intellectual and career goals and how the program that you are applying to will help you achieve those goals. 

International applicants who did not receive a bachelor's degree in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand must submit English proficiency scores prior to having their applications reviewed.  Formal English proficiency test requirements can be found at the International Graduate Applicant section of the university's "Steps to Apply" page.  See How to Apply at the Graduate Admissions webpage for details.  The Department of Political Science does not permit conditional admission of applicants who have not submitted required English proficiency scores.

For the purposes of submitting GRE and/or language proficiency scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to WVU, please use WVU's institution code, which is 5904.  It is not necessary to provide a department code.

Please note that meeting the application requirements above does not guarantee admission to the program to which one is applying.  Admissions decisions are made by the department's graduate admissions committee.