nyu political science phd deadline

Application Requirements

There are a number of things to accomplish—and deadlines to be aware of—when applying to graduate or professional school. Understanding sooner rather than later what to do and when to do it can help make the application process less daunting. Below you’ll find some general information and insights to help make your first steps toward applying to an NYU graduate program a bit easier.

First Things First

Common application requirements, additional application requirements, deadlines and decisions.

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The first thing to understand when applying to an NYU graduate or professional program is that each graduate school, center, or institute—and their individual departments and programs in many cases—determines its own application requirements. While this page provides a general introduction to applying to NYU, the information here may or may not apply to your specific program. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to speak directly with the admissions counselors at your school and program of interest. When you determine the NYU program that’s right for you, don’t wait to reach out.

There are a handful of items that, in many cases, are common across graduate school applications. It’s worth repeating, however, that you should get in touch with your school and program directly to learn exactly what your application requires. Some more common application items include:

• Letter(s) of Recommendation: Some programs ask for one. Others may ask for up to four. There may also be specific expectations about who should write these letters, but in general they should come from individuals who know you well and are able to speak directly to your abilities, accomplishments, and potential.
• Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement/Personal Essay: This is your chance to tell admissions who you are, explain your goals (both academic and professional), and share the ways in which the program will benefit by bringing you in. It’s possible that the program may have a more specific prompt or ask you to address a specific question or series of questions.
• Transcripts and Degrees: Since you’re taking your academics to the next level, you need to prove that you’ve successfully completed the previous level(s). The graduate or professional program to which you’re applying will usually determine the transcripts and degree(s) you’re expected to provide. Applying to a master’s program commonly requires a bachelor’s degree and transcripts from all undergraduate institutions. Similarly, applying to a PhD or other doctoral program may require a master’s degree and transcripts from all graduate institutions.
• English Language Proficiency Exam: If you’re an international applicant, or you completed your previous degree outside the United States at an institution where English is not the language of instruction, you may be required to submit scores from an English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE). There are a number of ELPEs out there. Make sure you’re taking the right one by contacting your program’s graduate admissions office.
• Application Fee: Application fees vary by school and program. Get in touch with your program’s graduate admissions office if you have questions.

Depending on the program you’re interested in, there may be some requirements in addition to—or in place of—the more common ones listed above. You’ll often encounter these additional requirements when applying to programs in the medical, legal, or artistic fields, but they’re not limited to those areas. While your program’s graduate admissions office will be able to tell you exactly what you need to submit with your application, you can learn about a few of them here:

• Entrance Exam(s): While graduate school entrance exams might be considered common by some, exactly which exam you might be required to take can vary across programs. The most common exam is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), but the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), and MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) are also quite well known.  
• Creative Submission(s): Even though portfolio submissions and auditions are common when applying to an arts program, others may also ask you to provide writing samples, musical scores, or video submissions. These requirements give you the chance to display your abilities and show programs firsthand why they should admit you.
• Interviews: You may be asked to sit for an in-person interview with one or more individuals from your program. Like a job interview, these conversations give you the chance to introduce yourself to the people you’ll be working with and answer questions about your academic, professional, and personal goals. 
• Résumé or CV: You may be expected to submit a résumé or CV that showcases your academic and/or professional experiences, particularly those that are most relevant to your field of study. A résumé or CV is also an opportunity to share your research experience and academic publications, which may be required for certain research-based programs.

Application deadlines and admissions decision dates are quite varied across NYU’s graduate and professional schools, centers, and institutes. Application deadlines depend on a number of factors, including the program you’re applying to, when you’re planning to start, and whether you plan to be a full- or part-time student. Additionally, early decision applications have a different deadline than regular decision applications. Talk to your admissions counselor and make sure you understand your program’s application deadlines.

Like application deadlines, admissions decision dates vary across NYU. Admissions decisions also depend on the program and starting term as well as the schedules of individual schools, centers, or institutes. Some programs have set admissions decision dates, while others provide time frames or utilize rolling decisions. Your admissions counselor will be able to give you an idea of when you can expect to receive your admissions decision.

Online Application for the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) at New York University

To start a new application:   Click "Start New Application" at the bottom of this screen. To continue an application:   Click "(year) Application" on the left side of the screen below. Submitting your online application, including all required supporting materials, must be completed by no later than the application deadline of the program to which you are applying. This includes not only documents you are required to upload, but also materials that are sent by others such as official test scores and letters of recommendation.  Please refer to the Instructions section of your online application for our complete policies and procedures. You may submit only one application to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) for consideration in a given term. If you submit more than one application to GSAS for a term, all applications submitted after the first one will be held and will not be considered for admission. Thus, please determine carefully the one GSAS program to which you will apply.  Applicants are permitted to submit admissions applications to two (or more) programs if they are within different schools at NYU . For example, you may apply to a program in GSAS and to a different program at the Steinhardt School. However, you may not apply to both Computer Science and Economics at the same time because both are within GSAS. If you choose to apply to programs that are in different schools, it will be necessary to complete and submit separate applications and pay each school a separate application fee. The following NYU graduate schools are separate from GSAS: Tandon (Engineering), Tisch (Arts), Sackler (Medicine), School of Law, Steinhardt (Culture, Education and Human Development), Stern (Business), Public Health, Wagner (Public Service), Silver (Social Work) and Gallatin (Individualized Study).

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• Program of Study
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Program of Study (CAS Bulletin)

Politics (2022 - 2024), major in politics.

The major requires ten 4-point courses (40 points) in the department, chosen in consultation with a departmental adviser and completed with a grade of C or better (Pass/Fail does not count). At least two of these courses must be chosen from the department’s four designated core courses, both to be taken in the College:

• Political Theory (POL-UA 100)
• Power and Politics in America (POL-UA 300)
• Comparative Politics (POL-UA 500)
• International Politics (POL-UA 700)

Because the four core courses serve as prerequisites to many upper-level politics courses, majors are advised to take core courses early in their program of study.

In addition, at least one course must be taken in three of the department’s five fields:

• Political Theory
• American Government and Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Politics
• Analytical Politics 

Although it is not required for the major, Introduction to Research Methods for Politics (POL-UA 850) is strongly recommended. Students are advised to take it before enrolling in other advanced courses in the major.

Policies Applying to the Major

No more than five courses (20 credits) can be accepted as transfer credit toward the major. NYU study away courses, as well as Advanced Placement (AP) and other advanced standing credit by examination, are treated as transfer credit for all students.

Students may count eight points (the equivalent of two courses) from Advanced Placement (Comparative and U.S.), International Baccalaureate (Global Politics), or Advanced (A) Level (Government and Politics) examinations towards the requirements of the major. Up to eight points from other advanced standing examinations may be accepted after consultation with the department. None of these credits can substitute for any specific course or requirement in the major (such as one of the core requirements); they simply count as generic POL-UA credit toward the major.

No more than three NYU study away courses (12 credits) may count toward the major.

Internships in Politics and Government I, II (POL-UA 970, 971) and Readings and Research (POL-UA 990) do not count toward the major.

Track in American Political Practice and Leadership

This track (open only to declared politics majors) offers students the opportunity to gain skills and experience in applied American politics via a study away semester at NYU’s site in Washington, D.C., while also acquiring the analytical understanding provided by American politics courses offered at NYU Washington Square.

The requirements for the track are:

• Power and Politics in America (POL-UA 300) at the Washington Square campus.
• A semester-long internship with a domestic policy focus (in government, politics, or a non-profit), plus Internship Seminar and Fieldwork (NODEP-UA 9982), both at the Washington, D.C. campus. These are the only internship credits allowed to count toward the politics major.
• Three upper-division courses in American politics. At least one must be taken at NYU Washington, D.C. and at least one at the Washington Square campus, and at least one must be in a sub-field related to the student’s internship.

The three upper-division courses must be chosen from the following lists:

• The Presidency (POL-UA 9310)
• American Constitution (POL-UA 9330)
• American Public Opinion and Pressure Groups (POL-UA 9342)
• Campaign Strategy and Media in Domestic and International Campaigns (POL-UA 9994)
• Identities in American Politics in the 21st Century (POL-UA 9994)
• POL-UA 306, 310, 315, 330, 332, 333, 337, 341, 342, 344, 350, 354, 382
• Undergraduate Field Seminar: American Politics (POL-UA 395), with permission of the departmental adviser for this track.

Minor in Politics

The minor requires five 4-point courses (20 points) in the department, chosen in consultation with departmental advisers and completed with a grade of C or better. A minor program may reflect a special emphasis in one of the department’s five fields, or a subfield of the student’s choosing. No special emphasis on a particular subfield is required for the minor, nor is a choice of subfield reflected on a student’s academic record or transcript. Only NYU courses with a POL-UA number not also counted toward another major or minor can be counted toward the politics minor. At least three of the five courses for the minor must be taken at the Washington Square campus. As per CAS policy, no more than two courses of the five may be transfer courses.

Students may count four points (the equivalent of one course) from Advanced Placement (Comparative or U.S.), International Baccalaureate (Global Politics), or Advanced (A) Level (Government and Politics) examinations towards the requirements of the minor. Up to four points from other advanced standing examinations may be accepted after consultation with the department. None of these credits can substitute for any specific course or requirement in the department (such as one of the core requirements); they simply count as generic POL-UA credit toward the minor.

Honors Program

For admission to and completion of the department’s honors program, students must have a GPA of 3.65 both overall and in the politics major. The deadline for applying to the honors program is March 1 in spring of junior year. To be eligible for application students must have completed, or be currently enrolled in Introduction to Research Methods for Politics (POL-UA 850), as well as either Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 1) or Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2). Admitted students register for Senior Honors I (POL-UA 950, fall) to prepare a research proposal for their thesis, which they write in the spring while taking Senior Honors II (POL-UA 951). The thesis and its oral defense must be approved by both the instructor teaching Senior Honors II and the second reader of the thesis.

Preparation for Law School

Although law schools do not require any particular major or course of study, politics can be an especially useful field for students planning legal study and a career in law. Students interested in a course of study that prepares them for law school may wish to choose courses in consultation with the College’s Prelaw Program. For information about the program, please visit prelaw.cas.nyu.edu .

B.A./M.A. Program in Politics

The College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science offer an accelerated dual-degree B.A./M.A. program in politics. Bachelor’s-master’s students who satisfy the track's undergraduate requirements receive a scholarship covering 50% of M.A. tuition and registration fees during the graduate school year. The GSAS requirement to take the GRE is also waived. This dual-degree program is open only CAS students majoring or minoring in politics or international relations. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 48 credits toward the B.A. but not more than 96 credits or six semesters, whichever comes first. Questions about eligibility for, or application to, the B.A./M.A. program should be directed to the CAS Advising Center (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8130).

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• MS in Global Affairs

Master's (MSGA) in Global Affairs

Study on-site.

The MS in Global Affairs (MSGA) is the flagship graduate program of the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs (CGA) , repeatedly ranked by the Foreign Policy Association as one of the nation’s leading institutions in preparing students for international relations and foreign service jobs. The MSGA curriculum provides the global insight and contextual perspectives of international affairs that are needed to become a well-rounded professional in the global arena. It affords you the benefits, resources, and prestige of earning your degree at NYU , while immersing yourself in NYC—home to the United Nations  and one of the largest international affairs/diplomatic communities in the world.

Degree Advantage

• Degree core curriculum that prepares you for international relations jobs across public, private, and nonprofit sectors
• Eight degree concentrations that span across the field of international relations
• Specializations in Data Analytics , Global Risk , and the United Nations
• Study Abroad Opportunities ( Global Field Intensives )
• Faculty members who are experts in their fields
• Consulting practicums that provide experience in helping organizations to analyze and address challenges
• Internships at government agencies; law firms; and human rights, energy, and environmental organizations
• Flexible full- or part-time study options
• Can be completed in as little as 16 months

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

You can find the full curriculum details for this program on this page of the University Bulletin. All other content, including this web page is for informational purposes only.

Discover NYU SPS: Graduate Admissions Information Session

Join an online session to learn more about our graduate degree programs, including the MS in Global Affairs. Our admissions team will give you insights into the NYU SPS experience, share details about the application process, and offer tips for creating a successful application. Current students will also share their personal experiences, providing a firsthand perspective on life as an SPS student.

7:00 PM until 8:00 PM EDT

7:00 PM until 8:00 PM EST

NYU SPS Graduate Open House

Join us in person on our New York City campus to learn more about our academic offerings, admissions, and financial aid. You will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the MS in Global Affairs program during this event.

9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EDT

Who Should Consider Earning the MS in Global Affairs?

The MS in Global Affairs affords student from all walks of life the opportunity to pursue their passion for international affairs with those who share a common bond of wanting to make a difference in the world. Recent college graduates and young professionals from around the globe immerse themselves in the comprehensive curriculum that prepares them well to achieve their career goals and objectives.

DEGREE OVERVIEW VIDEO

Choose from eight degree concentrations.

The MS in Global Affairs provides the flexibility for you to explore a variety of different career options through unique concentrations.

• Environmental/Energy Policy
• Global Economy
• Global Gender Studies
• Human Rights and International Law
• International Development and Humanitarian Assistance
• IR/Global Futures
• Peacebuilding
• Transnational Security

Gain Invaluable Experience Through Study Abroad

Study abroad opportunities abound for MS in Global Affairs students through short-term Global Field Intensives (GFIs). These travel experiences provide deep insights into critical global issues, by immersing students in the cultural, socio-economic, and political intricacies of everyday life. Recent GFIs include trips to: Rwanda, Uganda, Norway, Denmark, and the UAE.

Learn From a Faculty of World-Renowned International Relations Experts

MSGA faculty members are thought leaders and scholars in their areas of expertise who bring deep knowledge of critical global issues to the classroom.They have served in organizations engaged in public policy, refugee relief, and the protection of human rights, and as diplomats, journalists, UN staff members, activists, international attorneys, economists, global energy, and environment experts.

Internships and Job Opportunities

Through the Center for Global Affairs and the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYU SPS , MSGA students have the opportunity to complete international relations internships that provide the hands-on experience needed to accelerate their careers. Many of these internships evolve into permanent jobs. Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers in a broad array of companies and organizations including:

• AIG • Con Edison • Department of Homeland Security • Eurasia Group • Freedom House • Human Rights Watch

• S&P Global Platts • The Brookings Institution • UNICEF UN Development • Program UN Women • US Department of Energy

Meet Our Alumni!

CGA is proud to service bright individuals and prepare them for a meaningful career in Global Affairs. Get to know some of our Alumni and see where their degree has led them to.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why choose a career in global affairs/international relations.

Choosing a career in global affairs/international relations prepares you for a range of professional options in government agencies, the UN, NGOs, corporations, think tanks, and intelligence and security agencies. Those who possess the knowledge and skills to address today’s global challenges are in high demand.

What is the study of global affairs?

The study of global affairs includes numerous interconnected disciplines—transnational security, cyber intelligence, global risk, international law, governance, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, gender, economics, development, the environment, energy, and human rights—all concentrations within the MS in Global Affairs.

What can I do with a master’s in global affairs?

You can do many things with a master's in global affairs including working for: an NGO in human rights, refugee relief, child welfare, advocacy, or foreign affairs; the US government in Homeland Security, the Department of State or Defense, or the FBI; a mission to the UN; a multilateral agency; or a business or consultancy.

Is an international relations degree similar to a degree in global affairs?

An international relations degree is similar, but most IR master’s degrees have a political science and historical approach, focusing on governments and institutions as the drivers of foreign affairs and relations. The MS in Global Affairs, instead focuses on trends and nontraditional shapers of foreign relations.

Who should earn a master’s in global affairs?

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in the private or public sector can benefit from earning a master’s in global affairs. The MS in Global Affairs provides the competitive and global edge for securing jobs in banks and corporations, nongovernmental and multilateral institutions, and government agencies.

Are there job opportunities in global affairs?

There are many job opportunities in global affairs now and as businesses and organizations become more globalized, those opportunities will only increase. Through internships, the connections of our faculty members, and the NYU SPS Wasserman Center for Career Development, our students secure jobs around the world.

What is the difference between the NYU International Relations masters degree and MSGA?

The difference between the MS in Global Affairs and the IR Master’s degree is how classroom learning is applied in the field. Our eight concentrations and three specializations include many courses unique to the program. Consulting practicums afford options to apply knowledge acquired at global sites, and within agencies such as the UN Counterterrorism Executive Directorate.

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Urban Policy - PhD

This field prepares students to undertake research related to urban areas. Fundamentally, cities are about proximity and heterogeneity, which bring both benefits and costs. Bringing large numbers of diverse people together in small spaces means opportunities for exciting and productive interaction on the one hand, but also greater possibilities for conflict, contagion, and congestion on the other. Students in this field will gain a solid understanding of these benefits and costs and how they are related.

The field is divided into two main parts. The first—cities and urban government—provides a foundation in urban growth and development, government, and public finance. Why do cities exist in the first place and why do some grow more rapidly than others? How do people and businesses sort themselves within urban areas? What drives these decisions and what are their consequences? How does the fragmented structure of American local government contribute to residential sorting? What has research taught us about urban political dynamics and the role that governmental and nonprofit organizations play in the implementation of policy?

The second part focuses on specific policy areas. We include a broad array of issues, such as racial segregation, infrastructure, transportation, high housing costs, homelessness, crime, health problems, education, economic development, and poverty. The areas are tied together by their focus on the spatial aspects of these problems and the policies directed at them. What does theory and research tell us about the ways in which location affects these problems and the ways in which these problems affect location decisions in turn? Students will gain substantial expertise in three of these areas and will be sufficiently familiar with the others so as to understand their many interactions.

Mastery of these areas requires some knowledge of contributions from a variety of disciplines, including political science, economics, and sociology. Students will achieve substantial expertise in the urban subfield of one of the core social science disciplines, understand its theories regarding cities and be familiar with the leading empirical research.

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• Department of Politics

New York, NY

Department of Politics / Department of Politics is located in New York, NY, in an urban setting.

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• New York University
• Graduate School of Arts and Science

Politics (BA)

Program description, honors program, preparation for law school, ba/ma program in politics.

A vibrant home for those interested in government and public affairs, the Wilf Family Department of Politics gives students the skills needed to reach a deeper analytical understanding of political events that is grounded in logic and evidence. We encourage a truly scientific inquiry into politics that informs a critical discussion of political institutions and a rigorous approach to effecting positive political change.

We offer courses in political theory, quantitative and formal political analysis, American politics, comparative politics, and international politics. Our curriculum covers a wide range of substantive topics including law, elections, ethnic conflict, justice, economic development, political accountability, war and peacekeeping, public policy, democracy, political economy, strategy, and political attitudes and beliefs. Our faculty specializes in the politics of the United States and countries around the globe. Courses are regularly offered on Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Russia, India, China, and Japan.

The analytical skills gained by politics majors prepare them for a wide range of careers. Our graduates accept positions with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, international finance groups, multinational corporations, law firms, and other institutions. Many pursue further study in fields such as political science, law, and public and international affairs at highly competitive universities.

For admission to and completion of the department’s honors program, students must have a GPA of 3.65 both overall and in the politics major. The deadline for applying to the honors program is March 1 in spring of junior year. To be eligible for application students must have completed (or be currently enrolled in) POL-UA 850 Introduction to Research Methods for Politics , as well as either  ECON-UA 1 Introduction to Macroeconomics  or  ECON-UA 2 Introduction to Microeconomics . Admitted students register for  POL-UA 950 Senior Honors I  (fall) to prepare a research proposal for their thesis, which they write in the spring while taking  POL-UA 951 Senior Honors II . The thesis and its oral defense must be approved by both the instructor teaching Senior Honors II and the second reader of the thesis.

Although law schools do not require any particular major or course of study, politics can be an especially useful field for students planning legal study and a career in law. Students interested in a course of study that prepares them for law school may wish to choose courses in consultation with the College’s Prelaw Program. For information about the program, please visit  prelaw.cas.nyu.edu .

The College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science offer an accelerated dual-degree BA/MA program in politics. Bachelor’s-master’s students who satisfy the track's undergraduate requirements receive a scholarship covering 50% of MA tuition and registration fees during the graduate school year. The GSAS requirement to take the GRE is also waived. This dual-degree program is open only CAS students majoring or minoring in politics or international relations. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 48 credits toward the BA but not more than 96 credits or six semesters, whichever comes first. Questions about eligibility for, or application to, the BA/MA program should be directed to the CAS Advising Center (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8130).

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU.  For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply . 

Program Requirements

American political practice and leadership track, graduate courses open to undergraduates.

The major in politics requires ten 4-credit courses (40 credits) in the department chosen in consultation with a departmental adviser, as outlined below. All major courses must be completed with a grade of C or better; courses graded as Pass/Fail do not count.

This program offers a track in American Political Practice and Leadership that affords students the opportunity to gain skills and experience in applied American politics (via a study-away semester at NYU-Washington DC). See below for track requirements.

The foreign language requirement is satisfied upon successful completion through the Intermediate level of a language. This may be accomplished in fewer than 16 credits, but those credits must then be completed as elective credit.

Because the four core courses serve as prerequisites to many upper-level politics courses, majors are advised to take core courses early in their program of study.

Must select at least one course from three of the following fields: Political Theory, American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Analytical Politics.

Although it is not required for the major, POL-UA 850 Introduction to Research Methods for Politics is strongly recommended. Students are advised to take it before enrolling in other advanced courses in the major.

This track (open only to declared politics majors) offers students the opportunity to gain skills and experience in applied American politics via a study away semester at NYU’s site in Washington, D.C., while also acquiring the analytical understanding provided by American politics courses offered at NYU Washington Square.

These are the only internship credits allowed to count toward the politics major.

At least one must be taken at NYU Washington, D.C. and at least one at the Washington Square campus, and at least one must be in a sub-field related to the student’s internship.

Courses at the 1000 and 2000 levels are open to exceptional undergraduates with an adequate background in politics. Requires written permission of the instructor or, in the instructor’s absence, the director of graduate studies.

Sample Plan of Study

Note: Majors must take at least two of the department's core courses (POL-UA 100, 300, 500, 700). Because these courses serve as prerequisites to many upper-level major courses, this sample plan shows a student taking three of them.

At least one course for the major must be taken in three of the department’s five fields of study: political theory; American government and politics; comparative politics; international politics; and analytical politics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to have acquired:

• The ability to analyze both complex political issues and quantitative data.
• Knowledge of the fundamental theoretical debates in the subfields of politics.
• Advanced knowledge of specialized topics in politics, and the requisite skills for conducting sophisticated research on those topics.
• Fluency in presenting well-grounded arguments, both orally and in writing.

Double Counting of Courses

Major policies, nyu policies, college of arts and science policies, program policies.

Students majoring in Politics may double-count no more than two courses between this major and a second major or a minor. They must first secure permission from both the Department of Politics and the other major or minor department or program.

No more than five courses (20 credits) can be accepted as transfer credit toward the major. NYU study away courses, as well as Advanced Placement (AP) and other advanced standing credit by examination, are treated as transfer credit for all students.

Students may count eight credits (the equivalent of two courses) from Advanced Placement (Comparative and U.S.), International Baccalaureate (Global Politics), or Advanced (A) Level (Government and Politics) examinations towards the requirements of the major. Up to eight credits from other advanced standing examinations may be accepted after consultation with the department. None of these credits can substitute for any specific course or requirement in the major (such as one of the core requirements); they simply count as generic POL-UA credit toward the major.

No more than three NYU study away courses (12 credits) may count toward the major.

POL-UA 970 Internship in Pol & Govt and POL-UA 990 Readings & Research do not count toward the major.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

A full list of relevant academic policies can be found on the CAS Academic Policies page . 

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