Politics & International Relations Ph.D. Program
University of Southern California
3518 Trousdale Parkway
VKC 327
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0044

PRIMARY CONTACT

Mr. Alex Venegas, Graduate Advisor

Email: venegasa@college.usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-1695
Fax: (213) 740-8893

SECONDARY CONTACT

Jeb Barnes, Ph.D., Director

Email: barnesj@usc.edu

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How many letters of recommendation are required, and should they all be from academicians?
A: We require three letters of recommendation. We prefer that letters be written by faculty who have supervised academic work, especially research projects, papers, etc. If it became necessary, we would consider one professional reference. ALL LETTERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY - WE HIGHLY DISCOURAGE HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS. By entering the names of your referees on the online application, along with their email addresses, the referees should be able to to upload letters per instructions received via email by the Graduate Admission Office.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THIRD PARTY PROCESSORS. YOUR RECOMMENDERS SHOULD UPLOAD LETTERS PERSONALLY.

2. If I plan on taking the GRE examination very close to December 1st, will you still consider my application?
A: If you plan on taking the GRE close to December 1st, and if you are taking the computer-based test, you should be able to provide your "unofficial scores." When the official scores arrive from ETS, we will reconcile the scores submitted on the application and those received from the ETS. We expect a perfect match.

UNIVERSITY CODE: 4852
PROGRAM CODE for GRE: 1901 OR 1902

3. I took my GRE six years ago. Are these scores acceptable?
A: The Office of Graduate Admission does not accept scores that are older than five years. If your scores fall outside these parameters, please retake the examination. Refer to question 2 for more details regarding "late" GRE scores.

4a. What should be included in my Statement of Purpose? 4b. What is the expected length?
A: The statement of purpose serves as a unique platform to state who you are as a would-be scholar, what five years of USC doctoral education would do for you as a researcher, what research agenda you would pursue, what fields and subject matter interest you and motivate you to embark on this five-year journey, what preparation you've received in the past and how you will leverage the skills during your tenure with us.  You can also view it as an opening statement and a closing argument - you are making your case to the admissions committee, laying out qualities, attributes and distinctions that make you a strong candidate for the program.  In laying out your interests and agenda, you are also establishing your compatibility with the faculty and their own research program.
B: The statement of purpose should be a concise and cogent document, preferably two pages in length, single-spaced.

5. What supplemental materials do you require?
A: The POIR program requires a writing sample for each student. The sample should be a research paper from an undergraduate or graduate course. Students should be very selective when choosing a sample to submit for consideration. The paper should present a clearly articulated thesis, amply supported with creative and original ideas and evidence. The sample should be medium length (no more than 30 pages) and should be UPLOADED in the "supplemental materials" section of the online application. DO NOT SEND HARD COPIES.

6. If I have completed a master's degree, how many courses can I apply to the POIR degree?
The POIR program allows you to transfer up to 24 units of outside course work. This equates to a full year's worth of courses. Depending on how much course work you complete in your first two years, transferring the full 24 units might reduce your load by twelve to eighteen months. Each course will be examined by field coordinators, e.g., Professor Pat James would look at the syllabi and reading lists for methods courses. If the field coordinator approves the course, then it is applied. This is called the petition process; nothing more than completing paperwork and affixing syllabi is involved. NOTE: Only students having been admitted and accepting of the offer should be concerned with this process in detail. At the application stage, it suffices to say that there is the potential to reduce your in-residence coursework by one year.

7. Is a master's degree required?
A master's degree is not required for admission. It has been our experience that students who have completed master's degrees prior to applying have an advantage over their peers who have not.

8. To whom should I send my transcripts, from what institutions and how many copies of each? What happens if there is a delay in delivery from the institution issuing transcripts?
You should send one official copy of your transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admission. They will process the documents and scan them for reading. We only require one copy of each transcript. We are only concerned with transcripts from your BA-granting insitution (no need to submit community college information) and any postgraduate work completed to date.
If your institution cannot guarantee delivery of transcripts by December 1st, please scan in an unofficial copy online for information purposes. When the official transcripts arrive, they will supercede the uploaded version.

9. Regarding the section of the application that asks for proof of financial stability, how should I respond?
International students are asked to supply documentation that proves financial stability - in the form of a bank statement showing a balance that is greater than or equal to $25,000 US dollars. If you have such a statement, please submit it to the Office of Graduate admission. Domestic students are not required to submit this document. If you are not in a position to supply a statement, do not panic. Our program fully funds students' tuition and a monthly stipend that offsets important costs of living. You may include the following statement if you cannot produce a bank document: "The Ph.D. program to which I am applying, housed in the USC College, provides a comprehensive 5-year funding package that covers tuition and stipend each year."