Research Focuses at Top Political Science Departments

[joshc618]

I have heard that political science departments at top universities have difference research focuses. For example, school A may be strong in development while another may be strong in international security. Is this true? I'm interested in political economy, corruption, aid, etc. and I am trying to find programs that would fit my interests. Thanks!

[midwest513]

I have heard that political science departments at top universities have difference research focuses. For example, school A may be strong in development while another may be strong in international security. Is this true? I'm interested in political economy, corruption, aid, etc. and I am trying to find programs that would fit my interests. Thanks!

The best way of doing this sort of thing is to find the people who publish on this and see where they work, got their Phd, etc...do the same for where the people they cite study and got their Phd, etc...and comb through those lists! It's not an easy process, but you'll be better off with the broad knowledge than just from people posting on here. Sometimes, YOU need to do the legwork.

[Max Power]

The best way of doing this sort of thing is to find the people who publish on this and see where they work, got their Phd, etc...do the same for where the people they cite study and got their Phd, etc...and comb through those lists! It's not an easy process, but you'll be better off with the broad knowledge than just from people posting on here. Sometimes, YOU need to do the legwork.

Do this. I started by read the CVs of all the American politics faculty in the USNWR top 30 or so. Then I read recent articles by people who had interesting CVs. Sometimes, I followed citations back to other people. The whole thing took me about a week or two. By the time I was done, I knew which departments were rich in people I wanted to work with.

[mppguy]

Do this. I started by read the CVs of all the American politics faculty in the USNWR top 30 or so. Then I read recent articles by people who had interesting CVs. Sometimes, I followed citations back to other people. The whole thing took me about a week or two. By the time I was done, I knew which departments were rich in people I wanted to work with.

Ditto to what Max Power said. I started out with some papers that followed my area of research interest and followed the citations as well. Also, looking at the faculty pages at universities youre interested in, look at the professors' research focuses and start reading papers. It will give you things to talk about when you email them.