university of maryland college park political science phd

Government and Politics

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• Your Education

Explore emerging and overlooked issues as you define the future of policy research, education and practice.

The Doctoral Program prepares scholars and scholar-practitioners for academic and professional careers. Our PhD students are educated to be versatile and, judging from the success of our graduates, can expect to thrive in whatever positions they choose — and in whatever positions choose them — over their full careers.

Public Policy doctoral programs have proliferated and prospered over the last half century. Why? Answers would vary, of course, but here’s one that’s usefully understood in dissertation context. In more traditional disciplines, especially in the social sciences, doctoral students choose methods and then look for ways to demonstrate mastery of those methods. In Public Policy, ideally, doctoral students choose problems and then master the methods needed to solve those problems. Choosing a problem takes a while. So does composing a research question leading to a problem-solving answer.

The doctoral program requires that students take 8 classes (24 course credits total).  Three are specifically required:

Normative Analysis (PLCY 698E)

Quantitative Analysis (PLCY 798R)

Qualitative Analysis (PLCY 798Z)

Five other courses are chosen in consultation with a student’s faculty advisor. Choices will reflect past coursework and current research interests but must also be chosen with qualifying examinations in mind.

Our PhD program does admit students intending to study part-time.  However, admission is competitive and we have to have a faculty member willing to serve as a research advisor.  Additionally, it is important that a student's job be closely aligned with the research topic.

Steps in advancement to candidacy for the PhD

• Passing all 5 qualifying examinations: Qualifying Exams (also known as Comprehensive Exams or General Exams) are taken right after 4 semesters of coursework or when a student feels prepared and whenever made available by the examining professor or professors. Many students take exams right after finishing the courses most likely to prepare them to pass. Areas examined (in alphabetical order) are: Microeconomic analysis; Normative analysis; Political analysis; Quantitative analysis; and Specialization(s) This is a single area (or combination of areas) chosen by the student as bearing directly on dissertation intentions. The specialization exam is planned jointly by the student, the student’s advisor and, often, one or more professors sharing aspects of the student’s research interest. Preparation is lengthy but instructive. The exam’s authors — always at least two professors — grade the exam.
• Assembling a faculty committee chaired by a student’s advisor: This committee, once fully formed and successfully nominated, will go on to function as a dissertation examining committee.
• Proposing a dissertation research plan (prospectus) to the faculty committee
• Defending the proposal at a scheduled public event

Note: Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment, i.e., be registered every semester. If the student has completed all coursework but not yet advanced to candidacy, the student should register for PLCY898-Pre-Candidacy Research in the research advisor's section number.

Steps in the dissertation phase

• A student who has advanced to candidacy is automatically enrolled by the UMD Registrar in 6 credits of PLCY 899, Doctoral Dissertation Research. The UMD Graduate School requires a minimum of 12 credits of PLCY 899 before a student is eligible to graduate.
• Nominating the fully formed dissertation examining committee, with the candidate’s advisor as the chair: The committee’s composition must observe Graduate School rules with approval needed for any exceptions. Note that all members of the dissertation examining committee should have earned the degree to be awarded (the PhD) or an equivalent terminal degree (such as the DSc or DPH).
• Writing the dissertation
• Defending the dissertation at a scheduled public event
• Submitting the committee form approved via signature by all members of the committee to the Office of the Registrar and electronically submitting the dissertation through the university's online system. The Registrar will verify the dissertation formatting and clear the student for graduation.

View our  frequently asked questions for more information about the PhD program.

Dissertations

Explore dissertations completed by candidates in the School of Public Policy.

View the Graduate School's policies related to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. 

Meet the Program Director

Angela bies.

Angela Bies, PhD is endowed associate professor of global philanthropy and nonprofit leadership at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Previously, she was chair of the faculty, associate professor and director of international programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Tuition & Fees

We are committed to making higher education accessible and affordable.  Learn more .

Aid & Scholarships

See what  financial aid and scholarships  are available to help fund your education. 

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Exploring politics and policies near the nation's capital

GVPT/COMM Alumna Part of Pulitzer Prize Winning Team at Washington Post

Maryland Democracy Initiative Receives Two $100,000 Gifts

Dr. Janelle Wong Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Election Officials Meet at UMD to Discuss Election Integrity

UMD-Washington Post Poll shows athletes’ advocacy for voting rights garners broad support

New Feller Research Professor, Dr. Stacy Kosko

In Memorium - Professor Emeritus George H. Quester

Special Sadat Book Chat in Collaboration with CIDCM and MAIR

Apply Now for the Minor in International Development and Conflict Management for Fall 2023!

Nature Scientific Report by Professor Ernesto Calvo Result of Four-Country Study

GVPT Professor Ernesto Calvo, PhD student Flavia Batista, former student Tiago Ventura, and their colleagues have published a new article in Nature, Scientific Reports, entitled "Framing fact-checks as a “confirmation” increases engagement with corrections of misinformation: a four-country study."

Nature Scientific Report by Professor Ernesto Calvo Result of Four-Country Study - Read more

New Research in APSR from GVPT Professor Janelle Wong Examines The Reaction of Political Science to the Murder of George Floyd

GVPT Professor Janelle Wong and her colleagues Nadia Brown and Fernando Tormos-Aponte recently published a new article in the American Political Science Review entitled "An Incomplete Recognition: An Analysis of Political Science Department Statements after the Murder of George Floyd."

New Research in APSR from GVPT Professor Janelle Wong Examines The Reaction of Political Science to the Murder of George Floyd - Read more

Professor Antoine Banks Appointed as Chair of GVPT

Dean Susan Rivera has appointed Professor Antoine Banks as Chair of the Department of Government & Politics, effective January 7, 2024.   

Professor Antoine Banks Appointed as Chair of GVPT - Read more

GVPT Faculty Awarded in Grand Challenges Program

GVPT Faculty Shibley Telhami, Mike Hanmer, and Ernesto Calvo have each been recognized by the Grand Challenges Program for their work on projects that impact the major societal issues of our time. 

GVPT Faculty Awarded in Grand Challenges Program - Read more

APAN Info Session

Ted r. gurr lecture: "the consequences of contention" by christian davenport, apan information session, application deadline: rising scholars conference, rising scholar conference, faculty meeting, sadat book chat: birnir, sadat book chat: schwedler, sadat book chat: alcañiz, apan info session (virtual), ilcss & lacs panel on latin american democracy, '“an audacious idea whose time has come: the democracy constitution', the sadat forum: 9/11 and its aftermath: squandering global goodwill, lussier workshop for research on international conflict, biden and the iran nuclear deal: options and consequences (sadat forum), apan info session (4+1 focus), panel on large scale infrastructure for social data science, mair informational session, u.s. foreign policy in 2021 and beyond: a post-election assessment, election 2020: what happened, what now, what's next, fall methods workshop - visualization, fall methods workshop - modeling, fall methods workshop - data cleaning, fall methods workshop - data collection (web sources), fall methods workshop - methods training round table, fall methods workshop - data collection (elite interview), gvpt faculty meeting, sadat book chat, monthly gvpt coffee hour w/chair will reed, gvpt work session, comparative politics workshop: calvert jones, comparative politics workshop: tiffany barnes (kentucky), comparative politics workshop: tiago ventura, comparative politics workshop: connor kopchik, ir workshop: david cunningham, jori breslawski, and madie fleishman, ir workshop: david leblang (uva), ir workshop: matt winters (illinois), ir workshop: sean rao, ir workshop: gabriella lloyd, american politics workshop: lafleur stephens dougan (princeton), american politics workshop: sarah croco (with jacob silverman), mona vakilifathi (nyu), american politics workshop: brielle harbin (u.s. naval academy), american politics workshop: chris warshaw (gwu), american politics workshop: sorelle wyckoff gaynor, sadat forum with dr. fiona hill, comparative politics workshop: tulia faletti (upenn), sadat book chat: "red, green, and blue: the partisan divide on environmental issues", comparative politics meet and greet, ir/cidcm workshop, american politics workshop, american politics meet & greet, ir meet and greet, comparative politics workshop, sadat chair presents 'the global response to the refugee crisis', university commencement - xfinity center, ir workshop presentation by aila matanock (uc berkeley), ir workshop presentation by ryan griffiths (syracuse university), gvpt end of year reception, executive committee meeting, faculty meeting (no joke), executive committee, gvpt holiday party, faculty and staff meeting, sadat forum, faculty convocation - dr. telhami to receive award acknowledgement for dst award, international relations field "meet and greet", american politics field "meet and greet", gvpt executive committee meeting, comparative politics field "meet and greet", distinguished scholar-teacher lecture w/professor shibley telhami "the clash of values, at home and abroad", graduate student orientation lunch, graduate student orientation, international conference on china and the world university of maryland, ir workshop presentation by roman krtsch, comparative politics workshop: dr. ernesto calvo, comparative politics workshop: dr. calvert jones, comparative politics workshop: dr. dawn teele, upenn, comparative politics workshop: dr. marcus johnson, ir workshop presentation by jori brewlawski & brandon ives, ir workshop presentation by susanna campbell, ir workshop presentation by kaitlyn webster, ir workshop presentation by kathleen cunningham, comparative politics workshop hosts speaker, dr. dawn teele, university commencement, end of year reception, external reviewers visiting gvpt, bsos graduation - xfinity center, wind coffee with kristina miler, wind coffee with frances lee, wind coffee with sarah croco, conference on 100 years of communist experiments, cidcm/ir workshop, egypt's role in a changing middle east, gvpt distinguished lecture with dr. margaret weir, the 2016 gvpt commencement ceremony will be held on may 19th, the 2015 commencement ceremony will be held on may 22nd, items of interest.

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PhD and MA Programs

• Graduate Program Overview
• Admissions and Funding
• Information for Current Students

The Department offers both the Ph.D. and M.A. degrees.  The graduate program is structured to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary analytic philosophy, as well as the tools and skills to produce innovative research of their own. The Department has special strengths in the areas of:

• Ethics and Political Philosophy
• Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science
• Logic 
• Philosophy of Language

However, faculty members have a wide range of research interests in areas throughout contemporary analytic philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, the history of philosophy, artificial intelligence, and decision, game, and social choice theory. Many members of our Department reach across disciplines to work with colleagues from other excellent departments and schools at Maryland, such as Computer Science, Economics, Government and Politics, Linguistics, Medicine, Neuroscience, and Psychology.

Please the links at the right for further information.

Graduate Director

Fabrizio cariani.

Professor, Philosophy

Admissions Officer

Paolo santorio.

Associate Professor, Philosophy

Graduate Program

The Department of Communication is committed to communication for the public good.

Important Links

• PhD Program
• Graduate Faculty
• Graduate Admissions  
• Graduate Alumni
• Admissions Ambassadors
• Graduate Forms  
• Graduate Student Organizations
• SONA System

Program Overview for Prospective Graduate Students

Faculty members and graduate students in the department pursue and produce research that spans a wide range of the communication discipline, generally focused in three broad curriculum areas: Communication Science & Social Cognition, Public Relations & Strategic Communication and Rhetoric & Political Culture. The department encourages applications for graduate study from students wishing to pursue interests identified within these foci. 

Curriculum Areas

Communication science & social cognition.

The Communication Science & Social Cognition area is dedicated to the study of the social cognitive aspects of human communication. Our faculty and graduate students investigate the cognitive and affective processes underlying the production, processing and effects of communication messages, specializing in quantitative social-scientific methods such as experimentation, survey research, quantitative content analysis and physiological measurement. Our research and coursework cover a wide range of topics including health and risk communication, intergroup and intercultural communication, interpersonal communication and argumentation, media processes and effects and persuasion and social influence. Our faculty are committed to creating a rigorous graduate curriculum and mentoring our students through individualized programs of study to prepare them as future leaders in their respective fields of inquiry. 

Public Relations & Strategic Communication

The Public Relations & Strategic Communication area is dedicated to multi-methodological approaches that examine organizations, messaging and media, and the publics and audiences affected by those organizations and messages. The pioneer of graduate study in public relations, the area includes experts in health and risk communication, crisis communication, organizational communication, activist publics, campaigns, management theory, civil society, gender and global public relations. Examples of recent faculty research include: development and evaluation of a mental health campaign for youth from underserved communities; analysis of how crisis communication can optimally prepare the public to respond to and recover from disasters; study of engagement tactics by public relations practitioners around the world; and examination of social media effects and use by activist groups. Students successfully present conference papers and publish articles in the most prestigious journals of the field. Alumni hold top academic positions, continuing the tradition of studying and teaching innovative public relations and strategic communication.

Rhetoric & Political Culture

The area of Rhetoric & Political Culture is dedicated to the critical analysis of public discourse in historical and political contexts. Our faculty and graduate students produce scholarship at the intersections of criticism, history and theory. The study of rhetoric and political culture draws especially on local resources that include a wide array of historical archives, grassroots activism and political institutions based in the Washington, D.C., area. Our research and coursework cluster around the historical and theoretical study of political ideas; social movements, publics and counterpublics; and presidential, legislative, and judicial politics. We focus our critical attention on such texts as oratory, visual images, embodied protests, popular culture, news coverage, judicial decisions, monuments and memorials and public deliberation.

Graduate Research 

Communication faculty and graduate students at Maryland enjoy unique research opportunities. The department houses  The Mark and Heather Rosenker Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership ,  The Center for Health & Risk Communication , and The Black Communication and Technology Lab . The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area also provides rich resources including Congress, the Supreme Court, the White House, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Smithsonian, the national monuments, embassies, media outlets and the headquarters of major foundations and public granting agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes for Health and the National Science Foundation. Private collections include the George Meany Labor Archives, the National Women's Party Archives at the Belmont-Sewell House and holdings at the Folger Shakespeare Library and various universities. The nation's capital also is a magnet for political activism, public relations and political consulting firms and advocacy groups. It is also among the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

To keep up to date on the latest department news, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .

Graduate News View All News

Outstanding arhu graduate students honored at awards reception, gvpt/comm alumna part of pulitzer prize winning team at washington post, 2024 annual departmental awards, 16th annual grunig lecture, fall 2023 leadership appointments, arhu faculty awarded grand challenges grants, professor xiaoli nan and colleagues across university of maryland awarded a $1m national science foundation grant, arts and humanities colloquium: catherine knight steele discusses her book "black digital feminism", comm presents 2022 departmental awards, graduate events view all events, who to contact, lindsey anderson.

Associate Professor & Co-Director of the Oral Communication Program & Co-Director of Graduate Studies (Recruitment/Admissions), Communication

2108 Skinner Building College Park MD, 20742

Sun Young Lee

Associate Professor & Co-Director of Graduate Studies (Enrolled Students), Communication

Additional Resources

• About the Department
• Academic Programs
• Community Engagement
• Library Research Guide for Communication

Government and Politics

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences 3140 Tydings Hall Phone: 301-405-4156 http://gvpt.umd.edu

The Department of Government and Politics emphasizes such broad areas as political development, policy analysis, social justice, political economy, conflict, and human rights. These broad conceptual areas are integral components of study in the discipline. The areas are commonly referred to as American government and politics; comparative government; international relations; political theory; political methodology; and public law.

Chair: W. Reed (Chair & Prof)

Directors: A. Banks (Assoc Chair & Prof), K. Cunningham (Co-Graduate Director & Prof), S. Kastner (Honors Program Director & Prof), J. McCauley (MIDCM Director & Assoc Prof), P. Wohlfarth (Co-Graduate Director & Prof)

Professors: I. Alcaniz, A. Banks, J. Birnir, E. Calvo, D. Cunningham, K. Cunningham, J. Gimpel, M. Hanmer, P. Huth, S. Kastner, M. Pearson, W. Reed, S. Croco, S. Telhami, V. Tismaneanu, P. Wohlfarth, J. Wong

Associate Professors:  T. Allee, J. Hadden, V. Haufler, C. Jones, D. Karol, C. Laird, J. McCauley, K. Miler, P. Swistak 

Assistant Professors:  S. Carcelli, M. Johnson

Professional Track Faculty: J. Aronson, D. Cil, R. Engstrom, C. Kazungu, S. Kosko, S. Kumar, M. Spivey, C. Turitto, J. Wallace

Lecturers: A. Berland, M. Kobren

Professors Emeriti: C. Alford, C. Butterworth, S. Elkin, M. Franda, J. Glass, F. Lee, M. Lichbach, V. Marando, W. McIntosh, J. Oppenheimer, W. Phillips, D. Piper, G. Quester, C. Stone, R. Terchek, E. Uslaner, L. Vietri, J. Wilkenfeld

• Government and Politics Major
• International Development and Conflict Management Minor

Academic advisors are available to assist students with degree planning. Students are encouraged to see an advisor each semester to ensure understanding of major requirements and to review students' progress within the major. All students are required to meet with a GVPT advisor before they register for their senior year of classes (at the 90 cumulative credit mark).

Academic advising is available by appointment or drop-in the GVPT Undergraduate Advising Office located in 3104 Tydings Hall. Drop-in schedules are posted online at http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-advising/ .

Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs

The Department of Government and Politics offers two combined bachelor's/master's degree program options. Students may select to pursue a combined bachelor's/master's degree with our Master of Arts in International Relations or Master of Science in Applied Political Analytics programs. Detailed information about our masters programs is available at the following links:

• Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR): http://academiccatalog.umd.edu/graduate/programs/international-relations-mair/
• Master of Science in Applied Political Analytics (APAN): http://academiccatalog.umd.edu/graduate/programs/applied-political-analytics-apan/

Undergraduate Research Experience

Undergraduate GVPT majors are strongly encouraged to participate in independent research with GVPT faculty members. The independent study option provides students opportunities to work one-on-one with a faculty member doing research on a topic of the student's choosing. Students should expect to devote approximately 12 hours per week for 16 weeks to the independent study. Students should also expect to write a final research paper no less than 40 pages in length. GVPT Advisors are available to assist students in identifying appropriate research topics and in selecting the GVPT faculty mentor.

Only six hours of graded GVPT independent study credit will apply toward the 36 hours needed in the major. Independent study opportunities are generally open only to GVPT majors with junior standing and a 3.0 GPA.

Internships

Undergraduate GVPT majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the university's close proximity to Washington D.C. and Annapolis by completing at least one internship experience. The GVPT Advising Office advertises internship opportunities weekly on the undergraduate blog , and advisors can assist students in identifying other internship opportunities.

The department offers academic credit for approved internships. Detailed information is available on the GVPT website, http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/internships/ .

Only six hours of graded GVPT internship credit will apply toward the 36 hours needed in the major. Internship credit graded on a pass/fail basis may not be used to satisfy the GVPT major requirements. In no cases may more than 12 internship credits be counted towards the 120 credits needed to graduate. Internship credit is generally open only to GVPT majors with junior standing and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Honors Program

The aim of the Government and Politics Honors Program is to encourage students with outstanding abilities to accelerate their development and intellectual growth under conditions of greater freedom, greater responsibility, and more individual supervision from their instructors. The program also seeks to provide a community within which students can meet one another and further develop their interests in political science and public affairs.

All students majoring in government and politics may apply for admission to the GVPT Honors Program once they have completed the first semester of their sophomore year. Additional information concerning the Honors Program may be obtained online at http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/gvpt-honors-program/ .

Student Societies and Professional Organizations

Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States. The Alpha Zeta chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha was founded in 1938 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Since then, the chapter has hosted a variety of activities and worked closely with the Department of Government & Politics. For more information, please visit http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/student-organizations/ .

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

GVPT students are encouraged to apply for Government and Politics Departmental Scholarships and outside scholarship opportunities. For more information on these scholarships, please visit http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/ .

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, please visit http://financialaid.umd.edu .

Awards and Recognition

Government and Politics students have had great success in winning campus and national awards. Our students have been chosen as university commencement speaker and university medal winner. Many students are regularly selected for national undergraduate conferences and have won national scholarships for graduate and law school. The Undergraduate Director nominates deserving students for departmental and university awards and recognition, and students are informed through the advising office of new opportunities to apply.   

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University of Maryland--College Park

Ranked in 9 program s and 9 specialt ies

Social Sciences and Humanities

Explore UMD's Social Sciences and Humanities School

Criminology

Program and Specialty rankings

• # 1 in Criminology

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Contact Information

7251 Preinkert Drive , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-4699

[email protected]

• # 22 in Economics  (tie)

Department of Economics Contact Information

3114 Tydings Hall , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-3544

https://econ.umd.edu/webform/contact-us

• # 32 in English  (tie)
• # 12 in American Literature Before 1865

Department of English Contact Information

2119 Tawes Hall , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-3809

[email protected]

• # 34 in History  (tie)

Department of History Contact Information

2115 Francis Scott Key Hall , College Park , MD 20742-7315

(301) 405-4268

[email protected]

Political Science

• # 28 in Political Science  (tie)

Department of Government and Politics Contact Information

3140 Tydings Hall , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-4161

[email protected]

• # 30 in Psychology  (tie)

Department of Psychology Contact Information

1147 Biology/Psychology Building , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-5865

[email protected]

• # 24 in Sociology  (tie)
• # 14 in Sociology of Population

Department of Sociology Contact Information

2112 Art-Sociology Building , College Park , MD 20742

(301) 405-6390

[email protected]

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Political Science & Government at University of Maryland - College Park

We've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how UMCP ranks among other schools offering degrees in political science.

Go directly to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Student Debt
• Student Demographics
• Related Majors

Featured Political Science & Government Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Political Science

Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Political Science & Government Degrees Available at UMCP

• Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science
• Master’s Degree in Political Science
• Doctorate Degree in Political Science

UMCP Political Science Rankings

UMCP is in the top 10% of the country for political science. More specifically it was ranked #33 out of 607 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #2 in Maryland .

Popularity of Political Science at UMCP

During the 2020-2021 academic year, University of Maryland - College Park handed out 319 bachelor's degrees in political science & government. This is a decrease of 11% over the previous year when 360 degrees were handed out.

In 2021, 4 students received their master’s degree in political science from UMCP. This makes it the #130 most popular school for political science master’s degree candidates in the country.

In addition, 7 students received their doctoral degrees in political science in 2021, making the school the #30 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.

How Much Do Political Science Graduates from UMCP Make?

Salary of political science graduates with a bachelor's degree.

The median salary of political science students who receive their bachelor's degree at UMCP is $42,670. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $33,089 for all political science bachelor's degree recipients.

How Much Student Debt Do Political Science Graduates from UMCP Have?

Student debt of political science graduates with a bachelor's degree.

While getting their bachelor's degree at UMCP, political science students borrow a median amount of $18,768 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all political science bachelor's degree recipients across the country is $24,439.

The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the political science program at UMCP is $359 per month.

Political Science Student Diversity at UMCP

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the political science majors at University of Maryland - College Park.

UMCP Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Program

Of the 319 political science students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2020-2021 from UMCP, about 42% were men and 58% were women.

The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at UMCP are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 55% of students fell into this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Maryland - College Park with a bachelor's in political science.

UMCP Political Science & Government Master’s Program

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 4 students graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from UMCP. About 75% were men and 25% were women.

The majority of the students with this major are white. About 75% of 2021 graduates were in this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Maryland - College Park with a master's in political science.

Most Popular Related Majors

View All Political Science & Government Related Majors >

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Speakers Announced for College’s 2024 Graduate Commencement Ceremony

Alum Ana Maria Rey (Ph.D. ’04, physics), a Fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and JILA, will be the keynote speaker at the University of Maryland’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences  2024 Graduate Commencement Ceremony  on May 20, 2024. Ph.D. graduate Tahseen Rabbani was selected as the student speaker for the ceremony. The ceremony will honor the college's August 2023, December 2023 and May 2024 graduates receiving doctoral and master's degrees and graduate certificates.

Ana Maria Rey, Keynote Speaker

Rey is a theoretical physicist and Fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and JILA, a joint research institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder, and an adjunct professor of physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

She studies the scientific interface between atomic, molecular and optical physics; condensed matter physics; and quantum information science. Rey also develops new techniques for controlling quantum systems for applications ranging from quantum simulations/information to time and frequency standards. Her work has been fundamental in breakthroughs in physics, such as developing accurate atomic clocks and dark matter sensors using quantum crystals.

Rey earned her Ph.D. from UMD, where she trained under Charles Clark and Theodore Kirkpatrick. She was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in 2023 and the Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences) in her home country of Colombia in 2023.

She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and has earned many awards for her research, including the MacArthur Fellowship, Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, Department of Defense Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, Alexander M. Cruickshank Lectureship Award, Early Career National Hispanic Scientist of the Year, Maria Goeppert Mayer Award, and Great Minds in STEM Most Promising Scientist Award.

Rey participates in several quantum research initiatives, including the CUbit Quantum Initiative and the Quantum Systems through Entangled Science and Engineering (Q-SEnSE) center funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). In 2023, she became co-director of the JILA Physics Frontiers Center, an NSF-funded science center within JILA to realize precise measurements and cutting-edge manipulations to harness increasingly complex quantum systems.

Tahseen Rabbani, Student Speaker

Tahseen Rabbani will graduate in May 2024 with a Ph.D. in computer science. Advised by Assistant Professor Furong Huang, Rabbani’s dissertation focuses on efficient algorithms for machine learning (ML). His primary research interests are model compression, distributed learning, security and data privacy. He is a proponent of technological equity and environmentally friendly artificial intelligence (AI)/ML. In June, Rabbani will begin a postdoctoral position under Mary-Anne Hartley at Yale University’s LiGHT lab, which focuses on AI/ML for global health and humanitarian response technologies, where he will work on the deployment and training of large models in low-resource settings.

As a Ph.D. student, Rabbani was an RSAC National  Security Scholar and a National Science Foundation COMBINE Fellow and was nominated as an Apple Scholar in AI/ML. He published first-authored papers and served on the program committees of major AI/ML conferences including Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR) and the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML).

Rabbani began his doctoral career at UMD in mathematics in 2018, specializing in error correction and combinatorial group theory, before taking a keen interest in ML and transferring to computer science. As a math graduate student, he published research in the Journal of Algebra & Number Theory and Finite Fields and their Applications (FQ14) and was awarded a Monroe Martin & Seymour Goldberg Spotlight Award. In addition to his doctoral work, Rabbani is an adjunct lecturer of calculus at Georgetown University and a research scientist at the D.C.-based quantum startup Error Corp.

Before joining UMD, Rabbani was a mathematics master’s student at NYU and a software developer at Epic Systems. He completed his B.A. in mathematics at the University of Virginia where he was an Echols Scholar. He enjoys cooking, traveling and all things related to the NBA.

About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 8,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and nine interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $250 million.

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