Graduate Studies

Questions to discuss with your advisor:

1. What are the benefits of going to graduate school?
2. Do you meet the requirements for admission to graduate programs?
3. What courses should I take as an undergraduate to prepare for graduate study?
4. What experiential opportunities would be most beneficial in preparing me for graduate school, i.e. internships, research, jobs, etc.?
5. What are the potential job opportunities in my area of interest?
6. What are the program options in my area of interest?
7. Should I pursue a master's or a Ph.D.?
8. What is the average time to obtain a Ph.D.?
9. What role does the graduate advisor play? When (and how) do you choose your graduate advisor? How difficult is it to switch advisors during the course of the program?
10. How do I figure out what programs and schools I should apply to?
11. What is the application process and timeline? 
12. What are some of the areas that I should focus on in my applications to graduate schools?
13. How important are the graduate school examinations?  What are some good resources to prepare for the exams?
14. Who should I ask to do recommendations?
15. Where can I find scholarship, grant, fellowship, and assistantship opportunities to help fund my graduate education?
16. How many hours per week of work is expected from those who have received a Teaching or Research Assistantship?

     

Resources: 
 

Petersons: find information regarding entrance examinations, programs, schools, and scholarships.
gradschools.com: find information regarding programs, schools, and financial aid.
Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA): find information and links to master's and Ph.D. programs in International Relations.
ets.org: find information and register for the GRE examination

NOTE: Information concerning Graduate and Law Schools can also be found in the Political Science Resource Room (JRC 420).

Graduate School Program Options:

1. Criminal Justice
2. Environmental Policy
3. International Political Economy
4. Law School (areas of concentration)
   • Clinical Training
   • Dispute Resolution
   • Environmental Law
   • Healthcare Law
   • Intellectual Property Law
   • International Law
   • Legal Writing
   • Tax Law
   • Trial Advocacy
5. National Security Affairs
6. Political Management 
7. Political Science (areas of concentration)
   • American Politics
   • Comparative Politics
   • International Politics
   • Political Methodology
   • Political Theory
8. Public Administration
9. Public and International Affairs
10. Public Policy

     

More Information:

For more information regarding graduate school, contact Dr. Steve Hoffman at smhoffman@stthomas.edu or 651-962-5723.

For more information regarding law school, contact Dr. Steve Hatting at shhatting@stthomas.edu  or 651-962-5721.