The Department of Government and International Studies offers two programs of study in Political Science. The Doctoral Program in Political Science has as its objective the preparation of students for academic and public service careers. The M.A. Program has as its objective to provide students with a knowledge of political science and with the professional skills necessary for careers in governmental, quasi-public, and private agencies and organizations. Students There are currently about 40 graduate students active in the programs. The students are a diverse lot geographically, with the East coast most commonly represented and more than a few international students.
Females account for nearly half of the total number of students.
Faculty members are very active in research, conference activity, editorial work, and publishing, and graduate students are encouraged to be involved in similar professional activities. The graduate programs at the University of South Carolina have consistently received strong evaluations from a wide spectrum of national rankings. The department has received particularly positive evaluations of its programs in American Politics, International Relations, and Public Administration. Recent evaluations in U.S. News and World Report have ranked the GINT department in the top 20 in the nation in both its programs in Law and Courts and in International Relations. And a recent issue of the journal Law and Courts ranked the graduate public law program at USC among the Top 3 in the nation.