POIR Graduate Student Association

President: Miguel Hijar Chiapa

Vice-President: Jessica Walker

Treasurer: Yana Demeshko

Senator/DGSA Representative: Shenali Pilapitiya

Communications Director: Stephen Schick

Reading Lists

Please contact the Field Director for any questions about the reading list.

American Politics:
Comparative Politics: Jefferey Sellers
International Relations: Saori Katada
Methods & Research Training:

Campus Resources

    Student Services

    USC has resources for academic accommodations, financial aid, and free software for students.

    Please consult the links below for information on degree progress for the PhD, working as a TA/RA, and taking a leave of absence.

    International Students

    Find information on GLACIER, verifying your immigration status and degrees, setting up identification for tax purposes, and taking the ITA exam for teaching assistants whose native language is not English.

    Research & Professional Support

    Below are links to research resources in the libraries, databases of external funding sources, and support for writing, teaching, and academic success.

    USC has partnered with National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity to provide curriculum and mentoring for PhD students and early career academics, including Dissertation Success, a publishing bootcamp, and a job market webinar. Register for a free account.

    For those pursuing careers outside of the academy, USC has partnered with Versatile PhD to help you navigate the process.

    Student Affairs

    At the university, the Graduate Student Government manages student resources and represents the graduate population at USC. In addition, there are many identity-based and interest-based organizations students can join.

    Living in Los Angeles

    Need help finding housing? Get started with these sites.

    Who to contact?

     
    TA/RA payroll: Cathy Ballard (ballardc@usc.edu)
     
    Classroom Scheduling: Karin Amundsen (kamundse@usc.edu)
     
    Reimbursements & Travel: Aurora Ramirez (aurora@usc.edu)
     
    Facilities & Tech Support: Edgar Rodriguez (edgarr@usc.edu)