The University of Michigan offers unrivaled opportunities to pursue graduate work in formal modeling in the context of a full service Department of Political Science. The Modeling Program consists of eight core faculty and four affiliated faculty. Together, their specialties include all forms of modeling, both rational choice and adaptation. The curriculum is designed to teach not only the techniques of modeling, but the role of modeling in empirical research. Among the techniques taught in depth are both deductive game theory (including institutional analysis, bargaining and public choice), and computational modeling (including agent-based and evolutionary models).

The core faculty of the modeling program are Robert Axelrod, Jenna Bednar, William Clark, Kenneth Kollman, Arthur Lupia, Walter Mebane, James Morrow, Scott Page, Charles Shipan and George Tsebelis.

Doctoral students can study modeling as an adjunct to other interests, or as a central focus. Students with a sustained interest in modeling can take their major preliminary exam in methodology, with an emphasis on modeling.

Students interested in modeling will also find additional valuable resources available through the Department’s offerings in statistics and quantiative methods, the Department’s graduate computer lab, the Center for Political Studies of the Institute for Social Research, the Center for Study of Complex Systems and a wide range of summer courses offered through the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. An unparalleled collection of nationally top-rated departments and professional schools are available for coursework, research opportunities, and joint Ph.D. programs.