Selecting an Advisor

You select a major advisor when you declare a major in Political Science – or a double or combined major – usually in the second semester of your sophomore year, or any time thereafter. Your major advisor is the professor with whom you plan the courses you will take according to your interests in order to fulfill the requirements for the College and the major. You have a major advisor from the moment you declare your major until you graduate, including during any semester of study abroad, though it need not be one and the same person.

If you are interested in declaring the major and did not get the chance to attend our recent program planning meeting, you can view a recording of it. 

To select your major advisor, please do the following:

Check the list below of Political Science Faculty who are accepting advisees. Some faculty members may have their quota filled already. If your first-year advisor is a political science professor, you may ask them to continue as your major advisor.

Introduce yourself to the faculty member who you would like to have as your advisor (either during office hours or by making an appointment) and obtain an email from them stating that they can serve as your advisor. Submit the online Major Declaration form and upload that email along with it. 

Due date: Take the steps above by the Major Declaration deadline, typically March 1. To be certain, please check the Registrar's calendar.

Changing an Advisor:

You may change your advisor by submitting this form through Slate.

Major Advisors, Spring Semester 2025:

Please note: advising availability is currently limited for all Professors in the department. If you are having trouble finding an advisor, please reach out to the Department Administrator (polisci@barnard.edu).

Currently Available for Advising

Aqil Shah, Comparative Politics (ashah@barnard.edu)

Currently Unavailable for Advising

Séverine Autesserre, International Relations

Alyssa Battistoni, Political Theory (on leave Academic Year 24/25)

Sheri Berman, Comparative Politics (on leave Academic Year 24/25)

Marjorie Castle, Comparative Politics (mcastle@barnard.edu)

Alexander A. Cooley, International Relations

Ayten Gündoğdu, Political Theory (on leave Academic Year 24/25)

Katherine Krimmel, American Politics 

Xiaobo Lu, Comparative Politics

Kimberly J. Marten, International Relations

Michael Miller, American Politics

Eduardo Moncada, Comparative Politics (on leave Academic Year 24/25)

Jonathan Keller, Political Theory (jkeller@barnard.edu)