<p>How is Columbia's department compared to the University of Chicago? So they have an emphasis on any certain topic? I don't even really know what questions to ask, but I would like to hear some informed comparison of the two.</p>
<p>I do not really know the specifics,but I know that columbia was the first school ever in the US to offer political science as an academic discipline.</p>
<p>I asked about poli sci last night in the admitted students chat, the admissions officer told me it was 'good, though history at Columbia was better'</p>
<p>I think International Relations at Columbia is the strongest specialty in the political science department, with Robert Jervis coming to mind for famous faculty.</p>
<p>There was some ranking I saw once that had Columbia as #1 in the world for poli sci, but I can't find it now and my brain might be making it up. However, I've worked with a few members of the department and they're amazing.</p>
<p>user window_shopping was a polisci major at columbia. PM him if you want an inside scoop.</p>
<p>i graduated toward the top of the polisci dept in '07. i can speak to the american concentration pretty well, and to the international and theory concentrations to a lesser degree. i really enjoyed the program.</p>
<p>let me know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>iirc, the ranking in question was based on the number of journal articles published.</p>