APSA established the Diversity Student Recruitment Program (DSRP, formerly MSRP) to advance diversity in political science. In collaboration with undergraduate and graduate political science departments, the program identifies undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds who show potential for or are interested in doctoral study, and shares this recruitment information with APSA member graduate departments that enroll in the program.
View the 2023-24 APSA DSRP Recruiting Graduate Departments
View past years' APSA DSRP Recruiting Graduate Departments
DSRP is a Leading Method of Recruitment Among Political Science PhD Departments
According to the 2015-2016 APSA Graduate Placement Survey Report on Recruitment Methods, two-thirds of political science PhD departments actively recruit graduate students. Additionally, APSA’s DSRP program ranks alongside campus visits as the most common form of graduate student recruitment used by political science PhD departments.
Fall 2023 DSRP Department Enrollment (now open)
Department officers in PhD departments (chairs and graduate directors) can enroll their departments in the APSA DSRP as a recruiting department.
- Login from the APSA homepage, by clicking the “log In” button in the top right corner of your screen.
- Once you have entered your username and password, click on your name at the top of the screen. You will be directed to your APSA user account.
- Under the right hand column labeled “APSA Resources” scroll down and click the link for "DSRP Recruitment" and follow the instructions.
If you do not have the option to select "DSRP Recruitment" please contact diversityprograms@apsanet.org so we can add you as a contact for your department.
Departmental enrollment is on a rolling basis throughout the year. The database is updated once in the Fall and once in the Spring.
How Does DSRP Work?
APSA maintains a database of individuals (including undergraduate students, recent college graduates, and master's level students) who have been identified as potential candidates for graduate study in political science. These individuals are a member of one or more of the following traditionally underrepresented or minoritized racial/ethnic groups: African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Latinos/as, American Indians or Alaska natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Individuals can be identified by their departments, by their advisors, or submit their own names for the database. The database is updated periodically and made available to the graduate political science programs who are enrolled in the program for their annual recruitment of doctoral students.
DSRP Departmental Benefits:
- A link to your PhD program on the APSA website and sent to DSRP students
- Access to the DSRP database to recruit undergraduates to your PhD program
- Participation in the DSRP Best Practices meeting
- Priority in registration for the APSA Graduate School Information Fair at the APSA Annual Meeting
Enroll Students in the DSRP Database:
Sophomore, junior, and senior minority students are eligible to participate in DSRP. Students may enroll themselves or ask their undergraduate advisor to submit their name and contact information. Faculty may enroll students they believe would be interested in learning more about doctoral study.
Students: Enroll yourself using the DSRP online form.
Additionally, some political science departments offer application fee waivers to students enrolled in APSA Diversity and Inclusion Programs. Students should inquire with the graduate program they are applying to about the possibility of an application fee waiver.
For questions or more detailed information about the program, contact diversityprograms@apsanet.org.
Why did the program name change from Minority Student Recruitment Program to Diversity Student Recruitment Program?
As of Spring 2022, the APSA Minority Student Recruitment Program (MSRP) has been renamed to the APSA Diversity Student Recruitment Program (DSRP)
. The updated program name better mirrors language that reflects, encourages, and uplifts aspiring scholars from underrepresented backgrounds and acknowledges the current and projected demographic shifts in racial and ethnic populations in the US. This update also helps to further align the program name with the language used and name of the APSA Diversity and Inclusion Programs Department.