Hi there Mr. Eskew! You've received sound advice from everyone! I am currently an advanced Ph.D student studying political theory at LSU, and I wanted to second LeBlanc's advice. South Louisiana is extremely Catholic, and the political theory professors are exceptional. One of them is a Catholic himself. Grad school really is all about who your advisers are, so do the research on the professors, and not entirely the institution. I say that with some caution of course. A Harvard degree will trump a degree from most institutions. But, any of the schools you are considering would be awesome. Also, you might want to check out Georgetown. I believe that Fr. Schall is there, who, though he no longer takes grad students, would be well worth your time to talk to. I have friends in the political theory department there who love it! Also, check out where the ISI affiliated political theory professors are teaching, and look into those programs. Best of luck!

Thanks, ACM. I'll be applying to LSU. Only one of the profs there is Catholic? Who is it? Ellis Sandoz?

Hello, Mr. Eskew,

The profs at LSU in theory are Jim Stoner (he is Catholic,and studied under Mansfield, I believe) Cecil Eubanks, and Ellis Sandoz (two Voegelinians). A new prof is Dustin Howes. They are all of the mindset that people like you and I are looking for, IOW, committed to the survival of political philosophy. (I think I know who ACM is, but I have not met that student yet. ACM can probably tell you much more about the program.)

That's great that you plan to apply to LSU, do you live nearby? You should bear in mind however that all institutions - private, public - have their drawbacks. Personally, I find LSU to be excessively bureacratic. That said, I do not feel like I am buried under 60 tons of liberal garbage. I have the MA from St. John's College, and while that program was fantastic, I was utterly alone in my political beliefs. Such is life, perhaps.

Correction to LeBlanc -- Eubanks is by NO MEANS a Voegelinian. He is more of a postmodernist -- but don't let that deter you. He's an absolutely incredible professor. Stoner the Catholic.

Sorry, I posted before I finished that thought. Sandoz is the Voegelinian. He studied with Voegelin in Munich for his PhD. I don't know much about Howes, because he is new this year and I am done with my classes. He's young, big into democratic theory and that's about all I know. But vouching for Stoner, Sandoz, and Eubanks -- I don't think I could have been more blessed.