Dr. Tom Wong

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Tom Wong. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Tom K. Wong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego, where he also serves as the founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center (USIPC). His research focuses on the politics of immigration, citizenship, and migrant 'illegality', addressing the far-reaching implications of these issues. Wong has authored significant works including 'Rights, Deportation, Detention in the Age of Immigration Control' and 'Politics of Immigration: Partisanship, Demographic Change, and American National Identity', both of which provide comprehensive analyses of immigration-related policies. His contributions to civil rights and civil liberties have been recognized with the ACLU Presidential Prize. Apart from his research, Wong has advised on immigration policy at the White House and co-led the immigration portfolio during the Obama administration. His work continues to engage with policymakers and organizations that support immigrant communities, reflecting his commitment to fostering social justice. Wong is also involved in various civic engagement initiatives aimed at mobilizing voters and enhancing community representation. He holds a PhD in Comparative Politics with a focus on Immigration Politics and Policy from the University of California, Riverside, obtained in 2011.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).