Political Science (PhD)
This program is designed to allow the well-prepared student to complete course requirements for the PhD in two years of full-time study. Students complete a research paper in their second year and take comprehensive examinations during their third year, followed by preparation of a dissertation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate mastery of the literature, empirical tools, and theoretical models used in at least one subfield in the discipline of political science (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory), and strong familiarity with a second subfield.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and answer original research questions by designing and producing publishable research.
- Develop the ability to communicate original research, both written and verbal.
- Develop the ability to teach foundational, intermediate, and field courses at the undergraduate level.
- Achieve the doctoral degree within six years.
PhD in Political Science
This program is designed to allow the well-prepared student to complete course requirements for the PhD in two years of full-time study. Students complete a research paper in their second year and take comprehensive examinations during their third year, followed by preparation of a dissertation. Requirements for the PhD in political science include the following:
- Completion of 100 credits (18 credits are for dissertation) beyond the bachelor’s degree. Research: [Topic] (PS 601) and Reading and Conference: [Topic] (PS 605) may be taken pass/no pass. All other course work must be taken for letter grades
- Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Completion of a research paper no later than the sixth term of enrollment (excluding summer)
- Completion of required seminars in the two area fields in which the student takes comprehensive examinations. Students should take these seminars as early as possible, and prior to examination
- Passing two comprehensive examinations: one major field and one minor field, selected from the list below. Each field comprises several themes from which the student must choose a subset
- classical and contemporary political theory
- comparative politics
- international relations
- public policy
- United States politics
- After passing the comprehensive examinations, completion of PS 621 and 18 credits in Dissertation (PS 603), to be taken while completing the PhD dissertation
- Defense of the written dissertation in an oral examination
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Requirement | ||
| A minimum of 10 credits must be from required field core seminars that thematically parallel the student’s comprehensive exams. Core seminars by subfield are listed below: | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| States and State-Society Relations | ||
| Comparative Political Economy | ||
| States and Regimes | ||
| International Relations | ||
| International Relations | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| United States Politics | ||
| Seminar: [Topic] (American Politics Pro-Seminar) | ||
One 600-level U.S. political science seminar | ||
One additional 500- or 600-level U.S. political science course | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Public Policy | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Civil Rights in Post-Warren Era | ||
| The United States Presidency | ||
| International Environmental Politics | ||
| United States Political Economy | ||
| States and Regimes | ||
| Methods Requirement | ||
| Methods for Politics and Policy Analysis I 1 | ||
| Methods for Politics and Policy Analysis II 1 | ||
| Qualitative Methods | ||
| Interpretive Methods in Political Science | ||
| Research Design | ||
| Dissertation Prospectus | ||
| Supervised College Teaching | ||
| Teaching and Learning in Politics and Policy | ||
| Professional Development | ||
| Professionalization in Politics and Policy: [Topic] 2 | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| Total Credits | 100 | |
- 1
If PS 545 and/or 546 are not offered during a specific year, the Graduate Coordinator will notify students of the quantitative methods courses that will count towards this requirement.
- 2
Taken twice in the first year (Winter and Spring terms)
A complete description of graduate requirements, including an explanation of themes and field requirements, is available on the department website.