Aug 23, 2025  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2012-2013 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Political Science Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

BA or equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.3, or MA or equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Under special circumstances the department may consider applicants with lower GPAs. Applicants must have completed 12 credits of course work at the upper-division or graduate level in comparative politics and international relations combined. At the discretion of the department. students who lack such course work may be admitted on the condition that they remedy that deficiency.

Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The recommended score is a total of 1,200 on the verbal and quantitative sections. We also pay attention to the analytical score. The applicant’s undergraduate record is examined in conjunction with the GRE scores. The former is weighed more heavily than the latter: an outstanding undergraduate record may well allow the admission of an applicant with GRE scores somewhat below the recommended level.

Admission to the department is competitive, with only the strongest applicants gaining admission in any given year. Applicants must complete the Graduate College online application.  The following department application materials must be uploaded  into the online application:

1. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)  General Test scores
2. Three letters of recommendation by  recommendation providers
3. A personal statement explaining why you want to enter the doctoral program
4. A writing sample.

Official transcripts must be submitted to the Graduate College.

Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 60 credits beyond the BA or 42 credits beyond the MA. In the latter case, the department will determine the distribution of the 42 credits, based on the student’s transcripts of prior work. In the former case, the 60 credits must be distributed as follows:
    1. a. Core curriculum (at least 18 credits). The department will make no exception to any of these requirements, nor will it grant a waiver of any of them.
      1.  Scope and methods, research design (6 hours).
      2. Foreign language: Students must demonstrate knowledge of the equivalent of two years of a single foreign language, through either an examination or 12 credits of college-level course work. Those credits would not count toward the required total. This requirement must be met prior to admission to candidacy.
      3. Proseminars (12 credits): Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, American Politics.
    2. Major field (9 credits, not including proseminar): either comparative politics or international relations. If comparative politics is chosen, one course in it must be in area studies.
    3. Minor field #1 (6 credits, not including proseminar): either comparative politics or international relations (whichever is not the major field).
    4. Minor field #2 (6 credits, not including proseminar): either political theory or American politics.
    5. Electives (9 credits).
    6. Dissertation (12 credits; more credits may be taken, but only 12 will count toward degree).
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all course work.
  3. Comprehensive written examination. It will be taken during or following the semester in which the student completes required course work. It will be divided into three parts, corresponding to the student’s major field and two minor fields.
  4. Oral defense of the prospectus for dissertation. It should be taken during or following the semester in which the student passes the comprehensive examination.
  5. A dissertation of original research and interpretation on a topic in the field of comparative politics or international relations.