phd in political science scope

Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

Our doctoral students are advancing political science as a discipline. They explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that improve the way governments and societies function. As a result, MIT Political Science graduates are sought after for top teaching and research positions in the U.S. and abroad. Read where program alumni are working around the world.

How the PhD program works

The MIT PhD in Political Science requires preparation in two of these major fields:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Models and Methods
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

We recommend that you take a broad array of courses across your two major fields. In some cases, a single course may overlap across the subject matter of both fields. You may not use more than one such course to "double count" for the course distribution requirement. Keep in mind that specific fields may have additional requirements.

You are free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools.

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

You will need two full academic years of work to prepare for the general examinations and to meet other pre-dissertation requirements. Typically, a minimum of eight graduate subjects are required for a PhD.

2. Scope and Methods

This required one-semester seminar for first-year students introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.

You must successfully complete at least one class in empirical research methods.

5. Philosophy

You must successfully complete at least one class in political philosophy.

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

You must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by successfully completing two semesters of intermediate-level coursework or an exam in that language, or you must demonstrate your knowledge of advanced statistics by successfully completing three semesters of coursework in advanced statistics. International students whose native language is not English are not subject to the language requirement.

7. Field research

We encourage you to conduct field research and to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

You must complete an article-length research paper and related workshop in the spring semester of the second year. The second-year paper often develops into a dissertation project.

9. Two examinations

In each of your two elected fields, you must take a general written and oral examination. To prepare for these examinations, you should take at least three courses in each of the two fields, including the field seminar.

10. Doctoral thesis

As a rule, the doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection. Writing the dissertation usually takes a substantially longer time. The thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense. Be sure to consult the MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation as well as the MIT Political Science Thesis Guidelines . Consult the MIT academic calendar to learn the due date for final submission of your defended, signed thesis.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of Political Science

Ph.d. in political science.

Gain advanced training and experience with a Ph.D. in Political Science from UConn.

The UConn Ph.D. program in political science prepares students to do innovative research and teaching at institutions of higher education. It also prepares them for careers in government, as well as a range of non-governmental organizations and research foundations.

Our Ph.D. students work closely with faculty in their classes and through research collaboration. Many students conduct their own research with guidance from faculty mentors, resulting in publications in some of the top journals in the field.

Ph.D. Subfields

Ph.D. students can specialize in one of several diverse subfields:

• American politics.
• Comparative politics.
• International relations.
• Political theory.
• Public law.

Learn more about Ph.D. Outcomes

View Admissions Requirements

Requirements and Options

The Ph.D. program includes two stages. In the first stage, students do course work to develop expertise in two chosen subfields in which they will take Ph.D. exams.

Once the student has completed their scope, method, and elective requirements and successfully passed the Ph.D. exams, they become ABD (or all but dissertation). At this stage, students form a dissertation committee and work with their committee to prepare a dissertation proposal outlining an original research project. When this project is complete, they defend the dissertation.

Students are required to take Ph.D. exams in two of the Department’s five subfields. In order to take the Ph.D. exam in a field, students must have completed the course requirements outlined below.

In addition, all doctoral candidates must take:

• POLS 5600. Nature of Political Inquiry.
• POLS 5605. Introduction to Quantitative Methods.
• POLS 5615. Introduction to Qualitative Methods.
• One advanced methods elective.

Finally, all Ph.D. students must enroll in GRAD 6950-003 in their first, second, third, and fourth semesters. To receive the grade of “Pass,” they must attend four scholarly presentations in the relevant semester. The student and major advisor should together determine which presentations to attend and what will constitute sufficient evidence of having attended.

Subfield Requirements

American politics.

In preparing for the Ph.D. Exam in American politics, students must successfully complete the following courses:

• POLS 5406. Seminar in the American Political System
• POLS 5407. Advanced Topics in American Political Institutions and Policy
• POLS 5408. Advanced Topics in American Political Behavior
• POLS 5409. Advanced Topics in American Race, Gender and Ethnic Politics

Comparative Politics

Students should take four courses in POLS 5240:

• Regime Types
• Political Institutions
• Comparative Political Economy
• Contentious Politics

International Relations

In preparing for the Ph.D. exam in international relations, students must successfully complete POLS 5300: Pro-seminar in International Relations and at least three other courses from the following list:

• POLS 5115. Theories of Human Rights
• POLS 5305. Foreign Policy Analysis
• POLS 5315. International Security
• POLS 5320. International Conflict and Cooperation
• POLS 5322. Assessing Human Security
• POLS 5325. International Political Economy
• POLS 5330. International Organization and Law
• POLS 5335. US Foreign Policy in the Middle East
• POLS 5340. Politics and Security in the Middle East
• POLS 5345. Foreign Policies of the Russian Federation and the Former USSR
• POLS 5390. Economic Rights
• A special topics course approved by the IR Field Committee (some prior examples include Special Topics in Human Rights, Feminist Political Methodologies, East Asian Political Economy, Africana Dialogues, and European Approaches to International Relations)

No more than two of the four required courses may be taken with a single international relations faculty member.

International Relations Subfield Comprehensive Exam Policy

In consultation with their faculty advisor, students who take the Ph.D. exam in international relations will choose one of the following options:

• Write a sole-authored research paper that meets at least a “revise and resubmit” peer- review standard. The paper can be a revision of a paper written for a seminar, conference, etc. The length of the paper is to be between 8,000 and 12,000 words, all-inclusive. The paper should build toward the student’s dissertation. The student will identify a journal for which it will be targeted and are required to note this choice on the manuscript’s title page. The format/style of the submission will be determined by the standards of the target journal. No actual submission to a journal is required. A three-member faculty committee will read and grade the paper, with the committee issuing a single rating of “Reject,” “Revise and Resubmit,” or “Accept.” A grade of “pass” for the exam requires a rating of either “Revise and Resubmit” or “Accept.” A grade of “Reject” is considered a failing grade for the exam.  At the discretion of the faculty committee, this option may include an oral defense of the paper with a three-member faculty committee.
• Write an annotated graduate-level syllabus for a 13-week course that introduces students to the field of international relations. This option also requires an oral defense of the syllabus with a three-member faculty committee. The syllabus may be theoretical or thematic in the type of overview of the field provided, with the understanding that theory is one of the major themes of international relations. Students will consult with their faculty advisor regarding which of these two types of syllabi to write. The syllabus must contain specified assignments which are justified relative to course goals and content. For each of the course’s 13 weeks, the syllabus must include: (i) a detailed reading list, and (ii) a fully realized description of the week’s pedagogical goals and content (e.g., How do these readings fit together in their address of the week’s theme/goals?” “How are these readings justified, pedagogically?” “How do these readings address the relevant disciplinary terrain?”).

Political theory

Prior to taking the Ph.D. exam in political theory, students must successfully complete at least four graduate courses in political theory, including POLS 5100: Pro-seminar in Political Theory. We strongly encourage students to take additional coursework with a strong theoretical component.

Some recently offered graduate seminars in political theory include:

• Critical Theory
• Critical Race Theory
• Theories of Human Rights
• Comparative Political Theory
• Women Political Thinkers
• Emotions and Politics
• Public Reason and Deliberation
• Black Feminist Theory and Politics

Political Theory Subfield Comprehensive Exam Policy

Field Designation and Exam Structure Students must pass four political theory courses with a grade of B or higher and with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in those courses before taking the exam. In consultation with their faculty advisor, and with the approval of the political theory subfield, students will designate if political theory will be a Field of Specialization (FOS) or a Field of Competence (FOC) for their PhD studies.

Field of Specialization (FOS)

• The exam for those who designate political theory as an FOS will comprise both the research paper and the annotated syllabus. They must pass both components to pass the Ph.D. exam. If they do not pass a single component at their first attempt, they will only retake that component during their second attempt. If they fail either component twice, they fail the exam.
• Those who designate political theory as an FOS must take a fifth course with significant political theory content, either graded or as an audit, prior to defending their dissertation.

Field of Competence (FOC) The exam for those who designate political theory as an FOC will comprise the annotated syllabus. If they do not pass at their first attempt, they may only attempt the exam a second time. If they fail at their second attempt, they fail the exam. Research Paper:

• The student will submit a single-authored research paper of between 8,000 and 12,000 words all-inclusive, which may be based upon a previously written, unpublished paper.
• They will identify a target journal for the paper and must note this choice on the manuscript’s title page. The format and style of the submission must meet the standards of the target journal, with the possible exception of the previously-stated word-length requirement. The student does not need to submit the paper to any journal.
• A three-member faculty committee will read the paper and each member will issue a single rating of “Accept,” “Revise and Resubmit,” or “Reject.” Two or more ratings of “Accept” will result in a grade of “pass with distinction” for the exam. Two or more ratings of “Revise and Resubmit” or better will result in a grade of “pass” for the exam. Two or more ratings of “Reject” will result in a grade of “fail” for the exam. Each committee member will provide written feedback to the student.

Annotated Syllabus:

• The student will submit an annotated syllabus for a 14-week, first-year, graduate-level course that introduces students to the field of political theory.
• This should cover a broad range of historical political thinkers and a variety of different approaches to and themes in political theory. The student must include a clear, written defense of their choices regarding the overall structure of the syllabus, including why figures, texts, and themes covered are indispensable to orienting students to the field of political theory. Students should consult the Highly Recommended and Recommended sources from the Political Theory subfield Ph.D. reading list in constructing their syllabus.
• The syllabus must contain a statement of the overall pedagogical goals of the course and a list of specific assignments with clear justifications for how they help achieve those goals.
• a complete description of that week’s topics or themes, connecting them, as appropriate, with themes from weeks that precede and follow it, and specific pedagogical goals,
• a detailed reading list, including annotations, for each reading; the annotations should be between 100 and 150 words for each article or group of two or fewer chapters from a book and 200 to 250 words for each book or group of three or more chapters from a book.
• A three-member faculty committee will read the syllabus and provide written feedback to the student. If the committee deems the syllabus as not possibly passing based upon the overall quality of the written syllabus, it will assign the student a grade of “fail” for the exam. If the committee deems the syllabus as possibly passing, the student must subsequently participate in an oral defense of the syllabus with the committee. At the end of the oral defense, the committee will assign the student a grade of “pass with distinction,” “pass,” or “fail” based upon the overall quality of the written syllabus and the oral defense.

In preparing for the Ph.D. Exam in public law, students must successfully complete all three of the following courses:

• POLS 5505. Law and Society
• POLS 5510. Judicial Decision-making
• POLS 5515. Constitutional Interpretation

And at least one of the following:

• POLS 5010. Law and Social Change
• POLS 5010. Seminar in Legal Theory/Jurisprudence

View the full requirements on the UConn Graduate Catalog's website.

Applicants for the Ph.D. program in political science must apply to and be accepted by both the UConn Graduate School and the Department of Political Science. Applicants must apply online via the UConn Graduate School website.

All application materials, including supporting documents, must be received by January 15. Applications will not be processed until the application fee is paid. The Graduate School can, when a genuine need is demonstrated, extend fee waivers. Applicants must meet a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Required Application Materials

The Department of Political Science is unable to consider applications until the requirements of the Graduate School have been fulfilled. In addition to the Graduate School materials:

• The Department of Political Science requires a personal statement, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation. The Department also recommends (but does not require) students submit the test scores from the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
• The personal statement should indicate that you understand what undertaking a Ph.D. in political science involves, that you have relevant preparation for it, and that UConn’s program will enable you to work effectively toward your aims.
• Applicants without a master’s degree should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.
• Your writing sample should be a substantial piece of written work that demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and to engage in sophisticated critical reasoning with materials and on themes related to the study of politics.
• Your letter writers should be sure that they will be able to submit their recommendations for you by the January 15th deadline and that they can write with considerable detail about your intellectual experience and talent and suitability to a doctoral program. There is no form for letters of recommendation, but they should appear on letterhead with complete contact information for the person writing the letter.
• Letter writers will receive an email asking them to upload your letter to the graduate application website.

International applicants must submit transcripts and degree statements both in the original language and an official English translation. Additionally, international applicants from countries where the official language is not English, or who have not received a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English, must submit the results of the TOEFL examination to the Graduate Admissions Office:

Graduate School, University of Connecticut 438 Whitney Road Ext., Unit 1152 Storrs, CT 06269-1152 Phone: (860) 486-3617

Application Deadline:

Learn more about financial aid for Ph.D. students.

Apply to the UConn Graduate School

For questions about the Ph.D. in Political Science, please contact:

Christine Luberto

Graduate Coordinator, Department of Political Science [email protected]

The Department of Political Science

• PhD Requirements

• Graduate Courses
• PhDs on the Job Market
• Alumni Job Placement
• Honors & Fellowships

The requirements for the Ph.D. in political science are divided between those that must be satisfied by all candidates for that degree and those particular to the student’s major and minor fields.

Department-Wide Requirements

All candidates for the Ph.D. must satisfy the following requirements:

Course Requirements

• To fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. in Political Science students must complete 12 courses at the 600-level with a grade of B or better.
• Of these 12 courses, eight must be graduate-level (600-level) courses taken in the Political Science department.
• No more than two of these eight courses (600-level) may be Independent Studies.
• If a graduate student is interested in taking an undergraduate-level course, the student must make arrangements to take a graduate-level Independent Study with the professor teaching that course. (NB: As noted above, a student may take no more than two Independent Studies for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD.)
• A graduate student may take no more than one graduate-level course at another division of Johns Hopkins University (i.e. SAIS, Public Health, etc.) for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD in Political Science.
• Students may make a formal request to the DGS to have up to two graduate-level courses taken at another institution count for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the Ph.D. in Political Science at JHU.

Foreign Language Requirement

All students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement can be fulfilled as follows:

• Demonstrate fluency in a foreign language (granted automatically for students whose first language is not English).
• Complete four semesters of college-level foreign language instruction.
• Pass a translation exam.
• Earn a degree from a University where instruction is not in English.
• With a degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is a language other than English.
• Place into a third-year foreign language course through online placement tests (see MLL website).

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

Students are required, at a minimum, to take comprehensive exams in one major field and one minor field. Students may also elect to take two major exams or a major exam and two minor exams (one of which may be outside the Department of Political Science).

Faculty members in the field write and evaluate the exams and determine the format. Major field comprehensive exams take place over two days (8 hours per day); minor field exams take place over one day. The fields within the department are American politics, law and politics, political theory, comparative politics, and international relations.

Students choosing a second minor outside the department must devise a coherent program of study in that discipline, in consultation with their political science faculty adviser and with faculty from the other department. Students choosing an external minor must complete a minimum of three courses at the 600 level in the external minor’s discipline, earning a grade of B or better. They must also pass a comprehensive examination prepared and evaluated by faculty from that department in consultation with faculty of the Department of Political Science.

Dissertation

The dissertation is the capstone of doctoral education, and it must be a substantial work of independent scholarship that contributes to knowledge in the student’s field of study. Students must identify a tenure-track or tenured member of the Political Science faculty who is willing to supervise the preparation of their dissertation. A dissertation prospectus must be submitted to two professors (one of whom must be the dissertation advisor) and that prospectus must be accepted by them both.

Students must pass a final examination that takes the form of a defense of the doctoral dissertation that is conducted under the rules of the Graduate Board of Johns Hopkins University.

Note: Exceptions may be made to some of these requirements but only with the approval of the graduate student’s adviser and the Political Science department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Field-Specific Requirements

Field-specific basic expectations, procedures, and requirements are stated below. These are implemented, interpreted, and adjusted in the light of the intellectual orientations and objectives of individual students. It is important that students work closely with their advisers and with the faculty in their major and minor fields in constructing and pursuing their programs of study.

American Politics

Students majoring and minoring in American Politics will work with at least two faculty members to develop a plan of study that includes recommended course work and other preparation needed to pass a comprehensive exam. Students completing a major are expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge sufficient for framing a dissertation in the relevant disciplinary literature and teaching undergraduate courses in the field; students who pursue a minor may focus more narrowly on an area of study in which they demonstrate fluency. These may include, but are not limited to, the following areas of faculty interest:

• American Political Institutions (Congress, Courts, and the Executive)
• Urban Politics
• American Political Development
• Race and Politics
• Political Behavior and Public Opinion
• Public Policy
• American Political Thought
• Political Parties and Elections

In addition, students majoring in the field are strongly encouraged to take AS.190.602 Introduction to Quantitative Political Science as part of their course of study.

Comparative Politics

All students majoring and minoring in comparative politics will become conversant with major substantive and methodological debates in the field, and be able to comment on the key theoretical literature in several of those debates. They will typically also develop knowledge of at least one world region. Students majoring or minoring in comparative politics are required to take AS.190.625 Theories of Comparative Politics and at least one seminar in quantitative or qualitative methods. Students are expected to master the material covered in these courses, as well as others with more specialized topics.

Students will take a comprehensive exam that will test their ability to engage with several areas of theoretical debate in comparative politics, and their ability to use comparative examples to support their arguments. Students may focus on (but are not limited to):

• Civil Society
• Institutional Theories
• Transnational Relations, Social Movements, and Contentious Politics
• Political Parties, Interest Groups, Representation, and Political Behavior
• Comparative Political Economy
• Comparative Racial Politics, Nationalism, and Migration and Citizenship
• The Political Economy of Development
• Economic and Political Transitions
• Ideas and Politics

Within the spirit of this division of the overall field, students may propose alternative delineations of thematic subfields.

Students working in specific thematic and substantive subfields within comparative politics will be required to demonstrate competence in methodologies and bodies of theory judged by the faculty to be necessary for quality research and teaching in those subfields.

Requirements for the major exam:

Students taking the major exam are expected to compile a reading list that includes at least six fields, including a general “Theories of Comparative Politics” field. The reading list must be approved by the student’s advisor at least six weeks before the exam. We strongly advise students to submit their reading lists to all of the CP faculty for feedback at least a few months before the exam. A minimum of three CP faculty members will read each major exam.

Requirements for the minor exam:

Students taking the minor exam should seek two readers among the CP faculty for their exams. Students are expected to compile a reading list that includes at least four fields, including a general “Theories of Comparative Politics” field. The reading list must be approved by the two readers at least six weeks before the exam. We strongly advise students to submit their reading lists to all of the CP faculty for feedback at least a few months before the exam.

International Relations

All students majoring or minoring in international relations will be required to have deep knowledge of the scholarship relevant to their area of research and to be conversant with the major theoretical, substantive, and methodological themes and debates of the field. It is strongly recommended that students take AS 190.676 Field Survey of International Relations (or a similar course) and a methods/epistemology course chosen in consultation with their faculty advisers.

Students majoring in international relations will take an examination covering two subfields. The first subfield must be international politics. The other subfield is to be determined in consultation with faculty teaching international relations. Choices include but are not restricted to:

• International Law and Diplomacy
• International Relations Theory
• International Security Studies
• Science, Technology, and Art and International Relations
• Global Political Economy

Students minoring in international relations will take a comprehensive examination of international politics.

Political Theory

Students majoring in political theory will take a comprehensive examination covering the following two subfields:

• Contemporary Political Theory
• History of Political Thought

Each student preparing for a major comprehensive exam will propose six or seven thinkers in the history of thought, six or seven recent or contemporary thinkers, and three or four issue areas. Examination questions are composed in light of the theorists and issues articulated in the exam prospectus.

The minor comprehensive exam in political theory asks the student to select half the number of thinkers required for the major exam and three issue areas.

Preparation for these examinations will be arranged in consultation with relevant faculty.

Students majoring in political theory will also take at least one minor field from American politics, law, and politics, comparative politics, or international relations.

Law and Politics

Law and politics focus on American constitutional thought, judicial politics, law and society, and philosophy of law. Students learn not only about the history and context of American constitutional developments but also about the operation of the judicial branch of government in the past and the present. Studying how courts and judges do their work, students also consider how that work has changed over time. Students explore how legislation, as well as court decisions, reflect and influence a society’s policies, politics, and moral commitments. In addition, they examine how social movements, interest groups, and professional networks help to shape the law’s content and implementation.

Students may major or minor in law and politics. In either case, students work closely with at least two members of the faculty to develop a plan of study regarding coursework and additional reading to prepare them for comprehensive exams. Majors are expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in the field sufficient for framing a dissertation and for teaching undergraduate courses; minors may focus more narrowly on a particular area of study.

Graduate Program

Phd requirements.

The Political Science department at UC Berkeley admits students only for the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. program has two major phases: coursework and examinations, and dissertation research and writing. The two phases typically take approximately five or six years (three years to candidacy and two or three for dissertation research and writing).

The coursework and examination phase requires 40 units (typically 10 classes) of graduate-level coursework and competence in three of nine  Subfields . Subfield competence is demonstrated through written exams offered each semester. The Field Exams are typically taken in the student's second and third years of the program. All students must pass one exam in a major subfield (Comparative, American, International Relations, or History of Political Theory). Competency in a second and third subfield may be demonstrated by taking a prescribed series of courses in that field with a combined GPA of 3.5.

The particular sequence of courses that a student takes in preparation for the comprehensive exams is not prescribed. Rather, the faculty assist students with selection of courses that best meet their intellectual and academic interests. There are no formal foreign language or statistics requirements although many students will find that their program of study and dissertation research will require the engagement of particular foreign language or methodology coursework.

When the coursework and examination requirements have been met, the student prepares a prospectus for dissertation research. The student convenes a committee known as the Qualifying Exam (QE) committee. The Qualifying Exam committee advises on the prospectus and examines the student on specific research plans. Berkeley is highly committed to interdisciplinary scholarly engagement and this is codified in the requirement that both the Qualifying Exam committee and the dissertation committee include a faculty member from another department at Berkeley. Engagement with members of the faculty from other departments should commence during the coursework stage so that the advisement and input of the "outside member" is represented in the prospectus.

When sufficient preparation for the proposed research has been demonstrated to the Qualifying Exam committee, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy. It is expected (and for most funding packages, required) that students advance to doctoral candidacy by the end of their third year.

Doctoral candidacy initiates the second phase of the program during which the student normally devotes full attention to the research and writing of the dissertation. The student's dissertation committee is typically comprised of the members of the Qualifying Exam committee although there are sometimes changes in committee membership as the research evolves. The doctorate is awarded when the student submits a satisfactory dissertation to the dissertation committee. A reasonable estimate of the research and writing phase of the program is approximately two to three years although students whose dissertations require more extensive research may take longer to earn their degree.

• Second year
• Sixth year and beyond

The second year is used to further narrow down one's interests and to continue exploring ideas and potential advisors for a dissertation topic. Coursework continues as students prepare for the M.A./Second Year Paper and Field Exam.

Students who plan to continue in the Ph.D. program are expected to engage in advanced topical research leading to a research paper to be completed by the end of the second year, together with any additional coursework appropriate to their topical focus. Three faculty members (one of whom is selected by the student and serves as principal advisor for the paper) will review this paper. This paper, which continuing students will submit at the end of their second year, also serves as the M.A. project.

Completion of a yearlong graduate seminar (Research & Writing 290A and 290B) during the second year is strongly recommended.  Each student taking this course is advised by a faculty advisor external to the course (who will also serve as one reviewer of the second-year paper) as well as the two co-instructors of the seminar. The goal of the seminar is to assist students in preparing a high-quality research paper, which will serve as the M.A./Second-year paper as mentioned above.

All students are reviewed at the end of the second year of study on their continued overall academic performance. This overall evaluation will include GPA, successful completion of all required units, and successful completion of the M.A./Second-year paper. The Graduate Studies Committee will take these factors as well as the rigor of the academic program and the number of incompletes into consideration when determining whether to invite the student to continue in the PhD program.

Students in their second year also usually serve as a Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), which are 20-hour per week positions

During the third year, most students continue to teach as GSIs and complete their coursework in addition to taking their Field Exam. Political Science graduate students must show competency in three Subfield specialties to be eligible to sit for the oral prospectus defense (known formally as the Qualifying Exam). Instead of sitting for three Field Exams, students have the option to "course out" of two field specialties by taking a prescribed set of three-four courses in the Subfield.

Students may sit for the Field Exam as early as the beginning of the second year, but if desired, students may sit for an exam in their second year or in the third year. Field Exams are offered at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. All students are expected to have completed their Field Exam, to have “coursed out” of a two fields, and to have written and defended their dissertation prospectus (passed their Qualifying Exam) by the end of the third year. It is highly recommended (and essential to most funding packages) that students advance to Doctoral Candidacy by the end of the third year. The third year is also when students should begin to apply for extramural fellowships to support their dissertation research.

Ph.D. Admissions

Apply here . 

Preparing to Apply

Before starting the application process please read the information about the graduate program requirements  and read our  Frequently Asked Questions . You may also find the Guide to Getting Into Grad School helpful. 

The Political Science department recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

All questions regarding graduate admissions should be directed to politicalscience [at] stanford.edu (subject: Admissions%20Enquiry) ( politicalscience[at]stanford[dot]edu ) .

The principal goal of the Stanford Ph.D. program in political science is the training of scholars. Most students who receive doctorates in the program do research and teach at colleges or universities. We offer courses and research opportunities in a wide variety of fields in the discipline, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. The program is built around small seminars that analyze critically the literature of a field or focus on a research problem. These courses prepare students for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam requirement within a two-year period and for work on the doctoral dissertation.  

Admission to the graduate program in political science is highly selective. About twelve to fifteen students, chosen from a large pool of applicants, enter the program each year. The small size of our student body allows more individual work with members of the faculty than most graduate programs. It also makes possible financial assistance in one form or another to most students admitted to the Ph.D. program. 

Graduate Admissions FAQ

Please visit our list of  frequently asked questions.

You may also find the following links useful if you have general questions about student life and graduate study at Stanford University:  

Vice Provost of Graduate Education (VPGE)

• Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook (GAP)
• Graduate Life Office
• Stanford Bulletin
• Explore Courses

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 9, 2024. Learn more about KHS admission .

Ph.D. in Political Science

Ph.d. program contact.

Program Director: Associate Professor Jeremy Gelman, Ph.D.

Application deadlines

Fall application and assistantship deadline: January 15

Please note: the department does not offer application fee waivers.

Questions? Jump to the Frequently Asked Questions below.

GRE updates

The GRE requirement is suspended for Ph.D.s applying to start in the Fall 2024 semester.

The strength of the Ph.D. program in political science lies in its small size and the diversity of its faculty. Students accepted into the doctoral program are expected to have a major and minor field in the areas the department offers as specializations, which include:

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Public administration
• Public policy

The program requires major and minor comprehensive exams in students' selected fields.

Within this context, the University confers the Ph.D. degree for work of distinction in which the student makes clear contributions of original scholarship. The degree is awarded in recognition of marked ability and achievement. The political science doctoral program is specifically designed to allow students to:

• Develop research skills through the advanced study of research design and methodology, political processes and problems, and policy issues
• Prepare for careers in research and teaching institutions of higher education, in public administration and public policy as well as for careers in the private or public sector requiring sophisticated analytical, writing, oral presentation and methodological skills
• Engage in advanced research involving issues of politics and public policy

Admissions process

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive; a limited number of applicants are accepted each year. To be considered, all application must be complete and submitted through the University's Graduate School. A departmental selection committee makes the admission decisions.

Minimum requirements

• Undergraduate Degree (B.A./B.S.)
• GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.25 or higher (on a 4.0‐point scale) for all prior coursework at the undergraduate level.
• 18 previously completed credit hours (six courses) in social science courses (broadly defined)
• GRE Scores ( Please note: The GRE requirement is currently waived) : GRE scores are normally required by the department and the Graduate School, and must be from an examination taken in the previous five years. However, this requirement is currently suspended for the Department of Political Science.

Please note that these are minimum requirements; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Students are admitted on an increasingly competitive basis. We take into consideration a student's overall record, as well as the department's ability to accommodate a student's research/teaching interest.

Application materials need to be mailed to the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate School website for deadlines. The following documents must be submitted to the Graduate School, University of Nevada, Reno:

• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• GRE scores (The GRE requirement is currently waived. Scores optional.)
• TOEFL scores (if applicable)
• Three letters of recommendation of which at least one is from a professor with whom you have taken and completed coursework.
• Statement of purpose: this one-to-two-page statement should be double-spaced and printed in a standard font. In this statement, you should discuss your career and educational goals and how those goals fit into the research specializations of the department. Please make sure your name is at the top of each page.

Apply to the program today

The Ph.D. degree requires 60 credits beyond the B.A. degree. Please see the Graduate School's webpages for program of study requirements and the General Catalog. Six credits are required for comprehensive examinations.

Whether a student pursues the degree part-time or full-time, students must complete all requirements for the degree within the Graduate School's eight-year limit. The course requirements that follow are the minimum standards established by the department. Students may take courses beyond the minimum in preparation for comprehensive exams and their dissertation research.

The Ph.D. program requires all students to fulfill the following minimum course requirements:

Scope and methods: 9 credits

At the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, students with prior graduate-level training that covers the material in these courses may have some of these courses waived. Pending on approval by the Director of Graduate Studies, students may also take one or two method courses from other departments/programs to substitute some of these courses. Students still must meet minimum credit hour requirements.

First field: 12 credits

To be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor/committee chair.

Second field: 9 credits

To be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor/committee chair

Field seminars and/or electives: 9 credits

Dissertation: 15 dissertation credits

Comprehensive examinations: 6 credits

Typically three credits in the fall and three credits in the spring. Also, see Ph.D. comprehensive examinations in the graduate program handbook.

For the most updated course offerings, please check the University General Catalog. You should also discuss courses with your advisor and/or Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate grades and grade point average standing

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) to maintain graduate standing with the Graduate School. If a student's GPA falls below a 3.0, the Graduate School will give the student one semester to increase their GPA to a 3.00 level. If the student fails to do so, the Graduate School will dismiss them from graduate studies at the University; this decision is not made by the Political Science Department. In graduate studies, generally grades below a "B" are considered failing by the faculty and are frowned upon. In addition to satisfying minimum requirements of continuous enrolment by the Graduate School, all funded students must satisfy departmental expectations to receive continuous funding (see Financial aid and graduate assistantship in the graduate program handbook).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What is a ph.d what is the degree for.

The Ph.D. is a research degree for those who want research careers inside and outside the academy (higher education). It leads to research-focused jobs such as professors and research positions in government, not-for-profit or for-profit institutions.

Do I need a MA first?

No, we admit students to the Ph.D. program who have BA and BS degrees and who have demonstrated an understanding of the purpose of the Ph.D., demonstrated research ability and are prepared for graduate-level work.

What do I put in the statement of purpose?

The statement of purpose is a document that indicates to the admission committee the subfield of political science, research topics and—to the extent possible—research methodologies the student is interested in. This helps the committee identify whether the department can support the student’s academic goals and allows the committee to assign an appropriate adviser. Please note, the statement of purpose is not intended to be focused on the student’s personal life experience more than is necessary to establish the student’s research interests and experiences related to social science research.

Do I need an adviser before I apply?

You are welcome to reach out to a faculty member to see if their interests align with your own and inquire whether they are working with graduate students. Some faculty may have funded Graduate Teaching or Graduate Research Assistant positions, in which case they may conduct interviews or other evaluations. General admission to the program is handled by a Graduate Committee for those not seeking funding or interested in one of our generally assigned GTA lines. One does not need permission for general application.

I am from (X) country and have (Y) TOEFL score…

Requirements on language proficiency are set by the Graduate School, not our department.

Graduate School language proficiency rules

Do you offer fellowships/what do I need to do to obtain a fellowship?

We do offer what we call ”Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowships” for some Ph.D. students. They are limited and highly competitive. We generally admit 1-2 funded Ph.D. students per year. You can indicate your interest in a Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowship on your application. No other form is required at the departmental level.

Can you review my CV before I apply?

Unfortunately, we cannot. We are a small department and cannot offer pre-review.

Do you offer application fee waivers?

Application fees are collected by the Graduate School, not our department. We cannot offer any waivers under any circumstances.

What is included in a Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellowship?

Graduate teaching assistant fellowship information

Does your assistantship cover summer months?

Standard GTAs are for 10 months.

Do I need to have a Political Science undergraduate degree to apply?

No, we only require that students have 18 previously completed credit hours in social science.

What methods are used in your department?

Our faculty is methodologically pluralist, including scholars who work in quantitative, qualitative, experimental and normative traditions. Please feel free to look at faculty members’ websites or contact them for more detailed information.

Is there an online option?

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Political science.

Political Science, PhD

The Department of Political Science offers graduate programs of study in political science with concentrations in five fields: American politics; comparative politics; international relations; political theory; and public administration and public policy.

The master’s program is designed to provide students with a basic grounding in the scope and methodology of the discipline, while at the same time allowing maximum flexibility in developing a program of study that will meet students’ career objectives. It is recommended that students preparing themselves for PhD work emphasize empirical theory, quantitative skills and strategies and techniques of conducting research. Students may select coursework to help them prepare for such career fields as governmental service, public and private education, community service, and private industry. In developing an appropriate and coherent program of study, each graduate student works closely with the major professor and committee of advisors.

The Department accommodates the master’s student who attends part time by scheduling sufficient graduate-level courses in the late afternoons and evenings to enable the student to earn a master’s degree through part-time attendance.

In the PhD program the departmental emphasis is on conceptual and quantitative work. The Department requires that the student be broadly trained and accordingly encourages each student to take advantage of offerings in related disciplines to strengthen expertise in political change. The graduate of the program is qualified for a career in university teaching, in government service or in the private sector where the analytical skills and knowledge of the social scientist are required. Graduate degrees are conferred on the basis of a level of achievement which is acquired by independent reading and research as well as by taking courses. They are never conferred solely on the basis of prescribed courses and residency requirements.

Admission Requirements 

Credits and courses, additional requirements, application deadlines.

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars .

An applicant must meet  Graduate School requirements  plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

Evidence of a high standard of achievement in bachelors or previous graduate work.

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s scholastic ability and achievements.

Personal statement of research interests and how UWM’s Political Science Department will help you meet your career and educational goals.

Writing sample.

Submission of GRE scores is encouraged (official or unofficial), but not required.

Minimum degree requirement is 54 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, 27 of which must be earned in residence at UWM at the doctoral level.

Distribution Requirement

To ensure broad exposure to the discipline, students must take a minimum of three courses outside of their prelim fields, at least two of which must be in a single field. Courses used to satisfy this requirement must be taken from the departmental offerings in the four substantive fields described below. Courses that bridge two or more fields of study cannot be used to satisfy this requirement if one of those fields falls within a student’s prelim areas.

All courses taken to satisfy the distribution requirement must be political science courses numbered 700 or above.

Core Research Requirements

Attainment of the PhD denotes a high level of competence in research skills relevant to the discipline of political science. Thus, all students must complete the core departmental research seminars. Since skills learned in these courses are important elements in dealing successfully with subject matter presented in other seminars, students should enroll in these seminars immediately upon entering the graduate program.

Students using a course from outside the Department of Political Science to satisfy this requirement may enroll on a “Credit/No Credit” basis, where the grade of “Credit” demonstrates satisfactory completion of the requirement. Upon successful petition to the departmental Graduate Committee, a student may gain exemption from this requirement, based on coursework completed in the five years prior to entering the graduate program. Students who receive this exemption must still complete at least 27 credits in residence. Credits earned to meet the research requirement may count toward the 54 credits of work required for the PhD if they carry graduate credit and are taken for a grade.

In some cases, competence in foreign language skills is necessary for significant disciplinary research. Students may fulfill the research requirements beyond the above seminars  through demonstration of a reading knowledge of one foreign language. Competence is established through examination, by an appropriate UWM language department. The student must perform at a level equivalent to six semesters of college-level work in the language.

Major Professor as Advisor

The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The incoming student is advised by the Director of Graduate Studies; as that student develops specialized interests within the discipline, the student selects a major professor from within that area of specialization.

Areas of Concentration

In consultation with the major professor students plan a program of studies through which a high level of competence is gained in two substantive fields (hereafter referred to as “major” or “prelim” fields). The department offers four fields of study:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Political Theory

Competence in these fields is demonstrated by a written and oral preliminary examination. In addition to the fields listed above, students may petition the graduate committee to be examined in an alternative field. This must be a coherent field that is not covered by one of the existing prelim areas.

Evaluation of Student Progress

The Department annually evaluates the progress of each student, in order to identify areas of strength and weakness as an aid to the student and the student’s major professor in planning the program of study. This evaluation is also used to determine whether or not the student should be encouraged to pursue further graduate work.

The student must meet minimum Graduate School residence requirements.

Doctoral Preliminary Examination

The student must pass a doctoral written and oral preliminary examination covering both of their fields of study. The preliminary exam is taken during the semester following the completion of coursework. The dissertation prospectus is also defended during the preliminary examination.

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus is a detailed proposal laying out the student’s plan for conducting and completing their dissertation research. The prospectus ensures a smooth transition between the preliminary exam and the dissertation stages. Students typically identify a major advisor in their second or third year and begin working with their advisor on the development of a dissertation plan. The dissertation prospectus must be written during the last semester of coursework and will be defended before the student's dissertation committee at the end of the following semester as part of the preliminary examination.

Dissertation

The candidate, working under the supervision of the major professor and the candidate’s dissertation committee, must write an acceptable dissertation. The dissertation is a major work of publication-quality research. The purpose of the doctoral dissertation in political science is to provide the student with an opportunity to (1) investigate a problem in greater detail than has been possible at any previous point in their graduate career, (2) demonstrate their ability to perform original research, and (3) transmit the written findings and conclusions to others. Guidelines for formatting of the dissertation manuscript are available from the Graduate School.

Dissertation Defense

The candidate must, as a final step toward the degree, pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The candidate who does not successfully defend a thesis within five years of admission to candidacy may be required to take another comprehensive preliminary examination and be readmitted to candidacy.

All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.

Political Science PhD Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Political Science PhD program will be able to: 

• Synthesize and critique leading theories in at least two of the traditional subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and international relations).
• Develop original, logically coherent arguments to explain political phenomena.
• Craft cutting-edge research designs that are capable of answering key questions in the social sciences.
• Master and apply the latest quantitative (statistical) methodologies to evaluate a research question.   
• Develop effective oral presentation skills and use those skills to present one’s research at professional conferences, symposia and lectures. 
• Compose clear and coherent written texts that describe a research problem, postulate a theory, and examine that theory with evidence. 

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GENERAL OVERVIEW

The PhD program in Political Science at Stony Brook is small and research-oriented, with concentrations in  political economy, American politics, and political psychology/behavior. Our program is limited to about 35 students taught by 20 faculty members, and features close working relationships with faculty, a small class size, and numerous research opportunities for graduate students. The program provides an opportunity for students to develop skills as researchers and teachers, both through small seminars and hands-on experience. Graduate students have offices next to the faculty, other graduate students, graduate student seminar rooms, the graduate lounge, and extensive research facilities. All of this is located on a single floor of a modern building overlooking the Long Island Sound. This arrangement not only provides a delightful and friendly working environment but also creates close working relationships among faculty and students that are critical for the professional training we offer.

A graduate program can be no better than the faculty and the Stony Brook Political Science Department is one of the most productive research departments in the country. A recent study of articles published in the three major American political science journals (American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and Journal of Politics) over the past ten years shows that Stony Brook is second in the country in total publications, exceeded only by the University of Michigan (other schools in the top ten include Stanford, Rochester, Harvard, and Ohio State). Considering the size of most of the other major graduate departments in political science, Stony Brook is clearly the most productive department per capita. What does this mean for the graduate program? Graduate students take courses from and do research with some of the most active researchers in political science. Seminars are taught by faculty who are familiar with the current controversies in that field and students have an opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in their area of interest. It is an exciting environment and a place where research is not just taught in the classroom but is experienced through direct participation. From your first semester, you will be involved in research projects with political scientists who are well-known throughout the discipline. By the time your dissertation is finished, you will have taught your own undergraduate courses and will probably have presented a research paper at a major professional meeting. Jointly authored student-faculty papers from our department have been published in the major political science journals on topics including urban politics, political psychology, regulatory enforcement, congress, and electoral studies.

The department is also one of the top in the country in obtaining research grants and external funding. These grants provide financial support for graduate students and, even more importantly, they open up even more possibilities for collaborative research. Faculty research grants often involve graduate students directly in the projects and those students later go on to co-author the resulting papers and books.

The graduate students in our program also contribute to the positive environment of the department. As a result of maintaining a small program, the department can be selective in admitting students. Our graduate students are highly qualified and hard-working. They have diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging interests. Sharing offices, research facilities, and the graduate student lounge promotes a friendly and intellectual environment. It is not at all uncommon for students to work together on research projects while in school and to continue joint research after graduating.

This emphasis on professional preparation and collaboration on research papers has given our graduates a competitive edge in the academic and research job markets. After finishing their degrees, our students have been successful in finding jobs at major research and teaching universities as well as in the public and private sectors. The program is designed so that finishing in four years is possible but most students require a fifth year of study. Over the past decade, the department has a perfect record of funding students who require the fifth year.

Follow this  link  for a listing of our recent PhD graduates and their current jobs.

FIELDS OF STUDY 

In order to provide a thorough background in the fields we offer, the department has focused research and teaching resources on three specialized fields -- American politics, policy and political economy, and political psychology. Students take foundation courses in these fields during their first year. In subsequent years they will do advanced coursework in two of these three fields, as well as select a specialized field for dissertation research. All students must pass qualifying examinations after their second year in two of these fields and in research methodology. All students receive thorough training in research methodology since this is essential to all fields.

American Politics The American Politics concentration provides a broad perspective on national political institutions and processes, with particular emphasis on elections. Courses are taught in political parties and elections, the legislative process, the American judiciary, political ideology, electoral behavior, and social choice theory. Students become familiar with the kinds of quantitative and formal analysis techniques most often applied to the study of American politics. Members of the faculty are currently doing research on nominations to the Supreme Court, Congressional decision-making, voting in Congressional and Presidential elections, and public opinion.

Political Economy The political economy program builds upon the department's strengths in political psychology, methodology, and laboratory experiments. The primary focus of the program is on applications of behavioral economics methods in political science and empirical testing of theoretical models in laboratory settings. Such a focus allows for cross-field collaboration and synergy within the political science department.

Substantively, experimental economics uses insights from psychology to test the traditional economic models of a man as a selfish utility-maximizing actor. Behavioral economics takes these psychological insights and experimental results further and offers alternative theoretical models that incorporate emotions, altruism, a sense of fairness, inequity aversion, and so on. The behavioral models can then be applied in any substantive field of political science.

Political Psychology The doctoral concentration in political psychology/behavior applies contemporary psychological theories, concepts, and research methods to the study of political behavior. Students are trained in topics and methods associated with psychology as well as political science. Methodological concerns focus on experimentation. In addition to formal training in experimental methods, students are apprenticed throughout their course of training to ongoing laboratory research projects. Students become familiar with the department's extensive and well-equipped laboratories and the regular subject pool.

The substantive concerns of the political psychology concentration include, but are not limited to, those facets of psychology that can be applied to the study of political behavior: e.g. communication and interaction, group influence, attribution, attitude change, political cognition, public opinion, cognitive processes and decision making.

Follow this  link  to learn more about Political Psychology.

Methodology Since we believe that a strong background in research methods is essential for political scientists, we provide rigorous training in the application of statistical methods and formal models to political analysis. Coursework in analytic methods includes introductory training in mathematical methods and statistics as well as more advanced modeling, econometrics, measurement, and time series analysis. The "hands-on" approach is an integral part of our program. We believe, however, that it is the application of research methods, first as part of faculty and class research projects and then in your own dissertation research, that makes you a competent researcher with the skills required for success in research and academic careers.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must meet the general requirements for the Ph.D. degree set by the Graduate School. Departmental requirements are as follows:

A. Core Courses

Students take four core courses:

1. POL 600 Research Project 2. POL 601 Public Policy and Political Economy 3. POL 605 American Government 4. POL 608 Political Psychology

Students are expected to master the methods necessary to engage in scholarly work:

1. All students take a three-course sequence in mathematics, statistics, and research methods (POL 602, 603, 604). 2. All students are required to take at least one advanced methods course either in this department or in a cognate field (e.g., economics). The student’s choice of   advanced elective(s) is decided in conjunction with the student’s advisor. 3. In addition to requirements 1 and 2 above, political psychology students take POL 610, a graduate-level course in experimental design. Political economy and American   Politics students must take POL 613, Public Choice. 4. Students who have attended the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods at the University of Michigan can have the advanced elective requirement waived.

C. Electives

Students take a minimum of four advanced seminars in their area of specialization and three in their minor area. The seminars are typically at the 600 level and can be within the department or can be in cognate fields such as psychology, economics, or applied math. The course of study is selected by the student in consultation with his or her advisor and must be approved by the graduate program director.

D. Teaching and Research Apprenticeship

To ensure that all students become proficient in teaching and research, students work with the faculty on an individual basis. Funded students participate in faculty research projects and assist in teaching courses. Advanced students then prepare and teach their own undergraduate classes.

E. Evaluation

Graduate students in the Ph.D. program are formally evaluated at the end of each semester, based on grades received in the program and on evaluations by faculty familiar with the student’s work. The evaluation committee’s charge is to make one of the following three possible determinations with regard to the student’s progress: (1) recommend continuation of graduate study toward the Ph.D., (2) recommend that the student be allowed to continue toward a terminal M.A. but not to continue in the Ph.D. program, or (3) recommend that the student not be permitted to enroll in additional graduate courses in the department. The evaluation also serves as the basis for the decision as to whether the student is to receive financial support during subsequent semesters of graduate work.

F. Qualifying Examinations

1. Timing of Examinations: The examinations are taken in January (Methods) and June (Substantive) during and immediately following the second year of coursework, respectively.

Examinations in three fields compose the doctoral qualifying examinations.

2. Examination Fields: The department’s policy is to allow students to take exams only in those areas in which its faculty strengths allow in-depth training, including:

a. Methods b. American Politics c. Political Economy and Public Policy d. Political Psychology/Behavior

All students are required to take the methods exam. Students then prepare two of the three other substantive areas for written examination.

3. Preparation and Evaluation of Examinations: The graduate program director appoints a committee (with a designated committee chairperson) responsible for each examination field. The committee prepares the written examination, providing sufficient options for questions on which students may write. The committee members read the student’s examination and prepare an evaluation of that performance, which is reviewed by the PhD committee.

G. Dissertation

Following successful completion of the qualifying examinations, the student begins the process of preparing his or her dissertation.

The third year includes developing a directed reading course under the supervision of a dissertation director. Through the readings, the student will explore specialized research literature in the area of a proposed dissertation, develop an initial bibliography, and formulate a specific question for research. The second half of the year includes working with the dissertation director and selecting a dissertation committee consisting of four faculty members—three from the Department of Political Science and one with whom the student has worked outside of the department. The third year culminates with a presentation of the dissertation proposal by the student and its acceptance by the dissertation committee.

Should the dissertation committee reject the proposal, a candidate is allowed to revise the proposal for a subsequent defense. If this second defense also results in failure, the student’s program is terminated.

Upon successful conclusion of the research, the student defends the completed dissertation to the committee and the University community at large.

Note : Most courses do not have a specific semester offering. Please refer to the Graduate Class Schedule for specific semester offerings.

The application of statistical and mathematical models to the analysis of political data: Regression analysis.

Prerequisite: POL 602 or equivalent 

The application of statistical methods to the analysis of political data. The emphasis is diagnosing and dealing with violations of assumptions of statistical models. Topics covered will include: advanced regression, models for discrete dependent variables, systems of equations, and selection bias.

Prerequisite: POL 603 or equivalent.

A review of the basic political science literature of American politics, with emphasis on American political institutions.

The application of models to study political data over time. Topics include ARIMA and ARFIMA models, GARCH and MV-GARCH models, cointegration and error correction, duration models, and panel data.

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About the Doctoral Program

The doctoral program in Political Science emphasizes policy studies, and in particular public policymaking. The Ph.D. in political science trains students to become independent researchers who may apply their skills in the academic, government, non-profit, and business worlds.

Students master the skills to frame researchable questions that make original contributions to empirical and theoretical knowledge about problems in politics.

Students learn to rigorously specify cause-effect relationships, and to master techniques for marshalling evidence using quantitative and qualitative methods to test competing hypotheses about problems in politics.

The program is strong in the areas of urban politics, policy processes and institutions, American political behavior, political economy, comparative politics and international relations. Our public policy focus encourages students to adopt a multi-disciplinary perspective and training that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The Ph.D. program in Political Science prides itself on promoting diversity. Between 2011 and 2020, 25 percent of our Ph.D. graduates were African American. 

The faculty in political science are highly productive and well recognized scholars who publish in top ranked journals and university presses. Our faculty provide unusually accessible, creative, and professional Ph.D. preparation. Their active research and publication records contributed significantly to UMSL Ph.D. programs being ranked 11th of 65 among small research universities in 2007 (according to The Chronicle of Higher Education , January 12, 2007).

Our Ph.D. students are expected to develop expertise in a major field of study and area of specialization in Political Science, develop expertise in research design and quantitative methods and gain teaching and research experience as a research assistant, teaching assistant and graduate instructor.

There are two phases to obtaining the Ph.D. in Political Science at UMSL: course work and dissertation writing. The typical graduate course is a small seminar that analyzes critically the literature of a field or focuses on a research problem. These courses prepare students for the Ph.D. comprehensive examination requirements within a three-year period and for work on the doctoral dissertation The course work phase lasts three years for full-time students. During this phase, students develop expertise in one of the major fields of political science. A student is required to take 54 hours of course work and 6 hours of dissertation. Core courses include 18 credit hours in the areas of research methodology, policy process and institutions. Students also select 12 hours in the disciplinary scope of political science. The student completes 18 credit hours in a subfield of political science and, within that subfield, an area of specialization. Six one-semester courses (18 credit hours) provide a common core of training for Ph.D. students in our program. The courses provide an indispensable framework of research methods, policy processes and institutions.

Methodology

PS 6401: Introduction to Policy Research (or equivalent) PS 6402: Intermediate Techniques in Policy Research PS 6403: Advanced Techniques in Policy Research

Process and Institutions

PS 6430: Proseminar in American Politics PS 6440: Proseminar in Public Administration PS 6442: The Policy Process

Ordinarily, the student completes this portion of the curriculum in the first four semesters of full-time study. Each student will develop an individual program for achieving appropriate competence in their areas of specialization, for example in economics, foreign languages and other advanced analytic skills. The student, in consultation with his or her advisor, constructs the remaining part of the curriculum around individual interests and career goals. One part of the curriculum introduces the student to the breadth of the political science discipline. This part of the curriculum requires a survey of diverse areas of political inquiry. To achieve this goal, the student selects four additional courses (12 credit hours) that survey important subfields of political study. In most cases the student will select from the following list.

Disciplinary Scope

PS 6404: Multi-Method Research Design PS 6410: Introduction to Policy Analysis PS 6420: Proseminar in Public Law PS 6422: Law, Courts, and Public Policy PS 6431: American Political Development PS 6432: Intergovernmental Relations PS 6448: Political Economy of Public Policy PS 6450: Proseminar in Comparative Politics PS 6460: Proseminar in Political Theory PS 6470: Proseminar in Urban Politics PS 6480: Proseminar in International Relations PS 6482: International Political Economy

Other courses may be used to satisfy this survey requirement if approved by the students advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. Note that students with a Masters degree in political science from another institution may meet a part of this requirement by transferring courses, subject to approval by the Director of Graduate Studies and the students Advisor.

Specialization

The student completes 6 courses (18 credit hours) in a subfield of political science and, within that subfield, an area of concentration. Subfields in political science include Public Policy (including Comparative Public Policy), Urban Politics, American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, Public Law, and Public Administration. Areas of concentration within Public Policy might include Economic Policy or Health Policy, Social Welfare, Criminal Justice, Labor and Employment, Housing, Environmental Protection, Policy Analysis, Public Budgeting and Finance, or other areas not enumerated.

This list is not inclusive. Students should consult their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies for additional options tailored to individual career goals. Students may need to acquire knowledge and skills more commonly taught by faculty in another discipline such as Economics, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Gerontology, Sociology, History, or the sciences. These students should develop a suitable program in that discipline in consultation with the appropriate faculty and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. The Department has explicit agreements for transferring credit to the Ph.D. in Political Science from the UMSL  Masters in Public Policy Administration, the Masters in Economics, and the Gerontology degrees.

General Examination

Students must pass the qualifying written examinations in three areas: methodology, institutions and policy processes and subfield specialization, accompanied by the subfield oral examination. General examinations are given three times a year. Doctoral students advance to candidacy when they pass all required comprehensive examinations, written and oral, and successfully complete all course work.

Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation

The second major phase of the doctoral program consists of an oral defense of a written dissertation proposal and full time devotion to dissertation research and writing. A dissertation embodying the results of original research must be accepted by the faculty and the Graduate School after an oral defense of the completed written dissertation. The Ph.D. is awarded when the student submits a satisfactory dissertation to a committee of four faculty members. The time required to complete the dissertation phase varies, depending on the topic and related research requirements and full or part-time status of the student. The University requires that all credit hours for a Ph.D., including transfer credits and the dissertation, be completed during a continuous eight-year span.

Please see The Doctoral Program in Political Science: Policies and Procedures, 2021 for the most current and complete information about the degree requirements .

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Political science, phd.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science

The course of study leading to a Ph.D. in Political Science requires a minimum of three years of full-time study, culminating in the successful defense of a doctoral dissertation. A minimum of 96 graduate hours of academic credit is required, 32 of which may be graduate hours of dissertation research. At least 64 of the 96 graduate hours must be taken in residence. A grade of B or better is required in all courses.

In addition to meeting Graduate College requirements, the Department of Political Science requires that students complete a "scope and methods" sequence, acquire proficiency in analytic skills, and demonstrate expertise in several subfields within the discipline. The progress of doctoral candidates is monitored at various points in the program. In addition to an interim evaluation, students must pass a set of qualifying examinations and present a dissertation proposal. Once the doctoral dissertation is completed, the candidate must successfully complete an oral final defense.

Admission to the Ph.D. Program The Graduate College admission requirements apply. The student should have a minimum of 20 hours of undergraduate work in political science and cognate disciplines such as economics, psychology, finance, sociology, or history. All applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, a personal statement, and an example of written work. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit the TOEFL iBT or IELTS score. The Ph.D. program typically admits students for the fall semester.  Application deadline is December 1st.

Admission to the Master of Arts with Concentration in Civic Leadership Admission is restricted to students who were accepted to the Civic Leadership Program as undergraduates at the University of Illinois. Application deadline is December 1st.  Applicants who wish to obtain a joint MA-JD degree program must apply separately for admission to the Law School.

Graduate Teaching Experience Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program and is essential for students whose career goals include college teaching.

Financial Aid Students accepted into the department's Ph.D. program are eligible to apply for financial aid. Most incoming students with good credentials and continuing students demonstrating satisfactory progress will receive some type of financial aid, but the type and amount will vary. The Department of Political Science provides, on a competitive basis, aid packages up to $22,000, plus waivers of tuition and some fees. Financial aid is usually a combination of fellowship money and assistantships. Limited amounts of aid are also available for dissertation field research, internships, and the presentation of papers at professional meetings.

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's  graduate handbook  and the  Graduate College Handbook . 

Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree

Other Requirements

Entering with approved B.S./B.A. degree

The Political Science doctoral program is designed to produce broadly educated and well-trained scholars and teachers. Our aim is to produce Ph.D.s who have the breadth and vision to grapple with large questions, the training to make original contributions to research that addresses those questions, and the ability to communicate research results to students, their peers, and society at large. We thus strive to strike an appropriate balance between:

• Exposure to theoretical models in political and social research,
• Sophisticated training in the methods and techniques of social science,
• The development of expertise within a student's primary area of interest,
• Exposure to classroom teaching, and
• Exposure to the discipline’s professional norms and practices.

More specifically, every Illinois Ph.D. should:

• Be well-grounded in the social sciences. This includes familiarity with the philosophy of science issues that underlie social scientific inquiry. It also includes exposure to or an acquaintance with the literature and approaches of at least one other discipline as they pertain to inquiries in political science and specifically to students' particular areas of interest.
• Be familiar with the breadth and diversity of models, approaches, and intellectual traditions within a student's major subfield of expertise (major fields in the department are American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory).
• Be competent in at least a second substantive area of political science(minor fields in the department are the same as the four major fields, with the addition of political methodology).
• Be highly competent in research skills appropriate to his or her research endeavors. An Illinois Ph.D. should be exposed to a broad range of methodologies (including both quantitative and qualitative approaches) and have some deeper familiarity with particular sets of research skills (e.g. statistical analysis, formal modeling, game theory, the comparative case study method).
• Fully understand the research enterprise. This includes an ability to critique others' work and an ability to be a contributing scholar by producing original research.
• Be prepared to teach graduate courses in his or her primary subfield and undergraduate courses in at least two subfields of the discipline, and understand best practices for student engagement.
• Be familiar with disciplinary norms and standards, including understanding issues related to ethical practices in research, professional and public engagement, and instruction.

Graduate Degree Programs in Political Science

• Civic Leadership
• African American Studies
• Political Science, PhD & Law, JD
• Political Science: Civic Leadership, MA & Law, JD

The Department of Political Science offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Students are not admitted to the master's degree program in Political Science, except for the Civic Leadership concentration. The department is not accepting applications to the Public Administration program.

Department of Political Science Head of Department: Thomas Rudolph Director of Graduate Studies: Jeffery Mondak Department of Political Science website 420 David Kinley Hall, 1407 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-3881; fax: (217) 244-5712 Political Science email

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Welcome to our PhD Program in Political Science!

For students interested in graduate study in political science, we provide excellent opportunities for you to succeed at Ohio State. Our location in Columbus offers exciting extra-departmental opportunities as a major research university in one of the thirty largest metropolitan areas in the country. In 2021, U.S. News and World Report ranked the department 17th overall in the country, 12th in International Relations, 11th in American Politics, 20th in Comparative Politics, and 13th in Political Methodology.

Our distinguished and diverse faculty are strongly committed to working closely with graduate students. We combine traditional disciplinary major fields and innovative departmental specializations along with providing students with the most up-to-date training in theory and methods. 

You will have the opportunity to join a highly competitive, supportive community of students, who typically receive full financial support to pursue their degrees. Most students receive a five-year funding package that pays a stipend, tuition and fees, and health care. 

Fields of Study and Departmental Specialization

For most students, arriving at a course of study will involve the selection of two focus fields and a course-out minor from either one of the focus fields, a graduate interdisciplinary specialization, or a graduate minor. 

Focus Fields of Study

American Politics ( Ranked 11th in the nation in 2021) Comparative Politics  ( Ranked 20th in the nation in 2021) International Relations ( Ranked 12th in the nation in 2021) Political Methodology ( Ranked 13th in the nation in 2021) Political Theory

In addition, students may choose one or more departmental specializations. More individualized programs emphasizing either breadth or depth may be developed in consultation with an academic advisor.

Departmental Specializations

Political Psychology Formal Theory Political Economy Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

"I was attracted by Ohio State’s graduate program in political science because of its commitment to supporting graduate student research. The department’s outstanding faculty have guided me throughout the challenging process of selecting a dissertation topic, gathering preliminary evidence, spending months abroad collecting data, and finally writing my Ph.D. thesis. I am particularly grateful for exceptional financial support that allowed me to travel across Africa in search of the best available evidence for answering my research questions. " - Vladimir Chlouba, Ph.D. Candidate

Secondary Menu

• Political Methodology

This field focuses on scholarship directed at providing appropriate methodologies for investigating theoretically motivated political questions. Departmental activities in methods are organized around deductive/analytical, empirical/inductive, and computational approaches to modeling political phenomena.

Students pursuing this field will demonstrate competency in:

• mathematics and statistics
• research design
• formal modeling
• hypothesis testing

Graduate training is designed so that students pursuing Political Methodology as a first field, by the completion of their Ph.D. programs, will have also earned the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences (PARISS) Certificate . See the PARISS certificate website . Students do not need to apply to the certificate program; however, you are encouraged to submit a proposal to the PARISS faculty early on in order to get feedback on their proposed plan of study.

First Field

• POLSCI 630 Probability and Basic Regression
• POLSCI 631 Introduction to Deductive & Analytical Approaches to Political Phenomena
• 4 courses selected from the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences (PARISS) Certificate. See PARISS website . 

The PARISS courses need to be selected and approved in conjunction with your advisor and documented in a written plan to be evaluated by the Political Methodology faculty. This will be coordinated by the Political Methodology Field Chair.

Preliminary examination

All students must complete a preliminary examination at the end of their second year which consists of a second year paper and an oral defense. The second year paper must be submitted to the student’s preliminary exam committee and the DGS by May 1 st and the oral examination must be completed by May 15 th . Students should speak with the field chair and their primary advisor(s) well in advance of these deadlines to ensure a shared understanding of what is expected.

Second Field

Students pursuing Political Methods as a second field must propose a course list that is approved by the student's advisor and the field leader in Political Methods. The goal is to provide a strong foundation for students to be able to execute rigorous research methods related to their research questions. 

In addition to POLSCI 731, 630, and 748, which all students complete with their cohort, students who elect to take methods as second field (at any point) are required to pass an exam demonstrating sufficient preparation for the field and successfully complete three advanced courses.

The plan for the advanced set of courses is created jointly by the advisor and the student in line with the planned dissertation and must be approved by the methods field chair. There are two possible tracks, with course requirements are as follows:

​ Track: Applied Statistics

• THREE ADVANCED METHODS COURSES, of which: (1) at least one taught in political science (e.g., Advanced Regression, Machine Learning, Applied Bayesian Modeling); and (2) at least two taught outside the department, chosen from suitable options in computer science, statistics, or econometrics

Track: Formal and Computational

• ​​ Analysis (Math 431 or 531) 
• a​nd D​ata Structures and Algorithms (CS 201)
• POLSCI 631L Introduction to Deductive & Analytical Approaches to Political Phenomena
• ​Two electives related to formal or computational methods (e.g., Game theory 2 PS 730; Advanced game theory PS 749; Social networks PS 634; Computational PE)
• ​Graduate microeconomics (Econ 601, or 701, or 705) or Graduate CS elective (e.g., AI CS 570; Machine learning CS 571; Reinforcement learning CS 590; or Computational micro CS 590)

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PhD Political Science Syllabus and Subjects

PhD Political Science is a 3 to 5 years long doctorate course. PhD Political Science subjects are related to the study of Indian politics, economy, and development. A PhD in Political Science syllabus will provide aspirants with several research chances as well as experience in their chosen field.

Semester Wise PhD Political Science Syllabus

PhD Political Science syllabus covers necessitate a thorough understanding of Indian politics, as well as the political landscapes of other comparable countries. The course has a focus on Governance, Community Empowerment, Economy, Decentralisation, and Development. PhD Political Science course is full of opportunities. PhD Political Science semester-wise syllabus is given in the table below:

PhD Political Science First Year Syllabus

The table below contains the subjects of the PhD Political Science first-year syllabus:

PhD Political Science Second Year Syllabus

The table below contains the subjects of the PhD Political Science second-year syllabus:

PhD Political Science Third Year Syllabus

The table below contains the subjects of the PhD Political Science third-year syllabus:

PhD Political Science Subjects

A Ph.D in Political Science is the highest academic degree that can be earned after completing a course of study. Graduates are conferred for programs in a wide range of academic disciplines. The PhD Political Science curriculum is fairly adaptable. PhD Political Science semester-wise subjects can vary since there are both core and elective subjects in the structure.

PhD Political Science Core Subjects

Given below are the core subjects in the curriculum:

• Protracted Disputes
• Human Security and Environmental Issues
• Statistics and Data Collection
• Political and Economic Challenges Research Design
• Foreign Policies of South Asian Countries and Regional Cooperation Initiatives

PhD Political Science Course Structure

PhD Political Science is organised into three to five years of study, divided into six to ten semesters, and contains both theoretical and practical papers. The course is designed in such a way that both classroom and practical training are incorporated into the curriculum. The following is the course structure:

• Six - Ten Semesters
• Literary Theory and Practice
• Core Subjects
• Elective Subjects

PhD Political Science Teaching Methodology and Techniques

The curriculum takes into account a variety of teaching methods. For students who are knowledgeable and skilled, classroom instruction incorporates practical sessions. The following are the methods and approaches for teaching:

• Assignments
• Following course module books
• Case studies/ Research work
• Internships

PhD Political Science Projects

Research projects are part of the PhD Political Science program. Students are given projects to assist them to learn topics and gain practical experience. By the end of the sixth semester, these projects must be accomplished. The following are some examples of common PhD Political Science project topics:

• Behavioural Approach to Parties Comparison.
• The United States vs the United Kingdom Foreign Policies.
• Presidential versus Parliamentary Democracy.
• Cultural Pressure Between the United States & Japan.
• Anglo-Saxon Traits in the American Government.
• Soviet Union Ideology.

PhD Political Science Reference Books

PhD Political Science books are available both online and offline by many authors and publications. These books are made to gain an in-depth understanding of concepts. Books on this course differ according to specialisations. Some of the reference books for PhD Political Science subjects are:

Ph.D. in Political Science: Overview, Course, Eligibility Criteria, Admission, Syllabus, Fees, Scope, Result and Cutoffs, & FAQs

Best Ph.D. in Political Science Colleges in India 2023: Ph.D. in Political Science stands for the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science subject. It is a higher-level degree that is done after completing a master’s-level program in the relevant field. It takes up to 3 years to complete the course if you are a full-time candidate and it may take up to 5 years if you are a part-time candidate. If you choose to be a student for a doctorate in political sciences, then you will be doing in-depth research on all the areas of political sciences. Having prior knowledge of Decentralisation, Governance, Economy, Development, and Community Empowerment for Indian politics as well as in other countries is going to be an added advantage.

You will be choosing the topic according to your preference and conducting in-depth research as well as case studies on that topic whose outcomes shall be included in your thesis for final approval from your higher authorities. The candidate needs to clear various university-level examinations to get admitted into the best political science Ph.D. programs like CRET, PET, RET, etc. You can earn up to 3 to 10 lakh per annum as a fresher after completing your research and getting your thesis approved by the professors. You can look up to good opportunities further & work as Professor, Political Scientist, Public Relations Specialist, Market trend Research analyst, and Survey Researcher ahead. Let’s now jump into the Political Science Ph.D. program details.

Course Highlights

Also Read:  Top Engineering Colleges in India

Eligibility Criteria

The Ph.D. in Political Science admission 2023 process has various parameters & eligibility criteria that a student needs to meet before he can join the best university for Ph.D. in Political Science in India.

• All the aspirants from the general category should have at least 55% aggregate marks in their 10th and 12th standards. ST, OBC, and SC aspirants should have at least 50% aggregate marks in their 10th and 12th standards.
• Candidates undergoing the Ph.D. in Political Science admission 2023, should have completed their undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the relevant field with at least a 55% aggregate score. Whereas various Central universities demand 80% UG/PG scores for eligibility.
• Before you complete the Ph.D. entrance exams syllabus for the political sciences program, you should know that various universities consider students with a high research-oriented mindset and academic excellence along with having strong political and economical knowledge.
• Despite having academic excellence, you need to clear the entrance examinations with at least passing scores to be eligible for admission to Ph.D. in the Political Science program.

Admission Process

The Ph.D. in Political Science admission process takes place through merit scores or the entrance examination. The admission process is very rigorous, so even lagging by 1% would not let you join the university. The best university for political science Ph.D. programs held their university-level entrance exam, whose syllabus, cut-off score, exam date, etc get published on their official website a few months before. You can get Ph.D. in Political Science admission in 2023 in the following ways-

• Merit-Based Admission: While the institutions that use a merit-based admissions system do not conduct entrance exams, they do demand strong grades, such as a cumulative grade point average of at least 55% from the applicant’s prior academic years. A candidate’s interest, political system knowledge, and research plans are all taken into consideration during interview rounds at various universities in India.
• Entrance Exam-based admission: For separating qualified applicants from those who are not, certain prestigious universities like Delhi University choose an entrance-based examination method. A candidate must attempt the university’s entrance exam and receive at least a passing grade to be considered. CSIR-Net/JRF exams are accepted by the majority of India’s top universities for Ph.D. political science. Multiple-choice questions are in the questionnaire, and you must choose the correct answer from the list of options. Every year in January, the procedure for applying to the best political science Ph.D. programs through entrance exams begins. Starting in August, lessons are held.

Syllabus for Ph.D. in Political Science

The Ph.D. in political science syllabus covers various topics related to politics and the economic system. The entire syllabus of Ph.D. political science is divided into 6 semesters and one year will have two semesters. Here is the detailed list of all the topics that you will be studying in the Doctorate of political science course –

Ist Year Syllabus

IInd Year Syllabus 

IIIrd Year Syllabus 

Fee Structure for Ph.D. in Political Science

The fee structure of the best Political Science Ph.D. programs is very nominal and ranges between INR 1,000 to INR 15 lakh per annum. Fees for the private Ph.D. in Political Science universities are higher than the government Ph.D. in political science universities. In total, we have 213 best universities for Ph.D. in Political Science in India. From these 213 institutions, we have 110 Government Ph.D. in Political Science universities & 103 Private Ph.D. in Political Science universities in India. Almost 47 of these universities from 213 have secured a place in the 2021 NIRF rankings. The ranking is determined by MHRD so that the process of choosing the best Ph.D. in Political Science universities whether government or private can become easy.

If you are looking for the best government Ph.D. universities having affordable fees between INR 1,000/- per annum to INR 10,000/- per annum with top-notch academic delivery, then you can apply for ‘Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi,’ ‘The University of Hyderabad (UOH), Hyderabad,’ ‘University of Calcutta, Kolkata,’ ‘Savitribai Phule University, Pune’, etc. Other well-known universities like ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad,’ ‘Assam University, Silchar,’ ‘Annamalai University (AU), Tamil Nadu,’ ‘Delhi University (DU), New Delhi’ have fees structure approximately between INR 25,000/- per annum to INR 70,000/- per annum.

Top Entrance Examinations for Ph.D. in Political Science

The best university for Ph.D. in Political Science in India like Hindu College, New Delhi considers conducting entrance examinations instead of accepting students based on their merit. The following examinations you need to clear before getting admitted to renowned universities for Ph.D. in Political Science –

• DUET 2023: DUET or Delhi University Entrance Test entrance exam is held by the ‘Delhi University,’ New Delhi each year. The doctorate of philosophy in political sciences entrance exam is generally conducted to select students for research-associated admissions.
• RET 2023: RET or Research Entrance Test, is held by every university. It is conducted for selecting political science aspirants and research scholars.
• UGC NET 2023: The full form of UGC NET is the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. It is a type of university-level entrance examination held by UGC following the ‘Government of India.’ The UGC NET exam is helpful in the various courses of the admission process & Ph.D. Political Science is one of them. It is a powerful exam with a huge weightage which means that clearing UGC NET could save you from various other entrance examinations.
• CRET 2023: CRET or Combined Research Entrance Test is held by Assam University, Silchar every year. The entrance examination helps in filtering the right candidates for the admission process in the MPhil course as well as Ph.D. level programs.
• PET 2023: PET is a short form for the Ph.D. Entrance Test. The PET entrance test is generally held by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad. It helps with Ph.D. admission in political science and various other doctorate-level programs.

Syllabus for Entrance Exam

UGC-NET is the exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is accepted by all Indian colleges affiliated with the University Grants Commission (UGC). The syllabus for the UGC-NET Political Science exam is mentioned below.

Scholarship and Fellowship

Candidates can get the full benefit from the various fellowship & scholarship schemes made by the government of India to provide financial aid to deserving students. Attempt for the UGC NET / NET JRF examination in a political science subject. Once you successfully clear the exam, the government is going to sponsor your entire fee. The JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is chosen by clearing the UGC NET entrance exam – (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test). He is eligible to receive the INR 31,000 stipend every month. The INR 20,000/- contingency grant is provided to the university for every candidate. The candidate can attempt the SRF (Senior Research Fellowship) program after 2 years. He will get an INR 35,000 stipend every month.

Result and Cutoffs

Candidates need to meet the cutoff score set by their desired University to be eligible to be admitted there. Various parameters make the university come to a particular cutoff number. It is generally based on the infrastructure, the curriculum, the location, the student population, and the popularity of that particular university. The cutoff marks are going to vary for every university, so you need to make sure that you have scored the minimum eligible marks in your 10th and 12th standards along with meeting the minimum cut-off mark requirements in the entrance examination conducted by the university. You can check the previous year’s cut-off marks of your desired university to get an idea of how much the university expects from a candidate, as well as browse through their official website to get a clear idea on this subject & recent updates on cutoff 2023.

Future Scope and Career Options after Ph.D. in Political Science

The future seems bright for the candidates after taking Ph.D. admission in political sciences in 2023. The salary is not only the major attractive point to get admitted to a Ph.D. in Political Science 2023. In the future, you will be part of major decision-making in our political and economical system. Henceforth, you are going to get into various dignified job roles. According to your preference, you can either get into research-based profiles, government job roles, or even private sector job roles. The scope of a doctorate in philosophy in political sciences is not limited to a particular industry, you will get a chance to work with various sectors like publishing houses, universities, schools, etc. The top recruiters like Times of India, NDTV, and India Today will be coming to your campus for recruitment purposes so it in itself is a very big opportunity after completing Ph.D. in Political Science. Here in the below section, we have compiled the list of job roles, employment sectors as well as top recruiters-

Job Roles 

Employment Sectors 

Top Recruiters

Salary Package After Completing Ph.D. in Political Science

According to the pay scale, the highest salary, lowest salary, and average salary for a Ph.D. in Political Science graduate are INR 20,00,000/-, INR 2,00,000/-, and INR 3,00,000/-. As per Glassdoor, the average salary for a Ph.D. in organic chemistry graduate is INR 9, 00,000/-. The same source also revealed the average salary for private & government careers. If you wish to pursue a career in government jobs of a Ph.D. in Political Science like survey researcher, political associate, etc, then your average salary would be INR 6, 00,000/-. If you get hired in a public sector career job role with Ph.D. in Political Science then your average salary is going to be INR 10, 00,000/-. Here is the list of job roles with their salary packages per annum respectively –

Top Cities for Ph.D. in Political Science

Candidates will find that every corner of India is filled with Ph.D. universities for political sciences, but the best of them are very few. The choice of the best location for a political science doctorate course is based on factors such as placements, infrastructure, laboratories, research centers, live projects, internships, etc. Here is a list of the best cities that you can choose for doing your political science doctorate course –

Top university for Ph.D. in Political Science in India

Candidates are becoming more alert before choosing government and private universities for their Ph.D. in Political Science. Both university types have their pros and cons. Government Universities have lower fee structures and more job opportunities. Whereas private Universities have a higher fee structure and a decent amount of job opportunities although admission criteria in government universities are quite difficult as compared to private Universities. Let’s discuss them below –

Best Private/Government Ph.D. in Political Science Universities in India: Here is the list of top-ranked government & private doctorate in political science universities according to ‘The Week, ‘ ‘India today’ & ‘Outlook’ –

Top University for Ph.D. in Political Science in World : According to the source, ‘QS top universities,’ the ranking of best Ph.D. in Political Sciences universities with a score in the World are mentioned below –

FAQ’s Related to Ph.D. in Political Science

Q. What is the full form of a Ph.D. in political science? Ans. Ph.D. political science stands for ‘Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Sciences. ‘

Q. What is the average salary of a Ph.D. political science graduate? Ans. The doctorate in political science graduate has an average salary of INR 9 lakh per annum according to glassdoor. He can make between INR 2 lakh per annum to 20 lakhs per annum based on his knowledge, expertise & hands-on experience.

Q. Mention the top recruiters that hire Ph.D. in political science graduates. Ans. The top companies that hire political science doctorate graduates are Times of India, India Today, NDTV sector, etc.

Q. What career options do I have after completing a Ph.D. political science course? Ans. After completing Ph.D. in political science abroad or India, you can get into job roles like Political Science Professor, Political Associate, Education Developer, Political Research Associate, etc.

Q. What entrance exams are held for admission to Ph.D. in political science? Ans. PET, CRET, RET, and UGC NET are the general exams that will help you to get admission to Ph.D. political science.

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The urgency of tackling energy poverty: how the G20 and Brasil can contribute to universal energy access

Thinking about ways to tackle hunger and poverty also implies reflecting on universal access to energy. In an exclusive article for the G20 Brasil website, André Leão, researcher from Ineep (Institute for Strategic Studies of Petroleum Natural Gas and Biofuels), discusses the concept of energy poverty, pointing out how investments to overcome the problem can help tackle hunger and poverty— a priority of the Brazilian presidency of the G20. In the text, Leão, who is also a PhD in Political Science from the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (IESP-UERJ) recalls that the topic is one of the priorities of the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, which holds its next ministerial meeting between September 30 and October 2.

The creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty at the G20 Summit, launched during the group's ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro in July, gives Brasil a new chance to become, once again, a global protagonist in tackling hunger and poverty, an agenda put forward worldwide by President Lula already in his first term, in 2003. But it is necessary to reflect on the various facets of poverty, for example, the energy issue and the impacts that it has on it. In this way, the concept of energy poverty is reached.

In Brasil, this concept is still little debated, and the G20 appears as a space that sheds light on it, helping to understand how the absence of energy resources in certain regions is an obstacle to people's access to modern services and to overcoming poverty. In this context, within the scope of the Energy Transitions Working Group – and supported by past public policy experiences, such as Luz para Todos ("Light for All") – the Brazilian government listed energy poverty as a priority theme, which links the social issue to the energy transition.

According to the most recent data (2022) from the International Energy Agency (IEA), approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide lack access to clean energy sources, relying primarily on firewood, kerosene, and coal for cooking. In percentage terms, this means that 71.3% of the global population has access to clean cooking, while 28.7% do not.

Thinking about ways to tackle hunger and poverty also implies reflecting on universal access to energy. The need for thermal comfort, food cooling, lighting and water heating are major financial challenges for low-income families with precarious infrastructure. The way out for many of these families, when faced with such expenses, is to use “dirty” energy sources, for example, for cooking. 

Access to technologies that ensure clean cooking depends on the formulation of effective public and investment policies and public and private financing. Considering that the poorest regions of Asia and Africa are those where populations suffer most from lack of access to clean cooking, South-South cooperation actions are essential to transfer/disseminate successful public policies. In this way, the Brazilian proposal to create a global coalition to support countries with low state capacities for energy planning is interesting. Assisting in developing long-term energy transition policies in countries whose matrices are still highly concentrated in fossil energies should be a path to contribute to the goal of reducing global carbon emissions.

According to the most recent data (2022) from the International Energy Agency (IEA), approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide lack access to clean energy sources, relying primarily on firewood, kerosene, and coal for cooking. In percentage terms, this means that 71.3% of the global population has access to clean cooking, while 28.7% do not. When looking at the data by regions, the inequality is striking. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest percentage of access: only 18.5% of the population. Then, the Asia-Pacific region, with 72.2%, slightly above the global average. With the exception of these two regions, all others have percentages around 90% or higher, as shown in the following graph.

To begin reversing this uneven scenario and achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, IEA forecasts indicate that approximately 300 million people need to gain access to clean cooking technologies each year, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biomass-powered stoves (especially in rural areas), biogas, ethanol, and electricity. However, the expansion of the use of such energy sources depends on a massive increase in investments, which should reach 8 billion dollars per year by 2030. 

These figures demonstrate the urgency of tackling energy poverty in the world. The concept should be the subject of broad debates by political actors, such as governments, parliamentarians, parties and unions, civil society, and the private sector, to address two fundamental issues: the formulation of solid public policies that contribute to the development of new energy technologies that help to alleviate household budgets; and means of financing from the public sector and the private sector that sustain, in the long run, the continuous reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the G20 emerges as a foundational platform that can serve as a catalyst for a joint effort to combat energy poverty.