phd political economy online

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Political Economics

The political economics field is an interdisciplinary field focusing on the collective, political activity of individuals and organizations.

The PhD Program in political economics prepares students for research and teaching positions by providing rigorous training in theoretical and empirical techniques. The intellectual foundation for the program is positive political economy, which includes formal models of rational choice, collective action, political institutions, political competition, and behavioral political economy. Development and extensions of theories are often combined with empirical analysis, including the identification of causal effects.

Students become involved in research early in the program. They begin their own research during the first year and are required to write research papers during the summers following the first and second years. The program is flexible and allows ample opportunity to tailor coursework and research to individual interests. The program is small by design to promote close interaction between students and faculty.

Fields of Inquiry

Specific fields of inquiry include:

• Bureaucratic politics
• Comparative institutions
• Constitutional choice
• Government and business
• Interest groups
• Judicial institutions
• Law and economics
• Legislative behavior and organization
• Macro political economy
• Political economy of development
• Political behavior and public opinion

Cross-Campus Collaboration

The program, embedded in the larger community of political economics scholars at Stanford University, combines the resources of Stanford GSB with opportunities to study in the departments of economics and political science .

Drawing on the offerings of all three units, students have a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of economic methods and analytical political science and to apply them to the study of political economy. The program involves coursework in economic theory, econometrics, game theory, political theory, and theories of institutions and organizations.

Preparation and Qualifications

Faculty selects students on the basis of predicted performance in the PhD Program. Because of the rigorous nature of the program, a substantial background or ability in the use of analytical methods is an important factor in the admission decision.

In many instances, successful applicants have majored in economics, mathematics, or political science as undergraduates. However, this background is not a prerequisite for admission.

Students are expected to have, or to obtain during their first year, mathematical skill at the level of one year of calculus and one course each in linear algebra, analysis, probability, optimization, and statistics.

The successful applicant usually has clearly defined career goals that are compatible with the purposes of the program and is interested in doing basic research in empirical and/or theoretical political economics.

Faculty in Political Economics

Jonathan bendor, steven callander, katherine casey, dana foarta, andrew b. hall, bård harstad, saumitra jha, daniel p. kessler, neil malhotra, gregory j. martin, condoleezza rice, emeriti faculty, david p. baron, david w. brady, keith krehbiel, recent publications in political economics, trading stocks builds financial confidence and compresses the gender gap, effects of a u.s. supreme court ruling to restrict abortion rights, asymmetric ideological segregation in exposure to political news on facebook, recent insights by stanford business, studying news junkies reveals insights into online reading and info bubbles, the gap between the supreme court and most americans’ views is growing, the federal government pays farmers. that doesn’t mean farmers are fans..

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Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Political Economy

Program description.

Our nationally recognized, interdisciplinary PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy degree program offers training opportunities for doctoral students from internationally renowned faculty. The mission of the program is to prepare our students for professional positions in research, teaching, and practice in fields related to public policy and political economy, in both academic and nonacademic settings. We prepare students through instruction in social science and public policy concepts, advanced methodological knowledge, applied social research techniques and professional communication skills. PPPE students and faculty are encouraged to promote an inclusive and diverse environment that is committed to continued scholarship and service.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program seek positions such as: academics and researcher, policy analysts, government officials, consultants in development policy, foreign and security policy, public administration and public policy.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Application Requirements

Degree requirements:  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

GPA:  Minimum of 3.2.

Test score required:  Yes

A score of 160 Verbal and a score of 148 Quantitative on the GRE, or equivalent score on the GMAT is preferred.

Letters of recommendation:  3

Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can judge the candidate’s probability of success in graduate school. Use the electronic request form in the graduate application to submit the letters. Contact the graduate academic program department if you have any questions.

Admissions essay required:  Yes

A one-page essay outlining the applicant’s background, education, and professional objectives.

Deadlines:  University  deadlines  apply.

About the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

Every new generation inherits a world more complex than that of its predecessors, which prompts a need for new thinking about public policies that impact people’s daily lives. In the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), we examine the implications of innovation and change for individuals and communities. The social sciences are where the world turns to for answers to the important issues of today and the future such as education and health policy, financial crises, globalization, policing, political polarization, public management, terrorism, and the application of geographical information sciences to study social, economic and environmental issues.

As an undergraduate in EPPS, you will have the opportunity to work with professors who are probing issues that will affect your future. You will develop the vital skills you need to thrive in a rapidly evolving, highly competitive job market. EPPS will prepare you for careers in government, non-profits and the private sector that enable you to make a real difference in the world of today and tomorrow. EPPS is at the forefront of leadership, ethics and innovation in the public and nonprofit sectors. Our students and faculty look forward to new opportunities to study and address the complex and evolving issues of the future. Research informs much of the instruction. The school has four centers of excellence:

• Center for Global Collective Action
• Texas Schools Project
• Institute for Urban Policy Research
• The Negotiations Center

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts : Criminology , economics , geospatial information sciences , international political economy , political science , public affairs , public health , public policy , sociology

Master of Science : Applied sociology , criminology , economics , geospatial information sciences , international political economy , social data analytics and research

Master of Arts : Political science

Master of Public Affairs : Public affairs

Master of Public Policy : Public policy

Doctor of Philosophy : Criminology , economics , geospatial information sciences , political science , public affairs , public policy and political economy

Certificates

EPPS offers the following 15-hour graduate certificates, which generally can be completed in one year of part-time evening classes:

• Economic and Demographic Data Analysis : focusing on the understanding and application of quantitative analysis of demographic and economic data.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) : focusing on the application of GIS in government, private sector and scientific areas.
• Geospatial Intelligence : focusing on the application of geospatial ideas and techniques to national security and other intelligence activity.
• Local Government Management : designed to broaden knowledge of important issues and approaches employed by professional local public administrators.
• Nonprofit Management : designed to provide an overview of the nature and context of nonprofit organizations and develop competencies needed by nonprofit managers.
• Program Evaluation : designed to provide students the opportunity to gain competencies in the design and implementation of program evaluations in fields such as education, health care, human services, criminal justice and economic development.
• Remote Sensing : focusing on remote sensing and digital image processing.

Contact Information

Marjorie McDonald Graduate Program Administrator Email:  [email protected] Phone: 972-883-6406

Dr. Thomas Gray Associate Program Head and Director of Graduate Studies Email:  [email protected] Phone: 972-883-4948

Degree Information Dr. Tom Brunell, Program Head Email:  [email protected] Phone: 972-883-4963

epps.utdallas.edu/

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Political economy.

About the Program

The Designated Emphasis (DE) in Political Economy gives PhD students at UC Berkeley the opportunity to strengthen their training in interdisciplinary political economy, to join a vibrant intellectual community that cuts across academic units on campus, and to earn an extra credential along with their doctoral degree. This program has multiple benefits for faculty and graduate students as well as for the campus community more broadly, positioning Berkeley at the cutting edge of the study of interdisciplinary political economy, both nationally and internationally.

Visit Program Website

PhD students in any department may apply. All applications must be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of the Graduate Group. In order to gain such approval, students must have taken one core course (or be enrolled in one) before applying to the Designated Emphasis. Students should take care to make their applications  before  their qualifying exams.

Doctoral students must commit to fulfilling the DE requirements and present a tentative plan for doing so (with proposed courses, dates for those courses, and a target date for the Qualifying Examination).

Designated Emphasis Requirements

Students in the DE must take three courses from the list below, or two courses from the list plus a third course with substantial political economy content that has been approved by the Designated Emphasis's head graduate advisor. At least two of the three courses must be taken outside of the student’s home department. And the three courses must be from at least two different departments.

Core Course List

DE students are encouraged to embrace the spirit of the program, and not only to satisfy the minimum formal requirements. In particular, they are encouraged to take at least two courses that stretch them beyond the most prevalent approaches to political economy in their home disciplines.

DE students will also be required to participate in DE workshops to be held about once a month during the fall and spring semesters. They will also be encouraged to participate in the Berkeley Economy and Society Initiative (BESI) Programs.

Since the Economics Department and the Haas School political economy programs overlap, students in one of these units may only count one course in the other unit as an “outside” course. Thus, an Economics student could count one Haas course as an outside course, but would have to take at least one course outside of both Economics and Haas.

The History Department offers a variety of seminars with the number 280, so only those that focus on political economy will count for this program. In case of doubt, check with the DE's graduate student affairs officer.

Examination and Dissertation Requirements

Students must be admitted to the DE before the qualifying examination . The qualifying examination must include examination of knowledge within the DE.

Students must have at least one DE faculty member on their Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Committees. They should choose that member(s) from the Designated Emphasis affiliated faculty roster. Students may also request approval from the graduate adviser for another faculty member, who has substantial expertise in political economy, and whose own work is relevant to that of the student.

The dissertation topic must incorporate study within the Designated Emphasis.

Designated Emphasis Conferral Process

The Designated Emphasis will be awarded solely in conjunction with the doctoral degree and will be signified on the student’s transcript.

Contact Information

101 Stephens Hall

Phone: 510-642-4466

[email protected]

Chair and Head Graduate Advisor

Steven Vogel

[email protected]

Associate Director, Political Economy

Alan Karras

[email protected]

Director of Administration

[email protected]

Graduate Student Affairs Officer

Dreux Montgomery

[email protected]

Print Options

When you print this page, you are actually printing everything within the tabs on the page you are on: this may include all the Related Courses and Faculty, in addition to the Requirements or Overview. If you just want to print information on specific tabs, you're better off downloading a PDF of the page, opening it, and then selecting the pages you really want to print.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

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Phd in political economy & government.

The PhD in Political Economy and Government is designed for students interested in the impact of politics on economic processes and outcomes, and the reciprocal influence of economic conditions on political life. It is appropriate for students whose academic interests are not served by doctoral studies in Economics or Political Science alone.

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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 .

Graduate Program

• The Designated Emphasis in Political Economy
• Program Requirements
• Designated Emphasis Leadership
• Designated Emphasis Affiliated Faculty
• Designated Emphasis Students
• Political Economy Network Scholars

The Designated Emphasis (DE) in Political Economy gives Ph.D. students at UC Berkeley the opportunity to strengthen their training in interdisciplinary political economy, to join a vibrant intellectual community that cuts across academic units on campus, and to earn an extra credential along with their doctoral degree. We believe that this program will have multiple benefits for faculty and graduate students and for the campus community more broadly, positioning Berkeley at the cutting edge of the study of interdisciplinary political economy, nationally and internationally.

Students who are accepted into the program in 2022-23 and complete one core course by May 2023 will be eligible to receive a $1000 stipend in summer 2023 so long as they are on campus and participate actively in DE programs. They will also be eligible to apply for small conference travel grants (application here ) on a rolling basis and to apply for small research grants in May 2023. Continuing DE students will also be eligible to apply for the travel and research grants. We expect to have ample funding for the stipends, the travel grants, and the research grants, but in the unlikely event that demand exceeds the available funds we will approve funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note: Only UC Berkeley Ph.D. students who have not yet taken their Qualifying Exam are eligible to apply for the Designated Emphasis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply for the Designated Emphasis in Political Economy here .

Political Economy Major Map

How to declare a major, the berkeley economy & society initiative (besi), the berkeley political economy journal.

• Political Economy and Government
• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

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The First Two Years

Students select either the economics track or the political science track when applying to the PEG program. Once a student is admitted, the track may not be changed. All students must successfully complete the required coursework in the first three years of study. Credit for coursework done elsewhere is not given.

There is no language requirement.

Requirements for Economics Track

Required courses, including:

• Microeconomic theory (Economics 2010a, 2010b)
• Macroeconomic theory (Economics 2010c, 2010d)
• Econometrics (Economics 2120 and Economics 2140)
• Four courses in government, including two in the same major field of political science
• Two courses in a major field of economics
• Doctoral Research Seminar

Requirements for Political Science Track

• Microeconomic theory (Economics 2020a, 2020b)
• Macroeconomic theory (Economics 2010c)
• Econometrics (Government 2001 or a more advanced course)
• Two courses in Formal Political Theory, or two approved courses in Political Economy
• Two courses in a major field of political science
• A field seminar course in government

Incompletes

In order to convert an Incomplete to a letter grade, the student must complete the requisite coursework by the end of the term following that in which the course was taken. The student must petition the Graduate School for an extension if the work has not been completed in this period. No grade of Incomplete can be used to satisfy any departmental requirements.

The (Non-Terminal) Master of Arts Degree

Students must complete eleven courses, including the courses outlined above in the appropriate track. Students must also have completed the general oral examination.

Teaching is not required. A maximum of sixteen term-fifths over a period of five years is permitted. Students are encouraged to limit their teaching to two-fifths TIME during the first two years. During the third year, a combination of teaching and research, not to exceed three-fifths TIME, is recommended.

Other Requirements

Oral general examination.

Students in both tracks will be tested in their mastery of economics and political science. The exam consists of three parts:

i)     Examination in an approved field of economics.

ii)    Examination in an approved field of political science.

iii)   Examination in general analytical and research abilities, based in part on a research paper prepared by the student.

Parts ii) and iii) consist of a 60 minute oral exam, with about half of the examination devoted to each part. Students in both tracks complete an oral examination on parts ii and iii.

All coursework and the research paper must be completed in advance of the general exam. Students are expected to sit for the oral exam at the beginning of their third year.

In choosing examiners, students must submit four faculty names to the Program Director. Of the four, there must be one economist, one political scientist, and one person from HKS. The Program Chair will choose three of the four faculty as examiners for the Orals Committee. One examiner will focus on the submitted research paper, but questions may range beyond the substance and methodology of the paper itself.

Research Seminar

In the third year of study, all students must take a full-year seminar in research methodology. This can be the API 902 seminar offered at the HKS, or two approved seminars taught in the government or economics department. By the end of these courses, a dissertation prospectus must be presented orally. In addition, the prospectus must be approved by two faculty advisors who have been chosen by the student to sit on the dissertation committee. A copy of the prospectus, with written approval from the two advisors, is submitted to the program office by December of the fourth year.

First Two Years

Students are assigned an advisor, taking into account each student’s stated research interests at the time of admission. If the research focus changes, students are encouraged to seek out new advisors on their own; however, the director of graduate studies will intervene as needed to facilitate new links to different faculty.

The major effort expended in the first two years is on coursework. By the end of the second year, students are encouraged to affiliate with a research center at the University. Research assistantships and, in some cases, teaching fellowships often lead to a close relationship with a faculty member that will develop into an official advisor/advisee role.

The main accomplishments of the third year are 1) completion of all remaining course requirements; 2) selection of two dissertation committee members; 3) and completion of the third-year oral examination by the beginning of the third year.

Fourth Year

By December of the fourth year, all students must have completed the dissertation prospectus and scheduled a presentation date with two dissertation committee advisors. A prospectus is not “approved” until the two advisors have agreed that the chapter (or paper) presented orally, are satisfactory. A student who is writing a three-paper dissertation must also present an executive summary linking all three proposed papers. Students are encouraged to add a third faculty advisor after the prospectus has been accepted, thereby completing the dissertation committee. These three advisors must come from within Harvard and must include a member of the PhD committee, a HKS-appointed faculty member, and a Harvard Griffin GSAS-appointed faculty member. No readers are assigned by the PhD committee unless one of these affiliations is not met.

Dissertation

The candidate is required to demonstrate their ability to perform original research in political economy by writing a dissertation that represents a significant contribution to knowledge in that field. Three faculty members supervise the writing of the dissertation. One member of the committee must come from the HKS; the other two must come from Harvard Griffin GSAS.

Note: Members of the Committee on Higher Degrees in Political Economy and Government may represent the Harvard Griffin GSAS at a dissertation defense. Each year following completion of the oral examination, the student must show satisfactory progress on the dissertation by completing one chapter and submitting it for approval by the dissertation committee. Evidence of satisfactory progress may also include manuscripts submitted for publication, or abstracts of papers delivered at professional meetings, or other evidence as specified by the dissertation committee chair.

A dissertation may be written in chapters, or it may take the form of three publishable papers. Permission to include one co-authored paper (at maximum) may be granted only by the chair of the PhD committees.

Details on the format of the PhD dissertation are published in Policies . 

Dissertation Defense

After the candidate has met all other degree requirements, they must pass an oral examination focused on the dissertation. This examination is given after the entire dissertation has been completed in a final draft, but before the dissertation is formally presented for acceptance. Dissertation examiners will normally include the three supervisors to the dissertation. However, if a member of the Harvard Griffin GSAS cannot be present, a member of the Committee on Higher Degrees (CHD) in Political Economy and Government will represent the Harvard Griffin GSAS at the defense. The purpose of this examination is to assure the committee that the methodology and basic approach of the dissertation are sound and that the student has received critical advice at the most appropriate stage of their advanced research. The dissertation must be accepted before the formal application for the degree can be activated.

Note: The dissertation defense is open to the public.

Length of Time to Degree

Average time to completion of the PhD is five years. Except by special vote of the committee, all work for the PhD degree must be completed within five years of completion of the general oral examinations.

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Program Requirements

The PhD program in political economy is structured to provide accelerated and intensive training in formal theory and empirical methods for causal inference alongside substantive training in political science. Students who satisfy the following program requirements graduate with a PhD in political economy.

Core coursework

Students are required to take (normally in the first year):

• Formal Political Theory I, II, and III. This sequence provides training akin to graduate microeconomics, but with a focus on topics and methods of particular importance to scholars of political economy.
• Applied Econometrics I, II, and III. This sequence, which is shared with the Harris School Ph.D. program in public policy, provides training in statistical methods and tools of causal inference.

They are also required to take (normally in the second year):

• Political Economy I (Formal Models of Politics), Political Economy II (Theory and Empirics in Political Economy), and Political Economy III (Advanced Topics in Political Economy). This sequence builds upon tools learned in the first year of the program.

Elective coursework

Students must also take at least eight elective PhD-level courses. In consultation with their advisor, students may choose courses from Political Science, the Harris School, or elsewhere in the University.

As part of their elective coursework, students must complete a field-seminar sequence in Political Science (one or two courses, depending on the field) in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory. If no field seminar is offered for the student’s chosen field, the student may take one or more alternative courses, to be approved by the program director in consultation with the student’s advisor and relevant faculty in Political Science.

Research Paper

By the end of their second year in the program, students must complete a research paper that uses formal theory and/or empirical methods of causal inference in a sophisticated way to answer an important question about politics. This paper may be coauthored with other graduate students but not with faculty. The paper is read by two affiliated faculty, who evaluate the manuscript as if it were a journal submission. Following receipt of faculty comments, students revise and resubmit their paper, for review by the same affiliated faculty.

Comprehensive Exams

Students must pass comprehensive exams in three areas: formal theory, econometrics, and a substantive subfield of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory).

The comprehensive exams in formal theory and econometrics are written exams, to be administered the summer after the first year. Students who received an average grade of B+ or better in the first-year sequence in formal political theory are exempt from the comprehensive exam in formal theory; students who received an average grade of B+ or better in the first-year sequence in applied econometrics are exempt from the comprehensive exam in econometrics.

The substantive subfield exam is a two-hour oral exam, to be administered by two faculty, at least one of whom must be an affiliate of the program. This exam must be taken no later than the end of the second year.

Substituting prior coursework for program requirements

In limited circumstances, and with the approval of the program director, students with prior graduate training may replace one or more required courses with an equal number of elective courses. Students who have completed the equivalent of either of the first-year core sequences at some other university can petition to take the comprehensive exam in that area upon entry into the program. Performance on the exam equivalent to a grade of A- or better allows for elective coursework to be taken in place of the core sequence.

Requirements for progression beyond the second year

To progress beyond the second year, students must

• Receive a passing grade in all core courses and eight electives, as specified above; two of the elective courses, but not the field-seminar sequence in Political Science, can be taken pass/fail
• Receive a B+ or better in each of the core second-year courses in political economy
• Receive approval of the research paper
• Receive a passing grade or grade-based exemption on all three comprehensive exams

Coursework beyond the second year is optional but encouraged if important for a student’s research.

Mentored Teaching Experience

Students in the program serve as a teaching assistant, core intern, core lecturer, or lead instructor in at least three courses. Teaching outside of Political Science or the Harris School must be approved by the program director. Under typical circumstances, students do not teach until their third year in the program.

Dissertation

Under the supervision of a dissertation committee, students prepare a dissertation proposal during their third year. The committee must comprise at least three University faculty. At least two committee members, including the chair, must be affiliates of the program. The proposal must be defended no later than the end of the Autumn quarter of the fourth year in the program.

Defense of the completed dissertation takes place before the dissertation committee. Under typical circumstances, this occurs by the end of the fifth year in the program. Students may request an additional year to complete a dissertation project, should the nature of the student’s research require it (e.g., because the project requires extensive fieldwork). Any such request must be approved by the program director, in consultation with the student’s advisor. No extensions are provided beyond the sixth year.

Measuring Progress

Continued enrollment in the program requires students to make satisfactory academic progress. The program reviews student progress annually, and will communicate deficiencies to the student, along with a timeline for completing the deficiencies, and the consequences resulting from failure to do so.

Students with questions about program requirements and milestones should contact Marcy Krause ( [email protected] ) Program Administrator. Students may also contact Brett Baker ( [email protected] ), Associate Dean of Students in the Social Sciences, and Amanda Young ( [email protected] ), Director, Graduate Student Affairs in UChicagoGRAD. 

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Ph.D. Program

Thank you for visiting the graduate program website and for giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves. We take special pride in our Department’s high national ranking in the discipline — and in the shared determination of our faculty to continue to build an exciting intellectual community. Our graduate program combines outstanding faculty and students, a broad-ranging curriculum oriented toward research, and the resources of one of the nation’s great universities. In addition to housing many leading departments in the social science, humanities and natural sciences, UCLA offers one of the world’s foremost research libraries, exceptional computing facilities, and an extensive network of interdisciplinary centers and institutes that foster linkages across disciplinary boundaries.

Our Department is a fairly large one, staffed by approximately 45 core faculty. Each year we aim for an entering class of about 15 to 20, which allows for considerable personal attention to each of our students. Currently, we have about 150 students in residence. We consider ourselves a “full service” department: our large and intellectually diverse faculty offers coursework and opportunities for research in all of the major sub-fields of the discipline. In addition, our graduate students have found that our curriculum facilitates intensive study in a number of cross-cutting areas – empirical and theoretical, contemporary and historical. Among these interdisciplinary concentrations are political economy, American political development, race and politics, and the philosophical, historical, and literary dimensions of political theory. Because UCLA is home to a large number of centers for language and area studies our students often focus their doctoral research on the politics of specific world regions while drawing theoretical and empirical leverage from sources that transcend conventional boundaries.

Our emphasis on rigorous academic training and independent research creates a diverse and intellectually exciting graduate student community. Most of our doctoral graduates go on to careers in academic institutions, but many have also found challenging employment in the public sector or in private organizations that emphasize research and analytic skills. In the past decade or so, our graduates have obtained tenure-track academic positions at Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Harvard’s Kennedy School, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Michigan, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. Others have joined such institutions as the World Bank, the State Department, the Federal Reserve Bank, RAND, and the Carnegie Endowment.

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2024 Best Online PhD in Political Science Programs

An online PhD political science program may be a good fit for you if you’re interested in gaining an advanced understanding of public policy, governance, and political institutions.

This career path may allow you to participate in valuable research activities within an academic or government setting. You may also get the opportunity to teach political science students at a postsecondary level.

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By earning this advanced degree in political science, you may take advantage of the field’s positive job outlook and high annual salaries.

Universities Offering Online PhD in Political Science Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

California Baptist University

California Baptist University’s Doctor of Public Administration program requires 56 units for completion and can be finished in only 3 years. It’s a cohort-model program, and courses are delivered via 8 week courses. Graduating students should be able to address issues in a global context, using Christian ethics as a guide.

California Baptist University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Liberty University

The PhD in Public Policy program at Liberty University is a 60 credit program that takes about 3 years to complete. The curriculum is delivered 100% online through a series of 8 week courses. There are optional specializations in foreign policy, education policy, social policy, economic policy, and national security policy.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

National University

National University offers a Doctor of Public Administration program that requires the completion of 18 courses and can typically be completed in 41 months.

The program seeks to teach students how to evaluate current issues in public organizations, create practical strategies based on evidence-based research, and formulate domestic and global solutions to public policy issues.

National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Old Dominion University

The PhD in Public Administration and Policy program offered at Old Dominion University provides students with solid foundations in theory and issues surrounding public administration and public policy. Students learn to conduct policy analyses, conduct original research in public administration, report on their research, and assess policy and implementation issues.

Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Regent University

Regent University’s online PhD in Governement program will provide training in the study and practice of government. Students learn from specialized, field-specific coursework tailored to their interests and career goals with international development, international relations, security studies, and policy advocacy concentrations.

Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Salve Regina University

Students interested in public policy and public administration at Salve Regina University can enroll in the school’s PhD in International Relations program. It’s the first program of its kind in the nation, and it seeks to “promote humanity and eliminate prejudice” by teaching students to have a more comprehensive, empathetic global worldview.

Salve Regina University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University offers a PhD in Public Policy and Administration. The degree is available in a synchronous online format that enables students to continue working full-time. Some electives are asynchronous. Students in the program are given opportunities to conduct research and present their findings at scholarly conferences.

Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University’s Doctor of Public Administration program is a 54 credit program that can be taken online. It’s a good program for students interested in pursuing careers as public policy analysts, directors, specialists or consultants, public works directors, city managers, or professors. There are specific GRE and GPA requirements.

Valdosta State University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University

Students in the PhD in Public Policy and Administration program at Walden University will take foundational, core, research, and dissertation-related courses. Students must also complete a doctoral capstone and four residencies to graduate. Available courses include foundations for doctoral studies, ethics and social justice, and strategic planning: collaboration, cooperation, and coordination.

Walden is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

West Chester University

West Chester University’s Doctor of Public Administration degree can be earned entirely online. There are four concentrations available in graduate social work, geography and planning, criminal justice, and public policy and administration. The curriculum focuses on policy advocacy and leadership, public sector financial and economic decision making, and strategic management.

West Chester University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Online PhD in Political Science Programs

Earning a PhD in Political Science online may provide you with the opportunity to pursue advanced research and education related to governance, political systems, policy, and political theory.

This educational pursuit may contribute to a deeper understanding of international political relations and comparative politics. Your coursework may include a look at how politics operate in different countries around the world, including Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and South America.

With a PhD in Political Science, you may be qualified for advanced positions in policy planning, development, and analysis. You may also evaluate and explain legislative and governance processes at a local, national, and international level.

Positions in research within a government institution, academic setting, or bipartisan think tank may be available to you as well. Areas of study in a PhD political science program may include comparative politics, American politics, international politics, economics, and national security.

Comparative politics emphasizes understanding the differences and nuances of political processes, policies, and institutions of different countries. American politics focuses on the study of the US specifically. This includes a look at the two-party political system, constitution, and impact of public policy on the population in the United States.

In most PhD programs, research is the cornerstone of the curriculum. As a result, you may be required to complete coursework to advance your research practices. This may include taking courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods related to political science.

Political Science Careers & Salaries

With a PhD in Political Science, you may be in a position to pursue advanced career paths in government, from local, state, and national politics to foreign policy and international relations.

You may also be qualified to become a member of faculty at various postsecondary institutions, acting as a professor or instructor. In this role, you may be responsible for the development of curriculum in relation to various political science topics as well as instructing students on those content areas.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there are several rewarding and lucrative careers in the field of political science .

Another common career for those with an online doctorate in political science is a researcher. Research positions may exist within government, academia, or business sectors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers stemming from a PhD in Poli Sci are predicted to experience growth over the next ten years. This includes the positions of political scientists (6%), postsecondary teachers (9%), urban and regional planners (11%), and economists (14%).

PhD in Political Science Curriculum

Within political science PhD programs, the curriculum builds on the foundation of previous studies in master level programs and work experience in the field of poli sci.s

Courses may cover a range of political science, public policy, and public administration topics at national and international levels of politics.

• Public Administration : This course will give an advanced look at the development and implementation of public policies by various levels of government in America.
• Public Policy Analysis : You’ll examine the principles of analysis in relation to public policy and governance in American society and with consideration to population equity and globalization.
• American Political Parties : This course gives an in-depth analysis of the two-party political system in US politics, including the various roles within the parties, historical party performance, and ideological foundations.
• Political Theory : You’ll receive a comprehensive review of various political theories in relation to American politics throughout history, including social, revolutionary, progressive, and conservative politics.
• Comparative Politics : This course utilizes comparative and empirical methodologies to examine similarities and differences between various countries, populations, and concepts in relation to politics.
• International Law : In this course, you’ll get an in-depth look at contemporary issues, perspectives, and topics in relation to international law and public policy, including human rights, environment, and terrorism.
• Global Politics : This course is a review of international relations, globalization, and the global economy and its relationship to and impact on government and public policy.
• European Politics : You’ll explore public administration, political behavior, voting patterns, and policy in a European context.
• Qualitative Research Methods : You’ll learn qualitative research methods utilized in the discipline of political science and policy analysis.
• Quantitative Research Methods : This course is an examination of quantitative research methods and best practices in the field of political science.

Other course topics covered in a PhD political science degree program may include foreign policy, organizational behavior, feminism, racism, and political revolutions.

Admissions Requirements

Due to the advanced nature of political science PhD programs, you may be required to have the following before being accepted into a program:

• Masters degree : You may be required to submit proof that you have completed a master’s degree program at an accredited postsecondary institution to be accepted into a PhD program.
• Work experience : Some schools may require you to have previous work experience in government or policy-related career paths.
• Letters of recommendation : In many cases, PhD programs will request one or more letters of recommendation from former academic or workplace supervisors and colleagues.

Additional admission requirements—such as a complete CV or proof of funding for your PhD studies—may depend on the program and school you’re interested in applying to.

Accreditation

Regional accreditation verifies the academic quality of a postsecondary program. The accreditation status of a program not only impacts your ability to transfer credits from one institution to another but can also play an important role in the hiring decisions of an organization.

A program’s accreditation status may also impact your ability to register with various political science member-based associations. It may also influence your ability to receive adequate funding for your PhD studies. You can find out the accreditation status of programs you’re interested in attending through the US Department of Education ‘s website.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Pursuing a PhD in Political Science may be a significant and costly undertaking. Luckily, financial aid options, like federal and state aid or scholarships, may help ease the financial aspect of your degree.

Due to the large amount of research that is undertaken as part of a PhD program, some postsecondary institutions offer full or partial funding for PhD students. The availability of school-based funding varies from one school to the next. In some cases, funding may be limited to program length.

For example, a school that has a PhD program that can be completed in 5 years with full-time study may only provide funding for 5 years. In that instance, no additional funding may be given if you require additional time to complete your PhD.

For more information about the financial aid options that may be available to you, you can visit the US Department of Education’s website and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid .

What Can You Do with a PhD in Political Science?

With a PhD in Political Science, you may be able to pursue a career as a political scientist working in government, business, or nonprofit. You may also be able to develop a career as a policy analyst or economist.

Other common careers with a PhD in Political Science include researchers as well as professors or instructors at postsecondary institutions. Online PhD programs in political science may advance your career as a social scientist, urban or regional planner, and survey researcher.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Political Science?

A PhD in Political Science may generally take between 3 to 5 years to complete, depending on the program you choose to enroll in. Programs may be composed of a combination of courses, research, teaching placements, examinations, and the completion of a dissertation.

In some cases, PhD programs will set a maximum number of years for completion. This means that you must complete your coursework, research, and dissertation within that timeframe in order to ensure your eligibility to graduate.

Can You Get a PhD in Political Science?

Yes, you may pursue a PhD in Political Science. Other common doctoral degrees related to the field of political science include a PhD in Public Policy or a PhD in Public Administration.

While there is some overlap between political science, public policy, and public administration programs, some key differences exist in the areas of emphasis or concentration. Political science focuses on content related to structures of the political system, analysis of policy and events, and researching political behavior. Political science encompasses both public policy and public administration.

Public policy, as the name suggests, centers more specifically around the advanced study of public policy. Public administration focuses on the bureaucracy of politics, including the implementation of policy and processes.

Is a PhD in Political Science Worth It?

Yes, a doctorate in political science is worth it for many students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, life, physical, and social science jobs are set to grow at 5% over the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations.

Common careers for political science PhD graduates in this field include professor, political scientist, researcher, policy analyst, and economist. With your completed degree, you may be able to find exciting career opportunities in government, business, academic, and nonprofit sectors.

Getting Your PhD in Political Science Online

Earning your PhD in Political Science through an accredited online program may provide you with lucrative and rewarding career options.

This field may offer the opportunities to lead social advocacy initiatives, plan and develop public policy, develop postsecondary political science curriculum, and instruct future political science professionals. Careers in various areas of political science are expected to experience growth over the next decade.

If you are interested in advancing your career in this field, it may be an advantageous time to pursue your PhD in Political Science.

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PhD Global Political Economy

Qualifications and durations.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme comprises a significant piece of research which will enable you to contribute to the academic community through a large written thesis (typically up to 90,000 words). You can complete your PhD in 2 to 4 years (full-time) or up to 6 years (part-time).

If you have a limited grounding in the research methods relevant to this subject, we strongly recommend you apply after first completing a relevant one-year MRes .

This programme is centered on supporting research into current global political and economic transformations, along with their social and policy implications at global, national and a local level. It seeks to promote research that contributes to bring together the nationally-grounded assumptions and discourses on which much social science continues to be predicated with global perspectives seeking to transcend these assumptions.

We encourage applications from students who aim to analyse the diverse experiences and impacts of economic globalisation, examine the relationship between global governance and inequality, and contribute to a better understanding of how many of the key problems that confront humanity in the 21st century require new and inter-disciplinary academic approaches, innovative methods, policy agendas, creative thinking and transnationally comparative datasets.

South West Doctoral Training Partnership

This course is accredited by the Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the larger South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) . If you wish to study for both the MRes and the PhD (the 1 + 3) you should apply for the PhD but indicate on the Application Form, that you also wish to study for the MRes. Progression from the MRes to the PhD stage is dependent on achieving an acceptable level of achievement (typically an overall average of 60% on at least the taught component of the MRes).

Research proposal

Your proposal should address a problem or question with a strong global dimension, even if proposed empirical work is focused on a particular country or countries. You should also set out one or a set of optional theoretical and methodological approaches to address the problem.

Wherever possible you should try and match your research interests with those of a potential lead supervisor. 

The proposal itself should include;

• a brief review of relevant background literature (to contextualise the issue)
• a core research question or theme
• an outline of the possible methods that could be used to address this question.

Interdisciplinary approaches are very much welcomed, particularly if this reflects a strong political economy understanding of the issue. Interdisciplinary approaches are those that seek to approach a common question by drawing on methods, approaches, and epistemologies from different disciplinary perspectives.

View further guidance on developing your research proposal .

Entry requirements

Academic requirements.

• A 1st or 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university. Or
• An equivalent degree in a less directly relevant subject together with substantial relevant work experience.

Underlying these conditions is a belief that students must bring a minimum combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the programme. Marginal cases are often dealt with at interview, and it is not uncommon for relatively inexperienced students to be asked to defer entry.

English requirements

• IELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components)
• PTE Academic of 69 with no less than 62 in any component

Financial information

• Tuition fees
• Estimated Living Expenses including a Sample Budget Guide
• Cost of Printing final Soft-, and then Hard-Bound theses

You will find details of available University postgraduate research funding opportunities by checking the  funding pages . We also welcome applications from candidates who are able to self-fund or who have funding from elsewhere.

Unique funding opportunities

• This is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised programme, suitable for ESRC-funded 1+3 awards or subsequent +3 applications.

ESRC-funded students are able to claim (during their studies) for three additional allowances:

• Overseas Fieldwork Allowance
• Difficult Language Training
• Overseas Institutional Visits

For more information on these allowances please see the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide . Please note that if you anticipate such activities you should outline the details in your application.

Applications must be made online .

Two references are required for this programme (at least one of these should be an academic reference).

Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1225 385949

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Political Economy

Political Economy. Understanding how societies work.

Faculty Chairs:  Jeff Frieden  &  Torben Iversen  

Political economy is the study of how politics affects the economy and how the economy in turn shapes politics. Training in political economy can help students understand how societies work; a useful skill whether they seek to become better policy analysts or more effective social reformers ( Frieden 2020 ). 

Topics in political economy include inequality (across class, gender, race, ethnicity), redistribution, economic development, globalization, macroeconomic policy, economic crises, populism, and environmental policy. For example, the last four decades have seen a sharp rise in inequality in rich democracies, yet government redistribution has not risen; why? Technological change has produced greater inequality and concentration of wealth; what role do governments play in amplifying or countering these trends? Why do some countries grow at a much faster pace than others? Trade has risen sharply for decades, but it is now under political attack; why? China has emerged as an economic superpower; what are the consequences for international politics? Women have been economically mobilized across the world over the past four decades; what are the political implications?    The Government Department’s political economy program offers a thorough introduction to theoretical approaches to political economy and important empirical cases among the advanced industrial countries and the developing world. It provides training for a broad range of careers in government, finance, international organizations, and think tanks. The program is also good preparation for applying to business schools, law schools, and graduate programs in political science and economics. 

Requirements :  Students must take three Government courses in political economy from the list of designated political economy courses below, including at least one Gov 94 undergraduate seminar. In addition, they must take at least one course on Economics from the list of courses below. All four courses for the political economy program must be taken for a letter grade (except for courses taken during Spring 2020, when emergency satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading was in effect). Working with their concentration advisers and faculty mentors, students develop their own Plans of Study to identify their academic goals and to select their courses accordingly. 

Possible Areas of Focus : In formulating their Plans of Study, students can choose to focus on specific aspects of political economy, such as international political economy, economic development, or inequality.  

Political Economy Course s

Courses offered in AY2024-2025 are highlighted in bold below.

Government Courses on Political Economy  

• Gov 94ACH: Politics of Inequality in Latin America. Alisha Holland  
• Gov 94AU: Political Economy. Torben Iversen 
• Gov 94BD: Fighting Poverty. Nara Dillon
• Gov 94EK: Globalization and Private Governance. Michael Hiscox  
• Gov 94GM: Politics of Climate Change. Alexander Gard-Murray
• Gov 94HG: The Politics and Political Economy in Latin America, Fran Hagopian 
• Gov 94JF: The Political Economy of Economic Growth: The Past Thousand Years. Jeffry Frieden
• Gov 94KL: Advanced Topics in Formal Political Economy. Konstantin Matakos  
• Gov 94NB: Capital, Ideas, and Development in Latin America. Dan Epstein
• Gov 94ND: Global Cities in East Asia. Nara Dillon 
• Gov 94OA: Inequality and American Democracy. Theda Skocpol  
• Gov 94PI: Politics of Development in Africa. Pia Raffler
• Gov 94RG: A Revolt against Globalization? How Political Economies Change. Peter Hall
• Gov 94TR: The Politics of Economic Inequality. Thomas Remington 
• Gov 1015: Strategic Models of Politics. Sarah Hummel 
• Gov 1025: Political Economy and Its Future. Roberto Mangabeira Unger
• Gov 1108 : The Politics of Economic Inequality. Thomas Remington  
• Gov 1135: Political Economy of Development in Africa. Pia Raffler 
• Gov 1171: Making of Modern Politics. Peter Hall
• Gov 1203: Capitalism and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. Grzegorz Ekiert 
• Gov 1279 : Political Economy of East and Southeast Asia  Political Economy of East and Southeast Asia 
• Gov 1288: China’s Economic Development. Nara Dillon 
• Gov 1754: Science, Technology, and National Security: Japan in Global Perspective. Matthew Brummer
• Gov 1759: Behavioral Insights and Public Policy: Nudging for the Public Good. Michael Hiscox  
• Gov 1780: International Political Economy. Jeffry Frieden 
• HKS BGP 610: The Political Economy of Trade. Robert Lawrence 
• HKS BGP 670: Financial Crises: Concepts and Evidence. Carmen Reinhart  
• HKS DEV 130 : Why Are So Many Countries Poor, Volatile, and Unequal? Ricardo Hausman 

Economics Courses on Political Economy  

• Econ 10a: Principles of Economics: Microeconomics  
• Econ 1010a/1011a: Intermediate Microeconomics 
• Econ 1018: Cultural Economics. Alberto Alesina 
• Econ 1133: Authoritarian Superpower: The Political Economy of Modern China. David Yang
• Econ 1420: American Economic Policy. Summers & Liebman    
• Econ 1450: The Political Economy of Religion. Robert Barro and Rachel McCleary  
• Econ 1535: The Global Economy. Pol Antras
• Econ 1746: Financial and Economic Crises of the 21st Century. Karen Dynan 
• HKS DEV 356: Economic Policy in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Celestin Monga 

Applying:  Concentrators   should   complete the  Political Economy plan of study supplement , review it with their  concentration adviser , and submit the completed form to the Government Department Undergraduate Coordinator,  Karen Kaletka .  

Political Economy Faculty

Alisha c. holland.

Danielle Allen

Dustin Tingley

Elizabeth J. Perry

Feyaad Allie

Frances Hagopian

Jeffry Frieden

Mashail Malik

Matthew Blackwell

Melani Cammett

Michael J. Hiscox

Nara Dillon

Peter A. Hall

Pia Raffler

Stephen Chaudoin

Theda Skocpol

Torben Iversen

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• Diversity and inclusion
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• PhD research
• Research Centres and Groups

Our connections

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• Student societies

PhD Research

We are the only dedicated Department of Political Economy in the UK, with a large faculty of over 70 staff who research and teach at the intersections of politics, economics and philosophy. We welcome Postgraduate Research students interested in undertaking doctoral research in our unique interdisciplinary environment. Within our programmes students have the opportunity to study both theoretical and empirical topics, using a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

You can also find information on the main King's website regarding  fees and funding  for postgraduate programmes. The main funding scheme is the LISS DTP studentship, find out more  here .

Please visit King's Centre for Doctoral Studies to find out more about our postgraduate training facilities. If you have any questions, visit our  FAQ page . 

The Department of Political Economy offers four PhD programmes:

Political Economy Research, option of joint PhD with NUS

MPhil or PhD Political Economy Research in the Department with Political Economy, with the option of a join PhD with NUS, at King's College London.

View course

Politics and Contemporary History

MPhil/PhD Contemporary History at King's College London.

Politics Research

MPhil/PhD in Politics Research in Department of Political Economy at King's College London.

Public Policy Research

MPhil/PhD Public Policy Research at King's College London.

How to apply

Step 1: identify supervisor(s)  .

Before applying for a PhD with the Department of Political Economy, you will need to consider potential supervisors for your project, since all PhD students will generally have both a primary and secondary supervisor. To identify prospective supervisors, you can examine the department’s  academic profiles , which contain more information on the supervisory interests of our academic staff. 

You might also wish to examine our  research groups  to narrow down which staff are likely to be most suitable. Note that each PhD student is requested to join at least one research group, and joining multiple research groups is encouraged. There are ten main research groups within the department:

• Public Policy and Regulation  for those who wish to conduct research on policy and regulatory responses to important political, social and economic issues, and (individual-level) responses to these policies;
• Quantitative Political Economy  for those interest in researching politics and/or public policy using quantitative methods;
• Political Theory  for those who want to write a thesis in political philosophy, the history of political ideas, or related fields;
• Political Economy of Peace and Security  for those interested in the dynamics of armed conflict, political violence, and peace and development;
• Politics, Philosophy and Economics  for those interested in interdisciplinary questions spanning these three disciplines;
• Comparative Politics  for those who wish to research political institutions, representation and regimes;
• Global South  for those interested in global political and economic trends, south-south comparisons, and political and economic developments in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia;
• Environment and Public Policy for those interested in on environmental issues and the energy transition.
• History and Political Economy  for those who use the interpretative methods of political economy to conduct historical enquiry, and/or work on historical material to investigate political economy questions
• British Politics and Government  for those interested in historical or contemporary developments in politics and economics within the UK. 

If, after looking at the groups, you are still not sure which supervisor fits your research interest you can contact the PhD Director,  Dr Rubén Ruiz-Rufino .  

Step 2: Contact Potential Supervisor(s)  

It is important to contact a prospective primary supervisor(s) prior to making an application to King’s, to see if they are available and interested in supervising your proposed research. In general, supervisors will want to see your CV and a draft of your research proposal (see below) to help them decide if they are a good fit for your proposed research. 

You do not need to secure a secondary supervisor’s support prior to making an application to King's, but you should explicitly nominate one or more potential primary/secondary supervisors in your application (there is a space on the application form for this, and you can also list them in your research proposal). You can contact prospective secondary supervisors in advance if you wish.

Most of our PhD students have both their primary and secondary supervisor based within the Department of Political Economy. However, it is possible for one of the two supervisors to be based in another department at King’s College London.

Note that a supervisor expressing an interest in supervising your PhD is only provisional and is not itself sufficient to ensure your acceptance onto the PhD programme.  

Step 3: Finalise Proposal and Other Application Materials  

You can begin by creating an account and application on the King's Apply registration page . Your application will need to include the following items. 

• A research proposal of up to 3,000 words, which does not include references/bibliography (appendices and substantive footnotes do count towards the word limit). There are many ways of structuring proposals but in one way or another your proposal should cover the following things:  a)what you want to study; b) why it matters; c)how you want to study including (where relevant) theoretical framework, methodology/methods, case selection, dependent and independent variables etc;  d) how other people have studied it and how your approach differs. Please note, in this department we often ask for revisions to the proposal at the application stage.
• A personal statement of up to 1,000 words: This should explain your motivation for undertaking the PhD, and specify how you see it fitting into your broader life and career plans. You should also explain why the Department of Political Economy at King’s College London is the right place to conduct your proposed research.
• Two supportive references: These should ideally both be academic, with at least one from a scholar who taught you on your Master's (your referees will be contacted by King's and asked to submit a reference electronically).
• One or two samples of your written work: We would generally expect these to total between 5,000 and 10,000 words (e.g. two 2,500 word essays or one 10,000 word Masters dissertation would both be appropriate submissions of written work). You do not have to submit the original form of these samples of work (for example, if you submit an assessed essay from your Master’s degree, you could edit it further prior to including it on your application). These samples must be entirely your own work.
• An up-to-date CV/resume: This should normally be no more than three pages, and include clear information on your educational qualifications and employment history.
• A summary and/or transcript(s) of your academic performance so far (e.g 2:1 from Warwick in Economics, MA in Democracy and Governance from Georgetown with a GPA of 3.865).  

Make sure to also nominate your intended primary supervisor as part of the application form, and list any other potential supervisors, or staff you wish to work with, as part of your Research Proposal.  

Step 4: Submit  

Once your application form on the King's Apply registration page is complete, and all the required documents listed above attached, you can submit your application.

Our student community

We have a vibrant community of students drawn from many different countries. Recent graduates have gone on to postdoctoral positions at New York University, Brown University, the European University Institute, and the University of Birmingham; and to teaching positions at the University of Buckingham, Utica College (USA) and here at King’s College London.

• Hear from our students about what it's like to join the Department of Political Economy for PhD research

News & Events from the Department of Political Economy

16 April 2024

PhD student secures top prize for paper

An academic paper authored by a King’s PhD student was awarded a prize at an international…

11 April 2024

King's among best places in the world to study politics

King’s College London is one of the top institutions in the world for the study of politics,…

8 April 2024

Workshop offers students insight into world of political risk

An interactive workshop saw students gain valuable insight into the world of political risk.

Foreign Policy and Security Conference

27 April 2023

From cyber-warfare to climate change, the conference is set to return in 2024 with an array of…

Find a programme

Accounting and finance, advanced quantitative methods, aerosol science, aerospace engineering, anthropology and archaeology, biochemistry, biological sciences, cellular and molecular medicine, civil engineering, classics and ancient history, clinical conscious sedation and anxiety management, comparative literatures and cultures, computer science, creative writing, cyber security (cyber secure everywhere), dds orthodontics, dedpsy educational psychology, disability studies, dynamic molecular cell biology (wellcome trust), earth sciences, east asian studies, edd education: learning, leadership and policy, electrical and electronic engineering, engd composites manufacture, engd future innovation in non-destructive evaluation, engineering biology, engineering mathematics, english literature, exercise, nutrition and health, film and television, geographical sciences (human geography), geographical sciences (physical geography), graduate diploma economics, great western four+ doctoral training partnership (nerc), health and wellbeing, hispanic, portuguese and latin american studies, history of art, innovation and entrepreneurship, integrative cardiovascular science (bhf), linguistics, llm law - banking and finance law, llm law - commercial law, llm law - company law and corporate governance, llm law - employment, work and equality, llm law - general legal studies, llm law - health, law and society, llm law - human rights law, llm law - international commercial law, llm law - international law, llm law - international law and international relations, llm law - labour law and corporate governance, llm law - law and globalisation, llm law - public law, llm law, environment, sustainability & business, llm law, environment, sustainability and business, llm law, innovation & technology, llm law, innovation and technology, ma anthropology, ma black humanities, ma chinese-english audiovisual translation, ma chinese-english translation, ma comparative literatures and cultures, ma composition of music for film and television, ma creative innovation and entrepreneurship, ma creative writing, ma english literature, ma environmental humanities, ma film and television, ma history of art, ma immersive arts (virtual and augmented reality), ma logic and philosophy of mathematics, ma medieval studies, ma philosophy, ma philosophy and history of science, ma philosophy of biological and cognitive sciences, ma philosophy of physics, ma religion, ma translation, ma translation (online), mathematics, mechanical engineering, medieval studies, molecular, genetic and lifecourse epidemiology (wellcome), mres advanced quantitative methods, mres economics, mres education, mres global political economy, mres health sciences research, mres security, conflict and human rights, mres sustainable futures, msc accounting and finance, msc accounting, finance and management, msc advanced composites, msc advanced microelectronic systems engineering, msc aerial robotics, msc applied neuropsychology, msc applied neuropsychology (distance learning), msc applied neuropsychology (online), msc banking, regulation and financial stability, msc bioinformatics, msc biomedical engineering, msc biomedical sciences research, msc biorobotics, msc business analytics, msc business innovation and entrepreneurship, msc by research global environmental challenges, msc cardiovascular perfusion (distance learning), msc cardiovascular perfusion (online), msc climate change science and policy, msc clinical neuropsychology, msc clinical perfusion science, msc clinical research methods and evidence-based medicine, msc communication networks and signal processing, msc computer science (conversion), msc contemporary identities, msc cyber security (infrastructures security), msc data science, msc data science (distance learning), msc data science (online), msc dental implantology, msc development and security, msc digital health, msc earthquake engineering and infrastructure resilience, msc east asian development and the global economy, msc economics, msc economics and finance, msc economics with data science, msc economics, finance and management, msc education (education and climate change), msc education (inclusive education), msc education (leadership and policy), msc education (learning, technology and society), msc education (mathematics education), msc education (neuroscience and education), msc education (open pathway), msc education (policy and international development), msc education (teaching and learning), msc engineering mathematics, msc engineering with management, msc environmental analytical chemistry, msc environmental modelling and data analysis, msc environmental policy and management, msc epidemiology, msc finance and investment, msc financial technology, msc financial technology with data science, msc gender and international relations, msc geographic data science and spatial analytics, msc global development and environment, msc global management, msc global operations and supply chain management, msc global wildlife health and conservation, msc health economics and health policy analysis, msc health professions education, msc health professions education (online), msc healthcare management, msc healthcare management (online), msc human geography: society and space, msc human resource management and the future of work, msc human-computer interaction (online), msc image and video communications and signal processing, msc immersive technologies (virtual and augmented reality), msc innovation and entrepreneurship, msc international business and strategy: global challenges, msc international development, msc international relations, msc international security, msc management, msc management (csr and sustainability), msc management (digitalisation and big data), msc management (entrepreneurship and innovation), msc management (international business), msc management (international human resource management), msc management (marketing), msc management (project management), msc marketing, msc mathematical sciences, msc medical statistics and health data science, msc molecular neuroscience, msc nanoscience and functional nanomaterials, msc nuclear science and engineering, msc nutrition, physical activity and public health, msc optical communications and signal processing, msc optoelectronic and quantum technologies, msc oral medicine, msc orthopaedic research methods and evidence-based medicine, msc palaeobiology, msc perfusion science, msc periodontology, msc policy research, msc psychology (conversion), msc psychology of education bps, msc public health, msc public policy, msc public policy analysis (distance learning), msc reproduction and development, msc robotics, msc science communication for a better planet, msc scientific computing with data science, msc social and cultural theory, msc social innovation and entrepreneurship, msc social science research methods (management), msc social science research methods (politics), msc social science research methods (sociology), msc social work, msc social work research, msc society, politics and climate change, msc socio-legal studies, msc sociology, msc stem cells and regeneration, msc stem cells and regeneration (online), msc strategy, change and leadership, msc sustainable engineering, msc teaching and learning for health professionals, msc teaching english to speakers of other languages (tesol), msc technology innovation and entrepreneurship, msc translational cardiovascular medicine, msc translational cardiovascular medicine (online), msc volcanology, msc water and environmental management, msc wireless communications and signal processing, oral and dental sciences, pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) clinical neuropsychology practice, pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) clinical oral surgery, pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) clinical perfusion science, pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) healthcare improvement, pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) healthcare improvement (online), pg certificate (postgraduate certificate) perfusion science, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) applied neuropsychology, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) applied neuropsychology (bristol-based), pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) applied neuropsychology (distance learning), pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) applied neuropsychology (online), pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) clinical neuropsychology, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) orthodontic therapy, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) philosophy, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) theoretical and practical clinical neuropsycho, pg diploma (postgraduate diploma) theoretical and practical clinical neuropsychology, pgce education (secondary), phd accounting and finance, phd advanced composites, phd advanced quantitative methods, phd aerosol science, phd aerospace engineering, phd anthropology and archaeology, phd biochemistry, phd biological sciences, phd cellular and molecular medicine, phd chemistry, phd civil engineering, phd classics and ancient history, phd comparative literatures and cultures, phd computational statistics and data science: compass, phd computer science, phd creative writing, phd cyber security (tips at scale), phd digital health and care, phd disability studies, phd dynamic molecular cell biology (wellcome trust), phd earth sciences, phd east asian studies, phd economics, phd education, phd electrical and electronic engineering, phd engineering mathematics, phd english literature, phd exercise, nutrition and health, phd film and television, phd geographical sciences (human geography), phd geographical sciences (physical geography), phd global political economy, phd great western four+ doctoral training partnership (nerc), phd health and wellbeing, phd hispanic, portuguese and latin american studies, phd history, phd history of art, phd innovation and entrepreneurship, phd integrative cardiovascular science (bhf), phd interactive artificial intelligence, phd italian, phd management, phd mathematics, phd mechanical engineering, phd medieval studies, phd molecular, genetic and lifecourse epidemiology (wellcome), phd oral and dental sciences, phd philosophy, phd physics, phd physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience, phd politics, phd population health sciences, phd psychology, phd quantum engineering, phd religion and theology, phd robotics and autonomous systems, phd russian, phd security, conflict and human rights, phd social policy, phd social work, phd sociology, phd south west biosciences doctoral training partnership (bbsrc), phd south west doctoral training partnership (esrc), phd sustainable futures, phd technology enhanced chemical synthesis, phd theatre and performance, phd translation, phd translational health sciences, phd veterinary sciences, physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience, population health sciences, practice-oriented artificial intelligence, quantum information science and technologies, religion and theology, social policy, social work, south west biosciences doctoral training partnership (bbsrc), sustainable futures, technology enhanced chemical synthesis, theatre and performance, translation, translational health sciences, veterinary sciences.

• Job Market Candidates

In This Section

• PhD in Public Policy
• PhD in Political Economy & Government
• PhD in Health Policy
• PhD in Social Policy

Get to know our PhD candidates entering the job market and their job market paper titles, research fields, and faculty committees.

Contact  Matthew Baum  (political science) or  Marcella Alsan  (economics) with questions about our PhD in Public Policy (PPOL) and Political Economy and Government (PEG) candidates, and Nicole Tateosian  about our PhD in Social Policy candidates.

Current PhD PPOL Job Market Candidates

Layane alhorr  (economics track).

Job market paper title: Virtual Windows through Glass Walls? Digitization for Mobility-Constrained Female Entrepreneurs Fields: Development and labor economics, entrepreneurship, gender Committee:  Rema Hanna  (chair),  Emily Breza ,  Edward Glaeser ,  Tavneet Suri  (MIT Sloan)

MARCOS BARROZO  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Market Power and Carbon Emissions in the Amazon Fields: Environmental economics, international economics, industrial organization Committee:  Joseph Aldy  (chair),  Gordon Hanson ,  Marc Melitz

JACOB BRADT  (economics track)

Job market paper title: A Policy by Any Other Name: Unconventional Industrial Policy in the U.S. Residential Solar Industry Fields: Environmental economics (primary); industrial organization (secondary) Committee:  Joseph Aldy  (chair),  Myrto Kalouptsidi ,  Robin S. Lee ,  Ariel Pakes

BEN BERGER  (economics track)

Job market paper title: How Do Health Systems Capitalize on Public Programs? Side Effects of the 340B Drug Pricing Program Fields: Health, innovation, public economics Committee:  Amitabh Chandra  (chair),  David Cutler ,  Mark Shepard

TRIDEVI CHAKMA  (economics track)

Job market paper title: The Causes and Consequences of Urban Heat Islands Fields: Environmental economics, public economics Committee:  Nathaniel Hendren  (co-chair),  Joseph Aldy  (co-chair),  Marcella Alsan

ROBERT FRENCH  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Gentrification or Neighborhood Revitalization: Quantifying the Welfare Effects of Neighborhood Change on Low-Income Incumbent Residents Fields: Public economics, urban economics, applied microeconomics   Committee:  Gordon Hanson  (chair),  Edward Glaeser ,  Mark Shepard ,  Stefanie Stantcheva ,  Matthew Weinzierl

VALENTINE GILBERT  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Can Suburban Housing Improve Urban Affordability? Evidence from Residential Vacancy Chains Fields: Labor, public, urban Committee:  Edward Glaeser  (chair),  Adrien Bilal ,  Stefanie Stantcheva

ALICE HEATH  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Government Reactions to Local News: Evidence From Child Protection Tragedies Fields: Labor economics, public economics, and health economics Committee:  Jeffrey Liebman  (chair),  Marcella Alsan ,  David Cutler ,  Mark Shepard

ELEANOR KRAUSE  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Job Loss, Selective Migration, and the Accumulation of Disadvantage: Evidence from Appalachia’s Coal Country Fields: Public, environmental, labor economics Committee:  Gordon Hanson  (chair),  Joseph Aldy ,  Edward Glaeser

MOLLY MOORE  

Job market paper title: The Contingent Reputational Benefits of Selective Exposure to Partisan Information Fields: Judgment and decision making, experimental economics Committee:  Julia Minson  (chair),  Christine Exley ,  Jennifer Lerner

LAURA MORRIS  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Impact Evaluation, Welfare Comparisons and the Value of Public Funds Fields: Development economics, public economics Committee:  Nathaniel Hendren  (chair),  Rema Hanna ,  Anders Jensen

MELANIE RUCINSKI  (economics track)

Job market paper title: The Effects of Economic Conditions on the Labor Market for Teachers Fields: Labor, education Committee:  Christopher Avery  (chair),  David Deming ,  Martin West

EMMA RACKSTRAW  (economics track)

Job market paper title: When Reality TV Creates Reality: How "Copaganda" Affects Viewers, Police, and Communities Fields: Labor, inequality/discrimination Committee:  Will Dobbie  (chair),  Desmond Ang ,  Lawrence Katz ,  Crystal Yang

AVERELL SCHMIDT  (politics and Institutions track)

Job market paper title:  Damaged Relations: How Treaty Withdrawal Impacts International Cooperation Fields: International relations, methods Committee:  Kathryn Sikkink  (chair),  Christina Davis ,  Kosuke Imai

EMMA SMITH   (economics track)

Job market paper title: Stigma and Social Cover: A Mental Health Care Experiment in Refugee Networks Fields: Development, behavioral Committee:  Rema Hanna  (chair),  Emily Breza ,  Edward Miguel ,  Gautam Rao

KE WANG  (judgement and decision making track)

Job market paper title: Can a Brief Reappraisal Intervention Durably Improve Essential Workers’ Well-being? Fields: Judgment and decision making, organizational behavior Committee:  Jennifer Lerner  (chair),  Amit Goldenberg ,  James Gross

Current PhD PEG Job Market Candidates

Salvador ascencio pastora  (government track).

Job market paper title: Fiscal Underperformance and Partisan Coordination: Evidence from Mexico Fields: political economy, comparative politics. Committee:  Torben Iversen  (chair),  Alisha Holland ,  Horacio Larreguy  (ITAM),  Gautam Nair ,  Pia Raffler

CATERINA CHIOPRIS  (government track)

Job market paper title: The Wealth of Knowledge: Spatial Connections and the Diffusion of Ideas Fields: Political economy, economic history Committee:  Jeffry Frieden  (chair),  Melissa Dell ,   Edward Glaeser ,  Torben Iversen

ANTONIO CORAN  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Childhood Environment and Motherhood Penalties Fields: Public economics, labor economics   Committee:  Stefanie Stantcheva  (chair),  Nathaniel Hendren ,  Lawrence Katz

FRANCESCA MISEROCCHI   (economics track)

Job market paper title: Discrimination through Biased Memory Fields: Labor, gender, behavioral Committee:  Amanda Pallais  (chair),  Michela Carlana ,  Katherine Coffman ,  Benjamin Enke ,  Edward Glaeser ,  Lawrence Katz  

CLARA SIEVERT  (economics track)

Job market paper title: Supernatural Beliefs of Illness and Modern Medicine Use: Evidence from a Field Experiment in the DR Congo Fields: Development, political economy  Committee:  Nathan Nunn  (chair),  Marcella Alsan ,  Emily Breza ,  David Yang

Current PhD in Social Policy Job Market Candidates

Alexandra mitukiewicz  (sociology and social policy track).

Job Market Paper Title: Job Search and Work Among Older U.S. Workers Research fields: Work, inequality, social policy, demography, aging, retirement.   Committee:  Alexandra Killewald  (chair),  Jason Beckfield ,  Nicole Maestas ,  David Pedulla

Recent PhD in PPOL, PEG, and Social Policy graduates have accepted academic positions at top institutions such as: Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Harvard Business School, the London School of Economics and Political Science, New York University, Penn State University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Tufts University, University of California, San Diego, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University.

Others pursued analyst or policy careers at the Federal Reserve Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, Millennium Challenge Corporation, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, nongovernmental organizations, and in the private sector. 

PEG PhD Dissertations and Job Placements

Ppol phd dissertations and job placements, doctoral program admissions.

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Regions & Countries

Political typology quiz.

Notice: Beginning April 18th community groups will be temporarily unavailable for extended maintenance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Where do you fit in the political typology?

Are you a faith and flag conservative progressive left or somewhere in between.

Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That’s OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if it isn’t exactly right.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

• International

Day 1 of Trump New York hush money trial

By Kara Scannell , Jeremy Herb , Maureen Chowdhury , Kaanita Iyer , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Inside the first day of Trump's trial in Manhattan criminal court

From CNN's Jeremy Herb

Donald Trump has been inside a half-dozen courthouses over the past year, but he had a new experience walking into a  downtown Manhattan courtroom Monday morning : a half-empty room.

The former president slowly walked through the cavernous and dingy courtroom, past six empty rows of benches – set aside for prospective jurors – giving a quick glance to the six reporters sitting in the back row before sauntering to the front of the room and taking his seat at the defense table.

The vacant rows served as a reminder to Trump that he’s in a different setting now that he’s a criminal defendant for the first time. By the afternoon, the courtroom was packed full with 96 jurors – some of whom may be on the jury who will hear the hush money trial against the Republican presumptive presidential nominee.

Trump only spoke three times during Monday’s session, acknowledging to the judge he understood his rights as a criminal defendant. Throughout the day Trump often engaged with his attorneys, whispering to them and sharing notes as they debated motions with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Trump also sat back at times and closed his eyes as  Judge Juan Merchan  slogged through the jury pool and asked up to 42 questions of each prospective juror.

While Trump didn’t have a platform inside the courtroom, he didn’t take long to make his feelings known when he left for the day, speaking to the camera right outside the courtroom after pulling out his iPhone from his suit pocket and handing it to an aide.

“It looks like the judge does not allow me to escape this scam. It’s a scam,” Trump said, complaining that the judge said he could not attend next week’s Supreme Court arguments on presidential immunity and his son’s graduation, though Merchan  did not rule one way or the other  on whether Trump would be excused for the graduation.

Read more about Day One of Trump's criminal trial

Here are the key takeaways from the first day of the Trump hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Kara Scannell and Kaanita Iyer

The opening day of the first criminal trial of former President Donald Trump hit home the reality that the presumptive Republican nominee for president will be sitting in a Manhattan courtroom as a defendant four days a week.

Here are the key takeaways from day one of “The People of the State of New York vs Donald Trump.”

The difficulty in picking a jury: Merchan brought in 96 New Yorkers as prospective jurors. More than half were quickly dismissed because they said they did not think they could be fair and impartial. Among the other nine potential jurors who were questioned, none said they had read any books written by either Trump or Michael Cohen. And none had said they’d worked or volunteered for Trump.

Defense wants to slow things down: Sources told CNN that there will likely be many objections and sidebars during the trial because the defense is completely focused on preserving every issue for appeal. These tactics fit the larger Trump legal strategy, which included months of appeals to delay the start of the trial, which was successful on separate grounds. The defense now hopes legal proceedings, which are expected to last six to eight weeks, move at a slow pace with the 2024 election just months away.

Trump accused of violating gag order: Prosecutors asked Judge Juan Merchan to sanction Trump and fine him for violating the gag order prohibiting him from talking about witnesses in the case, the DA’s office or court staff. Merchan scheduled a hearing on the district attorney’s motion for next Tuesday.

“Access Hollywood” tape can’t be played, but actress can testify: Merchan sided with prosecutors in allowing Karen McDougal, an actress and model who alleged she also had an affair with Trump, to testify. Prosecutors can also introduce National Enquirer stories slamming Trump’s opponents as evidence. Trump has denied the affair. A key victory for Trump, meanwhile, was Merchan's ruling that the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape can’t be played in court, saying it was prejudicial. Prosecutors also will not be allowed to bring up other sexual assault allegations against Trump that surfaced after the “Access Hollywood tape” was made public in October 2016.

Trump is also facing charges in 3 other criminal cases

From CNN’s Devan Cole, Amy O'Kruk and Curt Merrill 

The first criminal trial against former President Donald Trump is underway in New York.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges related to his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates to the 2016 presidential election. 

It is one of  four criminal cases  Trump faces, while he also juggles being the Republican presumptive nominee for president. The former president is now facing at least  88 charges  over the four criminal indictments in Georgia, New York, Washington, DC, and Florida. Trump has pleaded not guilty to every charge in these cases. 

Here's a recap of each case: 

• Hush money:  Trump was first indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016. Prosecutors allege Trump was a part of an illegal conspiracy to  undermine  the integrity of the 2016 election. Further, they allege he was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, including the $130,000 payment. 
• Classified documents:  Trump was indicted in June 2023 by a federal grand jury in Miami for taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the government’s attempts to retrieve the materials. The National Archives said in early 2022 that at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from the estate, including   some that were classified . The charges were brought by special counsel Jack Smith. 
• Federal election interference:  Smith separately charged the former president last August with four crimes over his efforts to reverse the 2020 election results. The indictment alleges Trump and a co-conspirator "attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them ... to delay the certification" of the election. That case is currently on hold as the Supreme Court weighs Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in the matter. 
• Fulton County:  State prosecutors in Georgia brought a similar election subversion case against Trump and others. An Atlanta-based grand jury on August 14, 2023, indicted Trump and 18 others on state charges stemming from their alleged efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 electoral defeat. A trial date has not yet been set in that case. 

Read more about  the four criminal cases  Trump faces.  

Former federal judge explains why Trump faces felony charges in hush money case

From CNN's Elise Hammond

Former President Donald Trump is facing felony charges in the hush money trial — not misdemeanors — because of the allegation of underlying crimes, a former federal judge explained Monday.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. 

“If you file these false business records in furtherance of another crime then it can be a felony and that's what's unusual here,” said Shira Scheindlin, a former US District Court judge.

That means that prosecutors need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records with the intent to commit or conceal another crime — but they don’t have to prove that Trump committed that crime. 

Prosecutors allege Trump was trying to hide the reimbursement of hush money payments that were made to influence the election outcome. They also allege tax fraud, according to the indictment .

“The jury has to just find that the intent of filing the false business records or making the false business records was to further the underlying crimes and then it becomes a felony,” Scheindlin said.

CNN's Kara Scannell and Lauren del Valle contributed reporting to this post.

By the numbers: Where we stand with jury selection

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Kara Scannell and Laura Dolan

The jury of  12 , along with  six  alternates, will be chosen from hundreds of New Yorkers after an  exhaustive selection process  that could stretch beyond the first week of the trial.

Court officials expect about  500  new jurors to appear each day for the selection process. About 100 prospective jurors at a time will be brought into Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom to be vetted.

Here is the breakdown of the first day of jury selection:

• Just after 2:30 p.m.,  96 prospective jurors were brought in for questioning and sworn in.
• At least 50 were immediately excused after saying they could not be fair and impartial.
• At least nine more prospective jurors were excused after raising their hand when asked whether they could not serve for any other reason. Those reasons were not disclosed.

Upon questioning:

• Merchan called 18 New Yorkers to the jury box for questioning. 
• Ten were questioned by the end of the day. One person  was dismissed  after she said she had firmly held beliefs about Trump and another person was chosen for the jury box. Merchan  excused another juror  who said his child was getting married on June 8.  

What's next: Around 32 potential jurors remained after Monday's session, according to a pool reporter in the courtroom. They included those who were already questioned and not excused along with those who still face questioning by Merchan on Tuesday. Another panel of potential jurors will be brought in after the first group is completed, the judge said.

The post was updated with the details on how many jurors remained after Monday's session.

Fact Check: Trump falsely claims judge won't let him attend son’s high school graduation next month

From CNN’s Marshall Cohen

After leaving court on Monday, former President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that Judge Juan Merchan would prevent him from attending his son’s high school graduation in May. 

“It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son,” Trump said, before lamenting “that I can’t go to my son’s graduation.” 

Trump’s son Eric Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric by tweeting, “Judge Merchan is truly heartless in not letting a father attend his son’s graduation.”

Facts First:  The judge hasn’t ruled yet on Trump’s request to be excused from court so he can attend Barron Trump’s high school graduation.

Criminal defendants like Donald Trump are typically required to attend their case proceedings in person. Trump’s lawyers asked Merchan on Monday about whether their client could be excused for some events, including the graduation and the upcoming arguments in front of the US Supreme Court in one of Trump’s other criminal cases.

While Merchan didn’t let Trump attend next week's Supreme Court hearing – because Trump has to be in New York for the trial — he said it was too early to rule on the graduation.

Trump appeared to fall asleep during some moments of trial, New York Times' Maggie Haberman says

Former President Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during the first day of the hush money trial , according to a New York Times reporter who was at the courthouse.

In one moment, his jaw kept falling onto his chest and he didn’t appear to pay attention to a note his lawyer passed him, New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman said.

“He appeared to be asleep. Repeatedly his head would fall down,” she told CNN.

The moment happened before jury selection began on Monday afternoon. According to the pool reporters inside the courtroom, Trump was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and his eyes appeared to be closed for several minutes at a time.

Trump's team asked whether he could attend SCOTUS arguments next week. The judge said see you "here next week"

Judge Juan Merchan told Donald Trump's team he will see them next week when asked about the possibility of changing the schedule so the former president could attend Supreme Court arguments April 25.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche noted the former president "very much" wants to attend the arguments over whether  the former president may claim immunity  in special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion case.

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said there's no obligation that the defendant has to be present at the Supreme Court arguments, opposing the request.

"Your client is a criminal defendant," Merchan told Blanche. "He's required to be here" and not at the Supreme Court.

Merchan said he will see him "here next week."

Trump rails against hush money case after first day of trial

Former President Donald Trump railed against the criminal case against him in New York after the first day of jury selection on Monday. He called it a “scam trial” and a “political witch-hunt” in remarks outside the courtroom.

Trump was charged last year with  34 felony counts  of falsifying business records for his alleged role in a hush-money scheme  before the 2016 election . Trump has pleaded not guilty.

On Monday, Trump complained that he would not be able to attend his son's graduation from high school because of the trial.

The judge said he will not yet rule on Trump's request to skip the trial on May 17 for him to attend his son’s high school graduation. “It really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial,” Judge Juan Merchan said.

The post was updated with more comments from the former president.

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