Contact Information
Fully Offered
Admission Terms
Examples of Possible Careers*
Political science teachers, postsecondary
- 4.9% about as fast as the average
- 19,800 number of jobs
- $85,760 potential earnings
Political scientists
- 6.1% faster than the average
- 7,000 number of jobs
- $125,350 potential earnings
Social science research assistants
- 5.8% faster than the average
- 40,100 number of jobs
- $49,210 potential earnings
Social and community service managers
- 17.0% much faster than the average
- 175,500 number of jobs
- $69,600 potential earnings
Social scientists and related workers, all other
- 0.8% little or no change
- 38,800 number of jobs
- $87,260 potential earnings
Legislators
- 6.2% faster than the average
- 53,700 number of jobs
- $33,200 potential earnings
*Note
Source of occupation titles and labor data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Description
The Ph.D. degree in Political Science prepares students for research and teaching careers in higher education and for research-based careers in fields that are focused on political, economic and social issues. The degree program is broadly focused on the dynamics surrounding representation, equity, conflict, human rights, development and conflict resolution. Students develop their own research questions in an interdisciplinary and theoretically sophisticated way. Students work with faculty mentors throughout their degree program and often develop and present their own research at regional or national conferences.
The Political Science major comprises the following concentrations, from which students select two:
- American Politics and Policy
- Conflict Analysis and Management
- Transnational and Comparative Politics
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000 point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- GRE scores
- Goal statement
- Writing sample
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo English test score
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand the theoretical underpinnings of political science and be able to address real world issues and problems.
- Attain research and methodological skills that will further their research and make them attractive to future employers.
- Effectively communicate research findings and implications to a range of audiences including scholars, practitioners and citizens.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
POL 70002 | SCOPE AND EPISTEMOLOGY | 3 |
POL 70003 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS I | 3 |
POL 70004 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS II | 3 |
POL 70010 | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS | 3 |
POL 71094 | COLLEGE TEACHING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 1 |
| 0-23 |
| 3 |
| ANALYTIC TECHNIQUES OF POLICY-MAKING | |
| PROGRAM EVALUATION I | |
| SEMINAR IN QUANTITATIVE METHODS | |
| ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | |
| QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS | |
| ADVANCED QUALITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIOLOGY | |
POL 81199 | DISSERTATION I 1 | 30 |
2 | 21 |
| |
| |
| |
American Politics and Policy Concentration Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
POL 70101 | STATUS OF THE FIELD: AMERICAN POLITICS AND POLICY | 3 |
| 6-9 |
| AMERICAN POLICY PROCESS | |
| CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENCY AND THE COURTS | |
| FEDERALISM AND STATE POLICYMAKING | |
| URBAN POLICY AND POLITICS | |
| AMERICAN POLITICAL BEHAVIOR | |
| SEMINAR IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND POLICY | |
| |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9-12 |
Conflict Analysis and Management Concentration Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
POL 70901 | PROSEMINAR IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| 6-9 |
| CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION | |
| POWER, CONFLICT AND THE POLITICS OF GENDER | |
| IDENTITY DRIVEN CONFLICTS | |
| SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND NONVIOLENT CONFLICTS | |
| POLITICAL VIOLENCE | |
| TERRORISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS | |
| SEMINAR IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT | |
| |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9-12 |
Transnational and Comparative Politics Concentration Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
POL 70501 | STATUS OF THE FIELD: TRANSNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS AND POLICY | 3 |
| 6-9 |
| GLOBAL GOVERNANCE | |
| FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS | |
| POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT | |
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
| STRATEGIC PLANNING | |
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
| SEMINAR IN TRANSNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS AND POLICY | |
| |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9-12 |
Graduation Requirements
- Passage of one field paper in the first area of concentration
- Written and orally defense of both a dissertation prospectus and dissertation
Residency Requirement
Students must spend two consecutive semesters pursuing doctoral studies.