Graduate Programs

Students in classroom sit at a table as they are in a discussion.

Political Science and International Relations: Ph.D.

The Department of Political Science and International Relations currently offers a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree, which consists of coursework during the first six semesters followed by dissertation research and writing. Students earn an M.A. as part of their Ph.D. studies. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) at the time of matriculation to be eligible to apply to the Ph.D. program. The Department does not currently offer a terminal M.A. degree. The Ph.D. program is a 57-credit program.

Graduate study in the Department is organized around four major subfields within the discipline of Political Science: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Ph.D. students are required to pick one of these major subfields within the discipline as their primary field and a second subfield as their secondary field. In addition to the four major subfields, students can choose Methods as their secondary field.