phd in political science syllabus

Ph.D. in Political Science curriculum

The Ph.D. curriculum in political science requires a minimum of 90 credits in total.

• General departmental requirements must be completed by all Ph.D. students and are aimed at the development of basic analytic and methodological skills
• Within each major concentration, there are core requirements and elective courses. Total credit requirements in the major vary by field
• Students also are required to take at least six hours, but preferably nine, in each of two disciplinary minors
• At least 30 credits must be taken in courses open only to graduate students, that is, in courses at the 7000-level and above
• All Ph.D. students must complete 30 hours of dissertation credit over four semesters (PS 9991, PS 9992, PS 9993, PS 9994)

A course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement unless specifically approved by the graduate director.

General requirements

American politics and government

Core requirements (nine credits).

And at least one of the following:

American politics and government electives (six credits)

Comparative politics

Core requirements (12 credits).

And two of the following:

Comparative politics electives (three credits)

Political theory

Political theory electives (six credits)

Public administration

Core requirements (21 credits).

Public administration electives (six credits)

Public policy

Public policy electives (minimum of nine credits)

Urban politics

Urban politics electives (six credits)

World politics

Core requirements (six credits).

World politics electives (nine credits)

Minor field requirements

Students are advised to take at least six (but preferably nine) credits in each of their two minor fields, with an emphasis on courses that are listed above as core requirements.

Courses in other departments

In consultation with the graduate advisor, Ph.D. students are typically permitted to take up to two graduate-level courses in other departments, when appropriate to their plan of work.

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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Political Science, PhD

The Graduate Program in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania reflects the methodological diversity of the discipline. The department has significant strengths in each of the four major subfields in the discipline: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.

Courses in each of the four substantive fields clarify important intellectual and conceptual issues and help students learn how to formulate an original research project. Courses in both quantitative and qualitative research methods provide students with cutting-edge tools they can use to conduct their research.

The Ph.D. program includes course work, a teaching requirement, a second-year paper, a preliminary examination, and the preparation and defense of a dissertation. Candidates completing the Ph.D. degree typically pursue careers in academia, government service, and the private sector.

For more information: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/polisci/content/graduate-program

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

A total of 15 course units are required for graduation.

Research Skills Requirement

• PSCI 6800 Advanced Statistical Analysis  or a comparable course with the approval of the graduate group chairperson

Two Exam Fields

• Students must select 2 exam fields from among the 4 major subfields of the discipline (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory). They must take at least 3 classes in each of those fields prior to their qualifying exam.

Students may select the remaining 8 courses in consultation with their advisor and/or the graduate group chairperson.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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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 .

Department of Political Science

Graduate Program

Yale’s Ph.D. program has a strong historical record of producing leading scholars in the field of Political Science. (Please note: The department does not offer a stand-alone MA in Political Science. Information about the Jackson Institute MPP in Global Affairs .) Many Yale graduates have also had successful careers in government, politics, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. This historical strength is matched by a strong faculty deeply engaged in training current graduate students to succeed in contemporary Political Science.

One of the Department’s strengths is substantive and methodological pluralism—there is no single “Yale way,” and our students and faculty are motivated by a range of questions in and across the subfields of Political Science. At the same time as we acknowledge this diversity of interests, the Department’s curriculum is designed to ensure students have adequate opportunities to master the core tools of contemporary social science research, including a four-course sequence in quantitative methodology and research design (statistics), a two course sequence in formal theory, courses on experimental design, implementation, and analysis, and a training program in qualitative and archival methodology.

The Department also offers training in five substantive subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, and Political Theory. In each of these subfields, faculty regularly teach courses that expose students to both the foundational work in these areas and current active research topics. In many subfields, this training takes the form of formal or informal “sequences,” for example Comparative Politics I and II are taught each year. These classes are supplemented by topical seminars on selected and advanced topics.

In addition to regular courses, the Department and affiliated institutions (in particular, the MacMillan Center and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies) host a variety of (near-)weekly workshops in which outside speakers and Yale affiliates present and discuss work. These workshops provide a unique opportunity for students to observe the work of leading scholars, as well as to develop their own research in conjunction with faculty and student review. Information about these workshops is available here.

Students will also take two courses as a cohort. The first, Introduction to Politics, is for all Ph.D. students in their first semester. The second, Research and Writing, spans the second year and is centered on students producing a publishable quality research paper prior to embarking on the dissertation. Students in Research and Writing present their final paper in the Department’s mini-APSA conference in April.

About eighteen students enter the Ph.D. program each year. The total number of students in residence at any one time, including students working on their dissertations, is approximately 100, of whom about 40 are taking courses.

The Director of Graduate Studies for the Political Science Department is Hélène Landemore . Professor Landemore’s DGS office is located in Room 234  in Rosenkranz Hall, 115 Prospect Street. To contact Professor Landemore or sign up for DGS office hours, email her at dgs.polisci@yale.edu .

The Graduate program registrar is Colleen Amaro.  Her office is located in Room 230 in Rosenkranz Hall, 115 Prospect Street. She can be contacted by email at colleen.amaro@yale.edu .

Ph.D. Admissions

Apply here . 

Preparing to Apply

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

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

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

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

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

Graduate Admissions FAQ

Please visit our list of  frequently asked questions.

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

Vice Provost of Graduate Education (VPGE)

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

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

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

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Ph.D. Syllabi

Advanced Research Seminar on Social Media and Politics

Comparative Politics of Developing Countries

Comparative Politics of Industrialized Democracies

Distributive Politics in Advanced Democracies

Diversity and Society

The Domestic Politics of the United States

Formal Modeling in Political Science

International Relations Core Course: Conflict

International Relations Core Course: International Political Economy

Political Behavior in Developing Countries

Political Economy of Special Interests

Public Opinion and Public Policy in Advanced Industrial Democracies

Quantitative Field Methods

Quantitative Political Analysis I

Quantitative Political Analysis II

Quantitative Political Analysis III

Representation: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives

State Formation

Text-as-Data

Topics in Federalism

Topics in Formal Theory

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PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) Political Science Colleges, JNU Admission, Syllabus, Salary 2024

Sushil Pandey

Senior Content Specialist

PhD in Political Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science is a 1-3 years duration doctoral-level course in India. But probably, this duration gets extended for Part-time Political Science scholars up to 5 years. For regular, it is a maximum of 3 years.

The basic eligibility to take up a Doctoral in Political Science is holding a PG degree in allied arts discipline since Political Science comes under the aegis of Arts.

The candidates should also have a minimum of 55% in PG from a recognized institution in India with a good academic record if needed.

The PG course graduate candidates could get admission to these courses by taking up national or institute level entrance exams, counselling or interviews as made valid by the affiliated university.

Some institutions prefer to track the candidate’s academic records and other related info after entrance exam qualification. NET is the most common entrance for this doctoral course. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams conducted by a variety of institutions in order to admit the candidates.

Few familiar subjects taught under this PhD course are Research Methodology, State and Politics in South Asia, Governance and Politics in India, Decentralisation and Development in India, and India and International Political Economy.

The cost of this doctoral in Political Science spans in the range of INR 25,000 to 5,00,000 depending upon the admitting university and institution.

After completing this course, the highest salary offered to the candidate is expected to be around INR 10,00,000 per annum. The minimum starting PhD Political Science salary for candidates is expected to be around INR 4,00,000 per annum.

After completing this course, a candidate can work in fields like education, media and journalism, civil services, political firms, along with various government sector offices.

Most familiar posts that any PhD Political Science scholars are offered are Political Scientist, Market trend Research Analysts, Professor, Public Relations Specialists, and Survey Researchers.

PhD Political Science: Course Highlights

PhD in Political Science: What is it About?

PhD in Political Science covers all the aspects of the political science area in which the candidate has chosen to do the research. The overall description of the course is given below:

• This course demands a detailed knowledge of Indian politics and the political whereabouts of other related countries with reference to Governance, Community Empowerment, Economy, Decentralisation and Development in India.
• These subjects will be distributed yearly depending upon the chosen mode of education like regular or part-time.
• The candidates will have to decide on which topic they want to do the research. The candidates will be provided more guidance on the chosen topics.
• The students will have to conduct case studies on Indian Economy and politics and showcase the results of these case studies in their thesis.
• After completing this course, the candidates could apply for the post-doctorate degree under Political Science.

Why Study a PhD in Political Science?

Majority of the PG graduates have their choice towards the PhD Political Science because of the following reasons:

• Research Opportunities: PG candidates tend to have their passion and interest towards the Indian Politics, economy and its development. Thus, a doctoral degree will be giving them ample research opportunities and the expertise in their interested discipline.
• Scope for funded projects: The doctoral holder in Political Science increases their chances of getting governmental and non-governmental funding to undertake the research.
• Good Annual CTC: Usually, PG graduates in Political Science receive lesser CTC annually because of the lack of research skills and expertise. But, PhD Political Science holders tend to receive better CTC annually of around 10 Lakhs since they have a variety of research skills and expertise pertaining to the politics and Indian Economy.
• Scope for Abroad studies: Because of holding one of the most reputed degree in the discipline and exposed to continuous knowledge gathering in many countries’ politics, these doctoral holders have chance to get placed or work in many foreign countries.
• Scope to work in polling companies: Because of being the experts in Indian and other countries’ politics, these candidates could work in the polling companies that decide the leadership in some countries.

PhD Political Science Admission Process

As PhD is expected to be a very tough course, many educational institutions prefer entrance exams-based admission over the merit-based admissions.

• Institutions like IIT, Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida take personal interviews of the candidates even after entrance exams and scrutiny of academic track records.
• Some Institutions have their own entrances like Delhi University (DU), New Delhi . While others prefer common entrance exams like RET and PET.
• NET and JRF qualified candidates will not have to appear for any individual institution level entrance exams. But, they will still have to appear for a personal interview round if required.

Entrance Based Admission Process

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, University of Hyderabad [UOH], Hyderabad, and Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur conduct the entrance exam alone and shortlist the candidates based on that score.
• After the results of entrance examinations are announced, candidates will have to go through the counseling process to finalize their seats.
• The minimum academic eligibility required to appear in the entrance exam and get admitted to the course is 55% marks at masters level.
• Universities like Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi conduct a personal interview round even after the entrance exams and counseling process.
• These institutions never consider academic performances during the whole admission process of a doctorate degree in Political Science. The admission is given solely on the basis of marks scored in the entrance exam.
• But in certain institutions like IIT Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida, both previous academic records and the entrance exam scores are given equal importance.
• These institutions designate the minimum marks in PG/UG to be around 80% per cent or 8.0 CGPA towards the admission of PhD. Political Science degree.

Basic steps towards the PhD Political Science 2024 admission are listed below:

• Create the account and login ID through the official website of the institution/ exam conducting body with the correct contact number and email ID.
• Download and read the course/entrance brochure to be aware of the important dates.
• Keep all the scan copies of the mandated documents handy.
• Apply to the colleges and entrance exams by filling the application forms correctly with genuine details. Your application may get rejected later if you fill false details.
• Post qualification of the entrance exam and academic background verification, candidates will be called for a personal interview.
• Those who qualify all the steps will be granted admission to the course.
• PhD is also aided/funded under a variety of funded schemas/fellowships. Hence, the candidates needing financial assistance should apply for the same.

Read the full list of top political science colleges in New Delhi.

PhD Political Science Eligibility

Majority of the art institutions have plenty of selection criteria/basic eligibility for admitting the candidates into PhD Political Science. These eligibility criteria include:

• The candidates facing their PhD Political Science admission should possess at least 55% in PG/UG from any of the recognizable institutions in the nation.
• Central universities and other esteemed arts colleges set the minimum eligible marks in PG/UG to be around 80%.
• Academic excellence and research expertise are the factors considered by some institutions in India towards the PhD Political Science admission.

PhD Political Science Entrance Exams

Majority of the institutions consider entrance-based admissions in place of merit-based admission. Common entrance exams in many Indian institutions include:

• RET 2024: RET could be abbreviated as Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is being administered by the University of Calcutta, Kolkata towards the admission of research scholars in Political Science.
• PET 2024: PET could be abbreviated as PhD Entrance Test. This entrance is conducted for the PhD admission by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad.
• UGC NET 2024: UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test. This entrance exam is conducted by UGC under the Government of India towards the admission process of many courses including PhD in Political Science. Qualification of this exam alone can exempt you from many entrance exams conducted all over the nation.
• CRET 2024: CRET stands for Combined Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is conducted every year by  Assam University, Silchar towards the admission of MPhil and PhD programs.
• DUET 2024: DUET stands for Delhi University Entrance Test. DUET exam conduct is done every year by Delhi University, New Delhi towards its research program related admissions.

How do you strategize your Preparation for the PhD Political Science entrance exams?

Anyone who wishes to clear the PhD political Science entrance exams should be aware of the following sections like:

• English Language
• Reasoning and quantitative parts if needed
• Major technical parts in social studies and politics in India.

Points to recall before the entrance exams:

• Be ready for the Advanced level of the English Language including the UG level.
• Practice the numerical well enough to gain expertise in solving the numerical sections wholly.
• Many complex levels of reasoning skills could be improved after analytical skills thorough.
• Go through the major political events including both pre and post era of independence in India.
• Go through the Constitution of India, article by article, with reference to its enforced purpose.
• Update yourself with all notifications from the taken-up entrance exams.

How to get admission in a good PhD Political Science college?

The points that might help you are listed one by one below.

• Download the admission and application info documents of the preferred college/university where the admission is sought.
• Do strategize your action plans for the entrance exams well before the intended entrance exam.
• Be aware of all the sections of the opted entrance exams.
• Do remember that some institutions make the PhD Political Science admission, a very critical one. So, match with your academic soundness.
• Be keen on the time taken for the numericals since the candidates who will do good in the mathematical sections will have higher chances of success.
• Practice mock tests to get familiarized with the actual exam pattern.

PhD Political Science Syllabus

Subjects in this PhD Political Science get distributed across the whole duration as listed below.

PhD in Political Science Books

Following reference books cover the 5 major subjects in the PhD Political Science.

PhD Political Science Colleges

There are 213 institutions (110 Governmental and 103 Private institutions) that offer political Science specialized doctoral courses in India. Out of these 213 institutions, 47 of the institutions come under the 2021 rankings of NIRF released everywhere by MHRD to recognize top most governmental and private educational institutions.

Thus, we tabulate both the top governmental and non-governmental institutions below.

Source: College Websites

PhD Political Science College Comparison

We make the comparison below pertaining to the topmost colleges providing PhD in Political Science in India.

Source: College Websites and NIRF database

PhD in Political Science Course Comparison

We depict a comparison between PhD Political Science and PhD Engineering below.

Source: College Websites and Payscale

PhD Political Science Job Prospects and Career options

Research scholars, after successful completion of PhD Political Science, get placed majorly in the industry wherein the knowledge of Indian Economy, Politics, developments are perquisites.

Most common roles that PhD Political Science holders can have are Market trend Research Analysts; Political Scientist; Public Relations Specialists; Survey Researchers; and Research Analysts. The average earned by these doctorate holders ranges from INR 5 LPA to 15 LPA.

Political and research/analyzing associated roles are offered from firms like NDTV, Transoplanet, Times of India, Pollstar |, QuisLex, India Today, Oxynello, etc.

Some favourite job roles for PhD Political Science and its respective salary are given below.

Source: PayScale

PhD Political Science Scope

Some of the futuristic scope that PhD Political Science could be benefited are as follows:

• Further Research: PhD Political Science candidates can take part in further research both in India and abroad.
• Political analysts and leadership: Since the political natures and economies of Indian and other countries are dealt under this discipline, the doctorate holders gain immense knowledge and skills related to leadership that might trigger and aid them in becoming a political analyst, and sometimes even political leaders in future.
• Scope for Civil Services in India: Since plenty of historical events pertaining to Indian Economy and Politics are gained through PhD Political Science, the candidates could fancy their chances to crack the Civil Services exams like UPSC because of few similarities in the syllabus of it.
• Economic Strategist: Any country strives to improve its economy in some way or other. Thus, it creates the demand for PhD Political Science holders all over the globe.
• Market requirements: PhDs in Political Science become expertise in the majority of the top economies through their research experience, thus it becomes usual for them to get placed in the market trend investigating firms.

PhD Political Science FAQs

Ques. What does a PhD Political Science stand for?

Ans. PhD Political Science stands for Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science coming under the aegis of arts.

Ques. Which is the topmost institution offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Presidency College located at Chennai is the topmost ranked (NIRF 2021) institution offering PhD Political Science.

Ques. What are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission?

Ans. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission.

Ques. Which sectors are paying well for PhD Political Science?

Ans. Markets trending analyzing, teaching, and polling sectors are the sector that is paying the PhD in Political Science with good compensation.

Ques. What is the significance of taking PhD Political Science courses in India?

Ans. The significance of pursuing a PhD Political Science degree in India is that it makes one expert and leader in the arena of Politics and Economy.

Ques. What are the options after does PhD Political Science?

Ans. PhD Political Science holders could get placed globally, get placed in Indian Civil Services, market trend analyzer in markets, and Professor in the educational institution.

Ques. Which eligibility test exempt the candidates from appearing in many entrance exams?

Ans. National Eligibility Test (NET) is the national level entrance exams that exempt the candidates from appearing in majority of the entrance exams conducted by the India institutions.

Ques. List some top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and University of Hyderabad [UOH] are the top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science.

Ques. List some top private institutions offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Amity University and Banasthali Vidyapith University are the topmost private institutions offering PhD Political Science

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2 Reviews found

University of Hyderabad : A natural campus full with academic rigour

Loan/ scholarship provisions.

There is no specific rate of hike. But in the last three years, they have increased the fees by 500. So it's almost 5000 per semester. In total, it's 25,000 per semester including food charges. One scholarship for master's students: 1000 per month. For PhD if you JRF then it's done or you will get 8,000 per month. There are good placements.

Campus Life

The name of the big annual fest is Sukoon. But there are many other cultural fests that happen during the whole year. Liberation is very rich. The online database is also so big. Classrooms have projectors and speakers and screens. Sports infra is so well maintained and huge. Many social groups and clubs are here including reading circles.

Student's Review On Ravenshaw University - [RU], Cuttack

This is one of the best University of Odisha.Everybody wants a good university for his/her pH.d course. So I thought that this university will definitely give me a perfect platform. Feeling so proud to be a part of this university.

Placement Experience

In pH.d course,no placement is there.one must complete the required qualifications to get into the job.Campus selection is there in Ravenshaw.But not for those with pH.d in arts subjects.Many notable alumni are there

Ph.D. (English)

Ph.d. (economics), ph.d. (history), m.phil. (english), ph.d. (hindi), ph.d. (political science) colleges in india.

IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITM]

National Law University - [NLU]

Amity University

Jamia Millia Islamia University-[JMI]

Banaras Hindu University - [BHU]

Acharya Nagarjuna University - [ANU]

Jawaharlal Nehru University - [JNU]

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Ph.D. Program

As the major research institution in the Northwest, the University of Washington affords an expansive learning environment for the approximately eight thousand students who are working toward advanced degrees in the University's graduate and professional schools. The Department of Political Science, one of the largest social science disciplines, offers a graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Graduate students working towards the Ph.D. will also complete a Masters of Arts degree as a part of the overall requirements of the program.

Visit the pages below for details about application procedures, program requirements, and departmental resources:

• Program Requirements
• Placement Record
• Graduate Student Guide
• Office Policies and Procedures
• Department and University Policies
• Teaching Assistant Job Descriptions
• Visiting Student Status
• Additional Graduate Student Resources

Questions? Contact [email protected]

More About Our Graduate Program

As a discipline, political science concentrates on the theory and practice of government and politics. At the graduate level, study of political science involves in-depth investigation into a broad range of political phenomena in areas as diverse as regional specializations in comparative politics, international peace and conflict resolution, feminist political theory, and American voting behavior. The breadth of the discipline, which is exemplified by the theoretical and research interests of the political science faculty at the University of Washington, in addition to the supportive philosophy of the faculty, gives students the freedom to shape an individualized program of study to meet their personal interests and career goals.

Located in Gowen Hall, at the center of campus, the Department of Political Science maintains a graduate program of about 50 students in residence, with approximately twelve to fifteen new students entering the program each year, and a full-time and adjunct faculty of fifty members. The program remains small enough to offer students a strongly supportive environment for study and research. In addition, an active student association, which sponsors both academic and social events, fosters a collegial spirit among the graduate students.

Graduate courses, which average from eight to fifteen students, are conducted in a seminar setting where student inquiry and interaction are encouraged. Upon entering the program, each student meets with the Graduate Program Coordinator to outline the first year's course work. However, by the third quarter of residence, each student selects a faculty supervisory committee to advise the student about a program of study that meets individual needs and interests.

The University of Washington provides equal opportunity in education without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University of Washington policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.

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PhD in Political Science

Shape the Future of Politics and Governance

As a Ph.D. student, you will analyze interrelationships between political, economic, social, cultural and historical forces in the field of political science and two sub-fields. This program prepares you to be scholars, educators or contributors to the private, public and nonprofit sectors, here and abroad.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. degree is awarded to students who successfully complete the required coursework, pass the qualifying examinations, and write and successfully defend a dissertation. Students working toward the Ph.D. will be eligible for the award of M.A. once they have completed the requirements for the M.A.

of political science Ph.D. students are women

are international students

of domestic students are students of color

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires a total of 72 credit hours, including:

• at least 42 credit hours of graded graduate coursework,
• an additional 30 hours of dissertation credits,
• declared major and minor field or two major fields of study and,
• a passing score on a qualifying examination in the selected areas.

Students working toward the Ph.D. will be eligible for the award of M.A. once they have completed the requirements for the M.A.

Fields of Study

Students pursuing the Ph.D. must declare either a major field and a minor field or two major fields. For the first major field, the available options are American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. For students pursuing a second major field, the options are American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public administration and policy. For a minor field, the available options are American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, security studies, and law and courts.

Meet Our Ph.D. Candidates

Erika Arias

Social movements, political conflict and violence, public opinion, political behavior

Uğur Altundal

Contemporary political philosophy, democracy, citizenship, immigration and open border

Nathan Carrington

Political psychology, United States Supreme Court, freedom of expression and judicial legitimacy

African politics with a focus on oil multinational corporations and Indigenous rights in Nigeria, African diaspora communities, feminism in international relations

Joel Kersting

Political parties, representation, public opinion, LGBTQ politics, race and politics

Looking for Ph.D. dissertations?

Collaboration drives innovation

Doctoral student Claire Sigsworth ’17 M.A. (PSc) co-authored with Professor Thomas Keck, the Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics, the recently published paper “Diplomats in Robes: Judicial Career Paths and Free Speech Decision-Making at the European Court of Human Rights” in Law & Social Inquiry. Their findings show that former career is related to judicial voting patterns in free speech cases.

Claire Sigsworth '17 M.A. (PSc) Ph.D. student, political science

Read the paper

Funding Opportunities

Merit-based financial aid awards are available to support study in the Ph.D. program in the form of fellowships and graduate assistantships. Financial support is renewed each year for five years of study, subject to maintaining satisfactory performance in the Ph.D. program. Admitted students typically receive stipends for their first three summers in the program as well. 

Fellowships

University fellowship awardees receive a stipend and a full-tuition scholarship for 24 credits in their first and fourth years of study and receive graduate assistantship in their second, third and fifth years.

Graduate Assistantships

Ph.D. students have the option to obtain teaching and research experience through graduate assistantships, which are renewed each academic year. Assistantships include a stipend, a full graduate tuition scholarship and a subsidy toward health insurance coverage for the year.

Future Professoriate Program

The Future Professoriate Program (FPP) aims to foster a sense of community among graduate students while allowing them to hone skills related to teaching, research and professional identity development. The purpose of the FPP is to help graduate students develop professionally by means of workshops, annual in-house conferences and a mentored independent teaching experience. Students who complete these activities and produce a teaching portfolio can receive the University’s Certificate in University Teaching. These endeavors are seen as complements to the training in scholarship and teaching that are regular parts of graduate education.

Graduate School

General Information

Program offerings:, director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The graduate program in the Department of Politics leads to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in politics. The program is designed to offer broad professional training in political science and to enable students to specialize in any of the main subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory), as well as public law and formal and quantitative analysis. There is no separate program for a master’s degree.

Additional departmental requirements

Sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d..

Each student must complete at least six graded seminars by May of the first year, and a total of at least 12 graded seminars by May of the second year. If students take two rather than three of the general examinations, then they must complete 14 graded seminars by May of the third year. The required seminars must include at least one in three of the seven regular fields offered by the department. The director of graduate studies must approve all course selections.

Seminars (500-level courses) may be chosen from the 20 to 30 typically offered in the department each year. Students may also take Ph.D. seminars offered in neighboring departments and in the School of Public and International Affairs. These may be counted toward the seminar requirement if they have political content. All students taking courses outside the department must complete a comparable writing or examination requirement to politics seminars in order for those courses to be counted toward the seminar requirement.

Students participating in the Program in Political Philosophy may compose a special field made up of courses in one of the other cooperating departments in the program (classics, history, philosophy, and religion). Other departments that have been of interest to students include economics, sociology, psychology, East Asian studies, and Near Eastern studies.

In addition to regularly offered seminars, graduate students may create reading courses under the direction of a faculty member to explore more specialized topics. Reading courses typically include one faculty member and one student, although some include several students.

Seminars end on the last regular day of classes (December and April), and students must complete all assigned short essays within one week of that day. Students complete their fall-term research papers by approximately the third week of January, and their spring-term research papers by the third week of May.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement Each student is required to write at least three research papers in the first three years, at least two of which must be completed in the second year. With the approval and advice of the instructor, a research paper may be completed in a seminar and counted toward the seminar grade.

In addition, each student is required to take one term of directed research (POL 591) in the spring term of the second year. This project is independent of any seminar. To encourage students to become involved in research and collaboration with faculty as soon as possible, students select their independent work adviser and the general topic of their paper by mid-term in the spring term of the first year. Students convey these choices to the director of graduate studies in writing. This paper often builds on prior work done in a seminar. Students are required to present the POL 591 paper in the appropriate research seminar during the fall or spring term of the second year. The final paper is due by August 30 before the fifth semester.

Students are urged to use these various research and writing experiences to build toward a dissertation. For example, a student with a promising seminar paper might use POL 591 to do more extensive research on the subject and to develop a dissertation proposal based on it.

In order to encourage students to write papers of article length, all research papers are limited to 22,000 words. This applies to papers written for seminars and for POL 591.

Research Seminars Every year the department offers research seminars in each of the four major fields of political science (political theory, comparative politics/systems and culture, American politics, and international relations). Each enrolled student in residence is required to join one of these seminars each year, attend it regularly, and present their research at least once during the year. Research seminars are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Students present forms of work appropriate to their standing in the graduate program. First-year students typically offer seminar papers (sometimes in draft form), usually in the spring. Second-year students usually present their POL 591 paper.

General exam

Each student must successfully stand for the general examination and be recommended for continuation in the program before undertaking dissertation research. The purpose of the general examination is to ascertain a student’s knowledge of political science and his or her preparedness for advanced research. The best preparation is extensive seminar work in the department, supplemented as necessary by independent reading and study.

The general examination consists of written examinations in three separate fields and an oral examination. Students may opt to take written examinations in two rather than three fields on the condition that they complete 14 (rather than the required 12) graded seminars, including a coherent three-course 500-level sequence in a third field (but not including SPI 507b, 508b, or 508c). Students must receive an average grade of B or better in these three courses in order for them to be used for the third field. These courses must be chosen from outside the fields covered by the two written exams.

Normally at least two of a student’s general examination fields are selected from the seven regular examination fields listed below. A student may design a third, “substitute” field to replace the third regular examination field. Substitute fields should cohere with the student’s educational and research interests, and must not substantially overlap with the student’s other fields. A student may propose either a standard exam from another department (for example, political economy in economics) or in unusual circumstances a special examination. Special examinations require the agreement of a sponsoring faculty member in another department and the director of graduate studies. Alternatively, the “substitute” third field may be completed under the two-exam, 14-course option described above.

The politics faculty regularly sets examinations in the following seven fields: political theory, comparative politics, regional studies, American politics, international relations, public law, and formal and quantitative analysis. The Regional Studies exams test for mastery of theoretical and empirical knowledge about one of the following world regions: Africa, Asia (with the possibility to specify East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia), Latin America, the Middle East, Western Europe, or the Former Soviet Union and East Europe.  Students must specify in advance the region in which they are specializing.

All written examinations are four hours in length, with an additional hour for preparation. All written examinations are closed-book. An oral examination will be administered in every case in which the candidate’s grade on the overall written examination averages to 1.995 or worse or the candidate’s grade on any individual field exam is 1.995 or worse. For students receiving a grade better than 1.995 on the overall written exam and each field of the written exam, the requirement of an oral examination is waived. The oral examination is conducted by a faculty panel, with one member from each of the fields in which the student is being examined. For students taking only two written exams, the faculty panel for the oral examination will include two members of the primary field.  The faculty panels of the oral examination are constituted by the DGS.

Students must stand for the general examination no later than the end of the fourth term of enrollment. They may opt to take the examination sooner. All students must complete at least seven graded seminars at Princeton before taking the general examination.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy. To qualify for the award of the M.A., a student must earn an average grade of B- or better in 12 seminars and complete two research papers with a grade of B- or better. The M.A. may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met. 

Each student must lead undergraduate preceptorials during the five years of enrollment. Students typically teach after passing the general examination. A preceptorial is a discussion section of up to 13 undergraduates, which meets once a week as a supplement to a faculty-taught lecture course.

By April of each year, each student must inform the department manager which semesters they are available to teach in the next academic year. Each student is ultimately required to be available to teach for a minimum of four semesters. The student must accept any number of precepts offered in a class during the agreed upon semesters, up to a maximum of three precepts. The requirement that a student be available for teaching is waived once the student has led a minimum of nine preceptorials. Each student is expected to lead preceptorials in at least one undergraduate class as part of satisfying the teaching requirement.

The teaching requirement may be reduced to as few as six preceptorials if a student obtains substantial funding from outside the University or work as a research assistant for a faculty member during an academic year or term. The teaching requirement is reduced to three preceptorials if students graduate within four and a half years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within five years.  The teaching requirement is waived entirely if students graduate within three years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within three and a half years.

Certain fellowships for which post-generals students may be eligible do not allow teaching during the tenure of the fellowship. These include University honorific fellowships, Prize Fellowships of the University Center for Human Values, and the Fellowship of the Woodrow Wilson Society. Students who expect to be candidates for these fellowships are advised to accelerate their teaching so that their teaching obligation will not interfere with their eligibility.

Dissertation and FPO

Before presenting the prospectus in the student’s subfield research seminar, the student should select three advisers for the prospectus.  At least two members of the prospectus committee must be regular members of the politics department.  Before the end of the fifth semester, with the approval of the prospectus committee, each student will present a draft prospectus or first dissertation chapter to the student’s subfield research seminar, if possible with the advisers present. The seminar will function as a workshop where advice can be given about the definition of the topic and plan of research. The prospectus or dissertation chapters should be 12,000-25,000 words. Students are required to secure final acceptance of the prospectus from their advisers before the end of the sixth term of enrollment in order to remain in good standing.

After the prospectus has been approved, students should designate at least two readers to advise the writing of the dissertation.  Students may change this designation as needed.  In order to serve as first or second readers, the advisers must be members of the Princeton faculty at the rank of assistant professor or above, and at least one must be a member of the politics department. During the third, fourth, or fifth year, a third reader is identified by the student in consultation with the first two readers.  Students must first secure the consent of the third reader and submit the name for approval by the director of graduate studies (DGS).  The third reader is normally a Princeton faculty member, but may instead be a faculty member at another university holding the rank of assistant professor or above. Any external readers must be of comparable standing in a relevant branch of the scholarly community.  Third readers are less involved in advising than are the first two readers. The DGS appoints a fourth reader.  Students should submit the names of three appropriate faculty members, along with the title of the dissertation, to the DGS in order to initiate the process of appointing a fourth reader.  The fourth reader is normally a member of the politics department.  The fourth reader is expected to read only the final version of the dissertation.

A final public oral examination is scheduled no fewer than fourteen calendar days after the approval of the thesis.  At least three examiners, two of whom have not served as first or second readers of the dissertation, and at least two of whom are members of the University faculty, conduct the examination.  Normally, therefore, the committee must consist of the first and/or the second reader and the third and fourth readers.  After the student successfully defends their thesis, he or she is recommended to the Graduate School for receipt of a doctoral degree.

• Kristopher W. Ramsay (interim)

Associate Chair

• Layna Mosley

Director of Graduate Studies

• Arthur Spirling

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Gary J. Bass
• Mark R. Beissinger
• Charles R. Beitz
• Carles Boix
• Charles M. Cameron
• Rafaela M. Dancygier
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Paul Frymer
• Robert P. George
• Matias Iaryczower
• G. John Ikenberry
• John Kastellec
• Melissa Lane
• Frances E. Lee
• John B. Londregan
• Stephen J. Macedo
• Nolan McCarty
• Tali Mendelberg
• Helen V. Milner
• Andrew Moravcsik
• Jan-Werner Müller
• Alan W. Patten
• Grigore Pop-Eleches
• Markus Prior
• Kristopher W. Ramsay
• Jacob N. Shapiro
• Rocío Titiunik
• James Raymond Vreeland
• Leonard Wantchekon
• Ismail K. White
• Jennifer A. Widner
• Deborah J. Yashar

Associate Professor

• Gregory A. Conti
• Jonathan F. Mummolo
• LaFleur Stephens-Dougan
• Hye Young You

Assistant Professor

• Christopher W. Blair
• German S. Gieczewski
• Tanushree Goyal
• Naima N. Green-Riley
• Saad A. Gulzar
• Gleason Judd
• Nicholas Kuipers
• Elizabeth R. Nugent
• Temi Ogunye
• Rebecca L. Perlman
• Guadalupe Tuñón
• Andreas B. Wiedemann

Associated Faculty

• Christopher L. Eisgruber, President
• Daniel Garber, Philosophy
• Elizabeth L. Paluck, Psychology
• Philip N. Pettit, Center for Human Values
• Kim Lane Scheppele, Schl of Public & Int'l Affairs
• Michael Smith, Philosophy
• Brandon M. Stewart, Sociology

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ECO 520 - Economics and Politics (also POL 577)

Gss 543 - interest groups and social movements in american politics and policy (also aas 543/ams 543/pol 543), phi 503 - plato's political philosophy (half-term) (also cla 530/pol 556), pol 502 - mathematics for political science, pol 503 - survey analysis, pol 505 - experimental methods in political science, pol 506 - qualitative methods (also spi 595), pol 507 - topics in plato (half-term) (also cla 507/hls 507/phi 507), pol 511 - problems in political theory, pol 516 - politics of middle east authoritarianism in comparative perspective (half-term), pol 517 - international political theory, pol 518 - political philosophy (also phi 529), pol 519 - john stuart mill's politics: ideas and context, pol 520 - democracy and its enemies (half-term), pol 521 - the study of comparative politics, pol 524 - introduction to critical theory (half-term), pol 528 - the study of comparative politics: institutions and behavior, pol 530 - the politics of growth & redistribution, pol 533 - clientelism and state capture, pol 538 - comparative political behavior, pol 541 - judicial politics, pol 542 - american political institutions, pol 544 - introduction to american politics, part i: political behavior, pol 547 - identity politics, pol 548 - political psychology, pol 549 - seminar in american politics, pol 550 - international organization, pol 551 - seminar in international politics, pol 552 - seminar in media and politics, pol 553 - political theory, athens to augustine: graduate seminar (also cla 535/hls 552/phi 552), pol 554 - international security studies, pol 561 - constitutional theory, pol 563 - philosophy of law (also phi 526), pol 565 - theories of judicial review, pol 568 - hegel and marx, pol 570b - seminar in formal theory: american politics theory (half-term), pol 571 - empirical research methods for political science, pol 572 - quantitative analysis i, pol 573 - quantitative analysis ii (also soc 595), pol 574 - quantitative analysis iv, pol 575 - formal political analysis i, pol 576 - formal political analysis ii, pol 578 - seminar in quantitative analysis, pol 581 - advanced political institutions, pol 584 - foundations of political economy (also eco 576), pol 585 - international political economy, pol 588 - political theory of french revolution, pol 589 - states, democracies, nations, pol 591 - directed research, pol 592 - social movements and revolutions, pol 593 - research seminar, pol 594 - research seminar, pol 595 - research seminar, pol 596 - research seminar, pol 597 - research seminars, pol 599 - responsible conduct of research in political science, spi 556b - topics in ir (also las 566/pol 564), spi 556d - topics in ir (also pol 522), spi 561 - the comparative political economy of development (also pol 523), spi 590b - politics of inequality and redistribution (half-term) (also pol 598), spi 595b - phd seminar: qualitative research design (also pol 509).

Politics and Education PhD

Doctor of philosophy in politics and education.

This Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct original and rigorous research relating to education policy and the political conditions that facilitate its adoption, implementation, and sustainability. Graduates of this program secure position: as professors within political science, public policy, and education departments at various types of four year institutions; as researchers in think tanks and private research organizations; and in government agencies with research and policy missions.

Courses are offered in a traditional schedule during the fall and spring, with a limited number of course options available in summer. Ph.D. students must demonstrate command of two research tools, selected from the following list: 1) a reading knowledge of a foreign language, 2) a reading knowledge of a second foreign language, 3) an approved two-course sequence in quantitative analysis, 4) an approved two-course sequence in formal modeling or advanced multivariate statistics, 5) a comparable level of proficiency in a comparable research tool approved by the college.

Students are asked to participate in a set of core political science and general foundation courses in education. Each student will also complete methodological requirements including but not limited to statistics, qualitative and quantitative methods. After completing the core, each student is expected to focus his or her studies on a set of political debates in education or a particular political arena.

Ph.D. students may be required to take as many as 12 points of coursework at Columbia University in the Political Science Department.

Worksheets & Study Guides

Current Student Profiles

Alumni Profiles

Admissions Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Points/Credits: 75
• Entry Terms: Fall
• Enrollment Formats: Full-Time

Application Deadlines

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines , such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2023-2024)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.

View Full Catalog Listing

Students are asked to participate in a set of core political science and general foundation courses in education policy. These are selected with the approval of the faculty advisor in order to best meet each individual student's interests and professional goals. Students may be required to take as many as 12 points of coursework at Columbia University in the Political Science Department.

Ph.D. students must demonstrate command of two research tools, selected from the following list: 1) a reading knowledge of a foreign language, 2) a reading knowledge of a second foreign language, 3) an approved two-course sequence in quantitative analysis,* 4) an approved two-course sequence in formal modeling or advanced multivariate statistics, 5) a comparable level of proficiency in a research tool approved by the College. Using a foreign language to satisfy the research tool is appropriate only if the student’s dissertation or future research will be enhanced by developing such knowledge.

For further information on specific program requirements consult the program website at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy-and-social-analysis/politics-and-education/ and The Ph.D. Requirements Bulletin is available for download via the Office of Doctoral Students’ website. 

* Satisfied by meeting 6-point statistics requirement.

• View Other Degrees

Box: Box 11

Teachers College, Columbia University Zankel Building 212

Contact Person: Imani Collins

Phone: (212) 678-3751 Fax: (212) 678-3589

Email: ic2683@tc.columbia.edu

• 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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Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page. 

Candidates for the PhD in political science are expected to complete the required coursework during their first two years of graduate study and take the general examination at the end of the second year. A typical schedule consists of these two years, followed by three or four years of work on a dissertation, combined with supervised teaching.

Requirements

Courses  — A student must successfully complete at least 12 4-credit courses, of which 8 must be in political science. At least 10 of these 12 4-credit courses and 7 of the 8 4-credit courses in government must be listed in the catalog as 1000- or 2000-level courses. Courses cross-registered with Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Law School, the Fletcher School, MIT, or Brown University can be used toward these requirements. Prior approval from the director of graduate studies is needed for courses from Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School.

Students must complete six four-credit courses by the end of their second term in residence and nine by the end of their third.

Directed Reading/Independent Study – A student may receive academic (or course) credit for one Gov 3000-level directed reading with a relevant faculty member provided the arrangement produces a gradable seminar style paper.  While one Gov 3000 directed reading may count toward the overall 12 courses for the degree, it may not count toward the 8 (of the 12) that must be in political science. 

Course Requirements for Students Admitted for Fall 2021 and beyond 

Beginning in fall 2021, a student must complete three out of the four field seminars: American government (Gov 2105), comparative politics (Gov 2305), international relations (Gov 2710), and political philosophy (Gov 2093) and one course in quantitative methods. Students in political theory have the option to be exempted from the methods course requirement.

Course Requirements for Students Admitted prior to Fall 2021 

Every first-year student must enroll in the Department of Government graduate seminar, Gov 3001: Approaches to the Study of Politics. The course, offered each fall, is to be taken SAT/UNSAT for a full term of credit.

Quantitative Methods Requirement — During their first or second year, every student must successfully complete, with a grade of B or better, at least one graduate-level course in quantitative social science methods relevant to political science from a list of appropriate Department of Government and other Harvard/MIT courses regularly updated by the Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee. 

Political Theory Requirement — During their first or second year, every student must take a minimum of one graduate-level four-credit course (or section) in Political Theory chosen from a list of courses approved by the Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee. 

Additional Requirements for all students 

Incompletes  — A grade of Incomplete can be converted into a letter grade if the student completes the work before the end of the term following the one in which the course was taken. If an Incomplete has not been completed within the period, the student must have the instructor and director of graduate studies (DGS) approve a petition for an extension of time. No grade of Incomplete can be used to satisfy any departmental requirement.

Seminar Papers  — In order to ensure that students secure adequate training in research and writing, at least three seminar-style research papers must be completed. The usual means is through enrollment in seminars, but the requirement may also be satisfied by reading or lecture courses in which papers of this type are written. Only one of the three papers may be co-authored. Additionally, only one of the three papers may be written outside the department. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain written verification from the instructor that the completed paper is of seminar quality.

Research Tools Requirement  — By the end of their first year, every student must submit to DGS a written Research Tools Plan outlining intentions to acquire tools and methodological expertise connected to their areas of research interest. The Tools Plan also should list the courses, modules, or workshops the student intends to take in order to meet the research tools requirement.

Every student must complete a minimum of 3.5 4-credit course-equivalent units of research tools and methods courses, modules, or workshops by the end of their seventh term in residence (middle of the fourth year). The graduate course in quantitative social science methods count for one unit within this total. Students may count language training in various formats (e.g. term courses; intensive summer sessions) toward fulfillment of this requirement. The Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee will determine what counts for 1.0 or 0.5 units.

Research Workshops  — The Department of Government offers a series of research workshops in each of the four fields (American government, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory), applied statistics, and political economy for graduate students to present and discuss work in progress. Every student should attend at least one research workshop each term when in residence. Research workshops do not count toward the requirement to complete 12 4-credit courses.

The General Examination

Every student will sit for a general examination in May of their second year, with the exam administered orally by faculty not known in advance. The 90-minute exam will cover two of the four major substantive fields in political science (chosen by the student from among: American government, comparative politics, international relations, and political philosophy), plus an additional focus field defined by the student. For the focus field, each student will submit by a date designated by DGS a five- to eight-page statement outlining a special area for examination. This area may encompass a special literature; an area of the world; a realm of special interest spanning subfields or disciplinary boundaries; or a research approach. Political philosophy and social policy students are not required to submit focus field memos.

Students are allowed a “course-out” option instead of taking a minor field oral exam in either quantitative methodology or formal theory by taking four courses from our methods sequence with an overall grade of B+ or higher. At most, one course outside the methods sequence may count toward the course-out requirement, but those who want to use outside classes should consult with a member of the methods faculty (such as the methods field coordinator) before taking those courses for approval. Students who choose to course out will sit for the other two 30-minute exams as usual.

The department regularly offers “field seminars” introducing each of the four major fields of the discipline. However, no examination field is co-terminus with any one course, or even with any group of courses. The student is responsible for preparation in the field and should not assume that satisfactory completion of a course or courses dealing with the material in the field will constitute adequate preparation for the examination. The student should consult faculty members in each field to ensure such preparation. All students who choose a field are responsible for the same range of materials.

Progress toward the Degree after the General Examination

Requirements relating to courses and seminars (research) papers should normally be completed before the general examination, that is, during the first two years of graduate work. In special circumstances, a student may defer fulfillment of two four-credit courses or one four-credit course and one seminar paper until after the general examination.

Within six months of passing the general examination, the student must have fulfilled one of these deferred requirements. Within 12 months, they must have completed both deferred requirements.

Following completion of the general exam, each student will engage faculty advisors through a two-stage process of research exploration and prospectus approval, marked by two meetings as follows:

• An initial “Research Exploration Meeting” must convene in the fall term of the third year to discuss an approximately 10-page statement from the student, which, as appropriate, may either present a potential research question for the dissertation or set forth alternative possible research questions for consideration and development. The student may consult the director of graduate studies to identify three or four appropriate faculty consultants, if these are not readily apparent.
• Involving the same three or four faculty, or a different set where appropriate, the second “Prospectus Evaluation Meeting” will convene to discuss and approve the student’s written dissertation prospectus. These faculty members are chosen by the student with the approval of the director of graduate studies. The evaluation meeting will preferably be held in the spring term of the third year and in no instance later than October 1 of the fourth year. Whenever this meeting is held, there may be a one-month follow-up period for final changes in the prospectus. To be in good standing, therefore, all students must have an approved prospectus, with the dissertation title and name(s) of the advisor(s) registered with the Graduate Program Office, by no later than November 15 of the fourth year.

First-year and second-year students are not permitted to hold Teaching Fellow appointments.

Students may not teach or take on other employment if they are receiving a PhD dissertation completion fellowship. 

Students in their third year and beyond are eligible for teaching fellowships, which enable them to participate in Harvard’s undergraduate tutorial program, teach sections in the introductory government courses, or assist undergraduates in middle-group courses by leading discussion sessions or directing senior theses. 

In the third year, most graduate students are teaching a full load (two sections) and working on the dissertation. The fourth year may be devoted entirely to writing the dissertation or to a combination of teaching and research. 

Students who have passed the general examination may teach the equivalent of three standard sections time in a single term (or six sections per academic year), with the following exception: Ordinarily, no graduate student may hold a teaching fellowship for more than 4 academic years regardless of whether the appointment is for 1 or 2 terms within the same year; students who have taught fewer than 16 standard sections in 4 years will be permitted to teach a 5th and 6th year up to the total of 16 standard sections.

All first-time Teaching Fellows must enroll in Gov 3002a: Teaching and Communicating Political Science. This is a required course for government PhD students who are teaching in the department for the first time (typically G3s).  The course has an orientation and six required meetings in the fall term. Between meetings, students will have the chance to apply what they learn through peer observation, having their section videotaped, and watching their section with the department’s Pedagogy Fellow. The ultimate goal of this course is to help the student to become a purposeful, effective, and efficient teacher.

Dissertation

A student is required to demonstrate ability to perform original research in political science by writing a dissertation that makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field. The requirement may also be fulfilled in the form of a three-article dissertation by approval of the dissertation committee.

Dissertations must be approved by at least three committee members, two of whom must be faculty members of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The chair must be a member of the Department of Government. Any member of the committee who is not a member of the department must be approved by the dissertation chair. Dissertations must be approved for defense by the committee. The final copies of the dissertation must conform to the requirements described online in  Dissertations .

Special Examination

After the dissertation has been approved, and after all other degree requirements have been met, a student will take the “special” oral examination, or defense. This examination is focused on the dissertation and on the relevant special field, which is ordinarily one of the fields that the student presented in the general examination, or an approved portion of that field.

Students who defend their dissertation later than six years after taking the general examination must retake the focus field of the general examination. Approved parental leave extends this period by one year per child, but no other reason for leave does.

Depositing Dissertation Data

Students are required to make all of the quantitative data they have compiled to reach the findings in their dissertation available to the  Harvard-MIT Data Center . This data must be in machine-readable form (together with accompanying explanatory materials). These data will be made available to other users five years after receipt of PhD or sooner, if the PhD recipient permits.

Ten-Year Enrollment Cap

An overall policy has been established that students ordinarily will not be permitted to register beyond their 10th year. However, exceptions to this rule may be made for students who have taken medical or parental leave or for students with other special circumstances. Students who are administratively withdrawn are free to apply for re-admission, so as to re-register for the purpose of the defense and the awarding of the degree, when their dissertation is completed.

First-year students are assigned two faculty advisors by the director of graduate studies. In subsequent years, students may either remain with the first-year advisor or choose an advisor (or advisors) on their own.

Before the end of the second year, students must ask a faculty member to serve as their third-year advisor and submit a signed “third-year advisor form” to the Graduate Office. This faculty member has the responsibility for guiding a student through the pre-prospectus meeting and the process of forming a committee. 

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

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

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

Course Highlights

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Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Admission Process

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

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

Syllabus for Ph.D. in Political Science

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

Ist Year Syllabus

IInd Year Syllabus 

IIIrd Year Syllabus 

Fee Structure for Ph.D. in Political Science

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

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

Top Entrance Examinations for Ph.D. in Political Science

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

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

Syllabus for Entrance Exam

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

Scholarship and Fellowship

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

Result and Cutoffs

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

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

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

Job Roles 

Employment Sectors 

Top Recruiters

Salary Package After Completing Ph.D. in Political Science

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

Top Cities for Ph.D. in Political Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PhD Political Science Syllabus and Subjects

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

Semester Wise PhD Political Science Syllabus

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

PhD Political Science First Year Syllabus

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

PhD Political Science Second Year Syllabus

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

PhD Political Science Third Year Syllabus

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

PhD Political Science Subjects

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

PhD Political Science Core Subjects

Given below are the core subjects in the curriculum:

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

PhD Political Science Course Structure

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

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

PhD Political Science Teaching Methodology and Techniques

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

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

PhD Political Science Projects

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

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

PhD Political Science Reference Books

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

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Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science

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Program Description

The Ph.D. in Political Science is aimed at developing a pool of scholars who are able to probe effectively into political questions and issues within their chosen sub-fields. The program places a strong emphasis on research and publication to support the student’s scholarly credentials. Its principal goal is to train scholars as leaders in research, teaching, and propagation of the discipline. Specifically, the program aims at deepening specialized knowledge through research in comparative politics, international relations, political economy, political dynamics, political theory, public policy, and public administration. Full-time students shall observe a minimum residency period of at least three years, within which they have completed the course work, dissertation as well as publication/dissemination requirements of the program.

Prerequites

Applicants to the Ph.D. program should have an M.A. in Political Science (with thesis) and a research plan submitted at the time of application. The plan should be approved by the department and serves as the basis for assigning a mentor to the doctoral student.

Based on the guidelines prescribed by CHED in its Memorandum No. 32, series of 2011, the courses of the program are divided into core, major, and elective courses.

Core Courses (15 Units, 3 units per course)

• Philosophy of Social Sciences
• Theories of State and Economy
• Global Politics
• Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
• Advanced Qualitative Research Methods

Major Courses (15 Units, 3 units per course):  The major courses shall be tailored according to the student’s approved research plan. It may be a combination of directed research courses (individual special classes) and regular classes.

• Advanced Seminars
• Directed Readings/Research

Upon consultation with and guidance of the mentor, the student takes advanced seminars in any of the following:

• International Relations
• Comparative Politics
• Political Theory and Analysis
• Governance and Public Policy
• Political Economy and Political Dynamics

In addition, Directed Readings courses may be assigned for a more focused study by the student as prescribed by the mentor.

Elective courses (6 units):  Students can choose any 2 approved course such as :

• Elective courses offered by the Department of Political Science (e.g., Development Studies or additional Seminar Courses from the above list)
• Approved electives courses offered by other departments in De La Salle University

Comprehensive Examination and Proposal Defense The student should pass the oral comprehensive examination before proceeding to take major and elective courses. After passing the said examination and approval of the dissertation proposal, the student becomes a Ph.D. candidate.

Publication and Dissertation Requirements To complete the doctoral program, the Ph.D. candidate shall have two options for a dissertation:

• A dissertation based on three (3) published peer-reviewed and abstracted journal articles organized around a research theme with an introduction and a synthesis chapters.
• A traditional dissertation that incorporates one (1) published peer-reviewed and abstracted journal article.

For inquiries about the program, kindly get in touch with:

Dr. Maria Milagros Regina Lomotan Graduate Program Coordinator Political Science Department De La Salle University [email protected] (632) 524-4611 Loc 570

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