Nov 21, 2024

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science and International Relations (PhD)

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Methods Sequence

All students must complete ten credits of methods training.

POSC 801 - Scope and Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 1
POSC 815 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis for Political Science Credit(s): 3
POSC 816 - Philosophy of Science and Research Design Credit(s): 3

One of the following:

POSC 817 - Statistical Analysis for Political Science II Credit(s): 3
POSC 819 - Qualitative Methods for Political Science Credit(s): 3

Skills Requirement

All students must complete a skills requirement, either:

a competency in a foreign language (0 credits); or
a 3-credit methods course from outside the department or participation in a research methods workshop (with approval from the DGS); or
one of the following (3 credits):

POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 817 - Statistical Analysis for Political Science II Credit(s): 3
POSC 819 - Qualitative Methods for Political Science Credit(s): 3
POSC 849 - Experimental Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 3

Primary Field Requirement

Fifteen credits. All students must select a primary field from the four subfields offered (International Relations, American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory). Students must complete the proseminar for their primary track in addition to four elective courses from the track electives.

International Relations Field

Students completing International Relations as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional International Relations courses.

POSC 825 - Proseminar in International Relations Credit(s): 3

International Relations Electives

POSC 810 - Topics in International Relations Credit(s): 3
POSC 813 - Seminar: American Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 814 - Political Economy of the Environment Credit(s): 3
POSC 826 - Islam in Global Affairs Credit(s): 3
POSC 828 - Feminist International Relations Credit(s): 1-3
POSC 830 - Seminar: International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 831 - Frontiers in Critical International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 840 - International Political Economy Credit(s): 3
POSC 842 - International Organization Credit(s): 3
POSC 844 - International Security Credit(s): 3
POSC 845 - Human Rights and Global Governance Credit(s): 3
POSC 858 - The International Relations of Asia Credit(s): 3

American Politics Field

Students completing American Politics as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional American Politics courses.

POSC 803 - Proseminar in American Politics Credit(s): 3

Political Theory Field

Students completing Political Theory as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional Political Theory courses. NOTE: Students cannot count POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory for both their first field and their skills requirements.

POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory Credit(s): 3

Political Theory Electives

POSC 806 - Global Ethics and Normative Issues Credit(s): 3
POSC 822 - Topics In Political Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 831 - Frontiers in Critical International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 836 - Democratic Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 859 - The Politics of Capitalism Credit(s): 3
POSC 861 - Topics in Law and Politics Credit(s): 3

Secondary Field Requirement

Students are required to take one proseminar and two electives in a secondary field (IR, American, Comparative or Political Theory). Alternatively, they may construct a secondary field in consultation with a selected faculty supervisor and upon approval by the Director of Graduate Studies (the total number of credits for the secondary field must be 9). NOTE: Students cannot count POSC 812 for both their second field and their skills requirements.

CRISP

Students are required to sign up for 1-credit of POSC 850 in the spring of their first year, 1 credit of POSC 850 in the spring of their second year, and 3 credits of POSC 850 in the spring of their third year.

POSC 850 - Current Research in Society and Politics Credit(s): 1-3

Electives

Students must take the following for a total of 6-9 credits:

3 elective courses if their skills requirement was fulfilled with competency in a foreign language; or
2 elective courses if their skills requirement was fulfilled with a 3-credit course.

Additional Research/ Candidacy

Credits Vary

Students working on their dissertation will be enrolled in 9 credits of POSC 969 - Doctoral Dissertation.

POSC 969 - Doctoral Dissertation Credit(s): 1-12

Additional Requirements for the degree

Students pursuing their PhD. are also expected to complete the following: Long Paper Defense (fourth semester), third-year field exams (sixth semester), dissertation proposal defense (sixth or seventh semester). (0 credits).