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Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Political Science
Hours Required
At least 72 hours of formal study are required beyond the B.A. At least 48 of these must be in preparation for the general exams (see below); 12 to 24 hours are required for dissertation research.
As many as 24 hours of graduate work may be transferred from another institution toward the Ph.D. degree with departmental and Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) approval.
Required Research Courses
Students must take at least two of the following three courses:
Research Tool Requirement
Students must demonstrate competency in two research tools or proficiency in one. Competency in a research tool can be established by:
- demonstrating reading knowledge in a modern foreign language (determined by an exam given by the relevant language department);
- demonstrating a specified level of knowledge in quantitative methods (students who complete PSc 202 with grade B or better meet this standard);
- or successfully completing two approved graduate-level courses in a cognate field (such as economics, sociology, anthropology, law, or other appropriate fields).
Proficiency can be established by:
- demonstrating an ability to read and speak a foreign language with high-level understanding;
- successfully completing the course of study recommended for the minor field in research methodology;
- or completing a graduate degree in a discipline directly related to the student's research program
Course Work and Comprehensive Exams
All students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in two fields, one of which is considered to be their major field and one of which serves as a minor field. The three major fields are American Politics; International Relations; and Comparative Politics. These three fields and Public Policy, Political Theory, and Research Methodology are available as minor fields. On rare circumstances, the Department will entertain petitions jointly submitted by students and full-time faculty members in the department for minors that are composed primarily of classes that are not offered by the established fields.
Soon after their arrival in the department, students should speak with the professors who are the conveners for the fields in which they plan to take exams. Professors will advise students about coursework that is most appropriate, combining the parameters of the field with the student's interests. Check with the graduate director (currently Martha Finnemore) about who the conveners are for the current year.
During the first semester, and no later than the second, students should fill out a plan of study in consultation with the director of graduate studies and the conveners of the major and minor fields. This allows students and their advisors to plan for the entire program, and determine which classes are necessary to prepare for comprehensive exams and dissertation research.
The examinations are intended to test students' familiarity with, and critical understanding of, the broad range of ideas and literature that the fields comprise. Consequently, students prepare for exams by engaging in substantial reading beyond that required for their specific courses in consultation with faculty. Copies of exams from previous years are available in the front office.
Opportunities to take the exams are offered three times per year, in September, January, and May. Students normally take one exam during or immediately following their final semester of coursework, and their other field examination during the next semester. Written examinations in a student's major field will be complemented by an oral examination in which faculty further assess their knowledge about the discipline and of their major field.
Comprehensive exams are evaluated as fail, bare pass, satisfactory pass, or pass with distinction. Students must receive a grade of satisfactory pass or better on their major field exam, and a grade of bare pass or better on their minor field exam in order to continue in the program. Students may retake each exam once, if necessary; under no circumstances may a student take a comprehensive examination a third time. Any attempt to retake an exam must be made within one year of the initial attempt. Failure to demonstrate the required level of performance on comprehensive examinations after two efforts will result in termination from the program. Students who have achieved at least a bare pass in major field will be eligible to be considered for the M. Phil. degree.
Dissertation Prospectus
Once students finish their coursework and pass both comprehensive exams, the next step is the dissertation prospectus. The dissertation prospectus is written in consultation with a faculty committee consisting of a director and two readers. The committee must be selected in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. There is no set format for the prospectus, students work with their committee members about what is expected in terms of length, scope, style, and substance. Examples of past prospectuses are available in the front office.
The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, to which all faculty and doctoral students will be invited. The defense must be announced at least two weeks in advance. Except in unusual circumstances, the proposal should be submitted by the end of the first semester.
Degree Candidacy
To be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy, students must meet the following requirements:
- pass their major field comprehensive examination with satisfactory pass or higher, and must pass their minor field comprehensive examination with a bare pass or higher;
- have taken at least 48 hours of graduate credit in the program;
- approval of a dissertation prospectus by a committee of at least three faculty;
- fulfillment of all other degree requirements (such as research tools and methods).
CCAS Rules and Requirements
A student must adhere to the rules and requirements of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, which are explained in detail at http://columbian.gwu.edu/grad/index.php/id/26 . One of the most important of these rules concerns the overall time limit for completion of all degree requirements: eight years from admission into the CCAS, or within five years of entering candidacy, whichever comes first.
Political Science Fields and Recommended Course Preparation
Field of American Government and Politics
Most students with a major field in American politics will take the following courses:
- PSc 210 American Political Process (required)
- PSc 213 Judicial Politics
- PSc 218 Legislative Politics
- PSc 219 American Political Parties and Elections
- PSc 220 Public Opinion and Political Psychology
- PSc 221 Interest-Group Politics
Depending on scheduling, previous coursework, and intellectual interests, some students may take one or two of the following:
- PSc 211 Urban Politics
- PSc 215 Judicial Policy-Making
- PSc 216 American Presidency
- PSc 217 Executive Branch Politics
- PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
- PSc 228 Media and Politics
- PSc 229 Politics and Public Policy
Field of International Relations
- PSc 341 (Part I) Advanced Theories of International Politics (required)
- PSc 341 (Part II) Advanced Theories of International Politics (required)
- PSc 352 Theories of International Security (recommended)
- PSc 353 Advanced Theories of International Political Economy (recommended)
- PSc 354 Advanced Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making (recommended)
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PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
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PSc 272 Foreign Policy of China
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PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Identity Politics
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PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Japanese Politics
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PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Psychology and International Relations
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PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Origins of Major Wars* PSc 289 may be taken more than once when topics change.
Field of Comparative Politics
- PSc 331 Advanced Theories of Comparative Politics (required)
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PSc 234 Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective (recommended)
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PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Areas (recommended)
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PSc 237 Theories of Political Development (recommended)
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PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
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PSc 232 Communism and Democratization
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PSc 233 Comparative Politics of Russia and Eurasia
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PSc 235 The Politics of Industrialization
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PSc 260 Western European Politics
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PSc 261 Politics of the European Integration
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PSc 262 The Political Economy of Advanced Industrial States
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PSc 264 Comparative Governments and Politics of Eastern Europe
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PSc 266 Government and Politics of Russia
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PSc 270 Politics of China
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PSc 271 Politics of China II
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PSc 273 The Political Economy of Asia
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PSc 274 Governments and Politics of Japan and Korea
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PSc 277 Comparative Politics of the Middle East
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PSc 283 Comparative Politics of Latin America
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PSc 288 Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
*PSc 288 may be taken more than once when topics change.
Field of Public Policy (minor field only)
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PSc 303 Approaches to Public Policy (required)
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PSc 210 American Political Process
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PSc 212 Urban Policy Problems
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PSc 215 Judicial Policymaking
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PSc 217 Executive Branch Politics
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IAff 253 Science, Technology and National Security Policy
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IAff 246 U.S. Space Policy
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PSc 224 Domestic Policy Analysis - Selected Topics (may be taken more than once when topics change)
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IAff 252 Environmental Policy
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PSc 229 Politics and Public Policy
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PSc 246 The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy
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PSc 247 U.S. Foreign Policy Traditions
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PSc 250 Foreign Policy Analysis - Selected Topics
Field in Political Theory (minor field only)
- PSc 205 Readings in Political theory (required)
- PSc 206 Topics in Political Theory
- PSc 287 Selected Topics in Political Theory
- PSc 288 Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Theories of Democracy
Field in Research Methodology (minor field only)
- PSc 202 Empirical Political Analysis
- PSc 209 Systematic Inquiry and Research Design
- PSc 285 Topics in Empirical and Formal Political Analysis: Maximum Likelihood Estimation
- PSc 285 Topics in Empirical and Formal Political Analysis: Bayesian Multilevel Models
* Alternative methodology courses can be taken with faculty advice and approval.
Revised 8/26/2008
