Political Science Ph.D.

Program Overview

For the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in political science, the Department requires a minimum of thirty (30) graduate hours of course work beyond the Master’s degree. Twelve (12) hours are awarded upon completion of the dissertation. The minimum credit hours requirement for the Ph.D. is forty-two (42) hours beyond the Master’s. Blacks and the American Political System, Scope and Methods of Political Inquiry, and Government and Politics of Modern Africa courses are required of all students pursuing the Doctoral degree in Political Science. If any of these courses have been taken in our M.A. program they need not be repeated but the minimum number of credit hours must be satisfied with elective courses.

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the General Admissions Requirements as published in this Catalog, applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Political Science should have been awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from a regionally accredited college or university. Consideration may be given to other applicants who have earned a master's degree in one of the social sciences related disciplines. In such cases, students should expect to be admitted conditionally and will normally be required to take additional credits beyond the minimum to complete degree requirements. Graduate Records Examination (GRE) required.

Program Objectives

1. Introduce students to theoretical, analytic, and substantive approaches to public policy analysis and administration.
2. Prepare students to design and conduct original high-quality research in Political Science
3. Prepare students with skills necessary to communicate, in written and oral formats, significant issues, scholarly works and practices in Political Science to multiple audiences.
4. Train students to teach political science at the post-secondary level.
5. Prepare students for careers in political science or related fields.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Political Science will:

1. Apply theoretical and literary concepts and analytical approaches to public policy analysis and administration.
2. Review, evaluate and communicate, in written and oral formats, major issues, scholarly debates, and practices in subfields related to Political Science.
3. Utilize methodological skills to design and conduct original scholarly research in the field of Political Science.
4. Synthesize large quantities of information and rigorously evaluate the merits of competing theoretical and empirical arguments.