Political Science, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
The course of study leading to a Ph.D. in Political Science requires a minimum of three years of full-time study, culminating in the successful defense of a doctoral dissertation. A minimum of 96 graduate hours of academic credit is required, 32 of which may be graduate hours of dissertation research. At least 64 of the 96 graduate hours must be taken in residence. A grade of B or better is required in all courses.
In addition to meeting Graduate College requirements, the Department of Political Science requires that students complete a "scope and methods" sequence, acquire proficiency in analytic skills, and demonstrate expertise in several subfields within the discipline. The progress of doctoral candidates is monitored at various points in the program. In addition to an interim evaluation, students must pass a set of qualifying examinations and present a dissertation proposal. Once the doctoral dissertation is completed, the candidate must successfully complete an oral final defense.
Admission to the Ph.D. Program
The Graduate College admission requirements apply. The student should have a minimum of 20 hours of undergraduate work in political science and cognate disciplines such as economics, psychology, finance, sociology, or history. All applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, a personal statement, and an example of written work. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit the TOEFL iBT or IELTS score. The Ph.D. program typically admits students for the fall semester. Application deadline is December 1st.
Admission to the Master of Arts with Concentration in Civic Leadership
Admission is restricted to students who were accepted to the Civic Leadership Program as undergraduates at the University of Illinois. Application deadline is December 1st. Applicants who wish to obtain a joint MA-JD degree program must apply separately for admission to the Law School.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program and is essential for students whose career goals include college teaching.
Financial Aid
Students accepted into the department's Ph.D. program are eligible to apply for financial aid. Most incoming students with good credentials and continuing students demonstrating satisfactory progress will receive some type of financial aid, but the type and amount will vary. The Department of Political Science provides, on a competitive basis, aid packages up to $22,000, plus waivers of tuition and some fees. Financial aid is usually a combination of fellowship money and assistantships. Limited amounts of aid are also available for dissertation field research, internships, and the presentation of papers at professional meetings.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
The course of study leading to a Ph.D. in Political Science requires a minimum of three years of full-time study, culminating in the successful defense of a doctoral dissertation. A minimum of 96 graduate hours of academic credit is required, 32 of which may be graduate hours of dissertation research. At least 64 of the 96 graduate hours must be taken in residence. A grade of B or better is required in all courses.
In addition to meeting Graduate College requirements, the Department of Political Science requires that students complete a "scope and methods" sequence, acquire proficiency in analytic skills, and demonstrate expertise in several subfields within the discipline. The progress of doctoral candidates is monitored at various points in the program. In addition to an interim evaluation, students must pass a set of qualifying examinations and present a dissertation proposal. Once the doctoral dissertation is completed, the candidate must successfully complete an oral final defense.
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Tools of Inquiry: two-course sequence in statistical methods, three additional courses in statistical methods, formal theory or qualitative methods (PS 523 may be taken in partial fulfillment of the Tools of Inquiry requirement, providing it is not also used to satisfy the Scope and Methods requirement). | 20 | |
| PS 521 | Phil Bases of Pol Inquiry | 4 |
| PS 522 | Research Design and Techniques | 4 |
| or PS 523 | Qualitative Methods | |
| Course work in one substantive area of political science | 20 | |
| Course work in a minor area. | 8 | |
| PS 598 | Dissertation Design Seminar | 0 |
| PS 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Qualifying Exam Required: | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required: | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required: | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required: | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Entering with approved B.S./B.A. degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master's Equivalency: Hours of 500 level coursework in PS | 24-32 | |
| Tools of Inquiry: two-course sequence in statistical methods, three additional courses in statistical methods, formal theory or qualitative methods (PS 523 may be taken in partial fulfillment of the Tools of Inquiry requirement, providing it is not also used to satisfy the Scope and Methods requirement). | 20 | |
| PS 521 | Phil Bases of Pol Inquiry | 4 |
| PS 522 | Research Design and Techniques | 4 |
| or PS 523 | Qualitative Methods | |
| Course work in one substantive area of political science | 20 | |
| Course work in a minor area. | 8 | |
| PS 598 | Dissertation Design Seminar | 0 |
| PS 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 32-40 |
| Total Hours | 96 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Qualifying Exam Required: | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required: | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required: | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required: | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
The Political Science doctoral program is designed to produce broadly educated and well-trained scholars and teachers. Our aim is to produce Ph.D.s who have the breadth and vision to grapple with large questions, the training to make original contributions to research that addresses those questions, and the ability to communicate research results to students, their peers, and society at large. We thus strive to strike an appropriate balance between:
- Exposure to theoretical models in political and social research,
- Sophisticated training in the methods and techniques of social science,
- The development of expertise within a student's primary area of interest,
- Exposure to classroom teaching, and
- Exposure to the discipline’s professional norms and practices.
More specifically, every Illinois Ph.D. should:
- Be well-grounded in the social sciences. This includes familiarity with the philosophy of science issues that underlie social scientific inquiry. It also includes exposure to or an acquaintance with the literature and approaches of at least one other discipline as they pertain to inquiries in political science and specifically to students' particular areas of interest.
- Be familiar with the breadth and diversity of models, approaches, and intellectual traditions within a student's major subfield of expertise (major fields in the department are American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory).
- Be competent in at least a second substantive area of political science(minor fields in the department are the same as the four major fields, with the addition of political methodology).
- Be highly competent in research skills appropriate to his or her research endeavors. An Illinois Ph.D. should be exposed to a broad range of methodologies (including both quantitative and qualitative approaches) and have some deeper familiarity with particular sets of research skills (e.g. statistical analysis, formal modeling, game theory, the comparative case study method).
- Fully understand the research enterprise. This includes an ability to critique others' work and an ability to be a contributing scholar by producing original research.
- Be prepared to teach graduate courses in his or her primary subfield and undergraduate courses in at least two subfields of the discipline, and understand best practices for student engagement.
- Be familiar with disciplinary norms and standards, including understanding issues related to ethical practices in research, professional and public engagement, and instruction.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
Graduate Degree Programs in Political Science
- Political Science, MA
- concentrations:
- Political Science, PhD
- concentration:
- Joint Programs:
The Department of Political Science offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Students are not admitted to the master's degree program in Political Science, except for the Civic Leadership concentration. The department is not accepting applications to the Public Administration program.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
Department of Political Science
Head of Department: Thomas Rudolph
Director of Graduate Studies: Jeffery Mondak
Department of Political Science website
420 David Kinley Hall, 1407 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3881; fax: (217) 244-5712
Political Science email
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements