Degree effective Spring 2019
The doctoral program in Political Science provides students with the in-depth knowledge of domestic and international politics and the analytical skills required for careers in academia, the public sector, or private enterprise. Rigorous training and the applied nature of the courses and fields instill analytical expertise and practical experience for both academic and research-based positions. Students are prepared for academic careers, teaching, research, government and public service, and positions in the private sector where an in-depth knowledge of domestic and international politics, economics, and business is of vital importance.
Admission requirements are detailed in the Admission section of the Bulletin.
Degree Requirements
Coursework. A minimum of 72 units are required for the doctorate degree. In addition to the tools requirements, students are required to complete six-course sequences in two of the program’s field offerings.
General Tool (4 units). PP 481 - Quantitative Research Methods, or an approved substitute course.
Specialized Tool. Two or more courses from the sequences below. Students are expected to take courses for the methods to be used in composition of the doctoral dissertation, even if more than two additional tools must be taken after qualifying exams. Substitutes require advisor or department approval.
- Quantitative Methods: PP 482 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods and PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
- Qualitative Methods: PP 484 - Experimental and Qualitative Methods, and PP 483 - Legal Research Methods or PSYCH 315 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
- Formal Theory & Computational Modeling: SP&E 315 - Game Theory, and SP&E 471 - Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics, and Business Decisions or SP&E 317 - Advanced Formal Models
Qualifying Examinations. Successful completion of the written qualifying examinations in each of two major concentrations. Qualifying examinations are offered once in each of the fall and the spring semesters. An oral examination, if required, is administered within two weeks of the written examination.
Dissertation. Campus policies and procedures are detailed in the Doctoral Degree Regulations section of the Bulletin and on the registrar’s Completion of Degree webpage.
University Policies. University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.
Fields
Methods (offered through the Department of Politics and Government and the Department of International Studies)
Core Tools (16 units)
Choose one of the following:
Sequence 1: Econometrics
- A class in the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (see your advisor for details)
- ECON 382 - Econometrics I
- ECON 383 - Econometrics II OR ECON 384 - Time Series Econometrics
- PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
Sequence 2: Mathematics
- A class in the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (see your advisor for details)
- MATH 352 - Nonparametric and Computational Statistics OR MATH 354 Reliability Theory
- MATH 366- Data Mining OR MATH 452 - Large Scale Inference
- PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
Core Methods (12 units)
- PP484 - Experimental & Qualitative Methods OR PP485 - Qualitative Research Methods OR ECON320 - Experimental Economics
- SPE317 - Advanced Formal Models (prerequisite: SPE315 Game Theory) or ECON317 - Game Theory & Asymmetric Information
- ECON 316 Consumer Theory and General Equilibrium
Complete at least 3 additional classes with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (12 units):
- PP 331 - Policy Evaluation
- SPE 316 - Seminar in Computational and Agent-Based Modeling
- SPE 438 - Dynamic Modeling
- SPE 486 - Data Analytics & Visualization
- SPE 448 - Seminar in Social Network Analysis
- SPE 488 - SAS Programming and Multivariate Analysis in International Studies
- SPE 318 -Cost-Benefit Analysis
- SPE 471 - Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics, & Business
- Econ 303 - Dynamic General Equilibrium Modeling
- Econ 318 - Foundations of Psychology and Economics
- Econ 319 - Application of Psychology and Economics
- Econ 321 - Advanced Topics in Experimental Economics
- PSYCH 315 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
- PSYCH 315J - Survey Research Methods
- PSYCH 315F - Factor Analysis (only 2 units, combine with another 2-unit course)
- PSYCH 315H - Structural Equation Modeling (only 2-units, combine with another 2-unit course)
- PSYCH 315N - Meta Analysis (only 2 units, combine with another 2-unit course)
- IST 333 - Knowledge Discovery & Data Mining
- IST 382 - Introduction to GIS Solution Development
Comparative Politics (offered through the Department of International Studies)
Core Courses (16 units)
- SP&E 350 - Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
- SP&E 351 - Comparative Institutional Analysis
- SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy
- One regionally-based course (for example, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, etc.)
Complete at least 2 additional classes with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (8 units):
- PP 353 - Comparative Parties & Elections
- PP 354 - Politics of Developing Countries
- PP 356 - Politics of Non-Democratic States
- PP 364 - Democracy & Development
- PP 366 - Latin American Politics
- POST 225 - Politics of Africa
- TNDY 405C - Wealth, Poverty and Inequality
- Other courses can be taken with the approval of the field chair
Note: Consult with Faculty Advisor to select best courses for your goals. Pre-approval of electives is required.
World Politics (offered through the Department of International Studies)
Core Courses (12 units)
- INST 401 - World Politics
- SP&E 430 - Seminar in Conflict & Peace
- SP&E 411 - International Political Economy
- SP&E 418 - Political Economy of International Development
Complete at least 2 additional classes with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (8 units):
- SP&E 408 - Seminar in Political Demography
- SP&E 429 - Political Economy of China
- TNDY 404U - Energy & the Environment
- INST 420A-H - Foreign Policy Courses
- Other courses can be taken with the approval of the field chair
Note: Consult with Faculty Advisor to select best courses for your goals. Pre-approval of electives is required.
Computational Analytics (offered through the Department of International Studies)
Core Tools (16 units)
Choose one of the following:
Sequence 1: Econometrics
- A class in the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (see your advisor for details)
- ECON 382 - Econometrics I
- ECON 383 - Econometrics II OR ECON 384 - Time Series Econometrics
- PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
Sequence 2: Mathematics
- A class in the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (see your advisor for details)
- MATH 352 - Nonparametric and Computational Statistics OR MATH 354 Reliability Theory
- MATH 366- Data Mining OR MATH 452 - Large Scale Inference
- PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
Core Courses (16 units)
- SP&E 317 - Seminar in Formal Models
- SP&E 316 - Computational Agent-Based Modeling
- SP&E 448 - Seminar in Social Network Analysis
- SP&E 486 - Data Analytics and Visualization
Complete at least 2 additional classes with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (8 units):
Computational Analytics
- SP&E 488 - SAS Programming and Multivariate Analysis in International Studies
- SP&E 318 - Cost-Benefit Analysis
- ECON 321 - Advanced Topics in Experimental Economics
- Psych 315J - Survey Research Methods
- IST 382 - Introduction to GIS Solution Development
- IST 333 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
- Other approved elective from faculty advisor
Mathematics
- MATH 352 - Nonparametric & Computational Statistics
- MATH 354 - Reliability Theory
- MATH 251 - Probability
- MATH 256 - Stochastic Processes
- MATH 366 - Data Mining
- Other approved elective from faculty advisor
Policy Context
- INST 401 - World Politics
- SP&E 408 - Political Demography
- SP&E 430 - Seminar in Conflict and Peace
- SP&E 350 - Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
- SP&E 351 - Comparative Institutional Analysis
- SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy
- SP&E 411 - International Political Economy
- SP&E 418 - Political Economy of International Development
- Other approved elective from faculty advisor
Note: Consult with Faculty Advisor to select best courses for your goals. Pre-approval of electives is required.
International Political Economy (offered through the Department of International Studies)
This field is applicable only for PhD Economics and Political Science Interfield Students.
Core Courses (12 units)
- SP&E 350 - Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
- SP&E 418 - Political Economy of International Development
- INST 401 - World Politics
Complete at least 2 additional classes with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (8 units):
- PP 353 - Comparative Parties & Elections
- SP&E 408 - Political Demography
- PP 353 - Comparative Parties & Elections
- PP 354 - Politics of Developing Countries
- PP 356 - Politics of Non-Democratic States
- PP 364 - Democracy & Development
- PP 366 - Latin American Politics
- POST 225 - Politics of Africa
- Other approved elective from faculty advisor