2019-2020 Bulletin

Dec 04, 2024

2019-2020 Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

International Politics and Political Science and Economics, PhD (Interfield Degree)

This PhD degree program combines courses from the Department of International Studies and the Department of Economic Sciences in the Division of Politics and Economics for an interdisciplinary political economy degree. Students must be accepted into the PhD interfield by both the Department of Economic Sciences and the department of International Studies and complete an Interfield Coursework Proposal form that is signed and approved by each department.

Diplomas for graduates of this PhD program will be printed to show the primary department the student is registered under first: i.e., PhD in International Politics and Political Science and Economics (for those whose primary registered department is International Studies); or PhD in Economics and International Politics and Political Science (for those whose primary registered department is Economic Sciences). When a student changes her/his primary field, the student should notify both departments.

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the Bulletin.

See the Addendum to this Bulletin for updated degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

Coursework. A minimum of 80 units are required for the doctoral degree. In addition to the tools requirements, students are required to complete six-course sequences in two of the program’s field offerings.

Research Tools. Satisfactory completion of research tool requirements through our core methods courses.

Transdisciplinary Requirement. Doctoral students are required to complete a Transdisciplinary course (T-Course) within the first two years of their program or by the completion of 48 units in their program. The course will count as 4 units towards the doctoral degree requirement. It will not add any additional units to the student’s degree requirements nor count against the total number of transfer units from previous graduate coursework.

Qualifying Exams. A modified qualifying exam structure takes into account requirements of the two programs. There are three qualifying exams in total:

Economics: Successful completion of the Interfield Microeconomics qualifying exam and a qualifying exam in the major field of study.
Political Science: Successful completion of a qualifying exam in the chosen concentration

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.

Coursework Requirements

Transdisciplinary Requirement

One class (4 units).

Doctoral students are required to complete a Transdisciplinary (TNDY) course (T-Course) within the first two years of their program or by the completion of 48 units in their program. The course will count as 4 units towards the doctoral degree requirement. It will not add any additional units to the student’s degree requirements nor count against the total number of transfer units from previous graduate coursework. See the class schedule for TNDY classes.

Microeconomics & Macroeconomics

Take the following three classes (12 units):

Econ 302 - Macroeconomic Analysis
Econ 313 - MIcroeconomic Analysis
SP&E 317 - Advanced Formal Modeling OR Econ 317 - Game Theory and Asymmetric Information (recommended only for those with a strong math background)

Political Economy

Take the following two classes (8 units):

SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy
SP&E 411 - International Political Economy

Research Tools

If your primary department is the Department of International Studies, take the following sequence (16 units):

INST 481 - Statistical Methods for Social Sciences
INST 483 - Multivariate Analysis in International Studies Using SAS
INST 487 - Advanced Topics in Applied Econometrics
INST 489 - Advanced Research Design

If your primary department is the Department of Economic Sciences, take the following sequence (16 units):

Econ 381 - Probability & Statistics for Econometrics
Econ 382 - Econometrics I
Econ 383 - Econometrics II
An additional course approved by your advisor

Transdisciplinary Requirement

One class (4 units).

Fields

Choose one area of study in Economics, and one concentration in International Studies:

International Studies

Comparative Politics (20 units)

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 1 additional class with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (4 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.

Computational Analytics (20 units)

Core Courses (16 units)

SP&E 316 - Computational Agent-Based Modeling
SP&E 317 - Seminar in Formal Models
SP&E 448 - Seminar in Social Network Analysis
SP&E 486 - Data Analytics and Visualization

Complete at least 1 additional class with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (4 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 (20 units)

This field is available only for students in the Department of International Studies who are interfield with the Department of Economic Sciences.

Core Courses (12 units)

SP&E 350 - Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
SP&E 410 - 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

Methods (20 units)

Special transdisiplinary field by pre-approval only. Requires a pre-approved Ph.D. Exam Committee. Cannot be taken concurrently with Computational Analytics. Please contact your advisor for guidance on course sequences and specialization prior to transferring into this field.

World Politics (20 units)

Core Courses (16 units)

INST 401 - World Politics
SP&E 430 - Seminar in Conflict & Peace
SP&E 410 - Political Economy of International Development
SP&E 411 - International Political Economy

Complete at least 1 additional class with Faculty Advisor approval from the following (4 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.

Economic Sciences

Courses in the non-transcripted fields below provide students with the background to successfully complete the field qualifying examination. To maximize exposure to key concepts, students should consult with their advisors before embarking on a particular field. Additional fields may be proposed, provided a faculty member is available to supervise the field with the rigor commensurate with existing fields. Approval of the department executive committee is required for all new fields.

Applied Microeconomics (20 units)

The Applied Microeconomics areas of specialization that we offer include: Health & Labor Economics, Behavioral & Neuro Economics, and Micro Policy Evaluation. Most students combine at least two of these fields in their dissertations. Please choose one of the following areas of specialization:

Health & Labor Economics (12 units)

Choose 3 classes from the following:

Econ 301 - Applications of Behavioral Economics
Econ 373 - Labor & Health Economics
Econ 375 - Behavioral Public Finance
Econ 331 - Evaluation of Health Policy Interventions

Behavioral & Neuro Economics (12 units)

Econ 312 - Behavioral Neuroscience of Decision-Making
Econ 318 - Foundations of Psychology & Economics
Econ 320 - Experimental Economics

Micro Policy Evaluation (12 units)

Choose 3 classes from the following:

Econ 301 - Applications of Behavioral Economics
Econ 375 - Behavioral Public Finance
Econ 331 - Evaluation of Health Policy Interventions
Econ 329 - Economic Policy Evaluation

Self-Designed Applied Microeconomics Concentration (12 units)

Choose three 4-unit courses approved by your faculty advisor

Students design their own concentration around a unifying theme of interest to them
Students must obtain permission from the Department Chair and their academic advisor

Dissertation Related Courses (8 units)

Econ 420a - Behavioral Economics Incubator I (2 units)
Econ 420b - Behavioral Economics Incubator II (2 units)
Econ 328a - Programming for the Social Sciences (2 units Module I class) AND
- Econ 328b - Programming for the Social Sciences II (2 units Module II class) OR
- Econ 322 - Behavioral Economics Seminar (2 units)

Public Economics (20 units)

Econ 372 – Labor, Health, and Public Economics – Theory, Evidence, and Policy
Econ 377b – Law & Economics
Econ 328a – Programming for Social Scientists I (2 units)
Econ 328b - Programming for Social Scientists II (2 units)
Econ 386 – Advanced Applied Microeconomics
Econ 387 - Applied Microeconomics Dissertation Workshop

International Economic & Development Policy (20 units)

Field Requirements (16 units)

SP&E 359 - International Finance and Economic Development
Econ 350 - Global Money & Finance
Econ 370 - The World Economy
Econ 384 - Time Series Econometrics

Field Electives (4 units):

One approved field elective such as:

SPE 411 - International Political Economy
SPE 418 - Political Economy of International Development

Field Workshop (0 units):

Each Fall and Spring, Econ 450 - Research Seminar in International Money, Finance & Economics Policy is offered. This workshop is designed to help students who are planning to embark upon, or have already begun writing a doctoral dissertation in the fields of International Money and Finance or International Economic & Development Policy. This workshop will help students learn to critique papers in an effective manner and prepare for their dissertation proposals and defenses and will also give them experience in presenting their ideas in a conference style setting.
- Students on Doctoral Study are requred to audit Econ 450 on a continuing basis
- Students in coursework are encouraged to audit Econ 450 each semester
- Note: Students can audit one class free of charge every Fall and Spring if they are A) enrolled in 12 units or more, or B) enrolled in Doctoral Study. See Program Coordinator for details.

International Money and Finance (20 units)

Field Requirements (16 units)

ECON 336 - Financial Economics
ECON 350 - Global Money & Finance
ECON 358 - Advanced Topics in International Money & Financial Economics

Field Electives (4 units)

One approved field elective such as:

Econ 303 - Dynamic General Equilibrium Modeling
Econ 337 - Behavioral & Empirical Finance

Field Workshop (0 units)

Each Fall and Spring, Econ 450 - Research Seminar in International Money, Finance & Economics Policy is offered. This workshop is designed to help students who are planning to embark upon, or have already begun writing a doctoral dissertation in the fields of International Money and Finance or International Economic & Development Policy. This workshop will help students learn to critique papers in an effective manner and prepare for their dissertation proposals and defenses and will also give them experience in presenting their ideas in a conference style setting.
- Students on Doctoral Study are requred to audit Econ 450 on a continuing basis
- Students in coursework are encouraged to audit Econ 450 each semester
- Note: Students can audit one class free of charge every Fall and Spring if they are A) enrolled in 12 units or more, or B) enrolled in Doctoral Study. See Program Coordinator for details.