The interfield degree in Political Science and Economics is an interdisciplinary degree in political economy. The program combines courses from the departments in the Division of Politics and Economics.
Students must be accepted by both departments. One department will serve as the student’s primary department and dictate the field to be listed first on the student’s diploma at graduation–whether Political Science and Economics or Economics and Political Science.
Admission requirements are detailed in the Admission section of the Bulletin.
Degree Requirements
Coursework. A minimum of 80 units are required, composed of a core, a methods minor field, a political science concentration, and an economics field of study.
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.
Practical Experience Milestone
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. Students must successfully defend a dissertation proposal and successfully defend a dissertation that meets the rigorous methodological standards of and draws from both fields. Refer to the Doctoral Degree Regulations section of the Bulletin for policies and procedures.
University Policies. University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.
Core Courses (24 units)
Political Economy
Required Courses:
- SP&E 411 - International Political Economy
- SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy
Microeconomics & Macroeconomics
Required Courses:
- ECON 313 - Microeconomic Analysis
- ECON 302 - Macroeconomics I
Two of the following, with approval of the field advisor.
- ECON 316 - Consumer Theory and General Equilibrium
- ECON 317 - Game Theory and Asymmetric Information
- SP&E 317 - Advanced Formal Models
- ECON 303 - Advanced Macroeconomics
Research Tools (16 units)
Choose one of the following four-course statistical sequences.
Track 1 (required for those whose primary department is Economics)
Track 2 (required for those whos primary department is Politics & Government)
- PP 480 - The Nature of Inquiry
- PP 481 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis
- PP 482 - Multivariate Regression Analysis
- PP 487 - Applied Data Analysis
Field Options (40 units)
Nine courses or 40 units are required according to the following distribution.
Political Science (20 units)
The Faculty of Political Science requires a minimum of five (5) courses to complete a field (20 units). Here is a list of concentrations available:
- American Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Political Philosophy - additional units may be required; consult the political philosophy advisor
- Public Policy
- Public Law
- Research Methodology
Economics (20 units)
- Applied Microeconomics (see your advisor)
- International Money and Finance (see your advisor)
- International Economic & Development Policy (see your advisor)