The rigorous training and applied nature of the department’s core offerings and three (3) doctoral fields: Comparative Politics, Computational Analytics, and World Politics.  The department also offers one field to interfield students in the Ph.D. program in Economics – International Politics and Political Science. In addition, the Department of International Studies allies with Department of Politics and Government and Department of Economics in the Methods Field. The department’s various programs provide the analytical expertise and practical experience for both academic and research-based positions. 

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

Degree Requirements

Coursework.  A minimum of 72 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.

Practical Experience Milestone

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 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.

Research Tools

1. Research Tools Sequence 1 (16 units):

• INST 400 Math Preparations Workshop (0 units) for those who need basic calculus, linear algebra and probability theory
• 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

For Ph.D. students well prepared in Mathematics, we recommend the following alternate 12-unit general methods sequence. This option is required for students in the Ph.D. Economics and International Studies & Political Science program.

1. Research Tools Sequence 2 (16 units):

• ECON 300 Math Brush-Up Workshop (0 units)*

• ECON 381 Probability and Statistic for Econometrics

• ECON 382 Econometrics II
• ECON 383 Econometrics III
• INST 489 Advanced Research Design

Note:

*Students are expected to take courses for the methods you will be using for your dissertation, even if that means you need to take additional tools after your qualifying exams. PhD students need to contact their advisor if methods need to be altered for their specific tracks. PhD students who wish to substitute methods classes must gain prior approval by a Faculty Advisor and the Department Chair.

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.

Fields

Doctoral students must have two fields in the Department of International Studies. Each field is 24 units. Please choose from the following fields:

Comparative Politics 

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
• And One regionally-based course (for example, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, etc.)

Electives – two courses from the following courses (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 Political and Economic Development in Latin America
• PP 363 Politics and Economic Development in Asia
• PP 355 Government Policies and Economic Development
• SP&E 417A Public Policy in the European Union: Markets and Security
• SP&E 429 Political Economy of China
• SP&E 420E Foreign Policy in Latin America
• PP375/POST 225 Politics of Africa
• TNDY405C Wealth, Poverty and Inequality
• TNDY407M Global Challenges: Poverty, Gender & Security - UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• SP&E 359 Comparative Politics: Power Politics in Regional and Global Affairs.
• SP&E Political Economy of the Middle East
• PP 408 Political Demography OR TNDY 407I Seminar in Social Demography

Other courses can be taken. Pre approval of the field chair is required.

Computational Analytics

Core Courses (16 units)

• SP&E 486 Data Analytics and Visualization

• SP&E 317 Seminar in Formal Models
• SP&E 316 Computational Agent-Based Modeling
• SP&E 448 Seminar in Social Network Analysis

Electives. Choose two courses from the following (8 units):

Computational Analytics

• SP&E 438 Dynamic Modeling

• SP&E 318 Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Econ 320 Experimental Economics
• Econ 317 Game Theory & Asymmetric Information
• SP&E 315 Game Theory
• Econ 316 Consumer Theory and General Equilibrium
• 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 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)
• IST333 Knowledge Discovery & Data Mining
• IST382 Introduction to GIS Solution Development

Mathematics

• MATH 352 Nonparametric & Computational Statistics (Prerequisite: MATH252 Statistical Theory or Instructor’s permission)

• MATH 354 Reliability Theory
• MATH 251 Probability;
• MATH 256 Stochastic Processes
• MATH 366 Data Mining
• MATH 452 Large-Scale Inference

Policy Context

• INST 401 World Politics

• SP&E 408 Political Demography OR TNDY407I Seminar in Social Demography
• SP&E 430 Seminar in Conflict and Peace
• INST 403 Seminar in Deterrence and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
• SP&E 350 Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
• SP&E 351 Comparative Institutional Analysis
• SP&E 352 Comparative Political Economy
• INST 410 Political Economy of International Development
• SP&E 411 International Political Economy

Note: Consult with Faculty Advisor to select best courses for your goals. Pre-approval of electives is required.

Methods

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 

Core Courses (16 units)

• INST 401 World Politics

• INST 430 Seminar in Conflict & Peace
• INST 410 Political Economy of International Development
• SP&E 411 International Political Economy

Electives -Choose two courses from the following selection (8 units)​

• SP&E 412 Seminar in Integration

• SP&E 408 Seminar in Political Demography OR
• TNDY 407I Seminar in Social Demography
• INST 335 International Environmental Law & Politics
• INST 336 International Environmental Politics & Policies
• TNDY 404U Energy & the Environment
• INST 420A-H Foreign Policy
• SP&E 432 Seminar in Civil War
• INST Seminar in Deterrence and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
• INST/SPE429 Political Economy of China

Note: Consult with Faculty Advisor to select best courses for your goals. Pre-approval of electives is required.

International Political Economy

Core Courses (20 units)

• SP&E 352 Comparative Political Economy

• INST 401 World Politics
• INST 410 Political Economy of International Development
• SP&E 411 International Political Economy
• SP&E 350 Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics or SP&E 351 Comparative Political Institutions

For Interfield students:

Core Courses 12 units

• SP&E 350 Theories and Issues in Comparative Politics
• INST 410 Political Economy of International Development
• INST 401 World Politics

Note: INST/SPE352 and INST/SPE411 are required general foundation courses for interfield students. All interfield students must take these two courses.

 

In addition, for both groups of students (interfield and computational):

1. General Requirements on Methods for Ph.D. above (20 units)
2. Electives. Chose (2) courses from the following (8 units)​

• ECON 370: The World Economy: Trade and Finance
• SP&E 359: International Development: Finance, Institutions and Policy
• SP&E 408 Seminar in Political Demography OR TNDY 407I Seminar in Social Demography
• SP&E 412 Seminar in Integration
• PP 353 Comparative Parties & Elections
• PP 354 Politics of Developing Countries
• PP 356 Politics of Non-Democratic States
• PP 364 Democracy & Development
• PP 366 Political and Economic Development in Latin America
• PP 355 Government Policies and Economic Development
• SP&E 417a Public Policy in the European Union: Markets and Security
• PP 375/POST225 Politics of Africa
• SP&E 429 Political Economy of China
• SP&E 351 Comparative Institutional Analysis
• SP&E 363 Politics and Economic Development in Asia

Note: CONSULT WITH FACULTY ADVISOR TO SELECT BEST COURSES FOR YOUR GOALS. PRE-APPROVAL OF ELECTIVES IS REQUIRED.

Electives

4 units of electives, as approved by your academic advisor.