The interfield degree in Political Science and Economics combines courses from two departments in the Division of Politics and Economics. Students must be accepted by both departments. 

This program is offered in-person with some coursework offered in an hybrid/online modality and can be completed in seven semesters of full-time attendance (twelve units/semester).

Program Outcomes

• Prepares students to analyze these interlinks and their effects on both political and economic systems. 

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 80 units is required for the degree. In addition to the coursework detailed below, students will complete the Division of Politics and Economics Practical Milestone, three qualifying examinations, and will successfully defend their dissertation.

Students will select one concentration in Political Science and one concentration in Economics.

Coursework

Core Courses (24 units)

• SP&E 411 - International Political Economy (4 units)  
• SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy (4 units)  
• One course selected from:
  • ECON 313 - Microeconomic Analysis (4 units)  
  • ECON 316 - Consumer Theory and General Equilibrium (4 units)  
• ECON 302 - Modern Macroeconomics: Analysis, Policy and Applications (4 units)  
• ECON 317 - Game Theory and Asymmetric Information (4 units)  
• SP&E 489 - Computational Tools for Social Science (4 units)  

Research Tools (16 units)

Students with a primary focus in Economics are required to complete the Reasearch Tool defined in Option 1. Students with a primary focus in Politics and/or Policy may elect to complete either Option. Once an option is selected students must complete the course sequence in its entirety. 

Option 1

• PP 480 - Nature of Inquiry: Quantitative Research in Social Sciences (4 units)  
• ECON 381 - Probability & Statistics for Econometrics (4 units)  
• ECON 382 - Econometrics I (4 units)  
• ECON 383 - Econometrics II (4 units)  

Option 2

• PP 480 - Nature of Inquiry: Quantitative Research in Social Sciences (4 units)  
• PP 481 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4 units)  
• PP 482 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)  
• One course selected from:
  • PP 487L - Applied Data Analysis: Limited Dependent Variables and MLE (4 units)  
  • PP 487M - Applied Data Analysis: Machine Learning and Data Mining for Social Scientists (4 units)  
  • PP 487S - Applied Data Analysis: Survey of Advanced Methods (4 units)  

Completing a research tool with coursework completed at a prior institution. Students may petition to apply coursework completed from a prior institution toward the research tool to your CGU degree program. In some cases, you must also successfully pass a test in the material covered by the tool. Non-CGU tools must meet the following qualifications:

1. Transfer credit requirements apply – that is, graduate level achievement from an accredited institution and documented on an official transcript.
2. In compliance with transfer credit policies, grades received in non-CGU coursework must be B or better.
3. Tools completed at another institution must have been accomplished within three years of the date of your petition.
4.  A faculty advisor must approve the transfer.

Concentrations (40 units)

Students must select one concentration in Political Science (20 units) and one concentration in Economics (20 units). Any substitution must be made in consultation with your faculty advisor must be documented and submitted to the Academic Coordinator.

Political Science (20 units)

Students must complete minimum of five courses in one of the following concentrations: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and International Political Economy, Public Policy Analysis, Research Methodology.

American Politics

  

Comparative Politics

  

International Relations and International Political Economy

  

Public Policy Analysis

  

Research Methodology

  

Economics (20 units)

Students must select a concentration in either: Applied Microeconomics or International Economics & Development Policy.

Applied Microeconomics

International Economics and Development Policy

• ECON 350 - Global Money & Finance (4 units)   
• ECON 351 - Contemporary Issues in International Finance and Economic Development (4 units)   
• Select one course from:
  • SP&E 359 - Economic Development: Household and Local Development Issues (4 units)  
  • ECON 304 - Growth & Development Policy (4 units)  
• SP&E 410 - Political Economy of International Development (4 units)  
• ECON 384 - Time Series Econometrics (4 units) ​

Transdisciplinary Requirement (4 units)

Doctoral students are required to complete four units of Transdisciplinary courses (TNDY) within the first two years of their program or by the completion of 48 units in their program. The TNDY coursework will count as 4 units towards the doctoral degree requirement.

Qualifying Exams

The qualifying exam structure takes into account the requirements of the two disciplines. There are two qualifying exams in total:

• Economics: Successful completion of the Interfield Microeconomics qualifying exam OR the Econometrics Qualifying Exam
• Political Science: Successful completion of a qualifying exam in the chosen concentration in Political Science.

Exams are comprehensive and written by those most closely involved with the area being examined. Qualifying exams in Microeconomics and Econometrics are scheduled at the beginning of each Spring semester and start of the Summer term.  

Political Science exams are scheduled once in the Fall semester and once in the Spring Semester.

Only two attempts are permitted to pass each exam. A third attempt may be requested via petition. All petitions are reviewed by the examination committee with final approval from the DPE Director. Failure to pass the required qualifying exams results in the student’s dismissal from the PhD program.

Practical Experience Milestone

Doctoral students in the Division of Politics and Economics must meet the Practical Experience Milestone through one of the following:

• A Teaching Assistantship
• A Research Assistantship
• An external teaching opportunity
• A research project with CGU or 5C faculty
• One or more articles submitted for publication
• Completion of one or more semesters in Doctoral Study that includes relevant work experience and/or progress on thedoctoral dissertation.

Students must have their milestones approved by the department prior to the submission of their Final Approval Form. Thismilestone is to be completed during the time to degree at CGU (7 years for doctoral students). Extensions of Time to Degreeciting the need to complete this milestone will not be approved. Students can have a maximum of 4 years of experience for thePractical Experience Milestone.

Dissertation

Dissertation procedures are detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.