Political Science, Ph.D.

Return to: 3470 Department of Political Science

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) prepares students for careers in research and teaching. Students enhance their skills by furthering their knowledge of the literature of the discipline, increasing their methodological ability, and writing a publishable dissertation. The Ph.D. program produces scholars who are experts in their substantive field of study and who are able to combine theoretical sophistication with methodological rigor.

Applicants may obtain additional information about the Department of Political Science by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies at the addresses above.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Political Science has the following requirements for the Ph.D. program:

Have substantial prior coursework in political science or a related field.
Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to do graduate work in political science.
Submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.
Submit a statement of research interests and goals for political science degree.
Submit a writing sample demonstrating graduate level research capabilities
Applicants who intend to pursue comparative politics as their major field should have at least one year of college level training in a world language.

No grade below a C may be used towards the Ph.D. degree. In addition, because the field of political science changes so quickly, the department will not normally support the use of coursework and other qualifications older than ten years towards the Ph.D.

Methods Requirements

POLS 8800 - Elements of Research Design 3 Credit Hours
POLS 8805 - Introduction to Quantitative Analysis 3 Credit Hours
POLS 8810 - Uses of Intermediate Statistical Methods in Political Science Research 3 Credit Hours
POLS 8820 - Studies in Research Methodology 3 Credit Hours
or
POLS 8840 - Qualitative Research Methods 3 Credit Hours
Students intending to write their dissertations in Political Theory may make a request to the departmental Director of Graduate Studies that up to two of the four courses in the required methods sequence be waived. After consulting with the Director of Graduate Studies, students may also replace either POLS 8830 or 8840 with a doctoral-level political theory course.

Remaining Doctoral Coursework

An additional thirty-three hours of coursework must be completed (excluding the required methods sequence). Only 8000-level coursework in political science will be counted towards this requirement, unless other courses are specifically allowed by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Distribution Requirement

To ensure a broad knowledge of the discipline of Political Science, all students must take at least one course in a field other than their major or minor field. For the purposes of this requirement, the fields are: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory, and Public Law. Students who wish to have their distribution requirement waived may appeal to the Director of Graduate Studies if they can show that an extra major field, minor field, or methods course is critical to their professional development. Students should choose their remaining courses in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Pedagogical Training Requirement

All first year students must complete the Pedagogical Training sequence (1 hour in Fall and 2 hours in Spring).

Second Year Paper

All doctoral students must write and present a solo-authored paper at a departmental colloquium near the end of the spring semester of their second year. This paper should demonstrate competence in the formulation, execution and presentation (both written and oral) of a project that could be submitted for peer review in political science. Students must register for three (3) hours of POLS 8900 Comprehensive Readings during the semester they present their Second Year Paper, and these hours will count towards their degree.
To successfully complete this requirement, students must demonstrate competence in both the written paper and its presentation. If either or both of these components are deemed unsatisfactory, the student will be placed on probation, given a summary of the faculty evaluations, and offered the opportunity to submit a revision of the paper prior to the start of the following fall semester. A second unsatisfactory paper will result in termination from the program.
In order to continue in the program, a student must also have a 3.4 grade-point average or higher in political science courses taken in the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University. Students who do not have the required 3.4 GPA for graduate Political Science courses taken at Georgia State after 30 hours will be issued a scholastic warning. Students who have failed to achieve the required 3.4 GPA after 42 hours will be subject to scholastic termination. All PhD students must have taken at least four (4) courses in their major field and at least two (2) courses in their minor field. (Students selecting Research Methods as their minor field may not count POLS 8800, 8805, or 8810 towards the two-course requirement).

Professionalization/Research Presentation Requirement

All doctoral students will be required by the time they have completed 36 hours of coursework to present a major research paper at the annual GSA Graduate Student Conference or another conference approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Doctoral students will also be expected to attend Departmental colloquia, workshops, and other events and presentations on a regular basis as part of their ongoing professionalization activities.

Research Course Requirement

At least 20 hours of POLS 8999 must be completed prior to graduation.

Dissertation Proposal

In the first semester following the completion of coursework (and presuming successful completion of the 2^nd Year Paper requirement), students will enroll in POLS 8980, Directed Readings - Prospectus Preparation. Students must successfully defend their prospectus by the end of this semester.

Dissertation

Dissertation written and approved by a three-member faculty committee. The chair and at least one member of this committee must come from the department’s graduate faculty, but the third member may come from the graduate faculty of another department at Georgia State University. Subject to the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, additional members beyond the required three may also come from outside the university, normally among members of the political science graduate faculty at a Ph.D. granting institution.

Mentoring and Evaluation

First Year Review: Based on each first year doctoral student’s research interests, they will be assigned a faculty mentor in that area. All doctoral students will be evaluated at the end of their first year by the Department’s graduate faculty as to their performance in the program to date. An unsatisfactory review may result in dismissal from the program.
Second Year Review: All doctoral students will again be evaluated at the end of their second year by the Department’s graduate faculty as to their performance in the program to date. An unsatisfactory review may result in dismissal from the program.

Online Coursework Approval

Ph.D. students must have approval from the Director of Graduate Studies to count online courses towards their degree.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of POLS 8996 , POLS 8997 , POLS 8998 , and POLS 8999 .