POLSC-PHD - Political Science (PhD)
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Program Overview
The principal goal of the PhD program in political science is the training of scholars. Most students who receive doctorates in the program do research and teach at colleges or universities. We offer courses and research opportunities in various disciplines, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. The program is built around small seminars that critically analyze the literature of a field or focus on a research problem. These courses prepare students for the PhD comprehensive exam requirement within two years and for work on the doctoral dissertation.
This program is full time, doctoral students in the political science PhD program are expected to maintain a significant physical presence on campus throughout their graduate studies. This ensures that students have access to advisors and mentors, libraries, and other resources that support timely progress towards completion of degree requirements. Additionally, being on campus ensures that students are part of the academic and campus community which supports continued professional development.
Admissions Information
Information on how to apply for graduate study at Stanford is available on the university’s Graduate Admissions website. Application information specific to the PhD in political science can be found on the program's admissions webpage.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Every PhD student must complete these classes for five units and a letter grade of B or better.
Every PhD student must complete one of these classes for five units with a letter grade of B or better.
All first-year PhD students must complete POLISCI 480 Foundational Concepts in Political Science with a grade of S (Satisfactory).
Every PhD student must complete one of these classes for five units with a letter grade of B or better. Students should consult with their pre-candidacy mentors to determine the most suitable option. Students with Comparative Politics as a first field must take 440C.
All students with American Politics as a first or second field must complete these courses for five units, each with grades of A- or higher.
Students with American Politics as a first field must complete two elective classes from this list. Students with American Politics as a second field must take one elective course from this list. Students with American Politics as a third field must take two classes, either the core classes or chosen from this list of electives. Electives must be taken for at least three units, each with an A- or higher grade.
All students with Comparative Politics as a first or second field must complete these courses for five units, each with grades of A- or higher:
Students with Comparative Politics as a first field must complete two elective classes from this list. Students with Comparative Politics as a second field must take one elective course from this list. Electives must be taken for at least three units, each with an A- or higher grade.
All students with International Relations as a first or second field, must complete these courses for five units, each with grades of A- or higher.
Students with International Relations as a first field must complete one elective class from this list for at least three units with an A- or higher grade. Students with International Relations as a second field are not required to take an elective.
Students with Quantitative Methodology as a first or second field must complete these courses with A- or higher grades. 450A, B, and C must be taken for five units. 450D may be taken for three units.
Students with Quantitative Methodology as a first field must complete one elective class from this list for at least three units with an A- or higher grade. Students with Quantitative Methodology as a second field are not required to take an elective.
Students with Formal Theory as a first or second field must complete these courses for five units, each with A- or higher grades.
Students with Formal Theory as a first field must complete two elective classes from this list for at least three units, each with grades of A- or higher. Students with Formal Theory as a second field must take one elective class from this list for at least three units, each with an A- or higher grade.
Students designating Political Methodology as a first, second, or third field must complete either the Quantitative Methods stream or the Formal Methods stream. Students may not choose Formal Theory and Quantitative Methodology as two of their three fields.
All students with Political Theory as a first or second field must complete these courses for five units, each with A- or higher grades.
Students with Political Theory as a first field must complete one elective class from this list for at least three units with an A- or higher grade. Students with Political Theory as a second field are not required to take an elective.
All candidates for the PhD degree must also complete a third field. The third field requirement is satisfied by taking two courses for at least three units, each with a letter grade of B or better. Students may choose to complete a third field in one of the fields within the Political Science department or design their own field.
American Politics:
Students with American Politics as a third field must complete two classes listed in the American Politics core or American Politics elective section above.
Comparative Politics:
Students with Comparative Politics as a third field must complete two classes listed in the Comparative Politics core or Comparative Politics elective section above.
International Relations:
Students with International Relations as a third field must complete two Political Science Department classes listed in the International Relations core or International Relations elective section above.
Political Methodology:
Quantitative Methodology: Students with Quantitative Methodology as a third field must complete POLISCI450C and POLISCI450D
Formal Theory: Students with Formal Theory as a third field must complete POLISCI356A and POLISCI356B.
Political Theory:
Students with Political Theory as a third field must complete two classes listed in the Political Theory core.
Self-Designed Third Field
Students may design their third field. Classes taken for a self-designed third field do not have to be offered by the Political Science department. Two members of the Political Science department faculty must approve self-designed third fields. The third field cannot be satisfied by courses taken to fulfill requirements for the first or second fields or by classes taken to fulfill other program requirements.
Prospectus:
At the beginning of the third year, all PhD candidates must form a three-member prospectus committee who will be expected to approve the final prospectus by the end of the year. While this prospectus committee may form the basis for a dissertation reading committee, students will be free to assemble a dissertation reading committee whose members differ from those of the prospectus committee. All PhD candidates must submit a formal dissertation prospectus approved by the student’s prospectus committee and the Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the third year. Students must also make a dissertation prospectus presentation in spring quarter of the third year.
Unit Requirement:
All PhD candidates must complete the 135-unit residency requirement and advance to TGR status by the end of the fourth year.
Teaching is core to the academic and professional training of doctoral students in our program. All students are required to complete a minimum of three quarters of teaching by the end of their fourth year in the program regardless of their financial support. Most students are typically expected to complete at least two additional quarters of teaching beyond the minimum required for the degree to further their pedagogical and professional skills development and be eligible for financial support. PhD students in the Political Science department should expect to teach a combined total of 5 quarters by the end of the fifth year of residency in the program.
Admission to candidacy is a prospective judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to complete qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the spring quarter of their second year in the program. Qualifying procedures in the Department of Political Science include satisfactory completion of required coursework, passing a comprehensive examination in the student’s first field, and submission of an approved field paper. Additional details on qualifying procedures can be found in the PhD Program Guide.
In the Department of Political Science, the oral exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation or upon completion of a pre-final draft. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense. Students are expected to complete this milestone by the end of their fifth year in the program.
Students must for a dissertation reading committee by the beginning of their fourth year. Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to scholarship or scientific knowledge in the field of Political Science. Students are expected to submit the dissertation in the same quarter that they complete the oral exam, and no later than the subsequent quarter.