Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science

Overview

The PhD in Political Science program at UAlbany provides a broad foundation in classic and contemporary theoretical, empirical, and methodological debates in political science, while allowing you to gain expertise in your area of interest.

Program of Study

The political science doctorate program requires 60 credits beyond the bachelor's degree.

Coursework in the Major and Second Field of Study

• Major fields:
  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Political Theory
  • Public Law
  • Public Policy
• Second fields:
  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Political Theory
  • Public Law
  • Public Policy

Comprehensive Exams in the Major and Second Field

• Major field exam: taken when, in consultation with your advisor, you think that you are satisfactorily prepared to teach at the graduate level in the field.
• Second field exams: taken when the minor field committee has concluded that you are satisfactorily prepared to teach at the undergraduate level.

Doctoral Dissertation

• Option 1: conventional book-format dissertation
• Option 2: dissertation that takes the form of three article-format papers along with separate introduction and conclusion chapters

Graduate Student Funding

Most students in the doctoral program receive three to four years of funding that includes a full tuition waiver and stipend.

Field of Study

American Politics

• National Institutions: U.S. Congress, the presidency, and American political parties
• Sub-National Governance: federalism, state politics, urban politics, and community politics
• Mass Behavior: electoral politics, political behavior, women and politics, and race and politics

Comparative Politics

• Study the similarities and differences of state politics by analyzing patterns and processes of state formation, nationalism, economic development, political mobilization, conflict and violence, etc.

International Relations

• Delve into the political interactions between individuals, groups, states, and institutions around the world
• Coursework covers topics in global governance, global security, and international political economy

Political Theory

• Courses cover the history of political thought; critical, democratic, feminist, and interpretive theories; American political thought; and related topics in social sciences and political philosophy

Public Law

• Investigate the ways that public law serves as a site for political contestation, execution of power, and institutional development and destruction

Public Policy

• Faculty and students examine concrete cases of public policy in American and comparative contexts to consider broad political questions about how government operates and how politics affect the everyday lives of citizens

Career Paths in Political Science

• Achieving the terminal degree in political science qualifies you to apply for tenure-track jobs in academia or to pursue careers in the public or private sectors
• Career paths:
  • University Faculty
  • Research Director
  • Legislative Writer
  • Public Policy Analyst
  • Campaign Consultant
  • Teaching Professor

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

• Fall (For funding consideration): January 15
• Fall: July 1*
• Spring: Not Available
• Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official GRE or LSAT scores
• Resume
• Statement of goals
• Writing sample

Student Learning Objectives

• Understands and can critically evaluate the scholarly literature of political science in general and his/her chosen field of specialization in particular
• Attains expertise in a chosen subfield of political science
• Attains expertise in a subfield of political science other than the chosen field of specialization
• Is trained in and understands a variety of methods of political science
• Is able to engage in independent research in the field of political science
• Acquires the skills necessary to become a teacher of political science as well as a researcher
• Understands how to function effectively in the profession of political science

Supplemental Degree Programs

• Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again
• Supplemental programs available with this degree:
  • Africana Studies CGS
  • Community College Leadership CGS
  • Data Science for Public Affairs CGS
  • Demography CGS
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity CGS
  • International Education Management CGS
  • Nonprofit Management and Leadership CGS
  • Political Science MA
  • Public Sector Management CGS
  • Women and Public Policy CGS