The Johns Hopkins University Department of Political Science is known for its strength in theory and in innovative and trans-disciplinary approaches to uncovering new knowledge, and the program of doctoral study draws on these strengths to provide rigorous training. Our program is designed for highly qualified, intellectually curious, and creative graduate students who can benefit by learning from and contributing to this community of scholars.
Doctoral students develop in-depth knowledge of a major field and a minor field (or two major fields), chosen from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. In addition, doctoral students may complete a certificate in comparative racial politics.
Students have opportunities to work closely with faculty and to pursue independent research. Faculty and doctoral students benefit from strong connections and opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in other social science and humanities disciplines.
The preparation of the next generation of scholars in the field of political science is a key part of the Johns Hopkins political science department faculty's commitment to research and advancing the understanding of politics. The doctoral program reflects the distinctive strengths of the department's cross-cutting intellectual orientations (encompassing the themes of power and inequality, identities and allegiances, agency and structure, and borders and flows), realized in faculty and PhD student research and teaching.
The department and Krieger School of Arts and Sciences provide opportunities for developing teaching and other career-related skills.
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Graduate Handbook
This handbook informs graduate students in the Department of Political Science about the formal policies and informal procedures of the Department and the University. The handbook details the requirements for obtaining the PhD, and outlines common practices in the department.
Admission Requirements
For information regarding admissions requirements, please see the departmental admissions webpage.
To apply, please visit the Krieger School Graduate Admissions webpage and select 'Apply Now'.
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Graduate Handbook
This handbook informs graduate students in the Department of Political Science about the formal policies and informal procedures of the Department and the University. The handbook details the requirements for obtaining the PhD, and outlines common practices in the department.
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Program Requirements
The requirements for the PhD in political science are divided between those that must be satisfied by all candidates for that degree and those particular to the student's major and minor fields.
Department-wide Requirements
All candidates for the PhD must satisfy the following requirements:
Course Requirements
- To fulfill the requirements for the PhD in Political Science students must complete 11 courses at the 600-level with a grade of B or better.
- Of these 11 courses, eight must be graduate-level (600-level) courses taken in the Political Science Department.
- No more than two of these eight courses (600-level) may be Independent Studies.
- If a graduate student is interested in taking an undergraduate-level course, the student must make arrangements to take a graduate-level Independent Study with the professor teaching that course. (NB: As noted above, a student may take no more than two Independent Studies for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD).
- A graduate student may take no more than one graduate-level course at another division of Johns Hopkins University (i.e. SAIS, Public Health, etc.) for credit toward fulfilling the requirements of the PhD in Political Science.
Comprehensive Examination Requirement
Students are required, at a minimum, to take comprehensive exams in one major field and one minor field. Students may also elect to take two major exams or a major exam and two minor exams (one of which may be outside the Department of Political Science).
Faculty members in the field write and evaluate the exams and determine the format. Major field comprehensive exams take place over two days (8 hours per day); minor field exams take place over one day. The fields within the department are American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics and International Relations.
Students choosing a second minor outside the Political Science Department must devise a coherent program of study in that discipline, in consultation with their Political Science faculty advisor and with faculty from the other department. Students choosing an external minor must complete a minimum of three courses at the 600 level in the external minor's discipline, earning a grade of B or better. They must also pass a comprehensive examination prepared and evaluated by faculty from that department in consultation with faculty of the Department of Political Science.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the capstone of doctoral education, and it must be a substantial work of independent scholarship that contributes to knowledge in the student's field of study. Students must identify a tenure-track or tenured member of the Political Science faculty who is willing to supervise the preparation of their dissertation. A dissertation prospectus must be submitted to two professors (one of whom must be the dissertation advisor) and that prospectus must be accepted by them both.
Defense
Students must pass a final examination that takes the form of a defense of the doctoral dissertation that is conducted under the rules of the Graduate Board of Johns Hopkins University.
Note: Exceptions may be made to some of these requirements but only with the approval of the graduate student's advisor and the Political Science Department's Director of Graduate Studies.
Field-specific Requirements
Field-specific expectations, procedures, and requirements are implemented, interpreted, and adjusted in the light of the intellectual orientations and objectives of individual students. It is important that students work closely with their advisors and with the faculty in their major and minor fields in constructing and pursuing their programs of study.