PhD in Political Science
The Ph.D. in Political Science program prepares students to be outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and U.S. and international institutions. Working in small classes and with experienced faculty mentors, doctoral students construct a program around a major and minor field of study.
Recent dissertation topics have spanned women's organizations and the partisan gender gap, judicial politics in the Middle East, media freedom in Turkey, social justice in the corporate world, and coercive kidnappings in violent political organizations. Our students present their research at conferences around the country, earn awards and prestigious research grants for their scholarship, and publish articles in major journals, such as International Security, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, and Journal of Politics.
Funding is guaranteed for five years, conditional on adequate progress.
The deadline for our MA program is April 1, 2026, for Fall 2026 admission (or February 1, 2026, to be considered for fellowships). Our next PhD application deadline is Dec. 15, 2025, for Fall 2026 admission. If you have questions, please contact the Department Administrator by email: pscgrad
gwu [dot] edu.
Major and Minor Fields
Doctoral students choose both a major and minor field of study. Any of the major fields is also an option for a minor.
Major Fields
- American Politics
- International Relations
- Comparative Politics
Minor Fields
- Political Theory
- Public Policy
- Research Methods
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| PSC 8101 | Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis | |
| PSC 8108 | Craft of Political Inquiry | |
| PSC 8109 | Dissertation Development Workshop | |
| Five major field courses, including a field seminar, if applicable. | ||
| Four minor field courses, including a field seminar, if applicable. | ||
Additional requirements
In addition to required coursework, students must successfully complete all parts of the program's candidacy assessment process, which consists of two comprehensive examinations, one covering a primary field and the other a supporting field; an original research paper; and a dissertation prospectus. The research paper must reflect the student's ability to conduct original research and should be completed in the second year of the program.
Students prepare for the comprehensive examinations by successfully completing at least five courses in their primary field and at least four courses in their supporting field. All courses are selected in accordance with departmental guidelines. Three primary fields are available: American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. In addition, political theory, public policy, and research methodology are available as supporting fields. Petitions for a self-designed minor field (e.g., political communications) composed primarily of courses not offered in the established supporting fields can be proposed by a student and a faculty member.
Students must complete their primary field examination with a satisfactory pass or above and their supporting field examination with a bare pass or above to be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy. Students are permitted to proceed with the preparation of a dissertation prospectus only if their performance on the examinations and in their coursework indicates a good possibility of success at the dissertation research stage.
The dissertation prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, which all faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend.
A student who demonstrates the capacity to undertake original and significant research by successfully completing all three parts of the program's candidacy assessment process can advance to candidacy and engage in the completion and defense of the dissertation.