Graduate Fields of Study

The department offers seven fields of study: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Administration & Policy, Security Studies, and Law & Courts. 

M.A. students are not bound by any specific field requirements. Ph.D. candidates must declare either a major and a minor field or two major fields. The available fields for the first major are American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. The options for a second major are American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Public Administration & Policy. The options for a minor are American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Policy, Security Studies, and Law & Courts.

Learning the fields of study requires successful completion of a number of substantive courses as well as significant additional reading outside of these courses. Under ordinary circumstances, students majoring in a field should complete at least four courses in the field during their first four semesters and students minoring in the field should complete at least three such courses during this time. Students will then sit for their Qualifying Exams in the August following their second year in the program. Deviations from this schedule require the approval of the Graduate Director. Further information regarding coursework and requirements for each field are available by subfield: American Politics Comparative Politics International Relations Political Theory Public Administration & Policy Law & Courts Security Studies

Further information regarding coursework and requirements for each field are available here: 

American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Public Administration & Policy
Law & Courts
Security Studies