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Graduate Student Guide: The Doctoral Program

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Doctoral Program Requirements Summary

1. The doctoral program requires that a student gain competence and complete the coursework in three fields before sitting for the comprehensive examination . The comprehensive exam involves taking a written exam in each of the three fields presented for the degree (with the exception of the Political Methodology field) followed by an oral examination by the Supervisory Committee.

2. Within two quarters of successfully completing the comprehensive exam, the student shall write and orally defend the dissertation prospectus before the full doctoral Supervisory Committee (including the GSR); this constitutes the General Examination that determines advancement to candidacy (Ph.C).

3. Following the General Examination, the Ph.C. student focuses on researching and writing the dissertation. Once the student's committee has read and accepted a full draft of the dissertation, a request for final examination is submitted to the Graduate School and a final exam is scheduled for the defense of the dissertation.

Readmission

A student who received an MA from this department at some point in the past but did not proceed on to the PhD program must re-apply to the department as well as to the Graduate School for admission to the doctoral program. (This applies only to students who received a recommendation of continued study toward the PhD at the Master's Examination.) The student's application must be accompanied by a written recommendation from a member of the department's faculty who agrees to serve as the Chair of the student's doctoral Supervisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the prospective Chair. The Admissions Committee, in consultation with the prospective Chair, will act upon the application.  Reinstatement policies of the Graduate school can be found here: http://grad.uw.edu/policies-procedures/general-graduate-student-policies/reinstatement/ 

PhD Residency Requirement

The Graduate School requires a doctoral student to complete a minimum of three academic years of graduate resident study, two of which must be at the UW. Courses must include dissertation credit (27 credits of POL S 800). At least one quarter of dissertation credit must be taken after advancement to candidacy. Graduate School policies can be found here: http://grad.uw.edu/policies-procedures/general-graduate-student-policies/enrollment-requirement/

Field Requirements

Students must complete the requirements of three fields including a minimum of one general field. The two additional fields may be chosen from among the remaining general fields, the list of specialized fields, or a field constructed by the student. Students may have a maximum of one constructed field and must take a minimum of two general field core courses (See “Field Structures” section). A written exam is given for each of the three fields presented (except Political Methodology). An oral examination follows completion of the written exams.

Political Science 600 – Independent Study or Research (1-10 credits)

POLS 600 is a course used to pursue an independent research project or guided readings in a specific area. For entry into the course, write to the GPA for the POL S 600 Application.

  • Discuss the topic or general area of study with the professor who is the instructor of record for your study. Broadly outline the approved procedures and requirements for the study on the application.
  • Discuss how many credits you should earn and if the credits should be graded or if you will register for credit/no credit. This should be indicated on the application.
    • 600 A is for graded credit. 600 B is for credit/no credit. Each has a separate SLN – register carefully and for the correct number of credits. 

Please note: It is departmental policy that 600 courses used to satisfy field course requirements must be approved by the Field Supervisor on your committee or approved by the faculty Field Coordinator if you have not formed a committee.

If counting the credits towards a field requirement the 600 credits must be graded.

Course Requirements

Students normally take at least 20 credits of coursework in Political Science or related departments to satisfy requirements for each of the three fields. The exact requirements are set by the faculty members of each field, and can be viewed on each field requirements page. 

Research/Methodology Requirements for the PhD

All PhD students are required to have completed the full methodology sequence or its equivalent. Refer to the Methodology Requirement page.

Political Science Comprehensive Written Examinations

Introduction

The comprehensive exam process is intended to be a fulfilling intellectual exercise that builds clarity and confidence for graduate students. The required exam has three primary goals: 1) To provide graduate students the opportunity to become broadly familiar with their fields of study, to identify gaps, and make connections within the literature and to identify their place within those fields; 2) To qualify graduate students to teach these topics at the university level; and 3) To prepare students for future job talks, where they may be required to discuss topics outside their area of expertise. Although the process is demanding, graduate students are encouraged to think of comprehensive examinations as building blocks, rather than hurdles.

Graduate students should develop and maintain good communication with the faculty members administering their exams. They should have a conversation with these faculty members that includes a discussion about the faculty members’ expectations with regard to preparing for, writing, and passing the comprehensive examinations.

There are three models of written field examinations in the department. For each of the required three fields a student will choose a faculty supervisor to represent the field and to sit on their exam committee. Graduate students are encouraged to identify and begin discussions with their field supervisors as early in the examination process as possible, but the committee must be formed prior to sitting the exams.

Preparation and Registration for Comprehensive Written Exams

The department expects graduate students to sit for their comprehensive exams by the end of the tenth quarter in residence - the beginning of their fourth year. Delaying the comprehensive examination may result in a lack of satisfactory progress being made. If you feel you may be delayed in your exam, please contact your committee, the GPC, and the GPA as soon as possible. 

A student can have no more than three incompletes on their transcript at the time of exams. No incompletes are allowed for the courses necessary to fulfill requirements.

Establish the Exams Supervisory Committee

Within two quarters of passing the MA exam, the student should establish his/her doctoral Supervisory Committee. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the consent of the faculty to serve as committee members and (in consultation with them) to develop a written program of courses representing each field. The committee shall consist of three members and fulfill these requirements:

  • Each member will represent one of the graduate student’s three fields;
  • The Chair and one member must be appointed to the Graduate School’s list of approved graduate faculty;
  • One member (either the Chair or another member) can be adjunct faculty in the Department of Political Science.

Note: Approval by the Graduate Program Coordinator is required if an adjunct faculty member is to be Chair of the committee.

Complete Required Paperwork

Graduate students are required to complete the following steps prior to scheduling their exams:

  • Complete the Required Courses worksheet. Note any substitutions. 
    • Substitutions all field requirement substitutions must have approval of the Faculty Field Coordinator, and are recorded by the GPA. It is strongly recommended that you seek approval for a substitution prior to taking the course.
  • Complete the Comprehensive Field Exam Scheduling form (please schedule your exams prior to filling out this form.)

Schedule the Oral Examination

Graduate students are responsible for coordinating a date for each written examination with their faculty committee members and fellow graduate students (if applicable), based on the following schedule:

    • Week 5 of instruction - Comparative Politics exam 
    • Week 7 - Political Economy exam 
    • Week 8 - International Relations exam 
  • Models of Comprehensive Written Examinations
  • Graduate students are responsible for coordinating a date for the oral examination with their faculty committee members, which should take place during weeks 9 or 10 of instruction.
  • After a student has taken all parts of their comprehensive exams, they must complete the Exam Results form, which will be signed by all committee members and the GPC, and will indicate a passing or failing grade.

Note: Graduate students are encouraged to set this date as early as possible, as faculty availability becomes increasingly scarce as the quarter proceeds.

During a typical oral examination, a graduate student’s supervisory committee chair will structure the discussion. The oral examination is an opportunity for the graduate student to address any concerns that their committee raises with the written examination, as well as to engage on intellectual topics raised in the course of writing or grading the exam. Often, if the committee has determined that the graduate student has passed, the oral examination will end with a discussion of next steps, including potential dissertation topics.

The decision to pass or fail a student depends upon his/her performance in both the written and oral examinations. Each of the three fields will be graded (distinction, pass or fail) by the field supervisor, and the exam (including the oral component) will be assigned an overall grade (distinction, pass, fail) by the entire committee; an overall grade of distinction will require the unanimous approval of the committee. At the close of the exam, the committee shall notify the student of the result. In the event that the student fails in one or more of the three field exams, the committee shall decide whether the student will be allowed to take the examination(s) again, and when they will be given. As soon as practical, the committee shall file with the Graduate Program Office an evaluation of the student's written and oral performance for the comprehensive examination. This form will be kept in the student's file in the Graduate Program Office.

Three Models of Comprehensive Written Examinations

A. Model 1: Individualized Exam

Field(s): American Politics; Political Theory; Public Law; Area Studies; Race, Ethnicity, and Politics

Questions: The Graduate student’s field supervisor writes the exam questions. 

Reading Lists: Availability of reading lists varies by field (see below). Graduate students should initiate a discussion with their field supervisor regarding the committee member’s expectations.

Grading: The graduate student’s field supervisor grades the exam.

Exam Day Protocol: Graduate students agree to an exam date with their field supervisor, and the Graduate Program Assistant who will distribute the exam to students the day of the exam at a prior agreed upon time. Each exam lasts eight (8) hours, and students are permitted to consult published materials.

B. Model 2: Open Book Collective Exam

Field(s): Comparative Politics; International Relations

Questions:
Comparative Politics: The field coordinator constructs (and finalizes) the exam questions in consultation with faculty in that field. The number and type of questions varies by field.

International Relations: The field coordinator or another IR faculty member constructs (and finalizes) the exam questions in consultation with faculty in that field. The number and type of questions will vary by field.

Reading Lists: Availability of reading lists varies by field (see below). Graduate students should initiate a discussion with their field supervisor regarding the committee member’s expectations. These include the type of reference materials that will be permitted during the exam.

Grading: The graduate student’s field supervisor grades the exam.

Exam Day Protocol: Graduate students taking the same exam during a quarter coordinate an exam date with each other and the Graduate Program Assistant who will distribute the exam to students the day of the exam at a prior agreed upon time. Exam length, CP, eight (8) hours; IR, twelve (12) hours.

C. Model 3: Closed Book Collective Exam

Field(s): Political Economy

Questions: The field coordinator or another IR faculty member constructs (and finalizes) the exam questions in consultation with faculty in that field. The number and type of questions will vary by field.

Reading Lists: Availability of reading lists varies by field (see below). Graduate students should initiate a discussion with their field supervisor regarding the committee member’s expectations.

Grading: Discuss grading with your faculty Field Supervisor or Field Coordinator.

Exam Day Protocol: Graduate students taking the same exam during a quarter coordinate an exam date with each other and the Graduate Program Assistant. Each exam lasts eight (8) hours with no or very limited permission to access other material.

Individual Field Expectations

  1. American Politics

Field Exam Model: Model 1

Notes: Graduate students will meet with their American Politics field supervisor to discuss how they should focus their studying. In the American Politics subfield, the goal is to support a student’s developing work and dissertation, permitting them to build their area of expertise rather than requiring them to become experts on everything within the subfield. On the written examination, students are required to answer three (3) questions.

  1. Area Studies/Constructed Fields

Field Exam Model: Model 1

Notes: Graduate students should consult with their field supervisor regarding reading lists, exam protocol, and general expectations.

  1. Comparative Politics

Field Exam Model: Model 2

Notes: Graduate students will develop a reading list independently and in conversation with their field supervisor. The core of the reading list should come from the Comparative Politics seminars offered within the department. Developing a reading list should be thought of as a valuable exercise, and students should seek to think in terms of defining categories in the process of developing their lists, and identifying their place within the field. On the written examination, students will answer a total of two (2) questions: one (1) on “Theory and Methods,” and one (1) on “Substantive Issues.” There will be choice within each category.  

  1. International Relations

Field Exam Model: Model 2

Notes: Graduate students will develop a reading list independently and in conversation with their field supervisor. The core of the reading list should come from the International Relations seminars offered within the department. On the written examination, students will answer a total of three (3) questions: one (1) on “World Politics/International Organization,” one (1) on “International Security,” and one (1) on “International Political Economy.” There will be choice within each category. 

  1. Race, Ethnicity, and Politics

Field Exam Model: Model 1

Notes: Graduate students should consult with their field supervisor regarding reading lists, exam protocol, and general expectations.

  1. Political Theory

Field Exam Model: Model 1

Notes: A master reading list is available from the Graduate Program Assistant. Graduate students should consult with their field supervisor regarding reading lists, exam protocol, and general expectations.

  1. Political Economy

Field Exam Model: Model 2

Notes: A master reading list is available from the field coordinator. In addition, students are advised to seek out syllabi from all faculty in the Political Economy field within the department, and to discuss with their field supervisor and the field coordinator how they should focus their studying. Students are advised to focus on a broad array of “big questions” within the Political Economy subfield. A one page list of sources will be allowed during the exam.

  1. Political Methodology

Notes: There is no written examination. Students are required to complete the full methodology sequence or its equivalent and should consult their Political Methodology field supervisor regarding any expectations on the oral examinations. In general, methods committee members will ask methods motivated questions based on the written exams, intended to test range and focus on constructing approaches where there may be gaps in extant literature.

  1. Public Law

Field Exam Model: Model 1

Notes: Graduate students are encouraged to collect “inherited reading lists” from advanced graduate students in the department who have passed their Public Law comprehensive examination. From there, and in consultation with a student’s field supervisor, students can add to, subtract from, and finalize their reading list. 

Reading lists should seek to balance breadth while individualizing for the benefit of the graduate students’ work going forward (for example, by permitting students to focus more on American, comparative, or international elements of the Public Law subfield). Exams help develop familiarity with the broad literature in the field, but they should also serve the student’s dissertation development. Students should think in terms of constructing answers in the process of studying. In addition, students are encouraged to draft questions for the exam as part of the studying process, and to discuss these questions with their committee members. On the written examination, students will answer a total of three (3) questions.

Checklist for the Comprehensive Written Exams

  1. Review the information on Department Comprehensive Exams above 
  2. At the beginning of the quarter you wish to take your exams, write to the Graduate Program Assistant outlining what courses you have used to satisfy your field requirements for verification. If you have any course substitutions or exceptions, please send over the paperwork with affirmation of this plan from the field coordinator. 
  3. Complete the Required Courses worksheet, which outlines what courses you have used to satisfy your field requirements. If you have any course substitutions or exceptions, please send over the paperwork with affirmation of this plan from the field coordinator.
  4. Complete the Comps Scheduling Form
  • Establish your Doctoral Committee/faculty field examiners
  • Establish the date and time of your Oral Exam with your Chair and with other Doctoral Committee members. Discuss the Oral exam with your chair. *Rooms for exams may be reserved by emailing polisci@uw.edu.
  • The morning of each exam the GPA will email you the questions. You will have eight hours to complete the exam and return it to both the GPA, your field examiner, and any others indicated in the exam email.
  • You do not need to prepare any forms or materials for your Oral Exam unless instructed to do so by your chair.

    • Note: You may register for 1-10 credits of POL S 597, Directed Readings, the quarter you sit for your exams.

    General Examination: Dissertation Prospectus Defense

    General Examination/Advancement to Candidacy (Ph.C.)

    Successful completion of both the comprehensive examination and defense of the dissertation prospectus constitute advancement to candidacy (Ph.C.) for the doctoral student.

    Establishing the Doctoral Supervisory Committee and Graduate Student Representative Prior to the General Examination

    The Graduate Program Assistant will input the names of the doctoral Supervisory Committee members into the Graduate School mygrad program. The department recommends that the doctoral Supervisory Committee be established within two (2) quarters of completing requirements for the MA. The Graduate School certifies that the faculty named to the student’s supervisory committee are Graduate Faculty. Students are officially admitted to the doctoral program by the Graduate School only after they have officially established their doctoral Supervisory Committee.

    Graduate School Representative (GSR)

    GSRs are selected by the student in consultation with the committee chair and/or the Graduate Program Coordinator.  All endorsed Graduate Faculty, with the exception of affiliates, are eligible to serve as GSRs.  GSR assignments are unlimited with the exception that faculty are limited to no more than four concurrent appointments within a specific department.

    The GSR is a voting member on a doctoral committee whose responsibilities are to:

    • hold an Endorsement to Chair a doctoral supervisory committee;
    • represent the broad concerns of the University with respect to high standards of scholarly performance;
    • provide for The Graduate School, a non-specialist’s view of the quality of the student’s work, ensuring that the student’s mastery of the subject matter is broad and comprehensive;
    • assure that all procedures are carried out fairly and according to the guidelines of The Graduate School;
    • present no conflict of interest with the departments of either the student or the supervisory committee chair (dissertation advisor).  Such conflicts could include budgetary relationships, primary or joint appointments in common with primary or adjunct appointments.  Shared adjunct appointments are permissible;
    • participate in conducting both the General and Final examinations;
    • provide a report to the Graduate School immediately following the examinations (this form is sent to the GSR one week prior to the examination along with an explanation of examination responsibilities).

    To insure that your chosen GSR is a member of the Graduate Faculty and does not hold an appointment that would be considered a conflict of interest with your chair, check the faculty name in the Graduate School faculty locator at this address: https://grad.uw.edu/for-faculty-and-staff/faculty-locator/

     

    Dissertation Prospectus Writing (POLS 800)

    Following the comprehensive examination, students are allowed up to two quarters to write their dissertation prospectus (summer quarter excluded.) During this time students may register for (up to 10 credits per quarter) POL S 800 . In reviewing the student's dissertation prospectus , the doctoral Supervisory Committee assesses the feasibility of the proposed research, its theoretical and methodological soundness, and attempts to anticipate problems the student may encounter in completing the research. Students may need to prepare several drafts of their prospectus before their faculty supervisor approves it.

    Scheduling the General Examination

    Once the supervising faculty has approved the prospectus, it must be defended before the full doctoral Supervisory Committee, including the Graduate School Representative (GSR ) (within two academic quarters of the comprehensive examination ). At this time the student must apply on-line for the Warrant for the General Examination from the Graduate School 's web site. Students are responsible for scheduling the defense with their committee members. The student can not apply on-line until all committee members agree to the date, time, and place of the exam. It is recommended that students seek the agreement of the GSR after discussing an exam date with the student's committee Chair . Students are expected to provide a copy of their prospectus to all members of their committee prior to the defense. The GSR should receive an examination format description and any general materials, i.e., an outline of the research presentation. At the conclusion of a successful defense, the full committee will indicate acceptance of the prospectus and recommendation for advancement to candidacy. In cases where the prospectus is not accepted and advancement is not recommended, students will be informed of the reasons and if appropriate given provisions for re-writing the prospectus and re-scheduling the defense.

    CHECK LIST FOR THE GENERAL EXAM – PROSPECTUS DEFENSE

    ____ Review the information on the General Examination in the Graduate Student Guide.

    ____ If your Doctoral Supervisory committee has changed since your written exams, forward the names of your Supervisory Committee to the Graduate Program Assistant.

    ____ Establish your Graduate Student Representative (see Graduate Student Guide) for your committee.  If you do not know if your preferred representative is a member of the Graduate Faculty as required by the Graduate School, you can check this on this Graduate School site. Just enter the name. https://grad.uw.edu/for-faculty-and-staff/faculty-locator/  It is recommended that you seek a GSR after you have discussed an exam date with your Chair. If you have questions talk to the GPA.

           Forward the name of the GSR to the GPA who will establish your full committee in the Graduate School mygrad system.

          You must be registered for at least two credits when you take the General exam. You should register for POL S 800 credits.

          Schedule the examination with all committee members and reserve a room at the front office in Gowen 101. You are responsible for assuring committee agreement on the date, time, and place of the exam.

          After you have the exam information, apply for the Warrant for the General Exam on-line in the Graduate School on-line mygrad program.

    The GPA will download the form and send it to your exam. After the exam the signed warrant is returned to the GPA.

    Final Examination: Dissertation Defense

    Course Credit (POLS 800)

    The doctoral Supervisory Committee Chair normally takes responsibility for the reasonable progress of the dissertation, although other members of the Committee can, at any time, participate in its preparation. Candidates will register for POL S 800 until they successfully defends the dissertation. A candidate must have a minimum of 27 credits of 800-dissertation writing prior to scheduling the Final Examination .

    Dissertation Content/Format

    The Ph.D. committee determines what constitutes an acceptable dissertation. The prospectus defense is a key point for ensuring that candidate and committee expectations are aligned. In general, an acceptable dissertation addresses an important problem/topic of political science using appropriate research methods to produce original and significant research. Some dissertations are essentially book manuscripts, whereas others are collections of independent papers. Co-authored work is not explicitly prohibited. In each case, the Ph.D. committee must consent to the format and content.

    Reading Committee

    Prior to scheduling a Final Examination, you must designate a reading committee consisting of at least three voting members of a supervisory committee.  It is the responsibility of a reading committee to (a) ensure that the dissertation is a significant contribution to knowledge and is an acceptable piece of scholarly writing; (b) determine the appropriateness of a candidate's dissertation as a basis for issuing a warrant for a Final Examination; (c) approve a candidate's dissertation and; (d) sign the Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee Approval Form which is downloaded from the Graduate School site. The GPA must submit the names of your Reading Committee to the Graduate School prior to your application for the exam warrant.

    The Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)

    When the doctoral Supervisory Committee agrees that the student should schedule the final examination, the student must coordinate the date, time and place with all committee members. Then the student applies for the Warrant for the Final Exam on-line at the Graduate School 's web site. If the candidate has met all other requirements, the Graduate School issues a warrant authorizing the Final Examination. Following a successful defense of the dissertation, the Supervisory Committee signs the Final Examination warrant. The signed warrant must be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant and conveyed to the Graduate School by the end of the quarter in which the Final Examination took place. . The signed Reading Committee Approval form must be submitted to the Graduate school by the candidate before s/he submits the dissertation.

    If the Final Examination is unsatisfactory, the Committee may recommend that the Dean of the Graduate School permit a second examination after a period of additional preparation. Students must be registered the quarter they take their Final Examination .

    Submitting the Dissertation

    The doctoral candidate must electronically submit the dissertation before the Graduate School deadline on the last day of the quarter. A candidate has up to sixty (60) days after the Final Examination or the last day of the quarter (whichever comes first) to submit on-line. The Reading Approval form must be submitted to the Graduate School before s/he can electronically submit the dissertation. Carefully review all Graduate School requirements for submission and graduation well before your defense date. http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/thesisdissertation/ and http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/thesisdissertation/final-submission-of-your-thesisdissertation/

    If the end of quarter deadline is missed a student must register as a graduate student or pay the Graduate School Registration Waiver Fee the quarter the dissertation is submitted and the degree conferred. If a student elects to pay the fee they have two weeks to submit the completed dissertation. See http://grad.uw.edu/policies-procedures/general-graduate-student-policies/graduate-registration-waiver-fee/ for information about the Graduate School policy.

    CHECKLIST FOR FULFILLING REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULING EXAMS FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE

    Prior to Final Examination/PhD:

    ___You must be registered for at least two credits the quarter you take the Final Exam.  Register for POL S 800 credits (you need 27 credits of 800 to graduate).

    ____Review the Graduate School information on the Final Examination and the submission of the dissertation here: http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/thesisdissertation 
    You must review this information to insure that you can submit the dissertation within the GS deadlines and graduate on time without incurring fees.

             Forward the names of your Reading Committee and any committee changes to the Graduate Program Assistant.

             If your Graduate Student Representative has changed please forward the name to the GPA.  If you are looking for a new GSR and your exam date is not set, it is recommended that you seek a GSR after you have discussed an exam date with your Chair.

              NOTE: If you do not know that your new committee member or new GSR is a member of the Graduate Faculty as required by the Graduate School, you can check this on this Graduate School site. Just enter the name. https://grad.uw.edu/for-faculty-and-staff/faculty-locator/
     
          Schedule the examination with all committee members and reserve a room at the front office in Gowen 101. You are responsible for confirming committee agreement on the date, time, and place of the exam.

          After you have all the exam information, apply for the Warrant for the Final Exam on-line in the Graduate School mygrad program. http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/mygrad-program/

    ___Review the process for electric submission (ETD) of your dissertation on this GS site: http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/thesisdissertation/final-submission-of-your-thesisdissertation/ It is important that you confirm that you are able to register with this program and understand the procedures.

    ___When you review the ETD process you should down load:

    1. Reading Approval Form. This must be taken to your exam and signed by your committee (original signatures only). If someone is on audio or Skype, you will need the committee member’s original signature before you submit your dissertation to the Graduate School and by the GS’s deadline. You must submit the form to the Graduate School before the last day of the quarter.
    2. Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). You complete this form on-line as part of the ETD process and then forward a copy of the emailed certificate to the Graduate School. 

    Exam Day

         The GPA will download the Exam Warrant and send it to your Chair. After the exam the signed warrant is returned to the GPA.
    __ Do not forget to bring your Reading Committee Approval Form to your defense if you have not collected committee signatures before the defense date. Please be sure that you have signed the form. It is your responsibility to see that the form is completed properly and submitted to the Graduate School on time.

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