Admission Requirements Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. The minimum requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program include:   1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; 2. An undergraduate GPA of 3.2 and/or a graduate GPA of 3.25; 3. A minimum combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. The GRE Political Science examination is not required. 4. Foreign students whose native language is not English must have a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 or higher. Degree Requirements The Ph.D. program requires a minimum 90 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree. The Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science is conferred based on satisfactory completion of required course work, a demonstrated mastery of a broad field of knowledge, and successful completion and defense of the dissertation. The degree provides graduates with a solid foundation in the basic theories and methodologies of political science in conjunction with specialization in traditional sub-fields. Students will, in consultation with their faculty advisors, determine the contents of their course work. Students will also specialize in three examination fields. Possible fields of examination are based on the traditional substantive areas of political science (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Political Theory) as well as in Methodology.  When authorized by the graduate director, students may also create an alternative examination field (Area Studies), which allows them to concentrate on  a regional or thematic area that is relevant to their program of studies. However, two of the three examination fields must normally be drawn from among the department's five designated areas of concentration:  American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory, and Methodology. Normally, all students will take 12 credit hours in disciplines outside the Political Science department. Students’ proposed programs must be approved by their advisors and the Graduate Studies Committee.

Required Courses (10 credits)

POS 5702 Teaching Political Science (1) POS 5706 Research Methodology (3) POS 5716 Foundations of Political Science (3) POS 6918 Seminar in Political Science Methodology (3)

Common Core Courses (12 credits) CPO 5091 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3) INR 5007 Seminar in International Politics (3) POS 5045 Seminar in American Politics( 3) POT 5007 Seminar in Political Theory (3) Fields (24-45 credits in 3 fields) Comparative Politics International Politics American Politics Political Theory Methodology Language Requirement The Political Science Ph.D. Program requires competency in one foreign language or demonstrated competency in computer and methodological techniques when considered more appropriate. Language competency must be demonstrated prior to taking the comprehensive examinations. Comprehensive Examination After satisfactory completion of course work, students will take comprehensive exams before starting work on the dissertation and being admitted to candidacy. The comprehensive exams will cover core courses and functional fields. They will be written and oral.  Field choices must be made in consultation with the student's advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. The three member Qualifying Examination Committee will be selected by the student.  The student will choose one faculty member from each of the three major sub-fields in which exams will be taken.  Upon agreeing to serve on the examination committee, each faculty serving will coordinator the design and evaluation of the exam question (s) for their given sub-field, in consultation with other appropriate faculty for each exam.  Written qualifying examinations will precede the oral exams by two to four weeks.  If the student fails one or more sections of the written exams, the failed sections may be retaken once, but not sooner than the following semester (nor later than one year after the failed exam).  If a student passes the written exams but not the orals, the oral exams can be retaken once, usually during the next scheduled doctoral qualifying examination period.  Comprehensive exams will be given at the end of September and January of each academic year.  During the semester in which comprehensive exams are taken, the student will enroll for independent study courses. Dissertation (24-45 credits) After passing the comprehensive exams, students are admitted to candidacy and enroll for dissertation credits under the supervision of their dissertation advisors. Candidates will prepare and defend a dissertation proposal. Upon completion of the work, a public defense of the dissertation will be scheduled in accordance with university policy. The dissertation will be supervised by a committee chaired by the student's dissertation director.  The committee, before which students will be required to defend the dissertation, shall consist of  at least four faculty members, three of whom must be from the Political Science faculty. The membership of the committee is to be agreed upon by the student and the Chairman of the Dissertation Committee. The four member Dissertation Committee will be constituted in accordance with guidelines established in the “Graduate Student Handbook”.  A tenured member of the Political Science Department faculty will serve as committee chair. The committee may have one (1) person from an academic or research institution other than Florida International University.  That person should hold a tenured or tenure-earning line (or its appropriate equivalent at a research institution).  All committees should have one (1) but no more than one, member from outside the Political Science Department.  Any questions regarding the appropriate constitution of dissertation committees will be resolved by the Graduate Studies Committee.  The Dissertation Committee will be selected by the student prior to the submission of a dissertation prospectus and need not have the same members as the Qualifying Examination committee.  Upon agreeing to serve on the Dissertation Committee, faculty will work with the student consistent with the guidelines established in the department’s graduate student handbook. Within one semester after passing the qualifying exams, each student will submit and publicly defend a dissertation prospectus.  If the one semester deadline is not met, the dissertation Committee will meet and assess the student’s progress in submitting a prospectus.  They will then make a recommendation to the Graduate Director and Graduate Studies Committee as to a course of action to encourage completion of this requirement in as timely a manner as possible. The dissertation must be based on original research using primary sources.  The result should constitute a new and major contribution to knowledge in the discipline and should be of publishable quality.  Results should be made available through microfilm or xerox from University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  It is the student's responsibility to know and meet all College and University requirements.  Furthermore, it is the student's responsibility to read and understand all material on the proper dissertation format.  Time for Completion of Degree  Students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. degree in Political Science or a related field should plan on completing the Ph.D. program, including the successful defense of a dissertation, in three (3) to five (5) years.  Those entering the program without a relevant M.A. degree should plan on an additional year in the program.  Students must complete all degree requirements, including the successful defense of a dissertation, within nine (9) years of first enrollment in the program coursework. Advising The Ph.D. program seeks to provide each student with a strong background in the fundamentals of political science and the opportunity to pursue specialized training and research in selected fields.  New students will plan their programs with the assistance of the Graduate Director at the beginning of their First Semester.  The Graduate Director will continue to act as advisor to all students for the first year of study.  At the beginning of the second year of Ph.D. coursework, an advisor will be assigned for each student.  The student asks a faculty member to serve as his/her major advisor and, if there is agreement, that must be communicated to the Graduate Director.  Thereafter, Ph.D. students must plan their courses for each semester in consultation with a regular faculty advisor.  Students will identify an appropriate advisor during their second semester of study, with assistance from the Graduate Studies Committee, if needed.  Faculty advisors can be changed on request of the student after consultation with the Graduate Director.