Department of Political Science
Requirements for the Ph.D.
Major Fields (See diagram of the Ph.D. curriculum)
- American Politics and Policy
- Transnational and Comparative Politics and Policy
- Policy Analysis and Administration
- Justice Politics and Policy
To complete the degree students must take 45 credit hours of course work along with the research hours needed to complete the dissertation.
Coursework is divided into core courses, major fields of specialization, minor areas, and a research design.
Core Courses (See the course descriptions)
The Kent State University Ph.D. is fundamentally a research degree that centers on public policy. Understanding scientific inquiry and correctly using research techniques require extensive preparation. Students in the program take four courses designed to help them comprehend the tools of social science research and develop a basic understanding of public policy. The core courses include:
POL 6/70002 Approaches to Public Policy (3)
POL 6/70003 Policy Methods I (3)
POL 6/70004 Policy Methods II (3)
POL 6/70006 Foundations of Public Policy (3)
Students should plan to take all four of these courses in their first year.
Areas of Specialization
As they complete the core courses, students begin to develop a major specialization in two areas. Students fulfill the specialization requirements by taking two proseminars selected from the following:
POL 6/70101 Seminar in American Politics and Policy (3)
POL 6/70301 Seminar in Policy Analysis and Administration (3)
POL 6/70501 Seminar in Transnational and Comp. Politics and Policy (3)
POL 6/70701 Seminar in Justice Politics and Policy (3)
In addition, students take an additional three electives in their 1st major field, two electives in their 2nd major field, and one additional proseminar. Please see the course descriptions for more information.
Minor
All students must also develop a minor field by taking two graduate level courses outside their major fields. The requirement gives students additional flexibility to tailor their course of study to their particular theoretical or substantive interests. Students may fulfill the minor requirement by taking courses outside the Political Science Department.
Research Tool
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D., each student must demonstrate the acquisition of research skills commensurate with the expectations of the professional, academic community. The decision as to what tool is appropriate is a joint decision of the student and his/her Ph.D. Advisory Committee. The research tool may consist in mastery of a foreign language or in a graduate level course in any discipline (including qualitative methods, quantitative methods, or other methodological skills) pertaining to the student's dissertation research.
Teaching Program
In order to assist in the training of good college and university teachers, the department offers a voluntary, but strongly recommended, program in college teaching. In this program, students take a one-credit course, POL 71094, College Teaching in Political Science. Students are then paired with faculty to serve one semester as a teaching assistant and one semester as a team teacher. Upon the successful completion of these requirements, students serve as teaching fellows and teach their own courses.
Time Line for Full-time Ph.D. Students
Year 1
In Fall Semester, students take an elective and two common core courses: POL 6/70006 Foundations of Public Policy and POL 6/70003 Policy Methods I. In Spring Semester students take an elective and two additional core courses, POL 6/70004 Policy Methods II and POL 6/70002 Approaches to Public Policy. The selection of electives is done in consulation with an advisor and two additional faculty that comprise the student's Ph.D. Advisory Committee.
Years 2 & 3
Students continue to fulfill the requirements of the program in their second and third year. After requirements are completed, students must pass three written field exams in areas that include: public policy and methods; the first area of specialization; and the second area of concentration. If suggested by his/her Ph.D. Advisory Committee, the student may take additional courses in preparation for the dissertation.
Years 3 & 4
In consultation with his/her Dissertation Committee, the student writes and defends the dissertation proposal. The student begins work on dissertation. Students write their dissertations and present a public oral defense. In some cases, students may receive financial support to complete their dissertations in the fifth year.
The Master of Arts program is designed for students who do not anticipate continuing their education beyond the master's degree, or who do not plan to continue their education at Kent State.
The normal program for M.A. students is as follows:
Year 1- Students complete four core seminars plus two proseminars. The proseminars correspond to two areas in which the students develop a concentration.
Year 2 - Students take two elective courses in the areas of concentration, and one additional course to be approved by the student's advisor. Full-time M.A. students satisfy these requirements in three semesters, leaving a fourth semester to prepare an M.A. thesis or two papers of distinction.
Students may elect to complete a minor in a related discipline, which involves the successful completion of 9 credit hours of coursework in that discipline. Students not electing a minor in a related discipline are permitted to submit as many as 6 credits from related departments. Note that taking courses outside of political science will probably require additional coursework above the minimum hours required for an M.A. All credits from outside the department must be approved by the student's M.A. committee.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Mark Cassell, Graduate Coordinator
(Dr. Cassell is serving as Graduate Coordinator during fall semester 2008 while Andrew Barnes is on sabbatical.)
Department of Political Science
Kent State University
302 Bowman Hall
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001
330-672-2060
mcassell@kent.edu
