Seminars and courses are supplemented by individual readings and informal gatherings. Both the Master's and Doctoral programs are flexible as to fields and courses, and they allow students to study in other departments and at other universities around Boston. The passing of a comprehensive examination completes the requirements of the program. A student is allowed to take two or, with permission, three courses in other departments, and may also receive credit for two courses by writing a thesis. If a student chooses to write a thesis, the written part of the comprehensive examination is waived.
Students generally take three courses a semester.
This latter option is usually appropriate only when needed to offset a deficiency in a student's undergraduate background in a field. Generally, graduate students taking non-graduate courses are required to do additional work beyond the requirements set for undergraduates in those courses. An undergraduate major in political science is preferred but not required. Applicants must demonstrate both past performance of exceptional quality in their academic work and promise of sustained excellence in the future. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted to the department at the time of application, in addition to the transcripts and results of the Graduate Record Examination.