The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree. A total of 60 hours is needed beyond the master's degree. A student chooses four areas of study for the Ph.D. degree. The student takes qualifying examinations in three of these areas. The four areas include a major area and three supporting areas, at least two of which must be in political science.
Students plan a program of study with an advisory committee, including a major professor.
The committee advises the student on the program, assists in administering the departmental examinations, approves the dissertation topic and judges the completed dissertation. Candidates must present evidence that they have a reading knowledge of a foreign language or a non-language research tool. Additional information on the doctoral program is available from the department. The department has funding available for students giving papers at these conferences. The department also provides financial support for qualifying students to attend the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research and the European Consortium of Political Research political methodology summer schools.