Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 40 units 
• Degree Length: Five years
  • First-year students take approximately four courses per semester. Second-year students typically take three courses. Third-year students take one required course in the fall semester and otherwise take courses relevant to their interests. All students enroll in research workshops for their subfields. Most apply for academic jobs in the fall of their fifth year and complete the dissertation by the summer of that year.
  • Note: Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits (5000-level courses) each semester to retain full-time status. As students complete their coursework, if enrolled in fewer than 9 graduate credits, they must enroll in a specific Arts & Sciences graduate course that will show 0 units but does count as full-time status. Students should connect with their department to ensure proper enrollment prior to Add/Drop.
  • Students who are completing a Mentored Teaching Experience (typically students in Years 2 through 4) need to enroll in the appropriate MTE course (consult the MTE Implementation Plan).
• Grade Requirement: A grade of B+ or greater is required for coursework to count toward the degree.

Required Courses

In general, all students must successfully complete the following core courses with a grade of B or better:

• Math Camp (offered during the August before the first semester)
• POLSCI 5080 Theories of Individual and Collective Choice I (first semester)
• POLSCI 5094 Mathematical Modeling in Political Science(first semester)
• POLSCI 5690 Quantitative Political Methodology I(second semester)
• POLSCI 5695 Quantitative Political Methodology II(third semester)
• POLSCI 5063 Causal Inference (fourth semester)
• POLSCI 5735 Research Workshop I(fifth semester)

According to the Probation and Dismissal Policy, if a student fails to obtain a B (3.0) in one of the required courses, they will be placed on academic probation and have the opportunity to retake the course the following year. Failure to obtain a B (3.0) after taking the course for the second time will result in dismissal from the program. Furthermore, failure to obtain a B (3.0) in another required course while on probation is considered extreme underperformance and will result in dismissal from the program.

In addition to required courses, students will be taking courses in different fields. Courses are mainly concentrated during the first two years. Students should plan to take four courses per semester during their first year and three courses per semester during their second year.

Fields

The department divides the discipline of political science into six fields:

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• Formal theory
• International politics
• Political and social theory
• Quantitative methods

Before writing the dissertation, students must pass a qualifying evaluation (refer to next section) and fulfill requirements for certification in one major and one minor field. The major and minor field certifications are intended to ensure that students possess broad familiarity with the literature and material in the fields presented.

Field requirements are met by completing the required courses with a grade of B+ or better. A major field requires completing four courses in that field with a grade of B+ or better; a minor field requires completing three courses in that field with a grade of B+ or better.

Students are expected to complete course requirements for the major and minor by the end of their fourth semester. Exceptions can be granted by the DGS on a case-by-case basis but are not possible beyond the student's sixth semester.

Field Requirements

American Politics

• Major: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four graduate-level seminars in American politics, including POLSCI 5210 American Political Institutionsand POLSCI 5595 American Political Behavior.
• Minor: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least three graduate-level seminars in American politics, including POLSCI 5210 American Political Institutionsand POLSCI 5595 American Political Behavior.

Comparative Politics

• Major: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four graduate-level seminars in comparative politics, including POLSCI 5140 Approaches to Comparative Politics.
• Minor: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least three graduate-level seminars in comparative politics, including POLSCI 5140 Approaches to Comparative Politics.

Formal Theory

• Major: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four graduate-level seminars in formal theory, including POLSCI 5080 Theories of Individual and Collective Choice I and three other 5000-level courses that require POLSCI 5080 Theories of Individual and Collective Choice Ias a prerequisite. With permission of the Formal Theory Field Committee, an appropriate 5000-level economics course may be substituted. 
• Minor: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least three graduate-level seminars in formal theory, including POLSCI 5080 Theories of Individual and Collective Choice Iand two other 5000-level courses that require POLSCI 5080 Theories of Individual and Collective Choice Ias a prerequisite. With permission of the Formal Theory Field Committee, an appropriate 5000-level economics course may be substituted.

International Politics

• Major: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four graduate-level seminars in international politics. This requirement includes the 5000-level graduate sequence and 5000-level political science and economics courses authorized by the International Politics Committee.
• Minor: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least three graduate-level seminars in international politics. The requirement includes the 5000-level graduate sequence and 5000-level political science and economics courses authorized by the International Politics Committee.

Political and Social Theory

• Major: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four graduate-level courses in political theory; the theory faculty recommends at least two of the History of Political Thought courses (POLSCI 5130 History of Political Thought I: Justice, Virtue, and the Soul, POLSCI 5133 History of Political Thought II: Legitimacy, Equality and the Social Contract, and POLSCI 5134 History of Political Thought III: Liberty, Democracy, and Revolutionand at least two seminars in political theory.
• Minor: Students must satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least three graduate-level courses in political theory authorized by the Political Theory Committee.

Quantitative Methods*

• Major: Students must complete (with a grade of B+ or better) at least four methods courses. This includes the required quantitative methods sequence (POLSCI 5690 Quantitative Political Methodology I, POLSCI 5695 Quantitative Political Methodology II, and POLSCI 5063 Causal Inference ) plus one additional elective methodology courses authorized by the Quantitative Methods Committee.
• Minor: Students must complete (with a grade of B+ or better) the quantitative methods sequence (POLSCI 5690 Quantitative Political Methodology I, POLSCI 5695 Quantitative Political Methodology II, and POLSCI 5063 Causal Inference ).

Note: Mathematical Modeling for Political Science does not count toward either the quantitative methods major or minor.

If a student receives approval from the DGS and the Quantitative Methods Committee to course out of one or more required courses in the methods sequence (POLSCI 5690 Quantitative Political Methodology I, POLSCI 5695 Quantitative Political Methodology II, and POLSCI 5063 Causal Inference ), the student interested in a major or minor in Quantitative Methods must replace those courses with additional elective methodology courses approved by the Quantitative Methods Committee and the DGS. As part of the approval process to course out of a required course in the methods sequence, the student will need to pass an in-person placement exam administered before the beginning of the academic year in which the student is required to take the class. 

According to the Probation and Dismissal Policy, if a student fails to meet field requirements as a result of grades or for other reasons by the end of their fourth semester, they will be placed on probation for one semester. Failure to meet the field requirements by the end of that probationary semester results in dismissal from the program.

Qualifying Evaluations

Each student will be evaluated at the end of each semester through their second year. These evaluations will take place at the end of their first and second semesters, the end of their first-year summer, and the end of their third and fourth semesters.

Evaluation criteria for the academic year include the following: regular classroom attendance (at least 90%), participation in departmental intellectual life (e.g., seminars, conferences, professionalization workshops), and grades (a grade of B or higher for all required courses). Grades will be particularly emphasized, and faculty of required courses will use grades as clear communication that students have mastered the course material. Each required course will include a cumulative final exam or another final assignment of a cumulative nature that will assess the student's broad mastery of relevant materials.

At the end of their first-year summer, students must submit the following: 1) evidence of research progress (which can consist of skill development, collaborative research, or individual research output); and 2) feedback from a faculty mentor.

The DGS will seek feedback regarding student performance and engagement. To remain in good standing, students must be doing the following: 1) be making good progress with respect to their coursework and mentored teaching experience assignments; 2) be advancing in terms of their research trajectory, as appropriate for their stage in the program; and 3) be maintaining professional comportment with faculty, peers, and staff.

If a student fails to successfully pass any of these evaluations, they will be placed on academic probation. If the student makes significant progress during the next evaluation period and satisfactorily addresses the terms of the probation, they will be removed from probation and return to good standing. Failing to make significant progress during the next evaluation period may result in dismissal from the program.

Third-Year Paper Requirement

During their second and third years, each student is required to produce a solo-authored research paper. The expectation is that this paper will be in the same field as the student's dissertation and at the level of quality for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Students need to identify a Research Advisory Committee, which will include two advisors (i.e., the research paper chair and a second reader) and one alternate advisor in case the chair or second reader are unexpectedly on leave. Students must submit a completed and signed RAC form by January of Year 2. In consultation with these advisors (i.e., the committee), they need to develop a research design (motivation, theory, design, data sources) by the last day of classes of the spring semester of their second year. By the end of the spring semester, the student needs to schedule a formal defense of the proposal with their committee and, after the defense, submit a form with the advisors' signatures to the departmental administrative assistant responsible for graduate affairs.

The third-year paper is due to the committee by the first day of classes of the third year. The committee will grade these submissions within the first two weeks of the semester. At this point, students will either receive a "revise and resubmit" or a "reject and resubmit" from their committee. A "reject and resubmit" is a judgment by the faculty that the paper does not reflect satisfactory progress toward the research paper. Students receiving this evaluation will be placed on academic probation, and a failure to significantly improve the project will result in dismissal from the program. 

Students will enroll in Research Workshop during their third year. This fall workshop is devoted to helping students revise their papers for final submission.

The final papers are due to the DGS and both readers by the start of the sixth semester. Students are required to defend the paper publicly. The DGS will organize a public presentation for all research papers within the first three weeks of the spring semester.

The Third-Year Committee will evaluate the quality of the research paper and its potential for submission to and acceptance in a peer-reviewed journal. Students who received a "reject and resubmit" during the first round should anticipate stricter scrutiny from faculty at this stage. The paper can be graded as pass or fail. A failing grade in this defense by students who previously received a "reject and resubmit" will result in dismissal from the program. A failing grade without a prior "reject and resubmit" will result in the student being placed on probation until they resubmit and successfully pass the research paper requirement, which must occur before the end of the spring term. Failing to submit the revised paper and earn a passing grade by the end of the spring term will result in dismissal from the program.

In the event of disagreement between the chair and the reader, the DGS will select a third reader in consultation with the faculty in the student's area of study to evaluate the paper and make a decision about the final grade. The research paper chair and the reader(s) will inform the student and the DGS of the final grade, together with an explanation, within two weeks after the defenses have been completed.

Summary Timeline

(Please refer to "Specific Expectations for Each Year in Program" in the Guide to Graduate Studies on the Our Resources page of the Department of Political Science website for more details.)

• End of first semester (December): Evaluation of class performance and general progress
• End of second semester (May): 
  • Evaluation of class performance and general progress 
  • Submit summer research proposal
• Beginning of third semester (August): 
  • Submit summer research progress
  • Evaluation of summer research and general progress
• End of third semester (December): Evaluation of class performance and general progress
• Beginning of fourth semester (January): 
  • Submit Research Advisory Committee Form
• End of fourth semester (May): 
  • Major and minor field requirements completed 
  • Required courses (with the exception of the Research Workshop) completed 
  • Defend Third Year Paper prospectus 
  • Evaluation of class performance and general progress 
• Beginning of fifth semester (August): Submit third-year paper
• Beginning of sixth semester (January): Resubmit and defend third-year paper 
• End of seventh semester (December): 
  • Defend Dissertation Prospectus (resubmitted prospectus must be defended before the start of the eighth semester)
  • Submit Title, Scope, and Procedure Form
• Advance to Doctoral Candidacy

Dissertation Committee and Prospectus Requirement

Students are required to form a Dissertation Defense Committee that consists of at least three full-time Washington University faculty members by the start of the fifth semester (January of their third year). The formation of the Dissertation Defense Committee requires selecting a dissertation chair and at least two other faculty members and then submitting the Dissertation Defense Committee Proposal Form. The DGS will assist the student in making sure the composition of the committee meets the requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences.

Students will enroll in the year-long Research Workshop during their third year. The spring semester of this workshop is devoted to helping students develop their dissertation prospectuses.

Students are required to have defended the dissertation prospectus by the end of the sixth semester (May of their third year). Dissertation prospectus defenses will be announced in advance and will be open to the public. Students who fail to schedule a defense or who fail the defense will be put on probation and may re-defend their prospectus by August 1. Failing to schedule or failing the re-defense results in dismissal from the program.

Students are encouraged to apply for the National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant and to other outside funding agencies to pursue additional financial support for their dissertation research.

Summary Timeline

(Please refer to "Specific Expectations for Each Year in Program" in the Guide to Graduate Studies on the Graduate Program website for more details.)

• End of second semester: Evaluation of class performance and meeting with the DGS
• End of third semester: Required courses (with the exception of the Research Workshop) completed
• Beginning of fourth semester (January): Submit Third-Year Paper Form (seeking chair and reader)
• End of fourth semester: Major and minor field requirements completed; defend research paper prospectus to chair and second reader
• Before the start of fifth semester (August): Submit third-year paper
• Beginning of sixth semester (January): Resubmit and defend third-year paper; submit Dissertation Committee Proposal Form
• End of eighth semester: Defend Dissertation Prospectus (resubmitted prospectus must be defended before the start of the seventh semester)

Dissertation and Defense

The requirements for the completion of the dissertation are described in the general degree requirements by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, which are applicable to all Washington University doctoral candidates.

Graduation

Students need to graduate by May of their fifth year. Failure to do so results in the student being placed on probation. The student then has a chance to finish their dissertation by August of that same year. Otherwise, they will be dismissed from the program. Rare exceptions may be made for students who have obtained a sixth year of funding and approval from the department and the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. 

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no uniform foreign language requirement set by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, or by the department. The extent and substance of foreign language competence required will be determined by the Graduate Committee in consultation with the student and their advisor.

Mentored Teaching Experience Responsibilities

Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs) are curricular in nature and require that students collaborate with a faculty member.

Mentored teaching responsibilities vary from course to course but, in all cases, consist of attending class and grading papers and assignments. Examples of other responsibilities include running discussion sections or reviews, disseminating course materials, and holding office hours.

Graduate students are expected to participate in the MTE for an average of 10 hours per week. During some weeks, the MTE will involve considerably fewer hours; during other weeks (usually around midterms and finals), it will involve considerably more hours.

Faculty are expected to set expectations for grading at the beginning of each semester, and graduate students should plan accordingly for weeks of heavier grading or other responsibilities.

According to the Probation and Dismissal Policy, poor performance in the fulfillment of mentored teaching responsibilities will result in the student being placed on probation. Lack of improvement while on probation will result in dismissal from the program.

Mentored Experience Requirement

All students need to meet the mentored experience requirement of the Department of Political Science and the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, by the time they graduate. This requirement includes the following:

• Participating in departmental intellectual life, which includes but is not limited to meeting with outside speakers, attending talks and in-house conferences, presenting their own research, assisting with graduate student recruitment, and helping to organize in-house conferences (e.g., CPAC)
• Participating in an MTE for a "core" course in the student's field of study; "core" courses include introductory courses, Quantitative Political Methods, and other courses considered "core" by the DGS
• Giving at least one supervised guest lecture or presentation
• Participating in the MTE or teaching a class that involves regular interaction with students

The Department of Political Science has its own unique Mentored Experience Requirement Implementation Plan (PDF) that all students in this program should review.