Typical Action Plan for a Graduate Career

This is a general example of a typical course outline. For more specific details, please refer to the Field Requirements and the Ph.D. Rules and Guidelines.

*Skills courses refer to game theory/formal modeling, econometrics, foreign languages, or electives (lower division foreign language courses do not count toward PhD credits)

First Year

 

Fall

 
  • 200A – Foundations in Political Science
  • 204A – Research Design
  • Field Requirement or Skills Course*

 

 

 

 

Winter

 
  • 200B - Democracy
  • 204B - Quantitative Methods I
  • Field Requirement or Skills Course*

 

 

 

 

Spring

 
  • 200C - States and Markets
  • 204C - Game Theory I
  • Field Requirement or Skills Course*

 

 

 

 

Key Objectives: Complete nine courses and to start writing a seminar paper.

Second Year

 

Fall

 
  • Field Requirement
  • Skills Course*
  • Tutorial or Directed Reading

 

 

 

 

Winter

 
  • Field Requirement
  • Skills Course*
  • Tutorial or Directed Reading

 

 

 

 

Spring

 
  • Field Requirement
  • Skills Course*
  • Tutorial or Directed Reading

 

Key Objectives: Complete eighteen courses, finish SEMINAR PAPER, and pass general comprehensive exam

 

 

 

Third Year

 

Fall

 
  • Third-Year Field Workshop
  • Substantive Course
  • Skills Course*

 

Winter

 

  
  • Third-Year Field Workshop
  • Substantive Course
  • Skills Course*
 

 

 

Spring
  • Third-Year Field Workshop
  • Substantive Course
  • Skills Course*

 

Key Objectives: Select a Prospectus Advisor (at the start of the year), organize a Dissertation Committee, defend the prospectus, and advance to candidacy by year’s end.  Students are strongly encouraged to continue taking substantive and skills courses.

Fourth Year

 

Fall

 
  • Independent Research on Dissertation
  • Apply for grants/research funding
  • Defend Prospectus (if haven't already done so)

 

 

Winter

 
  • Independent Research on Dissertation

 

Spring

 
  • Independent Research on Dissertation

 

 

 

 

Key Objectives: Advance to candidacy (if have not already), conduct research for dissertation. Some students may do field research or run experiments.  Students must advance to candidacy by the end of the 4th year! 

 

 

 

Fifth/Sixth Year

 
  • Dissertation Research/Field Work
  • Write and Defend Dissertation
  • Job Search

 

Key Objectives: Complete their dissertation, defend it before your committee, and enter the job market.