http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/psci
Professors: Anthony M. Champagne, Harold D. Clarke, Euel Elliott, Edward
J. Harpham, L. Douglas Kiel, Robert Lowry, Marianne C. Stewart
Associate Professors: �Thomas L.
Brunell,� Marie I. Chevrier, Jennifer S.
Holmes, Gregory S. Thielemann
Assistant Professors: Patrick Brandt, Linda Keith, Clint Peinhardt,
Carole J. Wilson
Senior Lecturers: Brian Bearry, Karl Ho
The Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
provides a rigorous, sharply focused disciplinary program with strong
multidisciplinary links. The Program consists of innovative,
state-of-the-science graduate education in political methodology and the fields
of Decision Making and Public Management, Democratization, Globalization and
International Relations, and Political and Government Institutions and
Processes. Students’ research skill development and degree completion are
facilitated by a rolling cohort design. In the first year of the cohort,
students acquire basic research skills and tools and work on research projects.
Later, they have opportunities to develop their instructional and presentation
skills, to participate in summer methodology programs, and to interact with
highly regarded scholars and practitioners in their fields of study.
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Students will engage in critical and
constructive thinking, effective communication to academic audiences, and
rigorous design and execution of research projects.
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Students will describe, classify, and analyze
the causes and consequences of the unprecedented unfolding of democracy on a
global scale, its successes and failures, and its opportunities and problems
during an era of globalization and of ongoing subnational, national, and
transnational conflicts and negotiations.
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Students will describe, classify, and analyze
the major theories, methods, and findings that are used to explain the
participation of individuals in a variety of institutional settings, how
institutions can be designed to promote both collective goods and individual
gains, and how changes in institutions have consequences for individuals.
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Students will describe and explain the theories,
models and practices of group activity, human decision making, management
science, organizational design, policy making, and risk assessment involving
knowledge producers, private firms, and government agencies and departments.
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Students will acquire the professional
socialization necessary to teach and to conduct research in American,
comparative, or international government and politics; democratization,
globalization and international relations; governmental and political
institutions and processes; and public administration, decision making, and
risk management.
Students have access to the computing facilities
in the
Many important data and reference materials are
available online from professional associations or at U.T.Dallas via the
Library’s and School’s memberships in the American Political
Science Association, the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), the
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the
Roper Center, the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science
(UCGIS), and other organizations. The Library has a substantial number of
Political Science journals.
Students have opportunities to participate in
research programs directed by members of the faculty. As appropriate, some
students may become involved in methodological development activities offered
by the School’s membership in the ECPR, ICPSR, and UCGIS. In addition,
some students may be eligible to participate in the professional development
activities provided by faculty who edit or co-edit the American Journal of
Political Science and Electoral Studies.
To attract the best students, editorial, research
and teaching assistantships are available. Fellowships are offered through the
Center for The Study of Texas Politics. Editorial assistantships are available
through several of the professional journals supported by the University. Other
assistantships are provided to work with faculty at the Center for Texas
Politics or on instructional activities.
The University’s general admission requirements are discussed here.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
Program seeks applications from individuals with a baccalaureate, Master of
Arts, or Master of Science degree in Government and Politics, Political
Science, Public Administration, Public Affairs or a relevant discipline. The
degree must be from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate grade
point average of at least 3.2 and a combined quantitative and verbal Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) score of 1200 are desirable for students who expect to
progress satisfactorily towards graduation. An analytical writing score of at
least 4.5 in the GRE is considered desirable. Applicants also may submit their
score from the writing component of the GRE as additional evidence of their
admission eligibility. Applicants should submit all transcripts, three letters
of recommendation, and a one-page essay describing educational and professional
objectives. Grade point average, GRE score, and other information pertaining to
the applicants’ educational background and professional goals are among
the factors that are considered in determining direct admission. Applications
are reviewed by the Political Science Program Committee in the
Students who lack the necessary background to
start the Program are advised to take courses that strengthen their
preparation, but these courses do not receive credit towards the Ph.D. Program.
Undergraduate students who are interested in
completing their undergraduate degrees while simultaneously taking graduate
courses in the Political Science Ph.D. Program are expected to meet the
School’s “fast-tracking” requirements.
The University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.
On admission to the Ph.D. in Political Science
Program, the student earns a minimum of 90 semester credit hours of coursework
and dissertation credit beyond the baccalaureate degree. Core hours include
four courses in Political Science Methodology and Theory, and three proseminars
in the Program fields. The three fields are Decision Making and Public
Management; Democratization, Globalization, and International Relations; and
Political and Government Institutions and Processes. Additional coursework
includes four courses in the major field, two courses in the minor field, four
courses of prescribed elective credit, and three-to-six courses of freely
chosen credit. Prior to admission to doctoral candidacy and further work on the
dissertation or practicum, the student must pass three examinations – in
the core, in the major field, and in the minor field.
On examination completion, the student proceeds
to present a doctoral dissertation or practicum proposal. The proposal must be
approved by his/her Advisory Committee not later than two consecutive semesters
after examination completion. Upon Committee approval, the student does further
work on the doctoral dissertation or practicum while enrolling continuously for
credit in research seminars and in dissertation or practicum research. The
dissertation has multiple chapters that consist of a clear statement of the
research problem, the theoretical framework and research design, the methods of
analysis and findings, and an appropriately developed conclusion. The practicum
consists of three papers that may or may not be thematically related and are
informed by the theories and methodology of the student’s major field.
All three papers must be suitable for presentation at a major professional
meeting and/or submission to a peer-reviewed professional journal.
Core Courses in Political Science Methodology and Theory 12
Field Proseminars 9
Courses in Major Field 12
Courses in Minor Field 6
Prescribed Elective Credit (Research Seminars or Special Topics) 12
Freely Chosen Elective Credit for DG&IR or I&P as Major Field 9-18
Other Courses Required for PM&DM as Major Field 9-18
Dissertation or Practicum Research 21-30
Total (Minimum) 90
PSCI 5301 Proseminar in Democratization, Globalization and
International Relations
PSCI 5303 Proseminar in Public Policymaking and Institutions
PSCI 5305 Proseminar in Decision Making and Public Management
PSCI 5350 Logic, Methodology and Scope of Political Science
PSCI 5352 Empirical Democratic Theory
PSCI 5360 Data Collection and Analysis in Political and Social Science
PSCI 5362 Multivariate Models for Analyzing Political and Social Science Data
PSCI 6309 International Political Economy and Organizations
PSCI 6310 Political Economy of Multinational Corporations
PSCI 6335 Institutions and Development
PSCI 6337 Comparative Institutions
PSCI 6357 Political Economy of Latin America
PSCI 6362 Political Development
PSCI 6363 Conflict and Development
PSCI 6365 Political Violence and Terrorism
PSCI 7320 International Negotiations
PSCI 5302 Law and The Policy Process
PSCI 5304 Policy Processes, Implementation and Evaluation
PSCI 6324 Local and State Government and Politics
PSCI 6331 Executives, Legislatures and Public Policy
PSCI 6333 Political and Civic Organizations
PSCI 6336 Bureaucracy and Public Policy
PSCI 6337 Comparative Institutions
PSCI 7344 Gender and Public Policy
PSCI 7350 Institutions and Citizen Behavior
PSCI 7352 Theories of Choice and Decision Making
PSCI 6323 Public Choice
PSCI 6339 Election Law and Electoral Systems
PSCI 5302 Law and The Policy Process
PSCI 5315 Public Management
PSCI 5353 Emergency Management
PSCI 5364 Mathematical Models in Political and Social Science
PSCI 6320 Organizational Theory
PSCI 6323 Public Choice
PSCI 6325 Decision Theory
PSCI 6326 Decision Tools for Managers
PSCI 6328 Management Process and Analysis
PSCI 6329 Quantitative Models of Public Management
PSCI 7352 Theories of Choice and Decision Making
PSCI 7370 Decision Making, Complexity and Risk
PSCI 7372 Game Theory for Political Scientists
Students who select this field as their major field also are expected to take:
POEC 5305 Microeconomics
POEC 7340 Domestic Social Policy
ACN 6330 Cognitive Science
PSCI 7V81 Special Topics in Political Science
PSCI 7V83 Independent Study
PSCI 8381 Research Seminar in Political Science
PSCI 8V99 Dissertation or Practicum