Eligibility Criteria
As a general rule, the Department requires that applicants to the Ph.D program have an undergraduate concentration in political science and an M.A. in Political Science. Criteria for admission include outstanding previous performance, research interests compatible with the Department’s offerings, and strong letters of reference indicating a high likelihood that the student will be able to contribute to the discipline. Ph.D students take 6 four-month seminars starting in September, comprehensive examinations in two fields in September and January of the second year, and then proceed to the dissertation, which should take two to three years to complete. Comprehensive examinations are offered in four fields: Canadian politics, international relations, political theory, and comparative politics. Non-Canadian area studies can be pursued in course work, as a component of the comparative comprehensive examination, and in dissertation research. Part-time Ph.D studies are not permitted.