PhD in Political Science
The Graduate Program in Political Science offers an intellectually stimulating and collegial environment for the training of PhD candidates. The program is highly selective, enrolling an average of six students a year, all of whom receive full funding. The Graduate Faculty of Political Science at Boston University is a diverse community of scholars stretching across several departments and schools. Students may also take advantage of the broader resources in the Boston area. Entering students must have a BA or MA. The program trains students in research and teaching methods, preparing them for positions in colleges and universities, research institutions, and government agencies. For a complete description of our program, please visit our website.
Learning Outcomes
Produce and defend an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the discipline of political science.
Demonstrate mastery of subject material by developing a minimum level of competence in five of the six fields of political science (American politics, public policy, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and methodology) and a high level of competence in two of these fields.
Participate in professional academic community activities, such as attending local seminar series, presenting papers at conferences, and submitting papers to academic journals.
Be able to teach the discipline at the undergraduate level.
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete 64 graduate-level units. Those entering the program from a Boston University MA program will be able to transfer over some of their course units by arrangement with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Selection of courses must be approved by the DGS. Courses may be drawn from the offerings of the Department of Political Science as well as other disciplines such as economics, history, mathematics and statistics, philosophy, and sociology, subject to the following requirements:
Core Seminars
Four Core Seminars should be completed in year 1:
CAS PO 711 Approaches to the Study of American Politics
CAS PO 751 Approaches to the Study of Comparative Politics
CAS PO 771 Approaches to the Study of International Relations
CAS PO 791 Approaches to the Study of Political Theory
Methodology
Three out of four graduate-level methodology courses are required:
CAS PO 841 Quantitative Research Methods
CAS PO 842 Qualitative Approaches to the Study of Political Science
CAS PO 843 Techniques in Political Analysis: Maximum Likelihood Estimation
CAS PO 844 Methods for Causal Inference
Students may petition the DGS to replace one or more of these courses with equivalent or more advanced courses from other departments.
Research Workshop
Two terms of CAS PO 903/904 Research Workshop must be taken in years 2 or 3.
Professional Development
CAS PO 702 Professional Development for PhD Candidates in Political Science must be taken in years 2 or 3.
Language Requirement
There is no general language requirement. However, if knowledge of a foreign language is necessary for their research, students are encouraged to develop that competence prior to defending their PhD proposal.
Qualifying Examinations
Сентябрь 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
725 Commonwealth Avenue,
BOSTON,
Massachusetts,
02215, United States
Those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or with equivalent international education may apply. You may apply to any program if you have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
English proficiency
Minimum TOEFL Requirements - paper-based test: 550; internet-based test: Reading section – 21, Listening section – 21, Speaking section – 21, Writing section – 21.
Minimum IELTS Requirements - he overall band score of 7.0 is required for admission to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Требования к IELTS могут отличаться в зависимости от выбранного курса