Graduate Requirements

The most current and complete information about degree requirements can be found in the Ph.D. Program Guide for 2009-10. 

Knowledge of Two Fields
Each student chooses two fields from American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Institutions, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. In each of the two chosen fields, students must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge by passing a written field examination. In order to prepare for the field exam, each field offers a series of three or four courses designed to familiarize the student with the literature of that field.

Click on a 2009-10 Field Statement to read the expectations for that particular field:

American Politics Field Statement

Comparative Politics Field Statement

International Relations Field Statement

Political Institutions Field Statement

Political Methodology Field Statement

Political Theory Field Statement


Exposure to a Third Field
Since students will often be exposed to work in other fields of political science, the Stanford program asks that students become familiar with a third field. To do this, students take two courses of their choice in that field.

Field Paper
In the second year each student produces a scholarly research paper aimed at exposing the Ph.D. candidate to the research techniques used by political scientists.

Political Theory
All students must complete 5 units (1 class) of graduate instruction in political theory.

Quantitative Skills
Students are required to take, at a minimum, a two-quarter sequence in quantitative methods, which covers basic probability and statistics and the linear regression model.

Teaching
Since teaching is an important component of the political science profession, all students will act as teaching assistants in undergraduate courses in order to hone their teaching skills.