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Expertise, rigor, & excellence

The challenges currently facing our world are numerous and varied. Successfully handling these issues requires the brightest and best-trained minds. The School of International Service's (SIS) PhD in International Relations provides qualified and dedicated students with the training, knowledge, and experience necessary to pursue careers in the scholarly and policy worlds and to contribute game-changing solutions in international affairs as emerging thought leaders.

With its large and diverse faculty, SIS offers a broad, interdisciplinary, and policy-relevant approach to the study of international affairs. We value theoretical diversity, intellectual breadth, analytical rigor, and scholarly excellence. SIS is committed to maintaining, both among its faculty and within its doctoral program, the expertise needed for the rigorous analysis of critical issues in international affairs.

The PhD program requires 39 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, plus the successful defense of a dissertation. The first year is devoted to core courses and methods training. In the second year, students complete one of the concentrations offered by SIS, or construct one of their own.

Students must also successfully complete two comprehensive exams - a qualifying exam at the end of their first year and a concentration comp at the end of the second year. Students are also asked to demonstrate competency in a modern foreign language .

The dissertation must advance knowledge in the field of international relations, broadly defined. Students select and design their own research project in consultation with a committee of at least three experts in their chosen field of study. Students advance to candidacy upon the successful defense of a dissertation prospectus, usually in their third year. A public defense of the dissertation is required for graduation.

The PhD degree Full degree and admission requirements

SIS has more than 120 full-time faculty from across the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, political science, and sociology. Our faculty research and write on a variety of geographic and intellectual areas; many have extensive experience in the public and private sectors, both in the United States and internationally.  

SIS PhD students use rigorous training in both qualitative and quantitative methods to pursue a variety of research topics including:

• The sources of cohesion in alliance relations.
• The interaction between state and local fisheries management practices in Uganda and how this effects compliance and legitimacy.
• The role of public diplomacy in US-China relations.
• Transitional justice and its relationship to governance in Poland.

Unless students bring their own external funding, normally those admitted to the program are offered a Dean's Fellowship, which is renewable for up to four years for full-time students who maintain good progress toward completing the degree. The Dean's Fellowship provides full tuition remission plus a stipend that requires the student to work for a member of the SIS faculty as a either a Research or a Teaching Assistant for a maximum of 20 hours per week during both the Fall and Spring semesters.

Other sources of funding are available for summer research, travel for conference presentations, and additional methods training.

PhD Placements

SIS PhD Alumni hold appointments at top schools and organizations, including:

• Georgetown University
• University of Warwick, Britain
• Fudan University, China
• Towson University

More PhD placements

Challenging Oppressive Hierarchies

K. Melchor Hall, SIS/PHD '14

Doctoral Faculty, Fielding Graduate University

At SIS, I was transdisciplinary, challenging boundaries of borrowed traditions.

I lived in Chocolate City before attending SIS, the experience deepened my understanding of the layering of cartographies of struggle and imperial maps. It was both disorienting and transformative to arrive where I started and find myself un-mapped. Studying international relations has deepened my commitment to challenging the oppressive hierarchies of Borderlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should i apply and when are the application deadlines.

In order to be considered for admission, applications and all supporting materials are due by December 15. New students begin in the fall semester. The program is designed for full-time study only and is not offered online. Students may not defer admission into the program.

View required application materials

Where will a PhD from the School of International Service take me?

Our graduates go on to careers in university teaching and research, government, and non-government organizations in the United States as well as around the globe.

Recent PhD program graduates are now on the faculty at a wide range of colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech, the University of Warwick, and the University of Denver. Graduates also hold government and industry positions, including with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Foreign Service.

Looking for more information or help? The SIS PhD has a dedicated placement officer to assist current students and alumni.

Is there financial assistance available?

Applicants who are admitted to the SIS PhD program as full-time students and who maintain good progress towards completing the degree are granted a Dean's Fellowship, unless they have their own external funding.

Need-based aid is available through AU Central Office and generally takes the form of a federal low-interest loan package.

Federal loan and work study information for graduate students

Still have questions? Send us an email at [email protected]

Please send me information about PhD in International Relations

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The Jackson School Ph.D. program advances problem-focused graduate education that combines a new cross-disciplinary approach with intensive area studies in the face of contemporary global and local challenges.

Regions & Themes

The Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) Ph.D. in International Studies provides a unique opportunity for candidates who seek a highly individualized graduate program grounded in applied area and global studies. The program reflects the Jackson’s School’s scholarly commitment to the centrality of history, culture, and politics in advancing the understanding of and engagement in world issues.

The program is designed to provide students with the flexibility to apply, and build on, their existing field connections, area knowledge, research questions, and language skills. Working with faculty with expertise in international and area studies, students design their studies in ways that will best support their career plans. Toward this end, students will have the opportunity to select a broad set of possible final products, from dissertation to policy papers, that best allows them to engage and share their research questions and conclusions.

Is the JSIS Ph.D. Program right for you?

Ph.d. program news.

Q&A with Greg Guedel Ph.D. ’16

Sharing our grief on the death of Hayim Katsman (Ph.D. ’21) in Israel

Doctoral candidate yasir zaiden pens article on recent us sanctions in sudan // foreign policy, saadia pekkanen co-edits special issue on space diplomacy in the hague journal of diplomacy.

Sarah Lohmann quoted in article on President of Finland’s trip to Washington // Seattle Times

Doctoral alum pens article analyzing turkey’s military response after the earthquake // foreign policy, jsis ph.d. program, jesús hidalgo.

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Ph.D. in International Affairs, Science, and Technology

The Nunn School International Affair's Ph.D. program provides an unparalleled opportunity for students with backgrounds in either politics or science and technology to deepen their understanding of international affairs through the advanced study of sub-fields such as international relations theory, international security, international political economy, comparative politics, and methods for social scientific research.

The Ph.D. program is a four to six-year program designed to adapt to the interests and needs of students who intend to enter professional careers requiring or who plan to work in academia. The program emphasizes both traditional theoretical knowledge of international relations and strategic planning and analysis. The program includes 21 semester hours of required core seminars in:

• Empirical research methods
• International Relations theory
• International Security policy
• Comparative Politics
• International Political Economy
• Ph.D. Proseminar
• Science, Technology, and International Affairs I and II

Students are also required to complete the Institute-mandated 9-credit hour minor concentration outside of the field.

As part of the coursework, students are required to demonstrate foreign language familiarity through two years of coursework during undergraduate or graduate studies and passing a translation exercise. Students can either opt to have a third year of language or take a year of advanced methods. Students are required to pass two qualification exams and successfully defend a paper related to a science and technology topic before they can advance to candidacy.

Ph.D. students may also complete elective coursework through cross-registration at any of the nineteen public and private colleges, universities, and other higher learning institutions that comprise the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE). This opportunity provides considerable flexibility in tailoring individual studies to achieve specific career objectives.

Program Benefits

Flexibility

The doctoral program prepares students not only for academia but also in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. Our alums now work at the National Nuclear Security Administration, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, and as professors.

Interdisciplinary

The program's interdisciplinary nature allows students to take courses in science, technology, engineering, business, and design to meet post-graduation plans. Related courses taken in these disciplines can be counted towards the required 9-credit hour minor.

Admissions Questions?

Please visit our frequently asked questions page or contact us below.

Email:  [email protected] | Phone: 404-894-8352

Habersham Building 781 Marietta St. NW Atlanta, GA 30332-0610

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Meet Our Alumni

International Relations

The study of International Relations in the Harvard Department of Government examines the sources of conflict and cooperation in world affairs. Through analysis of foreign policy and public opinion, strategic interaction, international law, and the role of transnational actors, scholars of international relations address a wide array of topics including:

• International finance
• Human rights
• Climate change 

Scholars in the field draw on a diverse tool kit that includes formal, quantitative and qualitative methods.

Department Faculty

Alastair iain johnston.

Christina Davis

Christoph Mikulaschek

Dustin Tingley

Jeffry Frieden

Joshua D. Kertzer

Latanya Sweeney

Michael J. Hiscox

Stephen Chaudoin

Stephen Peter Rosen

Timothy Colton

University of South Florida

School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

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Graduate programs, phd in politics and international affairs.

The doctoral degree in politics and international affairs is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students to teach at the university and college levels and to conduct high-level research in the academic and nonacademic sectors. It combines a broad focus on international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political theory with a critical understanding of institutions, rights, citizenship/identity, governance, global policy, and justice. Students work closely with faculty to frame their dissertation research and to advance their knowledge of their chosen fields of specialization. The program’s interdisciplinary approach to a variety of global issues provides a rich and open-ended opportunity to research current and past problems, movements, and transformations in politics.

We welcome your interest in our doctoral program. The department's deadline for fall admission is January 5. The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies only admits for the fall semester. Students must apply online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. For a listing of the admission requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog . 

*Effective starting with the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, GRE test scores are no longer required for applications to our doctoral program in Politics and International Affairs*

*International students should review the Office of Admissions International Students website for additional information and requirements.

*International students are also encouraged to contact the Office of International Services for information on visas, international travel, etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: International students whose native language is not English and who want to be considered for a teaching assistantship must show proficiency in spoken English even if their TOEFL has been waived for admission to a graduate program. More information on the TOEFL requirement can be found under Admission Requirements in the graduate catalog.

Program Requirements

For the Doctoral Degree in Politics and International Affairs degree requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog. Students should adhere to the requirements within the Graduate Catalog under which they were admitted.

• Degree Requirements Beginning 2023-2024 Catalog

*Students can elect another catalog following the one they were admitted under. More information on this policy, and other policies, can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

*Students must request approval from the graduate director for any course not pre-approved and listed under the degree in the Graduate Catalog.

Additional information on program requirements:

Student can also select POS 6933/6747 Advanced Topics in Quantitative Political Analysis or another graduate course approved by the graduate director for the methods requirement. The Capstone Seminar will be conducted with doctorial students in Sociology and History and focus on dissertation proposal. 

Research Fields

The Doctorate in Politics and International Affairs specializes in the following four fields of research:

International Relations In the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, the International Relations (IR) faculty focuses on four areas of study: international relations theory, global political economy, international security, and human rights. We stress the importance of cutting-edge scholarship in our teaching of the graduate seminars as well as bridging the many emergent gaps in theory and practice in the various subfields that comprise International Relations, including American foreign policy, international ethics, global governance, and international law and organizations. One of our central aims is to advance innovative applications of the central theoretical perspectives (and their variant strands) in International Relations, namely, realism, liberalism, critical theory, constructivism, Marxism, international political theory, and gender. These applications involve in-depth theoretical and empirical analysis of key global issues, such as Asian security, moral accountability, the enforcement of human rights, immigration, and political and economic inequality. The International Relations faculty have published numerous books and peer-reviewed articles on these issue areas. These include monographs on the political tensions on the Korean Peninsula or North Korea’s nuclear arms buildup, the political cosmopolitan character and shifting dynamics of the International Criminal Court (ICC), hegemony and inequality in the global political economy, and China’s rapidly increasing support of intervention in African states. Together our published research emphasizes the production of critical theoretic knowledge, or the advanced methodological analysis of the contradictions and tensions informing the substantive debates in International Relations. This not only requires the particular mastery of concepts, methods, and claims but also an open-ended and historical understanding of the changing social forces shaping the behavior of states and the relations among global and local actors. It is this scholarly approach that we adopt to train our graduate students specializing in international relations, particularly as they advance their dissertation research and empirical knowledge of the global and regional contexts of problems and issues. One of the outcomes we strive for, then, is to encourage our doctoral students to develop rigorous theoretical and contextual analysis from which they can devise solutions and prescriptions to global issues.

Comparative Politics Comparative Politics in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies is committed to theory-driven, empirical research from an interdisciplinary perspective that is situated in a political, historical, cultural, and economic context.  The Comparative Politics faculty employ a variety of methodological approaches from both the social sciences and humanities, which utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods to study the patterns of similarities and differences. In particular, we conduct comparative and case study research to inquire into these patterns and to develop our theoretical propositions. One of our aims is to produce knowledge about the changing social, political, and legal conditions affecting the lives, development, cultural practices, and customs of underrepresented peoples. In meeting this aim, our research focuses on several themes of comparative politics, including social movements, democracy/democratization, citizenship, decolonization, genocide, hegemony, race and identity, development, legal systems and customary law, social justice, and indigenismo or the political ideology focusing on the changing relations of state and local peoples. Much of our published research draws creatively on social, critical, and political theory to advance knowledge of the laws, changing social relations, and attitudes in several countries, which includes Brazil, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Iran. Our research strengths lie in the areas of race and citizenship, social movements theory, human security and law (or legal custom) in Eastern Africa, indigenous rights in various Latin American countries, and security relations in the Middle East. With these thematic foci, we encourage graduate students to create and develop their own research by selecting a region of the world as their emphasis and adopting theoretically informed research and comparative methods that allow them to analyze the changing social and political conditions in the countries of this region.

American Politics The study of American Politics in the doctorate program in politics and international affairs provides a comprehensive overview as well as an in-depth analysis of American politics. Our faculty focus on various aspects of American politics, including theoretical foundations, federalism, institutions (Congress, the executive branch, the bureaucracy, the judiciary), political behavior (political parties, the media, interest groups, social movements, and elections), and public policy (foreign and domestic), and employ a range of methodological approaches such as historical development, legal doctrine, institutional rules, and quantitative analyses of the behavior of political actors and the mass public, to advance the student's research skills.  Our core class, Seminar in American Politics, for instance, surveys the key foundations, institutions, and behavior in American politics, introducing students to both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches for analyzing and testing the changing trends and outcomes in American politics. Special topics courses provide opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge on new research on a range of themes, including political development, the social bases of politics, and the global impact of American politics. The faculty in American politics have made important contributions in the areas of race and ethnicity, the judiciary, the presidency, Florida government, civil liberties, health care, environmental justice, economic inequality, and animal rights. Our strengths lie in economic inequality, animal rights, the Presidency, Judicial Behavior, Race and Ethnicity, and State and Local Government. In these specific areas, we have published several cutting-edge books and articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, which examine the emergence and implementation of nonhuman animals' regime of rights, the changing directions of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and its impact on world politics, and alternative strategies for natural disasters in the United States. Our scholarship is thus distinctive for the ways in which it addresses American government and politics in a global context. This is how we seek to train our doctoral students on the rapidly changing, nuanced linkages between local, state, federal and global institutional politics.  

Political Theory Political Theory introduces students to the core normative issues in the study of political science. These normative issues provide the bedrock assumptions on which much of the study of political science depends. For example, while nearly everyone agrees that democracy is the best form of government, why do we place such faith in it? In addition, the long tradition of political thought offers multiple versions of democracy, each with its own strengths and limitations. How are we to identify the best version for our needs? Similarly, while we might extol non-violence in politics, is it always the best path for political movements? How are we to justify its alternatives? Clarifying our moral commitments, sharpening our conceptual tools, and outlining pathways for transforming theoretical knowledge into action requires philosophical, historical, and conceptual capabilities. The political theory faculty at the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies trains students to develop these capabilities. To that end, political theory classes not only familiarize students with many of the canonical texts that were read by generations of prominent political thinkers (from Aristotle to Martin Luther King Jr), they also teach students to read these texts critically and with an eye towards contemporary political developments. As such, training in political theory is a critical supplement to graduate work at School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies. The faculty’s expertise in feminist theory, postcolonial theory, the role of emotions in politics, environmental political thought, and Indian political thought complements the terminal degrees offered in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations.

Financial Assistance 

Most of our successful applicants qualify for funding offered by the department or the Office of Graduate Studies. Funded doctoral students will receive a graduate assistantship that includes:

• a stipend for the academic year (9 months)
• a tuition waiver (not including school fees)
• the option of health insurance mostly paid by the department (the student only pays a small amount towards insurance).

All applicants for the doctoral degree are considered for a graduate assistantship - they do not need to complete a separate form.

The graduate assistantship is guaranteed for four years but is based on maintaining satisfactory annual academic progress. It requires each student to work 20 hours per week, in which case the student would be first assisting professors of the department with their teaching and class preparations and later, after having passed the doctoral comprehensive exams and completed teacher training seminars, teach a class at the University of South Florida. 

Please visit the graduate assistantships page for further information. The department also provides funding for conference travel or the presentation of research at conferences upon approval.

Information on eligibility for graduate assistantships can be found on the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center website. 

We also strive to fund our students in the fifth year, though this funding is not guaranteed. Depending on additional funds that become available, students may have the opportunity to extend their graduate assistantship to one, possibly two academic semesters. Students in the fifth year are also encouraged to seek external funding. For more information on this, please consult our Graduate Resources Page .

Outstanding candidates may also be nominated by the school’s director and/or graduate committee for prestigious and highly competitive university fellowships, including the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship , the Dorothy Auzenne Fellowship , and the University Graduate Fellowship. There is also the opportunity for minority students to be awarded a McKnight Fellowship, which provides annual tuition up to $5,000 for each of three academic years, plus an annual stipend of $12,000. The program also offers travel grants and other forms of financial support. For additional information on this fellowship opportunity, please visit the McKnight Fellowship's informational page.

• Politics and International Affairs Doctoral Handbook 2022 - 2023
• School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies Graduate Resources
• Independent Study / Directed Research Contract
• Office of Graduate Studies Forms
• Dissertation Proposal Approval Form
• Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Form
• Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form
• Dissertation Checklist
• Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Certificate of Approval Form
• Comprehensive Exam Reading Lists
• Research Conference Travel Award Request
• Dissertation Defense Announcment

Spring 2024 Course Offerings

Recent Placements

For further information or questions about the PhD in Politics and International Affairs, please fill out this form . 

PhD Admissions

Gaining admission to the Fletcher School PhD Program is a highly competitive process. The PhD Admissions Committee seeks students with a history of academic success and the potential to achieve their research and career goals in the future.

To apply to the PhD program, prospective students must have a master's degree in a field that is relevant to international relations, and directly related to the applicant's proposed doctoral studies. The applicant's master's degree must come from a program that required at least three semesters of full-time study (not including internships or language study), and at least twelve courses in which the applicant earned a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher. Applicants should also have at least basic proficiency in a second language, which may be English for non-native English speakers.

In addition to a strong academic background, successful applicants generally also have professional experience that they can draw upon. While some have worked before pursuing their master's degree program, others will also have gained experience between completing their master’s degree and applying to the PhD.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that their research can be supported by a  member of the Fletcher faculty . Even among highly accomplished applicants, the final requirement is that a professor is able to advise the student in their specific field. Reaching out to faculty members during the application process is not required, but can be a useful way of ensuring that there is a good match with a potential advisor. The final match between admitted students and faculty advisors will be made through the application review process. Adjunct and visiting professors cannot serve as PhD advisors.

Please note that the Fletcher PhD Program currently offers tuition funding and limited stipend support, generally for two years, to incoming students who have applied for financial assistance. Further details on the application process can be found on the  Office of Admissions website , with  additional information for PhD applicants  also available.

Applicants with questions about the process are encouraged to email the  Office of Admissions  or Jessica Daniels , the PhD Program director.

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions that follow pertain specifically to the PhD program. Please also review the general  Admissions FAQs .

Can the PhD program be pursued part-time or through remote study?

Fletcher's PhD program is a full-time on-campus program that does not offer either part-time or remote-study options. Students are generally on campus for three years or until they have defended their dissertation proposal. After that, they may choose to move elsewhere to research and write their dissertation.

How long does it take to pursue a PhD at Fletcher?

Once students have completed their coursework, they generally take one year or less to complete their comprehensive exams, and an additional year or less to prepare a formal dissertation proposal. After the proposal has been approved, research and writing the dissertation averages about three years, but the time needed depends on how many other activities, besides the dissertation, the student is pursuing.

What is the PhD program's application deadline?

Applications from external candidates to the PhD program are due on December 15 for enrollment in September of the following year. There is no Early Notification application for the PhD program. Note that internal candidates (graduates of the MALD or MIB program) should email the  Office of Admissions  regarding application procedures.

Does Fletcher waive tuition for PhD students?

Although Fletcher provides scholarship support to PhD students who demonstrate financial need, the school does not routinely waive tuition. Scholarships for coursework are awarded on the basis of need and merit, and are renewable for those who remain in good academic standing while taking required classes. Following completion of classes, students are responsible for a relatively modest Enrollment Fee, for which they can receive a scholarship for up to five years.

Does Fletcher offer stipends for living expenses to PhD students?

For students who are not sponsored by another organization, Fletcher aims to provide stipend support for the first two years in the program, after which most students find employment on or off campus, or they apply for external fellowships.

Are PhD students expected to teach or conduct research at Fletcher?

No. Although Fletcher PhD students may wish to pursue teaching or research opportunities within Fletcher or elsewhere at Tufts University, with only a few exceptions, Fletcher scholarships come with no teaching, research, or other work obligations.

My master’s degree required only one year of study, which is the norm at my university. Am I eligible to apply to the Fletcher PhD program?

Admission to Fletcher's PhD program requires a prior master's degree similar to Fletcher’s Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, lasting at least three semesters and requiring at least twelve semester-long courses. In establishing this requirement, the Fletcher faculty was aware that some very interesting students would not be able to apply directly to the PhD program. Those students have the option to pursue the MALD program , and apply later to the PhD. The majority of the students in the PhD program have previously pursued a MALD.

What is the minimum acceptable GRE score?

Submitting results from the GRE or GMAT exam is optional for all Fletcher applicants and there is no required minimum for those who choose to submit scores. The PhD Admissions Committee seeks students who can demonstrate strong academic potential, and applicants interested in pursuing a quantitative field of study may choose to submit scores to demonstrate their quantitative ability. Among those who submit standardized test scores, competitive scores are above the 50th percentile in all categories.

How would I arrange to be a PhD Visiting Research Scholar at Fletcher?

Fletcher may accept one Visiting PhD Scholar each year. Interested PhD researchers will be required to identify a Fletcher faculty member who agrees to be your advisor or mentor for the time you are here. For more information, please contact the PhD program director .

Visiting PhD Scholars start their year at Fletcher in September. Application materials are due by the preceding January 1. The selected Visiting PhD Scholar will pay a fee to Fletcher for use of facilities, and must also arrange their own housing. The scholar will be offered a space to use within the library.

Ph.D. in Public Affairs

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Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs 

The Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs is a joint program with the UC San Diego Department of Political Science .

This program prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, or as international affairs researchers and specialists in policy analysis.

Program Overview

The program builds on the considerable strength that each unit possesses and offers a unique focus within the context of the Pacific region.

The program has a required first-year curriculum in which students focus on coursework in politics and research methods. During the second year, students begin to focus their coursework on their chosen area of research, completing the 18 required courses for advancement to candidacy. In addition, candidates are expected to finish a seminar paper and sit for their general comprehensive exam. Details on the curriculum can be found here.

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International Studies, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nitze school of advanced international studies.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is for individuals who have already earned a Master's degree (or have other substantial research experience) and seek to further their expertise as scholars and practitioners of international relations. PhD students work closely with faculty advisors to develop an academic plan that best supports their dissertation research. Throughout the program students develop a comprehensive understanding of qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, international relations, economics, and regional studies.

PhD students begin their studies in Washington, DC. During the dissertation stage, students can explore opportunities to study at SAIS Europe, the Hopkins Nanjing Center, or at other prominent global institutions.

Johns Hopkins SAIS graduates are sought after by employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Their knowledge of economics, analytical abilities, regional expertise, diplomatic skills, international experience, language proficiency, as well as capacity to apply theory to real-world problems, give students a distinct professional advantage.

PhD Fields of Study

PhD students will have one of the following concentrations (either a policy or region):

International Policy Areas

• American Foreign Policy
• Energy, Resources and Environment
• Global Theory and History
• International Development
• International Relations
• International Political Economy
• Strategic Studies

Regions of the World 

• African Studies
• Canadian Studies
• China Studies
• European and Eurasian Studies
• Japan Studies
• Korea Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Middle East Studies
• South Asia Studies
• Southeast Asia Studies

Faculty Advisors

Our faculty experts and scholars are internationally recognized for their scholarship, experience, and quality of teaching. They are award-winning scholars, authors, diplomats, thinkers, and senior ranking officials who are authorities on international economics and international relations and who have expertise in contemporary issues around the world.

All PhD students have a tenured, faculty advisor. The advisor has primary responsibility for coordinating the candidate’s research agenda. Another senior member of the dissertation committee or “second reader” monitors the student’s research throughout the dissertation project. Both the faculty advisor and the second reader are to be substantively involved in the student’s preparation of the prospectus and the dissertation.

While the student will work actively with the first and second readers to prepare a dissertation prospectus, the student should also consult with the three supporting committee members throughout the doctoral research.

Prospective and current PhD students are encouraged to use the Faculty Directory to identify individuals to approach about involvement in their research and dissertation.

Degree Requirements

Campus: Washington, DC

Duration: Four to nine academic years (average 5.5), Full-time

Course delivery: In-person

PhD Program Structure

The PhD is divided into pre-dissertation (resident) and dissertation (non-resident) stages.

In order to earn the degree, students must fulfill all requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.33 or above.

Pre-dissertation, Resident Stage

Pre-dissertation status lasts up to two years for students who have completed the Master of Arts of International Relations (MAIR) degree at Johns Hopkins SAIS and up to three years for those without an MAIR degree from the school. Students complete coursework, comprehensive exams, and defend the dissertation prospectus.

Pre-dissertation students are on-campus full-time taking courses, attending seminars, and/or approved independent study. During this time students are required to take Research Methodology, Statistics , and Econometrics in addition to coursework agreed to by a faculty advisory. PhD students must successfully pass Theories and Methods of Qualitative Political Research and Research Design and Causal Inference, plus two other research training courses approved by their faculty advisor.  Prerequisites for Research Design and Causal Inference include Statistics for Data Analysis (waiver exam available) and Econometrics.

Within six months of passing the second comprehensive exam, students must prepare a written prospectus of the dissertation and present it in a formal defense that is open to members of the university faculty.

Dissertation, Non-Resident Stage

Students advance to the dissertation stage after successfully defending a prospectus and are not required to be on campus, however are still considered full-time status. Students should defend the dissertation within five years of the prospectus defense.

Comprehensive Exams

PhD students must select two examination areas (with no more than one regional area) from among the following :

• Comparative Politics
• Conflict Management
• Energy, Resources & Environment
• International Law
• International Political Economy/ Comparative Political Economy
• International Relations Theory
• Africa Studies
• Asia Studies (China, Korea, Japan, South Asia, Southeast Asia)

Comprehensive exams from other divisions of Johns Hopkins University may be considered on a case by case basis.

PhD Dissertation

At the time of application, students will propose a research topic they would like to pursue for their doctoral dissertation. During their course of study, students will hone this topic in consultation with a faculty advisor and defend a prospectus that outlines the dissertation’s research questions, mission, and methodology.

The PhD dissertation must be an original and analytical treatment of a subject of conceptual importance that involves the creation of new knowledge and not simply the master of existing knowledge. To conduct the research for, write, and defend the dissertation, a candidate will have a period of five years from the defense of the prospectus. It is understood that in fields with exceptionally difficult languages the process may take longer.

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Issues concerning international politics range from international monetary policy to global security. Graduates may find jobs in foreign policy, law, academia or government. These are the top graduate schools for international politics. Read the methodology »

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The Top 10 International Relations Ph.D. Rankings

Schools for the next generation of global intellectual heavyweights..

These rankings are part of the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) survey , conducted by Paul C. Avey, Michael C. Desch, James D. Long, Daniel Maliniak, Susan Peterson, and Michael J. Tierney. All additional information provided was added by Foreign Policy and is not part of the survey results.

1. Harvard University Admitted class size: 14-26 Average time to graduate: 5-6 years Funding: All admitted students considered for fellowships, amounting to full/partial tuition and stipends Star professors: Robert Bates, Jeffry Frieden, Stephen M. Walt Website : http://www.gov.harvard.edu/graduate-program

2. Princeton University

Admitted class size: 40 Average time to graduate: 5 years, minimum Funding: Full tuition funding for four years, including living stipends Star professors: Robert Keohane, Uwe Reindhart, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Website: http://wws.princeton.edu/

3. Stanford University

Admitted class size: 12 Average time to graduate: N/A Funding: Full tuition and living stipend provided Star professors: Francis Fukuyama, Stephen Krasner, Condoleezza Rice Website : http://politicalscience.stanford.edu/

4. Columbia University

Admitted class size: 20 Average time to graduate: 5-7 years Funding: Guaranteed five-year fellowship , including living stipends Star professors: Jagdish Bhagwati, Robert Jervis, Jeffrey Sachs

Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/polisci/index.html

5. Yale University

Admitted class size: 23 Average time to graduate : 6.7 Funding: Guaranteed funding for five years . The first four years of tuition are guaranteed, followed by a university dissertation fellowship Star professors: Bruce Ackerman, David Cameron, Bruce Russett Website: http://www.yale.edu/polisci/index.html

5. University of Chicago

Admitted class size: 15-20 Average time to graduate: N/A Funding: Full tuition, plus $21,000 for five years, including $3,000 summer funding Star professors: John Mearsheimer, Robert Pape

7. University of California/San Diego

Admitted class size: 15-20 Average time to graduate: 5-6 years Funding: Guaranteed for four years, followed by teaching assistantships Star professors: Peter Gourevitch, Larry Krause, Susan Shirk Website: http://irps.ucsd.edu/programs/phd-in-political-science-and-international-affairs-phd/

8. University of California/Berkeley

Admitted class size: 18-26 Average time to graduate: 5-6 years, including 1 year of field research Funding: Five years of funding via fellowships, research, and teaching assistantships, (contingent on California residency) Star professors: Barry Eichengreen Website : http://polisci.berkeley.edu/

9. University of Michigan/Ann Arbor

Admitted class size: 12-17 Average time to graduate: 4-6 years Funding : Five years of funding , including a fellowship for the first year Star professors: Paul Courant, Kenneth Lieberthal Website: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/polisci/

9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Admitted Class Size: 7-11 Average Time to Graduate: 5-6 years Funding: Five years of funding, including nine-month stipends Star professors: Daron Acemoglu, Barry R. Posen, Daniel Posner

Website: http://web.mit.edu/polisci/academic-programs/graduate/phd.shtml

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Department of Political Science and International Relations provides a robust undergraduate program that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for dynamic careers in politics and public policy. With a range of minors available, including Human Rights and Global Economy, you can customize your academic journey to match your unique passions and aspirations, fostering a well-rounded and specialized educational experience in this prestigious institution.

Department of Political Science and International Relations provides graduate and doctoral students with an academically rigorous program. This curriculum focuses on the core principles of political science and international relations, ensuring that graduates acquire essential skills and cutting-edge knowledge to not only advance their careers but also make meaningful contributions to their respective fields.

Our faculty who focus on international relations provide an interdisciplinary and theoretically-informed analysis of global issues and contemporary security, political, and economic developments worldwide. The faculty who specialize in political science have outstanding expertise in the study of American national and local politics, public law, comparative political institutions, public opinion, political parties, racial and ethnic politics, political participation, as well as experimental methods and causality.

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At POIR, the research efforts of our faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students are consistently dedicated to probing and exploring the fundamental aspects of political issues. They engage in rigorous inquiry to unearth the core dimensions of these matters, contributing to a deeper understanding of the political landscape.

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With the generous support of donors and dedicated alumni, USC’s Department of Political Science and International Relations (POIR) is poised to invest in solutions for the impending challenges facing our society. These investments not only facilitate the development of inquisitive minds but also provide the knowledge and skills needed to actively shape the future of global politics, international relations, and intelligence. This collaborative network of support ensures that we are not only focused on addressing the pressing issues of tomorrow but also on nurturing the intellectual growth essential for visionary leadership in the realm of political science and international relations.

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