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Politics & International Studies

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• School of Social Sciences & Global Studies

Postgraduate Research in Politics & International Studies (POLIS)

Politics has a lively postgraduate student community that forms an important part of our research culture. Students are regarded as valued members of the department, able to interact with research-active academic staff and post-doctoral fellows based on campus in Milton Keynes, as well as with other staff and students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and its associated research centres. Doctoral students in POLIS are also part of the wider graduate community of the School and the  Faculty , as well as the  University as a whole . There are a range of  funding  opportunities available for doctoral study, including the  Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership , in collaboration with Oxford and Brunel Universities and  the Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP  in collaboration with Oxford and Cambridge universities. The  Citizenship Studies pathway of the Grand Union DTP is hosted within the Department.

Below you will find key information about doing a PhD with POLIS how to apply and areas of supervision.

Key Information

Please note: The next earliest available start date for PhD study with us is October 2025.

The PhD programme in POLIS now has only one start date per year for self-funded students, commencing in October. To apply, the deadline is 31 st March . For funded studentships part of the above mentioned funding schemes, please check the relevant calls.

More information on the PhD Programme in POLIS can be found by following the links below.

• Considering a PhD in Politics and International Studies?
• Our PhD supervision areas
• POLIS Research Prospectus
• Completed PhD Students

Most of your time doing a PhD will be spent undertaking your own research project, under the supervision of experts in your chosen area. You will be expected to undertake training designed to support you through the transition into becoming an independent researcher and develop academic and professional skills.

All postgraduate students are provided with two supervisors for the duration of their studies. Supervisors meet regularly with students, acting as academic advisors, providing guidance on research topics, the skills needed to successfully complete a research degree, planning research and on writing a thesis. They read and discuss students' work, helping to develop ideas and to encourage critical and independent thinking. In a recent survey of former PhD students,100% of our respondents rated the supervision experience in POLIS as “excellent”.

You are encouraged to approach potential supervisors, or to contact the postgraduate convenor Dr Dan Taylor for suggestions regarding potential supervisors. This is not essential, but it will enable you to develop a stronger proposal.

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Graduate School

General Information

Program offerings:, director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The graduate program in the Department of Politics leads to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in politics. The program is designed to offer broad professional training in political science and to enable students to specialize in any of the main subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory), as well as public law and formal and quantitative analysis. There is no separate program for a master’s degree.

Additional departmental requirements

Sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d..

Each student must complete at least six graded seminars by May of the first year, and a total of at least 12 graded seminars by May of the second year. If students take two rather than three of the general examinations, then they must complete 14 graded seminars by May of the third year. The required seminars must include at least one in three of the seven regular fields offered by the department. The director of graduate studies must approve all course selections.

Seminars (500-level courses) may be chosen from the 20 to 30 typically offered in the department each year. Students may also take Ph.D. seminars offered in neighboring departments and in the School of Public and International Affairs. These may be counted toward the seminar requirement if they have political content. All students taking courses outside the department must complete a comparable writing or examination requirement to politics seminars in order for those courses to be counted toward the seminar requirement.

Students participating in the Program in Political Philosophy may compose a special field made up of courses in one of the other cooperating departments in the program (classics, history, philosophy, and religion). Other departments that have been of interest to students include economics, sociology, psychology, East Asian studies, and Near Eastern studies.

In addition to regularly offered seminars, graduate students may create reading courses under the direction of a faculty member to explore more specialized topics. Reading courses typically include one faculty member and one student, although some include several students.

Seminars end on the last regular day of classes (December and April), and students must complete all assigned short essays within one week of that day. Students complete their fall-term research papers by approximately the third week of January, and their spring-term research papers by the third week of May.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement Each student is required to write at least three research papers in the first three years, at least two of which must be completed in the second year. With the approval and advice of the instructor, a research paper may be completed in a seminar and counted toward the seminar grade.

In addition, each student is required to take one term of directed research (POL 591) in the spring term of the second year. This project is independent of any seminar. To encourage students to become involved in research and collaboration with faculty as soon as possible, students select their independent work adviser and the general topic of their paper by mid-term in the spring term of the first year. Students convey these choices to the director of graduate studies in writing. This paper often builds on prior work done in a seminar. Students are required to present the POL 591 paper in the appropriate research seminar during the fall or spring term of the second year. The final paper is due by August 30 before the fifth semester.

Students are urged to use these various research and writing experiences to build toward a dissertation. For example, a student with a promising seminar paper might use POL 591 to do more extensive research on the subject and to develop a dissertation proposal based on it.

In order to encourage students to write papers of article length, all research papers are limited to 22,000 words. This applies to papers written for seminars and for POL 591.

Research Seminars Every year the department offers research seminars in each of the four major fields of political science (political theory, comparative politics/systems and culture, American politics, and international relations). Each enrolled student in residence is required to join one of these seminars each year, attend it regularly, and present their research at least once during the year. Research seminars are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Students present forms of work appropriate to their standing in the graduate program. First-year students typically offer seminar papers (sometimes in draft form), usually in the spring. Second-year students usually present their POL 591 paper.

General exam

Each student must successfully stand for the general examination and be recommended for continuation in the program before undertaking dissertation research. The purpose of the general examination is to ascertain a student’s knowledge of political science and his or her preparedness for advanced research. The best preparation is extensive seminar work in the department, supplemented as necessary by independent reading and study.

The general examination consists of written examinations in three separate fields and an oral examination. Students may opt to take written examinations in two rather than three fields on the condition that they complete 14 (rather than the required 12) graded seminars, including a coherent three-course 500-level sequence in a third field (but not including SPI 507b, 508b, or 508c). Students must receive an average grade of B or better in these three courses in order for them to be used for the third field. These courses must be chosen from outside the fields covered by the two written exams.

Normally at least two of a student’s general examination fields are selected from the seven regular examination fields listed below. A student may design a third, “substitute” field to replace the third regular examination field. Substitute fields should cohere with the student’s educational and research interests, and must not substantially overlap with the student’s other fields. A student may propose either a standard exam from another department (for example, political economy in economics) or in unusual circumstances a special examination. Special examinations require the agreement of a sponsoring faculty member in another department and the director of graduate studies. Alternatively, the “substitute” third field may be completed under the two-exam, 14-course option described above.

The politics faculty regularly sets examinations in the following seven fields: political theory, comparative politics, regional studies, American politics, international relations, public law, and formal and quantitative analysis. The Regional Studies exams test for mastery of theoretical and empirical knowledge about one of the following world regions: Africa, Asia (with the possibility to specify East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia), Latin America, the Middle East, Western Europe, or the Former Soviet Union and East Europe.  Students must specify in advance the region in which they are specializing.

All written examinations are four hours in length, with an additional hour for preparation. All written examinations are closed-book. An oral examination will be administered in every case in which the candidate’s grade on the overall written examination averages to 1.995 or worse or the candidate’s grade on any individual field exam is 1.995 or worse. For students receiving a grade better than 1.995 on the overall written exam and each field of the written exam, the requirement of an oral examination is waived. The oral examination is conducted by a faculty panel, with one member from each of the fields in which the student is being examined. For students taking only two written exams, the faculty panel for the oral examination will include two members of the primary field.  The faculty panels of the oral examination are constituted by the DGS.

Students must stand for the general examination no later than the end of the fourth term of enrollment. They may opt to take the examination sooner. All students must complete at least seven graded seminars at Princeton before taking the general examination.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy. To qualify for the award of the M.A., a student must earn an average grade of B- or better in 12 seminars and complete two research papers with a grade of B- or better. The M.A. may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met. 

Each student must lead undergraduate preceptorials during the five years of enrollment. Students typically teach after passing the general examination. A preceptorial is a discussion section of up to 13 undergraduates, which meets once a week as a supplement to a faculty-taught lecture course.

By April of each year, each student must inform the department manager which semesters they are available to teach in the next academic year. Each student is ultimately required to be available to teach for a minimum of four semesters. The student must accept any number of precepts offered in a class during the agreed upon semesters, up to a maximum of three precepts. The requirement that a student be available for teaching is waived once the student has led a minimum of nine preceptorials. Each student is expected to lead preceptorials in at least one undergraduate class as part of satisfying the teaching requirement.

The teaching requirement may be reduced to as few as six preceptorials if a student obtains substantial funding from outside the University or work as a research assistant for a faculty member during an academic year or term. The teaching requirement is reduced to three preceptorials if students graduate within four and a half years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within five years.  The teaching requirement is waived entirely if students graduate within three years or begin a tenure-track job or its equivalent within three and a half years.

Certain fellowships for which post-generals students may be eligible do not allow teaching during the tenure of the fellowship. These include University honorific fellowships, Prize Fellowships of the University Center for Human Values, and the Fellowship of the Woodrow Wilson Society. Students who expect to be candidates for these fellowships are advised to accelerate their teaching so that their teaching obligation will not interfere with their eligibility.

Dissertation and FPO

Before presenting the prospectus in the student’s subfield research seminar, the student should select three advisers for the prospectus.  At least two members of the prospectus committee must be regular members of the politics department.  Before the end of the fifth semester, with the approval of the prospectus committee, each student will present a draft prospectus or first dissertation chapter to the student’s subfield research seminar, if possible with the advisers present. The seminar will function as a workshop where advice can be given about the definition of the topic and plan of research. The prospectus or dissertation chapters should be 12,000-25,000 words. Students are required to secure final acceptance of the prospectus from their advisers before the end of the sixth term of enrollment in order to remain in good standing.

After the prospectus has been approved, students should designate at least two readers to advise the writing of the dissertation.  Students may change this designation as needed.  In order to serve as first or second readers, the advisers must be members of the Princeton faculty at the rank of assistant professor or above, and at least one must be a member of the politics department. During the third, fourth, or fifth year, a third reader is identified by the student in consultation with the first two readers.  Students must first secure the consent of the third reader and submit the name for approval by the director of graduate studies (DGS).  The third reader is normally a Princeton faculty member, but may instead be a faculty member at another university holding the rank of assistant professor or above. Any external readers must be of comparable standing in a relevant branch of the scholarly community.  Third readers are less involved in advising than are the first two readers. The DGS appoints a fourth reader.  Students should submit the names of three appropriate faculty members, along with the title of the dissertation, to the DGS in order to initiate the process of appointing a fourth reader.  The fourth reader is normally a member of the politics department.  The fourth reader is expected to read only the final version of the dissertation.

A final public oral examination is scheduled no fewer than fourteen calendar days after the approval of the thesis.  At least three examiners, two of whom have not served as first or second readers of the dissertation, and at least two of whom are members of the University faculty, conduct the examination.  Normally, therefore, the committee must consist of the first and/or the second reader and the third and fourth readers.  After the student successfully defends their thesis, he or she is recommended to the Graduate School for receipt of a doctoral degree.

• Kristopher W. Ramsay (interim)

Associate Chair

• Layna Mosley

Director of Graduate Studies

• Arthur Spirling

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Gary J. Bass
• Mark R. Beissinger
• Charles R. Beitz
• Carles Boix
• Charles M. Cameron
• Rafaela M. Dancygier
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Paul Frymer
• Robert P. George
• Matias Iaryczower
• G. John Ikenberry
• John Kastellec
• Melissa Lane
• Frances E. Lee
• John B. Londregan
• Stephen J. Macedo
• Nolan McCarty
• Tali Mendelberg
• Helen V. Milner
• Andrew Moravcsik
• Jan-Werner Müller
• Alan W. Patten
• Grigore Pop-Eleches
• Markus Prior
• Kristopher W. Ramsay
• Jacob N. Shapiro
• Rocío Titiunik
• James Raymond Vreeland
• Leonard Wantchekon
• Ismail K. White
• Jennifer A. Widner
• Deborah J. Yashar

Associate Professor

• Gregory A. Conti
• Jonathan F. Mummolo
• LaFleur Stephens-Dougan
• Hye Young You

Assistant Professor

• Christopher W. Blair
• German S. Gieczewski
• Tanushree Goyal
• Naima N. Green-Riley
• Saad A. Gulzar
• Gleason Judd
• Nicholas Kuipers
• Elizabeth R. Nugent
• Temi Ogunye
• Rebecca L. Perlman
• Guadalupe Tuñón
• Andreas B. Wiedemann

Associated Faculty

• Christopher L. Eisgruber, President
• Daniel Garber, Philosophy
• Elizabeth L. Paluck, Psychology
• Philip N. Pettit, Center for Human Values
• Kim Lane Scheppele, Schl of Public & Int'l Affairs
• Michael Smith, Philosophy
• Brandon M. Stewart, Sociology

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ECO 520 - Economics and Politics (also POL 577)

Gss 543 - interest groups and social movements in american politics and policy (also aas 543/ams 543/pol 543), phi 503 - plato's political philosophy (half-term) (also cla 530/pol 556), pol 502 - mathematics for political science, pol 503 - survey analysis, pol 505 - experimental methods in political science, pol 506 - qualitative methods (also spi 595), pol 507 - topics in plato (half-term) (also cla 507/hls 507/phi 507), pol 511 - problems in political theory, pol 516 - politics of middle east authoritarianism in comparative perspective (half-term), pol 517 - international political theory, pol 518 - political philosophy (also phi 529), pol 519 - john stuart mill's politics: ideas and context, pol 520 - democracy and its enemies (half-term), pol 521 - the study of comparative politics, pol 524 - introduction to critical theory (half-term), pol 528 - the study of comparative politics: institutions and behavior, pol 530 - the politics of growth & redistribution, pol 533 - clientelism and state capture, pol 538 - comparative political behavior, pol 541 - judicial politics, pol 542 - american political institutions, pol 544 - introduction to american politics, part i: political behavior, pol 547 - identity politics, pol 548 - political psychology, pol 549 - seminar in american politics, pol 550 - international organization, pol 551 - seminar in international politics, pol 552 - seminar in media and politics, pol 553 - political theory, athens to augustine: graduate seminar (also cla 535/hls 552/phi 552), pol 554 - international security studies, pol 561 - constitutional theory, pol 563 - philosophy of law (also phi 526), pol 565 - theories of judicial review, pol 568 - hegel and marx, pol 570b - seminar in formal theory: american politics theory (half-term), pol 571 - empirical research methods for political science, pol 572 - quantitative analysis i, pol 573 - quantitative analysis ii (also soc 595), pol 574 - quantitative analysis iv, pol 575 - formal political analysis i, pol 576 - formal political analysis ii, pol 578 - seminar in quantitative analysis, pol 581 - advanced political institutions, pol 584 - foundations of political economy (also eco 576), pol 585 - international political economy, pol 588 - political theory of french revolution, pol 589 - states, democracies, nations, pol 591 - directed research, pol 592 - social movements and revolutions, pol 593 - research seminar, pol 594 - research seminar, pol 595 - research seminar, pol 596 - research seminar, pol 597 - research seminars, pol 599 - responsible conduct of research in political science, spi 556b - topics in ir (also las 566/pol 564), spi 556d - topics in ir (also pol 522), spi 561 - the comparative political economy of development (also pol 523), spi 590b - politics of inequality and redistribution (half-term) (also pol 598), spi 595b - phd seminar: qualitative research design (also pol 509).

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Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS)

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Prospective phd in politics and international studies.

The application and funding portal for October 2024 entry is now closed.

Our PhD in Politics and International Studies is structured as a three-year programme. With the expectation that PhD students will submit a full draft of their thesis at the end of the third year or soon after.

This is a research degree and is completed through the submission of a thesis of up to 80,000 words. As a full-time programme, it is completed in a period of between three and four years – that is between nine and twelve university terms. 

The First Year

The first year of the PhD is spent in Cambridge, with two major activities: firstly, developing a research topic with the guidance of a supervisor and secondly, training in research methods.

The development of the topic often involves extensive reading into relevant literature, the discovery of relevant information sources (such as archives or databases), and formulating plans for primary research, such as through making plans for fieldwork. This is done in combination with your primary supervisor, who discusses your progress and reviews your written work, usually fortnightly. You are also appointed a second supervisor who can be drawn upon for additional advice.

The first year culminates in the production of a report, which serves as the basis for the registration exercise at the end of the year. This registration exercise is required to move on to official registration for the PhD degree and is conducted through a meeting with your second supervisor and an independent assessor. Its purpose is to ensure that your research project is viable, that an appropriate methodology is applied and that relevant literature is drawn upon.

The second major focus of the first year is research training. There is a weekly seminar on the methodological and philosophical questions that underpin research in the contemporary social sciences, which all first-year PhD students attend. Alongside this, PhD students choose two further courses to attend from a range of options, such as statistics, qualitative methods and languages.

As the induction process and training courses start at the beginning of October, entry to the PhD programme must also begin then. We cannot therefore accept applications to begin at other points during the academic year.

The Second and Third Years

The content of the second and third years varies considerably depending on the type of research being conducted. Many students spend a considerable portion of the second year of their PhD out of Cambridge on fieldwork, while others are resident throughout. To assist you in the development of your research, we schedule an annual meeting with your primary and secondary supervisor, for which you produce a report for discussion.

In the second year and onwards, many of our PhD students contribute to the Department's teaching programme, principally in small-group teaching of undergraduates (supervisions).

There is also the opportunity to deliver a lecture if your research interests align with the taught courses. There is no obligation to be involved in this, but many of our PhD students consider this valuable experience, particularly for those considering academic careers.

Dissertations are assessed through an oral examination with two senior academics, of whom at least one must be external.

Supervision

Full-time candidates on the course are expected to devote themselves fully to their studies . Full-time students must spend at least three terms resident in Cambridge.  Part-time students are required to attend Cambridge and undergo formal supervision with their supervisor at a frequency agreed upon between the supervisor and student and determined by the nature of the research project. Generally, we would expect part-time students to be resident in Cambridge for around 45 days per year, spread throughout the year, for supervision and training.

• How to apply  
• Fees and Funding  

Testimonials from current students

"POLIS’ unparalleled array and quality of resources have remained crucial to my growth as a researcher. Diligent research experts like my supervisor and advisor have guided me through fine tuning my academic voice, acquainting myself with my ontological outlook, and even confronting some of my political inclinations. The depth and rigor of the PhD modules around methodology and professional development have rooted my thesis design and helped me envision longer term applications for my work. Above all, navigating this PhD with my POLIS peers, alumni, faculty, and staff has fashioned an intellectual home for me, contributed to my confidence, and steadied my sense of belonging at Cambridge. Whether it’s forging through top tier research conferences, teasing out field studies in foreign countries, or navigating everyday challenges like illness or impostor syndrome, I can always count on a member of the POLIS community to see me, hear me, and stand with me. And that has almost always been the determining factor in my success."

Abii-Tah Bih -  PhD Student POLIS  (April 2022)

"A PhD at POLIS has been a fantastic choice. Graduate students have the opportunity to be connected to faculty researching across a wide range of issues and approaches. There are many opportunities to broaden intellectual horizons by attending workshops or talks, and I encourage anyone considering applying to do so!"

Say Jye Quah -  PhD Student POLIS- 2022

“A wonderful place to carry out independent research, POLIS paves the way for serendipitous and life-changing opportunities, within and beyond the world of academia. The PhD community is truly phenomenal, filled with passionate and driven students who bring a diverse range of perspectives and approaches to their study. I have found POLIS to be a rewarding research environment and have been privileged to find much support and inspiration from my peers and academic staff. “ 

Elizabeth Paradis - 2022

"Coming to the programme with a different intellectual background, I was immediately made to feel at home at POLIS by the sheer diversity of research carried out and the varied kinds of approaches people bring to the PhD programme. The openness and friendly support, the in-depth and challenging discussions, as well as the encouraging process of developing your own project in constructive exchange and collaboration with other PhD students make the programme an intellectually stimulating and deeply enriching experience."

Carl Pierer PhD Student POLIS  2021

"The structure of the PhD course, amazing staff, the events and workshops organised by the different centres at POLIS all provide a fertile ground for one to thrive. The diversity of research topics means you are always learning something different from your colleagues. I am grateful to be part of the POLIS family."

Edward Murambwa, PhD Student POLIS  - 2019

More Information

The Department of Politics and International Studies, The Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP

Contact: [email protected]

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Graduate Programs

Political science.

Our faculty and students profit from the many outstanding institutes, centers and programs at Brown that relate to the study of politics.

The Department of Political Science covers the four main subfields in the discipline:

• American politics focuses on the behavior of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; state and local politics; the influence of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties on decision-making; and issues of race and gender.
• Comparative politics focuses on the comparative study of the behavior of governments and political institutions, non-governmental actors across the world, and on the relationships between political and economic factors in different cultures and societies.
• International politics considers how political decisions are made in a world without a central authority above the nation-state. Recent emphases include a significant role for international law, norms, and organizations.
• Political theory seeks to analyze both historically and philosophically the origins and underpinnings of political values.

Additional Resources

Our faculty and students profit from the many outstanding institutes, centers, and programs at Brown that relate to the study of politics. These include the  Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions , the  Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs , the  Master of Public Affairs program , the  Urban Studies Program , the  Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia , the  Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies , the  Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics , the  Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America ,  Middle East Studies ,  Development Studies , the  Population Studies and Training Center , and  Africana Studies .

Application Information

In addition to the GRE and writing sample, applicants are required to submit a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, transcript(s), and, if applicable, proof of language proficiency. For further application information, please also see the  Political Science admission guidance  and the  Graduate School's admission guidance .

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Official transcripts:, letters of recommendations:.

Required (3)

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Personal statement:, dates/deadlines, application deadline, completion requirements.

The Ph.D. requires passing thirteen graduate-level courses with a minimum grade of B or better, though A grades are expected, including methods, field proseminars, course(s) in political theory, and Prospectus Writing. Students must also pass a written and oral preliminary examination in their primary field; a written and oral presentation of a dissertation proposal; and a written and oral presentation of a dissertation. A minimum of two semesters as a teaching assistant is also required.

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The Ph.D. program in Politics seeks to train students to assume faculty positions at a range of institutions of higher education and supports students pursuing a range of substantive research in the discipline. If you ask graduate students to identify the program’s strengths, they will mention:

• An across-the-board commitment to excellence in research and teaching.
• Respect for a variety of methods and approaches to political research.
• A strong sense of community among both faculty and graduate students.
• Unparalleled institutional support for research, ranging from one of the finest university libraries in the world to abundant resources for data collection, field work and conference travel.

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What is politics?

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

This free course, What is politics?, introduces you to the world of politics. It is dedicated primarily to answering the question of what politics is. Although the question might seem rather simple, it elicits various, often contradictory responses. As you will realise, in politics as in much of the humanities and social sciences definitive answers are difficult to come by. What politics is and equally, who does it, and where it is done are hotly debated and highly contested. This OpenLearn course will introduce you to some of these debates, and their implications for the study and practice of politics.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand the competing interpretations of what politics is, who does it and where it is done
• grasp the importance of politics and the variety of ways in which politics affects your everyday life
• better understand the contestability of concepts in politics, and the implications of such contestability for the practice and study of politics.

First Published: 29/04/2015

Updated: 03/10/2019

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PhD in Political Science

The Ph.D. in Political Science program  prepares students  to be outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and U.S. and international institutions. Working in small classes and with experienced faculty mentors, doctoral students construct a program around a major and minor field of study.

Recent dissertation topics have spanned women's organizations and the partisan gender gap, judicial politics in the Middle East, media freedom in Turkey, social justice in the corporate world, and coercive kidnappings in violent political organizations. Our students present their research at conferences around the country, earn awards and prestigious research grants for their scholarship, and publish articles in major journals, such as International Security, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, and Journal of Politics.

Funding is guaranteed for five years, conditional on adequate progress.

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The deadline for our MA program is April 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 admission. Our next PhD application deadline is Dec. 15, 2024, for Fall 2025 admission. If you have questions, please contact the Department Administrator by email: [email protected] .

Major and Minor Fields

Doctoral students choose both a major and minor field of study. Any of the major fields is also an option for a minor.

Major Fields

• American Politics
• International Relations
• Comparative Politics

Minor Fields

• Political Theory
• Public Policy
• Research Methods

Learn About Research by Field

Course Requirements 

Additional requirements

In addition to required coursework, program requirements consists of two comprehensive examinations covering a primary and supporting field, an original research paper, and a dissertation demonstrating the capacity to undertake original and significant research. The research paper, to be completed by the second year in the program, must reflect the student's ability to conduct original research. Students prepare for the comprehensive exams by taking at least five courses in their primary field and at least four courses in their supporting field, selected according to departmental guidelines. Three primary fields are available: American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. In addition, political theory, public policy, and research methodology are available as supporting fields. Petitions for a self-designed minor field (e.g., political communications) composed primarily of courses not offered by the established fields can be jointly proposed by students and faculty. All students must complete a sequence of courses in research methodology comprising PSC 8101 , PSC 8108 , and PSC 8109 . 

A recommendation to the Dean for Admissions to candidacy, or the dissertation research stage, will be considered upon satisfactory completion of all coursework, research paper, field examinations, and successful defense of the dissertation prospectus. Students must pass their primary field examination with a satisfactory pass or above and must pass their supporting field examination with a bare pass or above in order to be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy. Admission to candidacy is permitted only if the student’s performance on the examinations and in the coursework gives a good indication of success in the second unit. Passing the field examinations does not in itself ensure admission to candidacy.

The dissertation prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, which all faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend. The full dissertation must be similarly defended. A dual degree program enables students to earn the master of public policy along with the PhD in the field of political science.

Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

Our doctoral students are advancing political science as a discipline. They explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that improve the way governments and societies function. As a result, MIT Political Science graduates are sought after for top teaching and research positions in the U.S. and abroad. Read where program alumni are working around the world.

How the PhD program works

The MIT PhD in Political Science requires preparation in two of these major fields:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Models and Methods
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

We recommend that you take a broad array of courses across your two major fields. In some cases, a single course may overlap across the subject matter of both fields. You may not use more than one such course to "double count" for the course distribution requirement. Keep in mind that specific fields may have additional requirements.

You are free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools.

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

You will need two full academic years of work to prepare for the general examinations and to meet other pre-dissertation requirements. Typically, a minimum of eight graduate subjects are required for a PhD.

2. Scope and Methods

This required one-semester seminar for first-year students introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.

You must successfully complete at least one class in empirical research methods.

5. Philosophy

You must successfully complete at least one class in political philosophy.

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

You must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by successfully completing two semesters of intermediate-level coursework or an exam in that language, or you must demonstrate your knowledge of advanced statistics by successfully completing three semesters of coursework in advanced statistics. International students whose native language is not English are not subject to the language requirement.

7. Field research

We encourage you to conduct field research and to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

You must complete an article-length research paper and related workshop in the spring semester of the second year. The second-year paper often develops into a dissertation project.

9. Two examinations

In each of your two elected fields, you must take a general written and oral examination. To prepare for these examinations, you should take at least three courses in each of the two fields, including the field seminar.

10. Doctoral thesis

As a rule, the doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection. Writing the dissertation usually takes a substantially longer time. The thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense. Be sure to consult the MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation as well as the MIT Political Science Thesis Guidelines . Consult the MIT academic calendar to learn the due date for final submission of your defended, signed thesis.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

PhD Political Science

Program overview.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science program serves students interested in academic positions as well as research and policy careers. The department and its  faculty  are committed to providing doctoral students with an excellent educational experience through coursework, comprehensive examinations, and the dissertation. 

The curriculum introduces students to all four fields and also develops their research skills through a series of methodology courses. Students may develop a traditional, academic focus in one of the fields, or they may combine it with public policy to highlight a policy orientation.

The PhD in Political Science covers four major fields in the discipline:

• American Government and Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Public Policy

All PhD students are fully funded for 5 years via a Tuition Assistantship which includes stipend, full tuition, and student health insurance. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here from the department and here from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

For more information on curricular requirements for the PhD program see the  Course Catalog .

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Department of Politics

Admission to the PhD program has been paused for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Brandeis doctoral degree program in politics aims to prepare scholars, teachers, and policy analysts of the highest quality. To that end, the program offers training in a range of research methods with particular strength in qualitative methods, political theory, and comparative case analysis.

The program’s small size fosters attentive mentoring. Small seminars and individualized tutorials bring students into close and regular contact with their advisers. Teaching assignments, both as section leaders for survey classes and occasionally as independent course instructors, help our doctoral students to develop excellent pedagogical skills.

You must complete a minimum of three years in residence and twelve term courses (five core graduate field seminars and seven electives). In addition, all graduate students are required to enroll in the year-long Departmental Proseminar, which provides a forum for students and faculty to discuss their research, methodological approaches to the study of politics, and professional development.

Our department offers a full tuition waiver, a stipend and health insurance to all incoming PhD students regardless of financial need or nationality.

Why Brandeis?

Our faculty include world-renowned experts with a wide range of interests, from political theory and contemporary American politics, to the study of terrorism, international organizations, and the politics of the Middle East.

If you have interdisciplinary interests, Brandeis boasts several centers — including the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies , the  Center for German and European Studies  and the Crown Center for Middle East Studies — that support students in stimulating inter-disciplinary settings. You may also attend courses in local institutions that are part of the Boston Area Graduate Consortium, such as Tufts, Boston College, and Boston University.

Our program provides the best of a Brandeis education: small classes, dedicated mentoring by distinguished faculty, intellectual diversity and access to the wealth of academic and cultural resources only Boston can offer.

Careers and Alumni

In recent years, our students, have earned post-doctoral fellowship and research appointments at Oxford University, the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland-College Park; tenure track positions at Providence College, University of Dubuque and University of San Diego; and administrative positions at Yale University’s Silliman College, The Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Our graduates also publish with top-level presses and in highly visible professional journals. Books and articles by recent graduates include:

• Jeffrey Karam (PhD’16), “Missing Revolution: American Intelligence Failure in Iraq.” Winner of Intelligence and National Security prize for best article of 2017.
• Catherine Worsnop (PhD’16), “Domestic Politics and the WHO’s International Health Regulations: Explaining the Use of Trade and Travel Barriers during Disease Outbreaks,” Review of International Organizations (2017).
• Matthew Isaacs (PhD’17), “For God or Country: Explaining the Salience of Religion in Ethnic Conflict,” Comparative Political Studies (2017).
• Paul Herron (PhD’14), Framing the Solid South: The State Constitutional Conventions of Secession, Reconstruction, and Redemption (University Press of Kansas. 2017).
• Sarah Feuer (PhD’14), Religion and the State in Postcolonial Morocco and Tunisia (Cambridge University Press, 2018).
• Ryan LaRochelle, (PhD’16) “Reassessing the History of the Community Action Program,” 1963-1967, Journal of Policy History , (2019).
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Professor Catherine Z. Worsnop PhD’16 discusses her ongoing book project looking at the challenges of international cooperation during cross-border disease outbreaks.

Doctoral Program

Program Overview

The principal goal of the Stanford Ph.D. program in political science is the training of scholars. Most students who receive doctorates in the program do research and teach at colleges or universities. We offer courses and research opportunities in a wide variety of fields in the discipline, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. The program is built around small seminars that analyze critically the literature of a field or focus on a research problem. These courses prepare students for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam requirement within a two-year period and for work on the doctoral dissertation.

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Discover more about Politics at Manchester

PhD Politics / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree in a cognate subject at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 1 December 2023.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024
• For January 2025 entry: 30 September 2024

Programme options

Programme overview

• Join a diverse and vibrant postgraduate community of PGRs from around the world.
• Benefit from regular research seminars and events, and opportunities for professional development.
• Receive support and expertise from academics working in a wide range of politics research areas.

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To find out what studying on a postgraduate research programme at Manchester is like, visit our Open days and study fairs page and explore our virtual open week or future on-campus and international events.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out more about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards available to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Social Sciences studentships is 1 December 2023. We can guarantee eligible applications submitted by this date will be considered in the funding competition. If you apply after 1 December 2023 and would like to be considered in the competition, please contact [email protected].

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting your funding application and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Social Sciences PhD Studentships 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• PhD Studentship with the Stuart Hall Foundation (Social Sciences) - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Future of the Academy PhD Studentship (Politics) - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

Olympic Breakdancer Raygun Has PhD in Breakdancing?

Rachael gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the paris 2024 olympic games., aleksandra wrona, published aug. 13, 2024.

About this rating

Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: a B-girl's Experience of B-boying," did cover the topic of breakdancing. However ...

... Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies. Moreover, a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline.

On Aug. 10, 2024, a rumor spread on social media that Rachael Gunn (also known as "Raygun"), an Australian breakdancer who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, had a Ph.D. in breakdancing. "This australian breakdancer has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture and was a ballroom dancer before taking up breaking. I don't even know what to say," one X post on the topic read .

"Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture," one X user wrote , while another asked, "Who did we send? Raygun, a 36-year-old full-time lecturer at Sydney's Macquarie University, completed a PhD in breaking culture and is a lecturer in media, creative arts, literature and language," another X user wrote .

The claim also spread on other social media platforms, such as Reddit and Instagram . 

"Is she the best break dancer? No. But I have so much respect for going on an international stage to do something you love even if you're not very skilled at it," one Instagram user commented , adding that, "And, I'm pretty sure she's using this as a research endeavor and will be writing about all our reactions to her performance. Can't wait to read it!"

In short, Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying," indeed focused on the topic of breakdancing. However, Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies, not in breakdancing. Furthermore, it's important to note that a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline. 

Since Gunn's research focused on the breakdancing community, but her degree is actually in the broader field of cultural studies, we have rated this claim as a "Mixture" of truths.

Gunn "secured Australia's first ever Olympic spot in the B-Girl competition at Paris 2024 by winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney, NSW, Australia," the Olympics official website informed . 

Gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and clips of her routine went viral on social media, with numerous users creating memes or mocking dancer's moves. "As well as criticising her attire, social media users mocked the Australian's routine as she bounced around on stage like a kangaroo and stood on her head at times," BBC article on the topic read . 

The website of the Macquarie University informed Gunn "is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking" and holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies, as well as a bachelor of arts degree (Hons) in contemporary music: 

Rachael Gunn is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) and a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Music (2009) from Macquarie University. Her work draws on cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography. Rachael is a practising breaker and goes by the name of 'Raygun'. She was the Australian Breaking Association top ranked bgirl in 2020 and 2021, and represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris in 2021, in Seoul in 2022, and in Leuven (Belgium) in 2023. She won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

Gunn's biography further revealed that she is a member of the Macquarie University Performance and Expertise Reasearch Centre, and has a range of teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels "across the areas of media, creative industries, music, dance, cultural studies, and work-integrated learning." 

Moreover, it informed her research interests included, "Breaking, street dance, and hip-hop culture; youth cultures/scenes; constructions of the dancing body; politics of gender and gender performance; ethnography; the methodological dynamics between theory and practice."

Gunn earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Media, Music, Communications, and Cultural Studies within the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University. Below, you can find the abstract of her paper, shared by the official website of Macquarie University:

This thesis critically interrogates how masculinist practices of breakdancing offers a site for the transgression of gendered norms. Drawing on my own experiences as a female within the male-dominated breakdancing scene in Sydney, first as a spectator, then as an active crew member, this thesis questions why so few female participants engage in this creative space, and how breakdancing might be the space to displace and deterritorialise gender. I use analytic autoetthnography and interviews with scene members in collaboration with theoretical frameworks offered by Deleuze and Guttari, Butler, Bourdieu and other feminist and post-structuralist philosophers, to critically examine how the capacities of bodies are constituted and shaped in Sydney's breakdancing scene, and to also locate the potentiality for moments of transgression. In other words, I conceptualize the breaking body as not a 'body' constituted through regulations and assumptions, but as an assemblage open to new rhizomatic connections. Breaking is a space that embraces difference, whereby the rituals of the dance not only augment its capacity to deterritorialize the body, but also facilitate new possibilities for performativities beyond the confines of dominant modes of thought and normative gender construction. Consequently, this thesis attempts to contribute to what I perceive as a significant gap in scholarship on hip-hop, breakdancing, and autoethnographic explorations of Deleuze-Guattarian theory.

In a response to online criticism of her Olympics performance, Gunn wrote on her Instagram profile: "Don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you":

We have recently investigated other 2024 Paris Olympics' -related rumors, such as:

• Lifeguards Are Present at Olympic Swimming Competitions?
• Hobby Lobby Pulled $50M in Ads from 2024 Paris Olympics?
• 2024 Paris Olympics Are 'Lowest-Rated' Games in Modern History?

Gunn, Rachael Louise. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.

---. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Lifeguards Are Present at Olympic Swimming Competitions?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/lifeguards-paris-olympics-swimming/.

"Olympic Breaking: Criticism of Viral Breakdancer Rachael Gunn - Raygun - Condemned by Australia Team." BBC Sport, 10 Aug. 2024, https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c2dgxp5n3rlo.

ORCID. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1069-4021. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.

Paris 2024. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/-raygun_1940107. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.

Saunders, Grant Leigh, and Rachael Gunn. "Australia." Global Hip Hop Studies, vol. 3, no. 1–2, Dec. 2023, pp. 23–32. Macquarie University, https://doi.org/10.1386/ghhs_00060_1.

Wazer, Caroline. "2024 Paris Olympics Are 'Lowest-Rated' Games in Modern History?" Snopes, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/paris-olympics-lowest-rated-games/.

---. "Hobby Lobby Pulled $50M in Ads from 2024 Paris Olympics?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/olympics-hobby-lobby-ads/.

By Aleksandra Wrona

Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes, based in the Warsaw, Poland, area.

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The 2024 Democratic National Convention kicks off next week. Here's what to expect.

Less than a month after becoming the new presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to appear at this year’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz . She will be making history as the first Black woman and first Asian American to head a major party ticket. 

Harris’ campaign has been off to a booming start since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month. Less than 30 minutes after he stepped aside, Biden endorsed Harris. The Vice President quickly garnered overwhelming support from leaders in her party, and accumulated more than  enough delegate support  to win the nomination within the first 24 hours. She quickly  re-energized voters , raising over $300 million and hosting rallies with crowd sizes topping 10,000 people .  

She also recently embarked on a multi-state battleground blitz with Walz, starting in Pennsylvania. The two also held events in Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona last week. 

All eyes are now on Chicago, where the Democratic National Convention is set to kick off next week. Here’s what to know about the upcoming event. 

When is DNC 2024? 

The DNC is scheduled to take place August 19 through August 22.

Where is the DNC 2024?

The convention will be in Chicago, just 90 miles south of Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention was recently held. The Democratic Party has held a national convention every four years since 1832 to nominate its chosen candidates, and Chicago has a storied history of hosting conventions on both sides of the political aisle dating back to 1860, with the nomination of Abraham Lincoln. According to the Chicago Sun-Times , this will be the Windy City’s 26th political convention. 

What happens at the DNC? 

Unlike the RNC, the DNC decided to confirm their nominee during a virtual roll call on Aug. 5 to satisfy ballot deadlines in several states. According to a press release , 99% of participating delegates supported Kamala Harris in the virtual roll call, and Harris and Walz accepted the nomination a day later. 

However, Harris has not yet formally accepted the nomination, which she will do at the convention in Chicago.

In the meantime, there is still plenty left to do for the Democratic delegates. The DNC offers them a chance to adopt and unify a comprehensive party platform, taking a stance on issues like reproductive rights, immigration and economic policy.  

The Democratic Party will post updates on its convention website, which can be found at demconvention.com . 

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and Rebecca Morin

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY who focuses on Georgia politics. She is @MayaHoman on X, formerly Twitter.  

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Graduate Student Expo: Connect, Learn, and Win! 

The Graduate School and Graduate Student Association are excited to announce the inaugural Graduate Student Expo . This event will take place on Friday, September 6, 2024 , from 9 am to 12 pm at the Russell House Ballroom (RUSSELL 207) .  

The Graduate Student Expo is designed to help new and current graduate students connect with essential campus resources, engage in valuable workshops, and discover opportunities to enhance their academic journey. Highlights of the event include: 

• Resource Fair: Interact with representatives from over 30 campus organizations and departments.
• Workshops: Participate in sessions covering a variety of topics relevant to graduate student success.
• Door Prizes: Enter for a chance to win $2000 in scholarships, parking passes, gift cards, and more.
• Refreshments: Enjoy breakfast goods and coffee/tea provided at the event. 

This family-friendly event is a unique opportunity to connect with peers, gain insights from experienced professionals, and kickstart your semester with valuable resources and information. We encourage all graduate students to register and take full advantage of this exciting event. 

Please register using the registration form . The form will automatically collect your name and USC email address so you must be logged in to your account.   

For questions about the Graduate Student Expo, contact Kesha Clavon at [email protected] .  

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

Molecular Microbiology & Immunology R³ Center for Innovation in Science Education

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R³ Programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University

All degree-seeking students and post-doctoral fellows at the Bloomberg School and across the entire Johns Hopkins community can take advantage of R 3 courses and receive academic credit towards an R 3 or other Johns Hopkins University degree program. Faculty and staff are welcome as guests. Scroll down to see what programs we offer!

To promote thought exchange across boundaries, we encourage students to look through various lenses at central science concepts such as evidence, causality, redundancy, repeatability, and replicability, as well as the limits of science. Participants from fields in biomedicine, public health, engineering, and technology have access to practice training in epistemology, logic, ethics, methods, and communications. 

  r 3 course offerings provide interdisciplinary and interprofessional learning experiences emphasizing the norms of good science. , for students:, r3im doctoral program.

Through a departmental core curriculum as well as research area-specific courses, laboratory rotations, mentored research, and professional development, all MMI PhD students are prepared to engage in cutting edge research and scholarship that advances knowledge. The concentration in Rigorous, Reproducible, and Responsible Research Investigation in Immunology & Microbiology (R 3 IM) conveys a broad background in immunology and infectious diseases research, with a special emphasis on critical thinking, logic, ethics, and written and oral skills to help graduates become communicators of complex scientific concepts and agents of change in their workplaces and communities. 

R3 Certificate Program

The Rigor, Reproducibility and Responsibility certificate program emphasizes research practice and applicable, introductory graduate level training in epistemology, logic, ethics, as well as quantitative and communication skills. The program specifically addresses the “3R” core norms of good scientific practice, applied across the health and science disciplines. Participants will value the program's specific focus on the philosophical underpinnings that form the fundamental framework of how science works, thereby keeping a broad perspective in mind to understand the principles underlying good scientific practice research from the bench science to the public health disciplines. 

For Scientist-Educators:

We offer training workshops and seminars for research practitioners, mentors, and supervisors. we are also in the process of establishing the scientist-educator training institute (r 3 seti). stay tuned for more, open educational resources, we are committed to the open and transparent sharing of our educational material for others to adapt across their own institutions and programs. see below for a few of our current resources and check here for updates, r 3  science communications leadership program webinar recordings, katharine e. welsh symposium archive   --> coming soon, catalog of publicly available teaching modules  --> coming soon, github link: https://github.com/jhu-r3ise  .

The Graduate School of Political Management

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WSB-ABC2, Atlanta, quoted Casey Burgat in the article “President Joe Biden is stepping out of the 2024 race, so now what happens?"

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Politics courses

Whether you’re seeking to understand the decision-making behind the headlines or looking to develop the analytical skills and knowledge of global systems that come with studying politics, we have the right qualification for you. Choose below from our range of politics courses at degree, diploma and certificate level.

Politics Degrees  Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

• Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
• You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

How long will it take?

Politics Diplomas  Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Politics certificates  certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study politics with the open university.

The Politics and International Studies team at The Open University are well versed in opening up seemingly inaccessible topics and communicating them clearly. We regularly collaborate with the BBC to deliver innovative and informative radio and television programmes, and our courses are made equally engaging and exploratory.

Study politics with The Open University to:

• Gain insight into debates that dominate the news and an understanding of the underlying issues.
• Be taught by faculty members committed to an innovative agenda in both teaching and research supervision.
• Explore how policies are constructed in theory and tested in practice.
• Increase your employability across the private and public sectors.

Careers in Politics

An understanding of politics is central to knowledge of how modern societies are organised and governed. Studying this subject will give you a combination of skills highly in demand across the private, public and non-profit sectors.

Some of the employers which politics graduates go on to work for include:

• Local and national government
• Media organisations

Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Politics modules

All Politics courses

Browse all the Politics courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Politics courses

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