http://www.utdallas.edu/dept/socsci/ psci
Professors: Anthony M. Champagne, Harold D. Clarke, Euel Elliott, Edward
J. Harpham, L. Douglas Kiel, Robert Lowry, Marianne C. Stewart
Associate Professors: Pamela Brandwein, Thomas Brunell, �Marie I. Chevrier, Gregory S. Thielemann
Assistant Professors: Patrick Brandt, �Jennifer S. Holmes, Chad King, Clint
Peinhardt, Scott Robinson, Carole J. Wilson
Senior Lecturers: Brian Bearry, Karl Ho
The Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science provides a rigorous, sharply
focused disciplinary program with strong multidisciplinary links. The Program
consists of innovative, state-of-the-science graduate education in political
methodology and the fields of Decision Making and Public Management, Democratization,
Globalization and International Relations, and Political and Government Institutions
and Processes. Students� research skill development and degree completion are
facilitated by a rolling cohort design. In the first year of the cohort,
students acquire basic research skills and tools and work on research projects.
Later, they have opportunities to develop their instructional and presentation
skills, to participate in summer methodology programs, and to interact with
highly regarded scholars and practitioners in their fields of study.
The Program is intended to educate highly qualified students for fulfilling
careers in academe, government, industry, and non-profit organizations in the
Dallas-Fort Worth, state, national, and other arenas. Program graduates are
expected to have the resources and skills that are necessary for analytical and
administrative positions and responsibilities in areas that involve knowledge
producers, private firms, and government agencies and departments. Graduates
should be equipped to instruct and to conduct productive research in the
traditional fields of Political Science as well as newer, state-of-the science,
trans-disciplinary fields.
Students have access to the computing facilities in the
Many important data and reference materials are available online from
professional associations or at UTD via the Library�s and School�s memberships
in the American Political Science Association, the European Consortium for
Political Research (ECPR), the Inter-University Consortium for Political and
Social Research (ICPSR), the Roper Center, the University Consortium for
Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), and other organizations. The Library
has a substantial number of Political Science journals.
Students have opportunities to participate in research programs directed by
members of the faculty. As appropriate, some students may become involved in
methodological development activities offered by the School�s membership in the
ECPR, ICPSR, and UCGIS. In addition, some students may be eligible to
participate in the professional development activities provided by faculty who
edit or co-edit the American Journal of Political Science, Electoral Studies, and
Political Research Quarterly.
To attract the best students, editorial, research and teaching
assistantships are available. Fellowships are offered through the Center for
The Study of Texas Politics. Editorial assistantships are available through
several of the professional journals supported by the University. Other assistantships
are provided to work with faculty at the Center for Texas Politics or on
instructional activities.
The University�s general admission requirements are discussed here.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Program seeks applications
from individuals with a baccalaureate, Master of Arts, or Master of Science
degree in Government and Politics, Political Science, Public Administration,
Public Affairs or a relevant discipline. The degree must be from an accredited
college or university. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.2 and
a combined quantitative and verbal Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of
1200 are desirable for students who expect to progress satisfactorily towards graduation.
Applicants also may submit their score from the writing component of the GRE as
additional evidence of their admission eligibility. Applicants should submit
all transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay
describing educational and professional objectives. Grade point average, GRE
score, and other information pertaining to the applicants� educational
background and professional goals are among the factors that are considered in
determining direct admission. Applications are reviewed by the Political
Science Program Committee in the
Students who lack the necessary background to start the Program are advised
to take courses that strengthen their preparation, but these courses do not
receive credit towards the Ph.D. Program.
Undergraduate students who are interested in completing their undergraduate
degrees while simultaneously taking graduate courses in the Political Science
Ph.D. Program are expected to meet the School�s �fast-tracking� requirements.
Students who have previous graduate work in a discipline that is relevant to
the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, such as a M.A. or M.S. in
Government and Politics, Political Science, Public Administration, or Public
Affairs, or a J.D., may be given transfer credit. The maximum amount of
graduate program transfer credit is 45 hours of graduate coursework with no
grade below B. However, transfer credit typically is not given for the core
courses or other required courses in the Program may be required to demonstrate
competence in these areas. Any award of transfer credit will be consistent with
the University�s �Transfer of Credit� Policy.
The University�s general degree requirements are discussed here.
On admission to the Ph.D. in Political Science Program, the student earns a minimum
of 90 semester credit hours of coursework and dissertation credit beyond the
baccalaureate degree. Core hours include four courses in Political Science
Methodology and Theory, and three proseminars in the Program fields. The three
fields are Decision Making and Public Management; Democratization,
Globalization, and International Relations; and Political and Government
Institutions and Processes. Additional coursework includes four courses in the
major field, two courses in the minor field, four courses of prescribed
elective credit, and three-to-six courses of freely chosen credit. Prior to
admission to doctoral candidacy and further work on the dissertation or
practicum, the student must pass three examinations � in the core, in the major
field, and in the minor field.
On examination completion, the student proceeds to present a doctoral
dissertation or practicum proposal. The proposal must be approved by his/her
Advisory Committee not later than two consecutive semesters after examination
completion. Upon Committee approval, the student does further work on the
doctoral dissertation or practicum while enrolling continuously for credit in
research seminars and in dissertation or practicum research. The dissertation
has multiple chapters that consist of a clear statement of the research
problem, the theoretical framework and research design, the methods of analysis
and findings, and an appropriately development conclusion. The practicum
consists of three papers that may or may not be thematically related and are
informed by the theories and methodology of the student�s major field. All
three papers must be suitable for presentation at a major professional meeting
and/or submission to a peer-reviewed professional journal.
Core Courses in Political Science Methodology and Theory 12
Field Proseminars 9
Courses in Major Field 12
Courses in Minor Field 6
Prescribed Elective Credit (Research Seminars or Special Topics) 12
Freely Chosen Elective Credit for DG&IR or I&P as Major Field 9-18
Other Courses Required for PM&DM as Major Field 9-18
Dissertation or Practicum Research 21-30
Total (Minimum) 90
PSCI 5301 Proseminar in Democratization, Globalization and International
Relations
PSCI 5303 Proseminar in Public Policymaking and Institutions
PSCI 5305 Proseminar in Decision Making and Public Management
PSCI 5350 Logic, Methodology and Scope of Political Science
PSCI 5352 Empirical Democratic Theory
PSCI 5360 Data Collection and Analysis in Political and Social Science
PSCI 5362 Multivariate Models for Analyzing Political and Social Science Data
PSCI 6308 International Political Economy and Organizations
PSCI 6335 Institutions and Development
PSCI 6337 Comparative Institutions
PSCI 6362 Political Development
PSCI 7320 International Negotiations
PSCI 5302 Law and The Policy Process
PSCI 5304 Policy Processes, Implementation and Evaluation
PSCI 6324 Local and State Government and Politics
PSCI 6331 Executives, Legislatures and Public Policy
PSCI 6335 Political and Civic Organizations
PSCI 6336 Bureaucracy and Public Policy
PSCI 6337 Comparative Institutions
PSCI 7344 Gender and Public Policy
PSCI 7350 Institutions and Citizen Behavior
PSCI 7352 Theories of Choice and Decision Making
�
PSCI 5302 Law and The Policy Process
PSCI 5315 Public Management
PSCI 5364 Mathematical Models in Political and Social Science
PSCI 6320 Organizational Theory
PSCI 6324 Public Choice
PSCI 6325 Decision Theory
PSCI 6326 Decision Tools for Managers
PSCI 6328 Management Process and Analysis
PSCI 7352 Theories of Choice and Decision Making
PSCI 7370 Decision Making, Complexity and Risk
PSCI 7375 Applied Studies in Human Decision Making
Students who select this field as their major field also are expected to take:
POEC 5305 Microeconomics
POEC 7340 Domestic Social Policy
ACN 6330 Cognitive Science
PSCI 7V81 Special Topics in Political Science
PSCI 7V83 Independent Study
PSCI 8381 Research Seminar in Political Science
PSCI 8V99 Dissertation or Practicum