Program: Politics and International Affairs, Ph.D. - University of South Florida

Apr 01, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

College of Arts and Sciences
Department: School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

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.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

GRE optional
Three (3) letters of recommendation (from academic sources or from individuals able to evaluate the applicant’s academic abilities)
A 500 word statement of interest explaining why the applicant wants to pursue a Ph.D. in Government at the University of South Florida
Transcripts
Writing sample

A Master’s degree in Political Science, International Affairs, or a related field will count favorably towards admission, but is not a requirement for admission.

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum hours - 72 credit hours post-bachelor’s

Core - 6 Credit Hours
Disciplinary Requirements – 9 Credit Hours
Methods – 9 Credit Hours
Primary Specialization – 6 Credit Hours
Secondary Specialization - 3 Credit Hours
Electives – 6 Credit Hours
Teacher Training – 3 Credit Hours
Dissertation Proposal/Capstone – 3 Credit Hours
Dissertation – 27 Credit Hours

Core Requirements (6 Credit Hours)

POS 6735 Foundations of Political Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
IDS 6936 Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar Credit Hours: 3

Disciplinary Requirements (9 Credit Hours)

Select three of the following:

POS 6045 Seminar in American Government & Politics Credit Hours: 3
POT 6007 Seminar in Political Theory Credit Hours: 3
INR 6007 Seminar in International Relations Credit Hours: 3
CPO 6091 Seminar in Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3

Methods Requirements (9 Credit Hours)

POS 6746 Quantitative Analysis I Credit Hours: 3
POS 6707 Qualitative Analysis Credit Hours: 3

Select one of the following:

POS 6918 Seminar in Quantitative Methods Credit Hours: 3
POS 6942 Field Work in Political Science Credit Hours: 1-3 (3 credits for this program)
AFA 6355 African American Community Research: Ethnography Credit Hours: 3
Or other graduate course approved by the Graduate Director

Primary Specialization (6 Credit Hours)

Students complete six (6) credit hours in their primary specialization, in addition to the disciplinary seminar. The options for primary specialization are International Relations, Comparative Politics, and American Government.

Secondary Specialization (3 Credit Hours)

Students complete three (3) graduate credit hours in their secondary specialization, in addition to the disciplinary seminar. The options for secondary specialization are International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and American Government.

Electives (6 Credit Hours)

Students will enhance their areas of specialization with elective courses.
With graduate committee approval, students will be encouraged to take courses in other disciplines.

Students Teacher Training Requirement (3 Credit Hours)

POS 6702 Teaching Political Science Credit Hours: 3

Foreign Language

Students whose dissertation research will involve fieldwork or archival research in a non-English speaking country must be proficient in language(s) native to that region. For these students, competency in at least one foreign language must be demonstrated by passing the competency exam administrated by the Department of World Languages.

Comprehensive Qualifying Exam

Ph.D. students will be required to take in-class examinations in their primary and secondary fields of specialization.

Dissertation Proposal – Capstone (3 Credit Hours)

POS 6939 Capstone Seminar Credit Hours: 3
During the Seminar, students develop their dissertation proposals. Students must present their dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee and obtain consent from all committee members before proceeding to the dissertation work.

Dissertation (27 Credit Hours)

Students must present their dissertation at an oral defense, and their committees will determine whether the student passed. Students must submit written copies of their dissertation with signatures of their committee members. All dissertations must conform to University of South Florida format rules.

POS 7980 Dissertation Credit Hours: 2-19 (27 credit hours required for this program)