Typical Action Plan for a Graduate Career

This is a general example of a typical course outline. For more specific details please refer to the Field Requirements or the Ph.D. Rules and Guidelines.

Note: This plan applies to students entering the program Spring 2003 or earlier. A new plan will soon be available for students entering in Fall 2003 and later.

* Skills courses refer to foreign languages, formal modeling, econometrics, or electives

First Year
 

Fall
  • PS200, Political Science; Scope and Methods
  • Core Course
  • Skills or Core Course
 

Winter
  • Core Course
  • Core Course
  • Skills or Core Course*
 

Spring
  • Core Course
  • Skills or Specialization Course*
  • Rsearch Tutorial or Directed Reading
  Key Objectives: Complete nine courses and to start writing a seminar paper.

Second Year
 

Fall
  • Specialization Course
  • Skills Course*
  • Tutorial
 

Winter
  • Specialization Course
  • Skills Course*
  • Tutorial or Directed Reading
 

Spring
  • Directed Reading
  • Comprehensive Exam
  Key Objectives: To have completed eighteen courses, finish their seminar paper, and pass the general comprehensive exam

Third Year
 

Fall
  • Doctoral Candidacy Workshop
  • Directed Reading
 

Winter
  • Doctoral Candidacy Workshop
  • Directed Reading
 

Spring
  • Doctoral Candidacy Workshop
  • Directed Reading
  Key Objectives: Defend the prospectus and advance to candidacy

Fourth Year
 

Fall
  • Independent Research on Dissertation
  • Apply for grants/research funding
  • Defend Prospectus (if haven't already done so)
 

Winter
  • Independent Research on Dissertation
 

Spring
  • Independent Research on Dissertation
  Key Objectives: Advance if they have not already done so and begin conducting research for their dissertation projects. Some students may spend this year doing field research or running experiments

Fifth/Sixth Year
 
  • Dissertation Research/Field Work
  • Write and Defend Dissertation
  • Job Search
  Key Objectives: The key objective for fifth year students (and sixth year students who have spent their fifth year doing field research) is to complete their dissertation, defend it before their committee, and place themselves on the job market