The subfield of political theory focuses on ideas in politics: their histories, their internal logic, and their connection to fields of power. Our political theory faculty work in complementary areas and teach graduate and undergraduate courses on topics including classical, modern, and contemporary thought, theories of power, liberalism, Marxism, critical theory, just war theory, and comparative political theory. Recent or current PhDs from the department have focused on topics including Indigenous politics, liberalism, historical memory, environmental politics, anarchism, and Southern slavery and oligarchy.
The political science doctoral program typically requires two years of full-time study. Our students commonly participate in joint faculty-student research and interdepartmental research projects on a wide range of topics. PhD students within the Department of Political Science pursue their studies through advanced courses and seminars across the major fields of focus of political science, including comparative politics, formal theory and methodology, international relations, public policy, political theory, and US politics. Many faculty and graduate students work at the intersections of these fields, as well as other disciplines like anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, history, law, philosophy, or sociology. The political science doctoral program is designed to allow the well-prepared student to complete course requirements for the PhD in two years of full-time study. Students complete a research paper in their second year and take comprehensive examinations during their third year, followed by preparation of a dissertation. Additional PhD program requirements, along with a complete description of graduation requirementsand an explanation of themes and field requirementsare available on the department website.
