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Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs

Advance Knowledge. Influence Policy. Lead with Impact.

Build a distinguished career in academic research, policy analysis and international affairs. Offered jointly by the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) and the Department of Political Science, this rigorous doctoral program combines deep methodological training with specialized expertise in the Pacific region and global policy.

Why Choose the Joint Ph.D. Program at UC San Diego?

When you join our doctoral community, you gain access to world-renowned scholars, advanced quantitative tools and a collaborative research environment designed to launch your career.

Dual-Department Expertise: Benefit from the combined faculty strength, research centers, and academic networks of both GPS and the top-ranked UC San Diego Department of Political Science.
Pacific Region Focus: Gain specialized insight into the political economy, security and policy landscapes of the Americas and Asia.
Career Preparation: Prepare directly for tenure-track university teaching positions or senior research roles in government agencies, think tanks and international organizations.
Individualized Mentorship: Work closely alongside faculty to develop original research and publish high-impact seminar papers.

Ph.D. Program Structure

Your doctoral journey balances foundational coursework with tailored research specialization across your first two years.

Year 1: Core Foundation and Research Methodology

In your first year, you will establish a strong foundation in core political theory, analytical frameworks and quantitative research methods.

Year 2: Specialization and Advancement to Candidacy

During your second year, you will customize your studies to align with your research interests, completing 18 required courses to prepare for advancement to candidacy.

Comprehensive Examinations: Demonstrate mastery in your chosen subfield through general comprehensive exams.
Seminar Paper: Author and present an original research paper evaluated by program faculty.

View the detailed Ph.D. curriculum and course descriptions.