Skip to main content
Sunset sky with hang gliders at La Jolla

Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs 

Request Information

The Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs is a joint program with the UC San Diego Department of Political Science.

This program prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, or as international affairs researchers and specialists in policy analysis.

Program Overview

The program builds on the considerable strength that each unit possesses and offers a unique focus within the context of the Pacific region.

The program has a required first-year curriculum in which students focus on coursework in politics and research methods. During the second year, students begin to focus their coursework on their chosen area of research, completing the 18 required courses for advancement to candidacy. In addition, candidates are expected to finish a seminar paper and sit for their general comprehensive exam. Details on the curriculum can be found here.