Department of Political Science Guide to Doctoral Study

Department of Political Science – Guide to Doctoral Study

THE GUIDE TODOCTORAL STUDY

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

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(319) 335-2358

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June 2014

Department of Political Science – Guide to Doctoral Study

TheDepartment of Political Science at theUniversityofIowaoffers a richprogram ofgraduate studythat has as its foundation agroup of facultymembers who arecommitted to first-rate research and teaching. TheUniversityofIowaPolitical ScienceDepartment ranks amongthe best in the countryin terms of scholarlyqualityas measured byfacultypublications in the leadingprofessional journals. The primaryareas of expertise for our facultyarelisted on our website.

Students receivegraduatetrainingthrough seminars, through collaborativework with other faculty, and through dailyinteraction with other students. The result is that graduates from the UniversityofIowa frequentlyenter thejob market with publications in hand. Accordingto our past experience,after obtainingthe doctoral degree, graduates canexpect to find employment in high qualitycollegesanduniversities.

Graduate students can choosefrom fivefields of study: American Politics, International Politics, ComparativePolitics, Formal Theoryand Research Methods. TheDepartment of Political Science at theUniversityofIowaoffers comprehensive studyin each of these fields, it provides trainingin a varietyof methodological and theoretical approaches,and it provides opportunities forindividualized programs of learning. After havingcompletedasequenceof study,each graduate studentcan expect to beprepared to teach and conduct research inthree fields.Because of theimportanceof statistical methods forthe conduct of political scienceresearch, thefirst year coursecurriculum includes acompulsorysequencein quantitativemethods. Advanced graduate students haveawide arrayof seminars from which theycan selectand build ageneral program of study. The Department of Political Scienceat theUniversityofIowafocuses on trainingskilled researchers. Graduate students canexpect to receiverigorous trainingand complete professional preparation.

TheComparativeLegislativeResearch Centeris housedwithin the department and it publishes theLegislativeStudies Quarterly, the official journal of thelegislativestudies section ofthe American Political ScienceAssociation.The Department also includes several faculty members who are active in the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, which is a designated National Resource Center of the U.S. Department of Education.

Department rules andprocedures described in this Guide, together with thegeneral University rules set forth in the UniversityofIowa Bulletin and the rules ofthe Graduate Collegeset forth in theManual of Rules and Regulations of theGraduate College, constitute thebodyof regulations whichgovernstudents pursuingaPh.D. degreein Political Science.

1.AdmissionsRequirements

Because thenumber ofpositions available in thisprogram is limited, the competition for available openings is keen. Thosenot havingmajored in political scienceornot beingacquainted with quantitative research methods, however,are not at adisadvantage.

The deadline for application, to be considered for assistantships/fellowships, is January 9—all materials must be on file with the department, including GRE scores. A normal admission requires a Verbal and Quantitative GRE score each in the 70th and an analytical writing score of 4.5 or higher.

Department of Political Science – Guide to Doctoral Study

Other normal admissionrequirements includeabachelor's degree, an undergraduategradepoint averageofat least 3.3 ona four point scale(oritsequivalent for foreign applicants), and three letters of recommendation from persons whocancomment upon the applicant'sacademic ability and motivation. Foreignstudents whosenativelanguageis notEnglish must achieveaTOEFL iBT scoreofat least 100. Forapplicants who havedonegraduateworkelsewhere, we require a graduategradepoint averageof at least 3.5.

With respect to the GRE and GPA requirements, it should be noted that achievement well above our minimum on onemayhelpcompensateforascoresomewhat below our minimum on the other.

Because of thestructureofour curriculum, new doctoral students must enterthe program at the beginningofautumn term.

2.FinancialAwards

TheDepartment makes financial awards (Departmental orUniversityfellowships) to about six enteringstudents eachyear. Pendingfundingavailable to the department, thosestudents who do well will continueto receive financial assistanceinyears two, three, four and five. Duringthat time, most will serve as teachingassistants, and in thatcapacitywill lead discussion sections, grade examinations, and give occasional lectures to undergraduate classes. Some, however,will be invited to work as research assistants on agrant-funded facultyproject.

TheDepartment strives to ensurethat all studentsmakingsatisfactoryprogress toward thePh.D. receive financial aid. However,awards maybeterminated at anytime ifarecipient is not satisfactorilyperforming all duties connected withthe appointment orstops makingsatisfactory progress toward a graduate degree. A student whofails to maintain “good standing”(seethe section on Good Standing, SatisfactoryProgress, Probation below) is not makingsatisfactoryprogress toward a degree.

Normally, no student will be given departmental financial support beyond their tenth semesterof enrollment.In some extraordinarycircumstances,however,astudent mayreceive additional support. These extraordinaryappointments aremadebased upon the followingcriteriathatare ranked in order ofimportance.

1.Theteaching and otherprogram needs of theDepartment.

2.Facultyand studentevaluation ofthe student’s prior instructional performance.

3.Evidencethat the studentis makingverystrongprogress towardscompletingthe dissertation. This could include completedchapters ofthe dissertation, data collection and/or analysis, or other evidencethat thedissertation will be finishedin a timely manner.

Department of Political Science – Guide to Doctoral Study

3. RegistrationRequirement

Thedoctorateis grantedon the basis of achievement ratherthan on the accumulation ofsemester hours ofcredit. However, the UniversityofIowaexpects a candidateto complete at least thirty-nine semester hours while registered in The University of Iowa Graduate College. Part ofthis registrationmust bespent in full-time involvement in one's discipline at this University: beyond the first 21 semesterhours ofgraduate work students must complete an additional 18 semester hours to be taken as follows: (1) enrollment as a full‐time student (9 semester hours minimum) in each of two semesters, or (2) enrollment for a minimum of 6 semester hours in each of three semesters. All doctoral programs will contain aminimum of 72 semester hours of graduatework. (Seethe Graduate CollegeManual:

4. StudentswithDisabilities

Equal access to education is achieved when barriers to learningare removed and students with disabilities areallowed to competesolelyon thebasis of their academicskills and abilities. Students with disabilities who need accommodations should contact SDS at 3100 (lower level) Burge. Students will need to submit a Request forServices andDocumentation Review form and the appropriatedocumentation to SDS. Afterdeterminingwhat accommodations arejudged reasonable, the SDS officeprovides the student with a Student AcademicAccommodation Request (SAAR) form. Thestudent should also meet with the instructor (orexam committee chair ordissertation committeechair ortherelevant facultymember) to provide him or her with a copyof theSAAR form and to makeanynecessaryarrangements fortheaccommodations. See the Students with Disabilities Website:

5. CurricularRequirements

Thefollowing coursesare required duringthe firstyear of graduatestudy.

Fall semester:

POLI:5000 Political Analysis 4 s.h.
POLI:5001IntroductoryMethodology4s.h.
30:2— Field Required Seminar 4 s.h.

Springsemester:

POLI:5003IntermediateMethodology4s.h.
30:2— Field Required Seminar 4 s.h.
30:2— Field Required Seminar 4 s.h.

Thefollowing courseis required duringthe secondyear ofstudy:

POLI:7003 Advanced Methods 4 s.h.

Students must complete the appropriate 200-level coursebeforeenrollingin a300-level course. For example, students choosingInternational Relations as a field must completePOLI: 5500(030:260)beforeenrollingin a 300-levelIRcourse. Thesame rule applies forall of theother fields as well.In unusualcircumstances andwith thepermission of theinstructor teachingthe 300-level course, astudent mayenroll in that course and the relevant 200-level course concurrently. The200-level courses are:

POLI:5004Introduction to Formal Models in Political Science
POLI:5100 American Politics
POLI:5400 ComparativePolitics
POLI:5500International Politics

Students choosingpolitical theoryasa field should be familiar with coretexts in the historyof political thought. Forthoselackingsuchknowledge, this requirement canbemet byenrollingin oneof thefollowing100-level coursesfor graduate credit: POLI:3300, POLI:3302,POLI:3303(with prior approval of theDirectorofGraduate Study),POLI:3304, POLI:3305and Students should consultwith thetheoryfacultyto select a coursethat fits their interests and programofstudyin political theory.

Graduate students areexpected to take at least twelve hours ofcoursework per semester through theirsecondyear of graduate study.

Students will normallybe expected to takeregularlyscheduled courses (ratherthan Readings courses) duringtheir second and first half oftheirthirdyears.

Doctoral students arelimited to 12 hours of creditin readings courses (not countinghours accumulated in summer terms, when readings courses areoften all that is available).In one semester ofqualifying examinations, students arefreeto enroll forreadingscourses only.

Graduate students in political scienceearncredit hours onlyin those courses offered specifically for graduate students.InPolitical Sciencethat means courses numbered 30:200 and above—with one exception: 100-levelpolitical theorycourses in the Department will becounted if approved bythe instructor.

5.1 TheQuantitativeMethodsRequirement

All doctoral students must demonstrate at least minimal competencein quantitative methods. This is achieved byearningno lower than aBin each of POLI:5001), POLI:5003, and POLI:7003. Students who do not meet this requirement must satisfy it bytakingasubstitute courseselected byfacultymembers who teach the quantitative methods courses.

5.2 DissertationResearchTools

Anyspecial competencies needed for conductingdissertation research—e.g., in a foreign language, in econometrics, or in experimental design—must beacquired beforetakingqualifying examinations.If in doubt about the need for such skills this should be discussed with the student's facultyadvisorbeforebeginningthethirdyear ofPh.D. training.

5.3 Ph.D.Post-ComprehensiveRegistration

Graduate College regulations requirethat astudent be registeredeach semester after passingthe comprehensiveexamination until thedegreeis awarded, and that this registration “accuratelyreflect the amount and typeof work undertaken,the useof Universityfacilities, and the amount of consultation with the faculty.”This normallymeans that afterpassingthe comprehensive examination, students doingtheirdissertation research should register in POLI:7910 (030:398) (Ph.D. Dissertation, using the facultyinstructor numberof their dissertation advisor as the section numberforthecourse) for thenumberof hours normallyconsidereda full load forpersons in theirstatus.

**Short Hours Form

Graduate students may be exempt from FICA tax if their department completes a Short Hours Form and files that form with the Registrar's Office. To obtain the Short Hours Form, departments should call the Verification Department at the Registrar's Office, 335-0229. For more information about Student FICA tax exemption, please view the Payroll Tax Information website.

5.4 DoctoralDissertation

Thedissertation represents the final stageofdoctoral study.Its purposeis to show that the student can do importantoriginal research. No morethan 30 semester hoursof credit [POLI:7910 (030:398)] are grantedforthe preparation ofdissertations. The regulations governingthesis format and procedures for its submission areset forth in the GraduateCollegepublication, Requirements forGraduate Thesis:

6. AdvisingandProgramPlanning

All graduate students should formulate their academicplans, long-term andsemester-by- semester, in consultationwiththeirfacultyadvisor. TheDirector ofGraduateStudy (DGS)is faculty advisor for firstyear students. However, bythe end of thesecond semesterofstudy, each student should chooseafacultyadvisor who is in the areaofher orhis primaryinterest.

Students areencouragedto seek advice and information about anyaspectoftheirprogram and work from anyrelevant facultymemberas their studies continue.

7. StudentEvaluation

7.1 CourseGradesandInstructors'EvaluationReports

Grades ingraduatecourses can runfrom A through F, but themeaningof eachgradeis not the same as that found at theundergraduate level. Any gradebelowB represents an inadequate performance. Although some varianceoccurs from instructor to instructor, astudent is well advised to regard A-as the minimum gradeindicating good performancein a class.

Coursework is expectedto be completed in atimelymanner, that is, bytheend ofthe semester. This expectation shouldonlybeset asidein unusual circumstances.In such instances, students maybe assigned anIncomplete. Normally, incompletes must be removed duringthestudent’s next semesterof registration bythe date establishedin theacademiccalendar, or theincomplete automaticallybecomes anF. Grades ofFcan result in a student beingplaced on academicprobation.

Instructors ingraduate courses submit, in additionto a lettergrade, an individual written report on the student's performance. These reports becomeapart of thestudent's departmental fileand collectivelyprovidean important basis for future guidance andevaluation byadvisorsand committees.

Thework of studentsemployedas teaching assistants is similarlyevaluated at the end ofeach semester bythe facultymember in chargeof the courseorresearchactivityto which the student is assigned.

As required bytheUniversityOperations Manual,first timeteachingassistants leading theirown discussion sections need to be evaluatedbytheeighth week ofclass. Thus, bythe eighth week ofclass, instructors that haveagraduate teaching assistant (GTA)areto submit an evaluation of their first time GTA to theDirector of GraduateStudies (DGS).This evaluation should includeadiscussion ofthe responsibilities ofthe GTA, the oral communication competenceof theGTA,and an evaluation of theteachingcompetenceof theGTA.Instructors mayuseavarietyof methods to evaluate first timeGTAs, includingarecommended classroom observation.If theinstructor’s evaluation indicates that theGTAneedsassistance, the DGS and instructor will develop aplan for assistingtheGTA.

7.2 First-YearEvaluation

Afterthecompletion ofone academicyear ofstudy,the record ofeach student is evaluated. The evaluation is conducted bya committeemadeup of all facultymembers with whom thestudent has taken classes or servedas aresearch or teaching assistant.If thestudent involved does not alreadyhave an M.A.from anotherinstitution, the committeewill choose amongfour alternatives:(1)to advancethe student into thePh.D. program without theneed for additional coursework;(2)to postpone thedecision concerningthe Ph.D. program until additional coursework (as specifiedbythecommittee) is completed; (3)to allow thestudent to complete a terminal MA (with no continuancein thePh.D. program); or (4)torefusethe student further enrollment in thegraduateprogram.Ifthe studentinvolved has an M.A. from another institution, the committee'schoicesnormallywill belimited to the first and fourth ofthe abovealternatives.

8. GoodStanding,SatisfactoryProgress,Probation

To beeligibleforthe Ph.D. degreeastudent must be in “good standing”(and must be registered at the Universityin thesemester duringwhich the degreeis to beawarded). Good standingrequires that adoctoral student show promiseof scholarlydistinction bymaintaininghigh-qualitywritten work and byachievingbeyond that indicated byagrade-point minimum of 3.4. Inaddition, graduate students in political sciencemust meet thegeneral requirements ofthe Graduate College.

Students maybeplaced on probation if theyfail toshow promiseof scholarlydistinction and achievement. Consequences of probation include:

1.Ineligibilityto take examinations forthe Ph.D;

2.Ineligibilityforadmission to candidacyfor anadvanced degree;

3.Ineligibilityforrenewal,and possible termination, of financialawards;and

4.Dismissal from thegraduate program if probationcontinues fortwo consecutive semesters followingthatin which thedeficiencyoccurred. (Summersessions do not count forthis purpose.)

Students on probation will be returned togood standingimmediately, if probation was forfailureto maintain a satisfactory grade-point average and if that average—bothsemester andcumulative—is raised to the required level in the semesterfollowingthatwhich led to probation; orat thediscretion ofthe department if probation was forfailureto show promiseof scholarlydistinction and achievement.

8.1 DismissalandReview

TheDirector ofGraduateStudy, on behalf of the Department, will adviseastudent immediately byletterof anydecision placingthestudent on probation, denyingthe student permission to enroll for furthergraduatestudy(e.g., followingrecommendation byaFirst-Year Evaluation Committee), ordismissingthe student fromthegraduate program. Theletter will state clearlythe reasons for anyaction terminatingthe student's enrollment.

It is the right ofeverystudent receivingsuch notification to seek further clarification from individual instructors, members ofanyexamining committeeconcerned, theDirector of Graduate Study, and theChair ofthe Department.If after theseinformal discussions thestudent believes the decision to havebeen unjust, that student mayask for and receivea formal reviewof the decision. Thestudentmust request such a formal reviewin a letter to theDepartment Chair outliningthe grievances in detail and describing anypriorinformal effortsto secureredress. The student's lettershould also nominate two facultymembers and two politicalsciencegraduate students to constitute half of an ad hocpanel described below. Upon receipt of such a request, the Department Chair solicits nominations fortwo additional facultymembers and two political sciencegraduatestudents to the ad hocpanel fromthe Director of GraduateStudy.Four members ofanad hocreview committeeareselected from the eight members ofthe panel as follows: thestudent selects one facultymemberand onegraduatestudent from thepanelmembers nominated bytheDirector ofGraduateStudy; similarly, the Director ofGraduate Study selects one facultymember and onegraduate student from thepanel members nominated bythe graduate student. TheDepartment Chair, exofficio, is the chair and fifth memberof the ad hoc review committee, unlessthe student requests thatsome other department memberbechair.In that case, the Department Chair appoints as reviewcommitteechair oneof twodepartment members nominated bythestudent.

Thecommitteemust beconstituted expeditiously,and its chair must convenethe committeeand conduct its business as quicklyas possible. Normallyit is expected that the reviewprocess will be completed within twoweeks offormal initiation bythe student. Thestudent requestingthe reviewshall havetheopportunityto discuss thegrievances directlywith thecommitteeand to provide it anysupporting material relevant to its review. The committeeshall itself determine what additional information or consultation is necessaryto completeits review.

Uponreviewof all the relevant information, thead hoc reviewcommittee communicates its recommendations and itsreasoningin writingto thestudent and to theDepartment. Final decision rests with the facultyof the Department.

9. QualifyingExaminationsandComprehensiveExamination

Qualifying examinations areconducted bycommittees appointed forthat purposebythe Director ofGraduate Studyin consultation with field faculty.

Forthe purposeof qualifyingexaminations, political scienceis divided into sixsubfields:

1.American Politics

2.International Politics

3.Political Theory

4.Formal Theory

5.ComparativePolitics

6.Research Methods (Theoretical or Applied)

Candidates must haveaminimum of three courses in the fields in which theychooseto beexamined.Individual courses cannot beusedto “double count”as satisfyingtwo field requirements, e.g.,formal theoryand internationalrelations. Students mustcomplete all courses required fora field beforetheymaytakethequalifyingexamination in that field. No course for which the student has anincomplete can becounted towards meetinga field requirement until the courseis completedwith a passinggrade.

Students takingthe qualifying exam in the Methods field must meet additional requirements.In addition to the required sequence, students must complete two courses, which must be approved bythe Methods Committee. Further,astudent must haveat least a 3.4GPA in the coremethods sequencecourses toenter this field.

There aretwo tiers offields. Major fieldscertifyreadiness forteachingandresearch; minor fields satisfied bycompletion of coursework certifyreadiness for teachingbut not necessarilyresearch. Students must complete at least three fields, at least two ofthem major, in order to qualifyfor writingaPh.D. dissertation. Course requirements as stated abovemust bemet in all fields.

A student who wishes to be examined in a specialtyfield outside ofthesix standard fields of Political Sciencepetitions theDepartment no laterthan thethird semester of residence, and explains whythis specialtyfield is crucial to thestudent's doctoral program.A form is provided forthis petition. TheDGS determines on acase-by-casebasis whether aspecialtyfield is acceptableafter consultingwith theGraduate Committee and the students’ advisors.Ineachcase, the DGS will reportto theDepartment his orher decision.Ifthe specialtyfield is approved, the qualifying examination committeemust includea facultymemberfrom thedepartment in which the specialtyfield is based andat least one facultymemberfrom insidethe Department of Political Science. Thequalifyingexam foran approved specialtyfieldexam can haveno substantiveoverlap withanyother qualifyingexam taken bythat student.