Overview of Core Requirements and Concentrations:

The Ph.D. requires 48 hours of coursework, along with 18 hours of dissertation credits (POLS 699), for a total of 66 credit hours. Ph.D. students must select both a primary and a secondary concentration for their degree plan. All students must complete, at UNM, the methodology sequence (POLS 581, 580 and 681); Survey of Political Science as a Discipline and Profession (POLS 582); three pro-seminars (including one in each chosen concentration); two research seminars in their primary concentration and one research seminar in their secondary concentration. Grades of a “B” or higher must be attained in POLS 581 and 580. All core and concentration courses/requirements must be fulfilled before taking the comprehensive exams.

Areas of Concentration: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Public Policy, Methodology.

Students who select the methodology concentration must take two additional methodology courses in political science or other disciplines, as approved by the political science graduate advisor, over and above the methodology sequence (581, 580 and 681), and one research seminar employing advanced research methods.

Mentorship Committee:

Beginning Fall 2024, each first-year Ph.D. student must select a Mentorship Committee no later than one month into their second semester of graduate study. The committee must be comprised of three tenure-track Political Science faculty members or, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, two Political Science faculty memebrs and one faculty member from another academic unit. In addition, at least one member needs to have primary expertise on the student’s research topic. Committee membership can change from year to year reflecting changes in the student’s concentrations or research topic. A fourth member from outside the department may be added at any time but will not have voting rights until the dissertation stage (i.e., after the student has passed the dissertation prospectus).

Annual Portfolio Reviews:

Each year in the program, Ph.D. students will present a portfolio to their Mentorship Committee. Each portfolio has a key component that, together with an oral exam, provides the basis for formal evaluation. The key portfolio components are as follows:

• First-Year Portfolio - Research Proposal: The student must complete a 2,000-4,000 word research proposal for their second-year research paper by the end of their second semester in the program. The purpose of the proposal is to guide the discussion between the student and their Mentorship Committee so the student has a revised proposal that the Mentorship Committee believes the student can execute by the end of their second year. The student will also be required to demonstrate their understanding of the research project in an oral exam with the Mentorship Committee. 
• Second-Year Portfolio - Research Paper: The student must complete a 4,000-8,000 word research paper that demonstrates their current ability and growth potential as an independent researcher by the end of their fourth semester in the program. The research question and design will be determined in conjunction with the student's Mentorship Committee, and it's expected that the research paper will help the student hone in on the research question for their dissertation. The student will also be required to demonstrate their understanding of the research paper in an oral exam with the Mentorship Committee.
• Third-Year Portfolio - Standalone Literature Review: The student must complete a 5,000-10,000 word standalone literature review that sufficiently demonstrates a broad understanding of the relevant scholarly literature to the student's research interests in political science and possibly other social science disciplines. After working with the Mentorship Committee to determine the specific subject matter, the essay should describe what is known about the phenomena being studied, outline central debates in the relevant field, discuss the development of the field over time, and identify puzzles that still need to be addressed in future research. The review should be completed by the middle of the student's sixth semester in the program and must have between 75 to 125 professional references. The student will also be required to demonstrate their understanding of the standalone literature review in an oral exam with the Mentorship Committee.
• Fourth-Year Portfolio - Dissertation Prospectus: The student is required to defend an 8,000-15,000 word prospectus before being advanced to candidacy. During the first month of the student's seventh semester, a preliminary meeting will take place with their Mentorship Committee, and the student will present their draft prospectus and portfolio materials. A formal defense must be led by the Mentorship Commitee and must take place no later than the end of the student's eighth semester.

Dissertation:

Upon successful completion of the annual portfolio reviews, candidates may proceed to the dissertation phase, assuming all other department and Office of Graduate Studies requirements have been met. Students will enroll for dissertation credits (POLS 699) with their Major Advisor/Dissertation Chair and are expected to complete a chapter of written work for each semester or its equivalent in terms of fieldwork, library research, or data collection and/or analysis. The dissertation advisor assigns a grade of either progress (PR) or no progress/no credit (NC) for each semester based on this definition of normal progress. In addition, the student is responsible for convening a meeting of their dissertation committee at least once a year to provide updates and receive continued mentorship.

For more details on the dissertation and other program requirements, please view the Political Science Graduate Program Handbook.