Satisfying Requirements
PhD students are required to complete all requirements noted below. The School of Graduate Studies requires that all students entering from the MA complete at least three full-credit equivalents (FCEs). Direct Entry (DE) students entering directly from the BA are required to complete at least six FCEs. Students may be required to take additional FCEs in order to satisfy program requirements. A course average of A- must be maintained in order to remain in the program. Students entering the program with an MA are required to spend at least three sessions (or terms, the equivalent of one calendar year) in residence. Those entering from a BA are required to spend at least six sessions (or terms, the equivalent of two calendar years) in residence. To be “in residence” is to be on campus, or in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in the university activities associated with the program. Being in residence provides you with the opportunity to become immersed in the intellectual environment of the university. Most students spend much longer than the minimum in residence and this, too, is encouraged. (The term “in residence” should not be confused with living in a university residence building.)
Field Selection
Students confirm a first and second field through meeting with Graduate Director when entering the program. Available fields are: Canadian, Comparative, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Theory and Public Policy
Course Requirements
Field 1 and 2 core and electives
Each field has core and elective course requirements for students who have chosen the field as either field 1 or 2. Core courses are identified as core in the course listing page. Core courses attempt to provide an overview of the field, though with some variation from year to year, reflecting the views of instructors and changes in the literature. Field 1 core requirements are normally taken in year 1 and Field 2 requirements in year 2. In fields where there are two winter term core courses, students may select either one to satisfy the winter half credit core requirement. Core courses are the foundation for field exam preparation
- Field 1: Core (one fall term half course and 1 winter term half course); Electives (one full course equivalent in either term)
- Field 2: Core (one fall term half course and 1 winter term half course); Electives (one half course in either term)
Political Theory
One half course in Political Theory. Field 1 (exemption – field 1 and 2 Political Theory students)
Qualitative Methods
One half course in Qualitative Methods. Political Theorists normally take POL 2028H and all others, POL 2505H.
Quantitative Methods
One half course in quantitative methods, normally POL2504H. (exemption - Field 1 Political Theory students).
Theory Intensive Reading Course
One half course Political Theory intensive reading course (can be any half credit in Political Theory) must be taken by all students who have selected political theory as one of their fields. (Exemption – those who have not selected Political Theory as field 1 or 2)
PhD Dissertation Proposal Seminar (POL2812Y)
The purpose of this seminar is to enable third-year PhD students to prepare and successfully defend a dissertation proposal (this requirement is optional, though encouraged, for Political Theory students).
Course waivers: For students who have done equivalent graduate course work in a prior degree may be able to waive certain program requirements credits. This must be discussed with and approved by the Graduate Director, normally during the initial program planning meeting
Field Examination in Field 1 and Field 2
Doctoral candidates are required to write field examinations in both Field 1 and Field 2. Field examinations are based primarily on the content of core courses. The format of the exam is a set of questions drawn primarily from core course material, but some fields also provide a supplementary reading list. It is closed book, written on-site over a period of 4 hours. Field examinations are taken in May or August of the year in which the Core Courses are taken. The Field 1 exam will normally be taken in Year 1 and Field 2 in Year 2. Students must achieve a grade of at least “A-“ to pass the exam. The exam is set and graded by a committee of at least 3 faculty including core course instructors.
A student who fails to achieve an A- may re-take the examination in the same field or opt to switch to an alternative field. Failure on more than two field exams will result in termination from the program.
If remaining in the same field, the make-up exam must be taken at the next available sitting (August for a student whose first attempt was in May, sometime in the winter term for a student whose first attempt was in August). Failure in the make-up exam means that the student may no longer continue in the doctoral program. If switching to an alternative field, the core courses will be taken the following year, and the exam cycle begins with the new field in year two. This normally extends a student’s program by 1 year.
Supervisory Committee Selection
Navigating supervision is one of the most important components of researching and writing a dissertation. Supervisory committees normally include a supervisor and two regular committee members. All members of the committee must be full members of the Graduate Faculty and supervisors must hold the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The supervisor and at least one regular committee members must hold an appointment in the Department of Political Science. It is possible for the 3rd member to be a suitable faculty member from another department at U of T, or external to U of T.
External members must be vetted and approved for a Status only Graduate Faculty appointment through the School of Graduate Studies. Occasionally, if appropriate and an exceptional benefit, a student may have a 4th committee member.
By the end of Year 1, students should be considering supervisory committee members. By December of Year 2, students should confirm a supervisor who can then offer guidance on selecting regular committee members during Year 2. By the start of year 3 students should have a full committee in place. It is recommended that students consult with their mentor, the Graduate Director and senior PhD students with related research for guidance.
Thesis Proposal
In Year 1, students should gather their thoughts and preliminary information on a thesis topic and begin speaking with professors about their ideas to help define the topic. Between October and December of Year 2, you should begin work towards a thesis proposal. See the PhD Dissertation Proposal page for more information.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate competence in the language that is appropriate to the nature of the graduate work in which they are engaged. Students whose Field 1 is Canadian Politics are strongly encouraged to demonstrate competence in French.
If language competency is required, students may take a suitable undergraduate course to meet the requirement so long as a grade of at least 70% is achieved. University-level courses at other institutions may also be used (with Departmental approval) to meet this requirement. Language ability should be certified by the end of year 3 or sooner, depending on when research and writing begins.
Ethics Review (prior to dissertation research travel if required)
If human subjects will be used in the dissertation research, an ethics review must be approved through Research Services.
Candidacy Completion
The School of Graduate Studies requires all pre-thesis requirements noted above be met by August 31st of Year 3 (year 4 for DE). Students must apply formally to the Department and SGS for a candidacy extension if this deadline cannot be met. Extensions must be requested through the Graduate Office byJune 30th.
Dissertation
A thesis which has been approved at the departmental level and defended through the School of Graduate Studies.
SGS Doctoral Thesis Guidelines
Progress Reporting
SGS requires that committees meet with their students once a year to provide support, review progress details, and discuss progress related issues and concerns. The department oversees a progress tracking period each year in March through May during which students provide progress details to their committee and help coordinate a full meeting. Supervisors are required to report on the meeting discussion and submit it to the department as part of this process.