The PhD program in Political Science consists of general phase coursework, specialized phase coursework, comprehensive field examinations, prospectus work (the qualifying examination), and the dissertation.  

Students take coursework in research methods and across the major areas of Political Science curriculum.  UK offers major fields in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations and minor fields in these areas along with Institutions, Behavior, Policy, and Methods. After students have completed the relevant coursework, they sit for field examinations in their major and minor areas and work on a dissertation prospectus.  The prospectus defense serves as the Qualifying Exam (QE), after which the student becomes a PhD candidate and focuses work on their dissertation.

During their time in the program, many students are funded as Teaching Assistants (TAs) and teach classes across our undergraduate curriculum.

For detailed information on our program, see the Graduate Student Handbook here.  For supplemental funding opportunities available to current students see here.  Important forms and links can be found here.