Each of the fields of study and examination for doctoral students contains
its own body of literature, reflects different theoretical perspectives, and
requires different substantive and methodological knowledge. Students must identify
two fields in which they will pursue an integrated program of study and take
the appropriate comprehensive written examination.
The first field represents a broadly defined body of knowledge, and must be
one of the following:
- American Politics
- International Relations
- Comparative Politics
- Political Economy
- Formal Political Theory
- Political Philosophy / Normative Political Theory
The second field may also be taken from the above list, or students may pursue
in-depth knowledge in a more narrowly focused field. Students pursuing an in-depth
field must submit an appropriate field description endorsed by three faculty
members, who serve as the examiners. The second field must be more than just
a subfield of student's first field. In recent years students have offered second
fields in public law, Soviet-East European studies, national security, East-Asian
studies, political development, public policy, political psychology, politics
of advanced industrial societies, and international political economy.
Four or five courses constitutes the normal course preparation for a doctoral
field. At least two courses in each field must be taken at the University of
Maryland.
PhD field comprehensive exams are 32-hour, open book exams. Students must
also participate in an ungraded pre-prospectus meeting with the expected members
of their dissertation committee. Students who fail to pass either written examination
on the first attempt may take one or both examinations a second time. A second
failure will result in termination of the student's doctoral program.
