Graduate Student Resource Page
Welcome to the Graduate Student Resource page. This page is designed to assist current graduate students by providing easy access to important documents and information.
2026-2027 Graduate Studies Manual
2026-2027 Comprehensive Exam Dates
- Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Saturday, January 16, 2027
- Saturday, May 22, 2027
Program Guides & Checklists
- Summary of PhD Curriculum
- PhD Curriculum by Program Year
- Proposal Defense Checklist
- Dissertation Defense Checklist
Methods Coursework and Paper Requirements
- Methods Coursework and Paper Requirements
- Methods Paper: Topic Approval Form
- Methods Paper: Conference Acceptance Form
- Methods Paper: Defense Form
Comprehensive Exam Guidelines and Reading Lists
- General Guidelines
- American Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Constitutional Studies
- International Relations
- Political Theory
Past Comprehensive Exam Questions
- American Politics - Jan 2025, Sept 2023, and Earlier Exams
- Comparative Politics- May 2026, Jan 2026, Sept 2025, Sept 2024, Sept 2023, and Earlier Exams
- Constitutional Studies- Sept 2024, May 2024, Sept 2023 and Earlier Exams
- International Relations- Jan 2025, May 2024, Sept 2023 and Earlier Exams
- Political Theory-May 2026, Jan 2026, Sept 2025, Sept 2023 and Earlier Exams
Field Expectations for Annual Reviews
- American Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Constitutional Studies
- International Relations
- Political Theory
Forms (Please be sure to let the Graduate Studies Coordinator know when you submit a form)
- Advising Agreement Form- Students are required to choose an advisor by March of their second year. Students are free to change advisors at any time.
- Grant Submission Form- A major grant proposal may be submitted in place of one of the two journal submissions to satisfy the publication requirement. A major grant is defined as a proposal to an external sources for a grant that would provide funding for at least a full academic year stipend (e.g., fellowship) or a comparable level of support or funding.
- Publication Submission Form- Students are required to prepare two papers suitable for publication in scholarly journals. One must be completed prior to their proposal defense and one prior to their dissertation defense. A major grant proposal may be submitted in place of these two papers to satisfy the requirement.