At the conclusion of their course work, students will take a written Comprehensive Examination in their two primary fields of specialization. This exam will be based on the student’s course work and on the reading list prepared for each field. The exam must be completed before the student takes dissertation proposal or dissertation guidance courses.
An overview of the comprehensive exam procedures can be found here.
Reading Lists for the PhD in Political Science Fields
Reading List for American Politics
Reading List for Comparative Politics
Reading List for International Relations
Reading List for Public Administration
Comprehensive Exam Overview
PhD in Political Science Recent Comprehensive Exams
American Comprehensive Exams
American Winter 2024
American Summer 2024
American Summer 2023
American Winter 2022
American Summer 2022
American Summer 2021
Comparative Politics Comprehensive Exams
Comparative Fall 2025
Comparative Winter 2025
Comparative Fall 2024
Comparative Summer 2024
Comparative Winter 2023
Comparative Summer 2023
Comparative Fall 2023
Comparative Summer 2022
Comparative Summer 2021
International Relations Comprehensive Exams
IR Winter 2025
IR Summer 2025
IR Winter 2024
IR Summer 2024
IR Winter 2023
IR Summer 2023
IR Summer 2022
IR Winter 2022
IR Summer 2021
IR Winter 2021
Public Administration Comprehensive Exams
Public Administration Summer 2024
Public Administration Winter 2023
Public Administration Winter 2018
Public Administration Spring 2018