Program Information
To apply to the PhD program, you must have a bachelor’s degree; however, we strongly encourage that students complete a relevant master’s degree prior to joining our program – either in public and international affairs or in one of the social sciences. Once you’re accepted, you must complete 67 hours of coursework and a six-credit dissertation. If you have earned a master’s degree, as many as 30 credits from that degree may be applied to your total credit requirement for our program (or 36 credits if your master’s degree was earned at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at Pitt).
Program Structure
Embedded within an interdisciplinary school, our newly redesigned program structure is aimed at exposing students to multiple methods and offering the flexibility to conduct research from the perspectives that best fit the topic. We have also redesigned the program to facilitate a faster transition from coursework into dissertation research. To achieve these goals:
- All students are trained in advanced Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
- Some of our required courses are aimed at supporting PhD student development, including a professional development workshop, dedicated time for comprehensive exam preparation, and a research design workshop.
- Students are encouraged to seek out electives in other academic units in the University of Pittsburgh to expand the set of available doctoral-level courses and gain exposure to ideas and faculty in other disciplines.
- Our comprehensive examination is individualized to each student so that the exam prepares students for their own dissertation research and as experts in their field.
- We limit the number of students we admit to ensure that virtually all admitted students will receive at least four years of financial support, contingent on their academic performance.
