in person

Political Science | Economics

PhD in Political Science & Economics

The PhD interfield degree program combines courses from both sides in the Division of Politics & Economics (DPE) for an interdisciplinary political economy degree.

This innovative interfield degree program combines PhD-level research in political science, economics, methods, and political economy. Leading faculty-scholars from both fields impart the skills, knowledge, and experience that will qualify you for competitive careers in the nonprofit sector, corporate arena, government, consulting, academia, and more. Students must be accepted into the PhD interfield by the Department of Politics and Policy or the Department of Economic Sciences.

Program Highlights
  • This program requires a minimum of 80 units composed of a core, a methods minor field, a political science major field, and an economics major field.
  • Students in the PhD interfield degree program must pass qualifying examinations in both major fields of study and defend a dissertation proposal and a dissertation that meets rigorous methodological standards and draws from both major fields.
  • The Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies is the research arm of the Economics and Political Economy programs at CGU and provides opportunities for research assistantships as well as access to field-related seminars, conferences, workshops, and sessional professional meetings.

Program At-a-glance

  • 80 units

    required units

  • PhD in Political Science & Economics

    degree awarded

  • In Person

    modality

  • Spring, Fall

    program start

  • 5 years | full time*

    estimated completion time

Request info Apply now

Nathan Araujo

Director of Recruitment, School of Social Science, Policy, and Evaluation

909-607-1714

Faculty

  • Portrait of Mark Abdollahian

    Mark Abdollahian

    Full Clinical Professor

    Research Interests

    Strategic Decision Making, International Political Economy, Sustainable Development

  • Carlos Algara

    Carlos Algara

    Mary Toepelt Nicolai and George S. Blair Assistant Professor

    Research Interests

    American politics, the United States Congress, ideological representation, electoral politics, elite institutions

  • Heather Campbell

    Heather E. Campbell

    Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy
    Director, Division of Politics & Economics

    Research Interests

    Public Policy, Urban Environmental Policy, Environmental Justice

  • Portrait of Jean Schroedel

    Jean Reith Schroedel

    Professor Emerita of Political Science
    Former Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy

    Research Interests

    Native American voting rights, American political development, women and politics, religion and politics, and congressional policy-making

  • Paul J. Zak

    Paul J. Zak

    Professor of Economic Sciences, Psychology & Management
    Director, Center for Neuroeconomics Studies

    Research Interests

    Neuroeconomics, Neuroscience of Narratives, Neuromanagement

  • Monica Capra

    C. Mónica Capra

    Professor of Economic Sciences

    Research Interests

    Experimental Economics, Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics

  • Joshua Tasoff

    Joshua Tasoff

    Associate Professor of Economic Sciences

    Research Interests

    Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, Animal Welfare Economics

  • Portrait of Yi Feng

    Yi Feng

    Luther Lee Jr. Memorial Chair Professor

    Research Interests

    International Political Economy, International Relations, Political Economy of China and Latin America, Quantitative Methodology

  • Portrait of Graham Bird

    Graham Bird

    Clinical Professor of Economic Sciences
    Program Director: International Money and Finance; International Economics and Development Policy
    Co-Director: Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies

    Research Interests

    International Finance, International Macroeconomics, Economic Development

  • Robert Klitgaard

    Robert Klitgaard

    University Professor

    Research Interests

    Public Policy, Economic Strategy, Institutional Reform, Corruption

  • Portrait of Tom Kniesner

    Tom Kniesner

    Senior Research Fellow

    Research Interests

    Labor Economics, Health Economics, Econometrics

  • Portrait of Jacek Kugler

    Jacek Kugler

    Elisabeth Helm Rosecrans Professor of International Relations

    Research Interests

    Causes and Consequences of War, Political Performance, Power Transition

  • Tanu Kumar

    Tanu Kumar

    Assistant Professor

    Research Interests

    Development, political behavior, urban politics, digital technology

  • Tyler Reny

    Tyler Reny

    Assistant Professor

    Research Interests

    American Politics, Racial and Ethnic Politics, Political Behavior, Public Opinion, Political Psychology, Data Visualization

  • Javier Rodríguez

    Associate Professor
    Field Chair for Policy

    Research Interests

    Public & Health Policy, Social Inequality, Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research

  • Portrait of Melissa Rogers

    Melissa Rogers

    Associate Professor, Politics & Policy
    Co-Director, Inequality and Policy Research Center
    Field Chair, Comparative Politics
    Field Chair, American Politics

    Research Interests

    Comparative Politics, Political Economy, Economic Inequality

  • Portrait of Tom Willett

    Thomas Willett

    Professor Emeritus
    Director, Claremont Institute for Economic Studies

    Research Interests

    International Money and Finance, International Political Economy and Economic Policy

Curriculum

Core Courses (24 units)

Political Economy Required Courses:

  • International Political Economy (4 units)
  • Comparative Political Economy (4 units)

Microeconomics & Macroeconomics

Required Courses:

  • Microeconomic Analysis (4 units) OR
  • Consumer Theory and General Equilibrium (4 units)
  • Modern Macroeconomics: Analysis, Policy and Applications

Two of the following, with approval of the field advisor.

  • Game Theory and Asymmetric Information (4 units)
  • Macroeconomics Analysis II (4 units)
  • Computational Tools for Social Sciences (4 units)

Research Tools (16 units)

Choose one of the following four-course statistical sequences.

Track 1 (required for those whose primary department is Economics)

  • Nature of Inquiry: Quantitative Research in Social Sciences (4 units)
  • Math for Economists (4 units)
  • Probability and Statistics for Econometrics (4 units)
  • Econometrics I (4 units)
  • Econometrics II (4 units)

Track 2 (open to those whose primary department is Politics & Policy)

  • The Nature of Inquiry: Quantitative Research in Social Sciences (4 units)
  • Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4 units)
  • Multivariate Regression Analysis (4 units)
  • Applied Data Analysis (various letters and topics) (4 units)

Field Options (40 units)

Political Science (20 units)

The Faculty of Political Science requires a minimum of five (5) courses to complete a field (20 units). Here is a list of concentrations available:

  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Politics
  • International Political Economy
  • Public Policy
  • Research Methodology

Economics (20 units)

  • Applied Microeconomics: within this field are subfields to choose from:
    • Crime & Law Economics
    • Behavioral, Experimental, and Neurological Economics
  • International Economic & Development Policy (see your advisor)

Resources

The Inequality and Policy Research Center (IPRC) is an initiative of the Institute for Democratic Renewal. IPRC supports the scientific analysis of political, health, socioeconomic, and group-specific inequality in the United States and abroad. We develop evidence-based policy and program solutions to problems related to inequality. For more information: https://research.cgu.edu/democratic-renewal/iprc/

The Institute for Democratic Renewal provides students hands-on engagement with and scholarly reflection upon the core issues facing the institutions and processes of democracy in the United States and abroad. Prominent, significant research projects have included Renewing Democracy Through Interracial/Multicultural Community Building. This project led to the production and publication of the Community Builder’s Tool Kit: A Primer for Revitalizing Democracy From the Ground Up (more than 70,000 copies in six languages are in use nationwide).

Application Guidelines

Requirements Summary

Item Description
Application Fee $80
Official Transcripts Yes
Letters of Recommendation 2
Statement of Purpose Yes
Resume Yes
Other Requirements English proficiency exam

Spring 2024
Priority Deadline – November 1, 2023
Final Deadline (International) – November 15, 2023
Final Deadline (Domestic) – December 1, 2023
Classes begin – January 16, 2024

Summer 2024
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2024
Final Deadline (International) – March 1, 2024
Final Deadline (Domestic) – April 1, 2024
Classes begin – May 13, 2024

Fall 2024
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2024
Final Deadline (International) – July 5, 2024
Final Deadline (Domestic) – August 1, 2024
Classes begin – August 26, 2024

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