Graduate School of Public and International Affairs—Doctor of Philosophy in Public and International Affairs

The mission of the doctoral program is to advance the frontiers of knowledge in public and international affairs as they are managed both within and across countries. The doctoral program pursues that mission through the education and training of individuals for research in applied settings (e.g., NGOs, NPOs, research centers, and think tanks) and scholarly careers in academia. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition and integration of knowledge through research and on its applications to concerns in the public sector. The education and training mission of the Doctoral Studies Program is encapsulated in its four goals:

1. To admit into the program only the most qualified applicants from both the United States and abroad
2. To offer a Doctoral Studies Program that enables students and faculty to devote their energies to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of public and international affairs
3. To educate students in the most advanced theoretical perspectives in public and international affairs
4. To train students in research methodologies and technical skills that are tailored to the requirements of policy settings

Requirements for the PhD

The PhD program requires the completion of 72 credits of course work and 6 credits for the dissertation (78 credits total). The curriculum for doctoral students is outlined as follows:

Students must complete 72 credits of course work, excluding the 6 dissertation credits, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must meet this requirement in order to qualify for final approval of their comprehensive examinations. Students must take at least 36 credits of course work at the University while enrolled in the Doctoral Studies Programs. Students are required to maintain full-time status while completing the 72 credits of coursework.

Advanced Standing

For students with pertinent master's degrees, a maximum of 30 credits for course work may be applied to the doctoral degree. In recognition of graduate study beyond the master's degree successfully completed elsewhere, a maximum of 12 additional credits may be applied to the minimum credit requirement, with the proviso that the total of master's degree credits and post-master's degree credits not exceed 36 credits of advanced standing. Advanced standing credits will be given only for course work that contributes to the PhD in public and international affairs. Students may not use advanced standing credits to waive the doctoral core courses.

Advisors

At the time of admission, students will be assigned an initial advisor from the GSPIA faculty. The advisors should have expertise compatible with their students' interests and be actively engaged in researching and publishing in specific fields.

Preliminary Planning Meeting

Early in the first term of enrollment, students will meet with their mentors to design tentative plans of study, discuss the selection of fields, and evaluate transfer credits.

Annual Reviews

Students will have an annual review after two terms of study. Mentors and the coordinator of the doctoral program will discuss the student's progress and allow for modifications in the fields, mentors, and plans of study. Students will be informed of the conclusion at the reviews and invited to discuss with mentors. Successful completion of the first annual review fulfills the University requirement of a preliminary examination.

Doctoral Core Courses

All doctoral students must take four core courses as early in their program as possible. In order to remain in the program and to be eligible to take the comprehensive examinations, students must earn a grade of B or better in each of the four courses.

Other Courses

Students are encouraged to take course work in two fields (see Fields of Study below), either within or outside of GSPIA. The amount of course work will depend upon the students' backgrounds and career goals. Plans of Study for each of the selected fields should be worked out in consultation with mentors at the time of the preliminary planning meeting and during the Annual Review.

Language Requirements

Proficiency in a foreign language is not a requirement for the doctoral degree. Students who wish to work or conduct research in non-English-speaking environments will need to develop proficiency in the relevant language.

Fields of Study

The doctoral program has five standard fields: development policy, foreign and security policy, international political economy, public administration, and public policy. Each field should represent a coherent body of knowledge in public and international affairs that will contribute to the student's dissertation and subsequent career. To this extent, the fields should complement each other, with theory, knowledge, and research skills being mutually reinforcing. Program field guidelines provide specific directions, indicate the nature of the comprehensive examinations, and list the significant literature in the field. These guidelines are available in the Office of Student Services.

Policy Issue Area Paper

This required paper should focus on a specific policy arena set within a specific socio-geographical context. Students must develop an in-depth understanding of the key policy issues within the policy arena and be knowledgeable about the formulation and implementation of specific policy initiatives and programs.

More detailed guidelines for this requirement can be obtained from the Office of Student Services.

Research and Technical Skills

Students must complete a minimum of 12 graduate credits in a research or technical skills area with a grade of B+ or better in each course. Two of these courses must include the doctoral core courses, PIA 3000 Multivariate Analysis and PIA 3050 Practicum in Qualitative Research. The other 6 graduate-level credits should be selected from courses offered in GSPIA, or within another School or Department within the University of Pittsburgh.

Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations are offered twice a year, in August and January. There will be no exceptions. At least two months prior to the examinations, the coordinator of the Doctoral Studies Program will announce the dates of the examinations in one or more fields. Students will submit a Statement of Examination Intent form, which indicates the fields in which students wish to be examined, and the students' mentors for each field. The Office of Student Services will check that all requirements for taking the comprehensives have been met and will forward the results of that review to the coordinator, who will approve students' eligibility to take the examination.

The comprehensive examinations in the two program fields are normally taken after the completion of course work. This program requirement can be waived, however, at the discretion of the coordinator of doctoral studies. The results of the examinations will be made available within four weeks following the submission date of the final examination for that sitting.

Comprehensive examinations will consist of questions that reflect on the central issues in the field. Students will be required to analyze issues within the relevant theoretical and policy frameworks and cite the appropriate literature. Additionally, students will be expected to produce a well-organized, logical, and clearly written response. Additional guidelines can be found in each field's program field guidelines.

Each comprehensive examination will be written and read by a minimum of two faculty members. The division representative for that field will coordinate the writing and grading of the examination and will select another faculty member to be involved. The examinations will be graded Pass, Fail, or Pass with Distinction. Students who fail comprehensive field examinations will be allowed to retake them within one year of the initial examination. Failure in any field on the second attempt is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Dissertation

Immediately after satisfying the comprehensive examination requirement, the student will proceed with the formation of a Dissertation Proposal Committee, consisting of a minimum of four faculty members, at least one of whom must be from another school or department within the University of Pittsburgh. Each individual on the committee must be full or adjunct members of the University’s Graduate Faculty. The chair must be an active faculty member whose primary appointment is in GSPIA. Members should be chosen to best aid the students in designing, conducting, and presenting the dissertation research. The coordinator of the Doctoral Studies Program must approve the Dissertation Proposal Committee.

Defense

An oral dissertation defense will be conducted by members of the Dissertation Committee and need not be confined to materials in and related to the dissertation. The defense should be held only when the members of the committee have read the dissertation and jointly agree that it is substantially complete. Any member of the graduate faculty of the University may attend and participate in the examination. Faculty and students are encouraged to attend defenses, but only the members of the Dissertation Committee will be allowed to deliberate and vote on whether to pass or fail the student.

Doctoral Program Course Listing