Admission

Admission to the graduate program in Political Science is only available in the fall semester except for admission to the Masters of Arts and Public Administration program which are available both semesters.

See our complete brochure for more program information.

Graduate Office

Department of Political Science
Douglass Hall - Room 112
College of Arts and Sciences
Howard University
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-6722

Office Hours
Friday: 9am - 4pm

New Students

American Government and Political Behavior
Black Politics
Comparative Government & Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Public Administration and Policy
Political Economy (available as a MINOR only)

Core Courses

POLS 204 Approaches to Comparative Politics
POLS 209 Organizational Theory
POLS 227 Introduction to Black Politics
POLS 232 Nature and Uses of Political Theory
POLS 240 Historical Political Economy
POLS 292 Seminar in American Politics
POLS 287 Theories of International Relations

New students must take FIVE of the core courses; one or two of them (depending on Master's or Doctoral level) will be automatically counted as part of the four required courses in your major area.

Ph.D. students must select two majors and one minor course area. The major course areas will be the ones in which you will sit for a comprehensive exam. Students must take four courses in that field, which will include the core course for that area (as listed above). For the minor concentration area, students must take three courses in that field, but there is no comprehensive exam.

Master's Students

Master's students must select one major and one minor course area. The major course area will be the one in which you will sit for a comprehensive exam. Students must take four courses in this field, which will include the core course for that area above. For the minor concentration area, students must take three courses in that field, but there is no comprehensive exam.

Required Statistics or Research Methods courses (both degrees)

POLS 217 Methods of Political Science
POLS 254 Behavioral Research Methods

**Typically, POLS 217 is available only in Fall semester, and POLS 254 is available only in the Spring semester.

A third Statistics course is required. Students can choose from the following options.

POLS 257 Multivariate Analysis/Statistics
POLS 279 Survey Research Methods

For more information, please see the BLUE Book Catalog (Graduate Program Bulletin) or the Graduate Political Science Association's website at http://hu-gpsa.wikispaces.com/.

Comprehensive Exams

Comprehensive Exams are administered twice a year, once in the Fall semester (October) and once in the Spring semester (February).

2011-2012 Exam Schedule

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

Eligibility

Applicants for the comprehensive examinations must be in residence and have a cumulative grade point of 3.00 or higher.

Registration

Eligible candidates must complete the two registration forms, obtain the necessary signatures from field chairs, and return them to the Director of Graduate Studies in Douglas Hall, Room 112 or 121C not later than Friday, September 9, 2011 for FALL 2011 SEMESTER and Friday, January 13, 2012 for the SPRING 2012 SEMESTER.

Both registration forms can be obtained from Ms. Taylor in DGH 144, though one of them can be downloaded below.

No application will be accepted after the due date of the application for each of the examinations.

Printable version of Dr. Mensah's Memo on Comprehensive Exams

Comp_ Exams Grad 11-12.pdf

Application for Comprehensive Exams

Form 1 HU PSD App for Comp Exams.pdf

Form 2 (To be posted)

You must also include an unofficial copy of your transcript, available in your BisonWeb account.