PhD in Political Science - Law and Courts in Syracuse United States | Syracuse University

The Ph.D. is granted to candidates who fulfill all academic requirements, including coursework, qualifying exams, and dissertation defense. A minimum of 42 credit hours in coursework plus 30 dissertation credits must be completed, maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better. Transfer of up to 21 credits from other institutions may be requested. Candidates must submit a Program of Study before attempting qualifying exams. Ph.D. candidates automatically qualify for an M.A. upon meeting those degree requirements.

Ph.D. students can pursue a Law & Courts minor, which involves completing specialized courses and extensive supplementary reading. Typically, students should finish at least three Law & Courts courses within their first four semesters. Qualifying Exams are generally taken in August after the second year, though alternative timelines require Graduate Director approval.