PhD in Political Science - Political Theory in Eugene United States | University of Oregon

The discipline of political theory examines political concepts: their historical development, inherent reasoning, and relationship to structures of power. Our political theory scholars specialize in interconnected domains, offering graduate and undergraduate instruction covering classical, modern, and contemporary philosophy, power dynamics, liberal thought, Marxist analysis, critical approaches, just war principles, and cross-cultural political theories. Recent doctoral graduates have explored subjects such as Indigenous governance, liberal democracy, collective memory, ecological policy, anarchist movements, and plantation economies in the American South.

The political science PhD program generally demands two years of intensive coursework. Students frequently engage in collaborative research with faculty and interdisciplinary projects spanning diverse subjects. Doctoral candidates in Political Science advance their expertise through specialized courses and seminars across core disciplines, including comparative government, formal modeling, international affairs, policy analysis, theoretical frameworks, and American politics. Numerous professors and graduate researchers operate across these boundaries, integrating insights from anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, history, legal studies, philosophy, and sociology. The PhD curriculum enables qualified candidates to fulfill coursework within two years of full-time enrollment. Second-year students produce a research paper, while third-year candidates undertake comprehensive exams before commencing dissertation work. Detailed program specifications, degree completion criteria, and field specialization guidelines can be found on the departmental website.