About PhD Program,
The principal graduate program of the school is a two-year curriculum leading to the degree of Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.). Students can earn a dual degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.) after four years of study at SPIA and a collaborating law school. The School also offers a dual degree in business (M.P.A./M.B.A) with the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
The School also has a graduate program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in public and international affairs, as well as a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) for mid-career professionals.
The purpose of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ doctoral program is to train top-quality researchers in critical areas of public policy. It offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs in two research clusters: Security Studies; and Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP). The goal is to enroll eight students per year in the program, with four in each research cluster.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA
Courses
Core courses and individual requirements are determined by the faculty in each cluster. Both clusters require advanced politics and econometrics training for social science research. A student in the STEP cluster must take at least eight courses in the first two years, and a minimum of three courses must come from within SPIA or from science or engineering departments, selected with approval of the primary adviser and the faculty coordinator of the STEP Ph.D. cluster. A student in the Security cluster takes 12 courses during the first two years. All students are required to maintain an overall grade average of 85 (B) or higher to remain in the Ph.D. program. Full requirements are available on the SPIA website.
Additional pre-generals requirements
Writing Requirement
Students are required to complete an original research paper of publishable quality.
General exam
The examination covers two fields identified by the student in consultation with a faculty committee and includes two written components. Students in both clusters may be required to complete an oral examination, depending on their performance on the written components. Students are expected to complete all parts of the general examination by the end of the second year.
Qualifying for the M.A.
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes all coursework and the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that the M.A. requirements have been met.
Teaching
A six-hour teaching assignment (precepting), usually following the general examination, is required.
Post-Generals requirements
A written research prospectus is required.
Dissertation and FPO
After a candidate successfully completes the general examination and defends the written prospectus, the Ph.D. program committee approves entry into the dissertation phase of the program.
The student prepares a dissertation for review by the faculty. Departmental acceptance of the dissertation qualifies the candidate for the final public oral examination. The Final Public Oral (FPO) examination is required by University regulations, and is conducted after the dissertation has been recommended for acceptance by the School.
The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the FPO examination completed.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Princeton’s full-funding guarantee ensures total support for all Ph.D. students throughout regular program enrollment. This includes tuition and stipend support from fellowships, assistantships, and external sources. Visit our Financial Support Model page for information about tuition & costs.
Fellowships
Fellowships are the primary source of funding in Princeton’s financial support model for degree candidates in the humanities and social sciences. All students during their regular enrollment period are covered fully via a University Fellowship, unless they hold alternate sources of funding. Additional fellowships are also offered by the Graduate School and campus partners, some of which offer a higher stipend rate. Premium-rate honorific fellowships are awarded to select later-stage Ph.D. students whose research shows exceptional promise.
Application Requirement,
Statement of Financial Resources
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
Application Fee, $75
