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The Methods and Tools Requirement

The minimum methods and tools requirement is simple: M.A. students must take POLS 500a and 500b; Ph.D. students must also take 500c. Substitutions (i.e. courses taken in other departments or universities) require approval by the Director of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Studies Committee, and the methodology faculty.

The word "minimum" implies that the student's advisory committee may require additional course work in methods and/or tools (e.g. statistics, foreign language) as appropriate to the student's substantive coursework, thesis, or dissertation.

M.A. students who wish to offer methods as a field may be required by their advisory committees to take coursework beyond the minimum requirement. Ph.D. students who wish to offer methods as an examination field must complete a minimum of two additional methods courses chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Students who enrolled before this requirement was adopted in October 1999 have the option of completing their degrees under the previous requirement (described in the 1998-2000 Graduate Catalog).