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Political Science | Economics

PhD in Political Science & Economics

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The PhD interfield degree program combines courses from both sides in the Division of Politics & Economics (DPE) for an interdisciplinary political economy degree.

This innovative interfield degree program combines PhD-level research in political science, economics, methods, and political economy. Leading faculty-scholars from both fields impart the skills, knowledge, and experience that will qualify you for competitive careers in the nonprofit sector, corporate arena, government, consulting, academia, and more. Students must be accepted into the PhD interfield by the Department of Politics & Government or the Department of Economic Sciences.

Program Highlights
  • This program requires a minimum of 80 units composed of a core, a methods minor field, a political science major field, and an economics major field.
  • Students in the PhD interfield degree program must pass qualifying examinations in both major fields of study and defend a dissertation proposal and a dissertation that meets rigorous methodological standards and draws from both major fields.
  • The Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies is the research arm of the Economics and Political Economy programs at CGU and provides opportunities for research assistantships as well as access to field-related seminars, conferences, workshops, and sessional professional meetings.

Program at a Glance

UNITS
80 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME*
5 years

*This estimate assumes full-time registration and pursuit of the degree. Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring

DEPARTMENTS
Economic Sciences, Politics & Government

DIVISION
Division of Politics & Economics

DEGREE AWARDED
PhD in Political Science & Economics

Featured Courses

SPE 410
Foundations of Political Economy

Develops modern political economy within the context of the new institutionalism in economics, politics, and sociology. Applies the new institutional theory to concrete policy issues of current import.

SPE 352
Comparative Political Economy

Examines interactions between capitalism and democracy, with particular emphasis on how the economy affects politics and how political institutions shape economic policies.

ECON 302
Macroeconomic Analysis

Explores the potential causes of short-run fluctuations in output and employment by examining both market-clearing and non-market-clearing explanations and more.

SPE 315
Game Theory

Analyzes the strategic interaction between individuals, firms, governments, and other groups of people.

ECON 301
Applications of Behavioral Economics

Covers the application of psychological insights into economic behavior, incorporating topics from psychology and sociology, such as risk perception, self-control, fairness, altruism, envy, and reciprocity.

PP 482
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods

Examines regression analysis, focusing partly on theoretical issues and partly on practical problems in applied regression to prepare students for advanced study of econometric techniques.

Curriculum

Core Courses (28 units)

Political Economy
Foundations of Political Economy

Two of the following:
American Political Economy
International Political Economy
Comparative Political Economy

Economics
Microeconomic Analysis
Macroeconomics I

Two of the following (by approval of the field advisor):
Game Theory*
Advanced Microeconomics I
Advanced Microeconomics II* or Advanced Game Theory*
Advanced Macroeconomics
*At least one is required

Methods Sequence (16 units)

One of the following four-course statistical sequences:

Track 1
Conduct of Social Inquiry
Mathematics for Economists I
Econometrics
Econometrics II or Econometrics III

Track 2
Conduct of Social Inquiry
Quantitative Research Methods
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
Applied Data Analysis or Advanced Methods

Field Requirements in Economics and Politics & Policy (36 units):
The Politics & Government/International Studies programs require five courses to complete a field (20 units). Available fields:

  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • Public Policy
  • World Politics
  • International & Comparative Political Economy

The Department of Economics requires four courses to complete a field (16 units). Available fields are:

  • Behavioral Economics & Neuroeconomics
  • International Economic & Development Economics
  • International Money & Finance
  • Political Economy & Public Economics

 

Resources

The Institute for Democratic Renewal
The Institute for Democratic Renewal provides students hands-on engagement with and scholarly reflection upon the core issues facing the institutions and processes of democracy in the United States and abroad. Prominent, significant research projects have included Renewing Democracy Through Interracial/Multicultural Community Building. This project led to the production and publication of the Community Builder’s Tool Kit: A Primer for Revitalizing Democracy From the Ground Up (more than 70,000 copies in six languages are in use nationwide).

Faculty & Research

  • Mark Abdollahian profile image

    Mark Abdollahian

    Full Clinical Professor

    Research Interests

    Strategic Decision Making, International Political Economy, Sustainable Development

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  • Mark Blitz profile image

    Mark Blitz

    Fletcher Jones Professor of Political Philosophy
    Field Chair, Political Philosophy
    Director, Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom

    Research Interests

    Political science, Philosophy, American politics

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  • Heather E. Campbell profile image

    Heather E. Campbell

    Professor, Department of Politics & Government
    Chair, Division of Politics & Economics
    Field Chair, Public Policy

    Research Interests

    Public Policy, Urban Environmental Policy, Environmental Justice

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  • Jean Reith Schroedel profile image

    Jean Reith Schroedel

    Professor Emerita of Political Science
    Thornton F. Bradshaw Chair

    Research Interests

    Native American voting rights, American political development, women and politics, religion and politics, and congressional policy-making

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  • Paul J. Zak profile image

    Paul J. Zak

    Professor of Economic Sciences, Psychology & Management
    Director, Center for Neuroeconomics Studies

    Research Interests

    Neuroeconomics, Neuroscience of Narratives, Neuromanagement

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  • C. Mónica Capra profile image

    C. Mónica Capra

    Professor of Economic Sciences

    Research Interests

    Experimental Economics, Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics

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  • Joshua Tasoff profile image

    Joshua Tasoff

    Associate Professor of Economic Sciences

    Research Interests

    Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, Microbial Economics

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  • Yi Feng profile image

    Yi Feng

    Luther Lee Jr. Memorial Chair Professor

    Research Interests

    International Political Economy, International Relations, Political Economy of China and Latin America, Quantitative Methodology

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  • Graham Bird profile image

    Graham Bird

    Clinical Professor of Economic Sciences
    Program Director: International Money and Finance; International Economic and Development Policy
    Co-Director: Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies

    Research Interests

    International Finance, International Macroeconomics, Economic Development

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  • Robert Klitgaard profile image

    Robert Klitgaard

    University Professor

    Research Interests

    Public Policy, Economic Strategy, Institutional Reform, Corruption

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  • Tom Kniesner profile image

    Tom Kniesner

    University Professor

    Research Interests

    Labor Economics, Health Economics, Econometrics

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  • Jacek Kugler profile image

    Jacek Kugler

    Elisabeth Helm Rosecrans Professor of International Relations

    Research Interests

    Causes and Consequences of War, Political Performance, Power Transition

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  • Javier Rodríguez profile image

    Javier Rodríguez

    Mary Toepelt Nicolai and George S. Blair Associate Professor

    Research Interests

    Public & Health Policy, Social Inequality, Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research

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  • Melissa Rogers profile image

    Melissa Rogers

    Associate Dean, School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation
    Associate Professor, International Studies
    Co-Director, Inequality and Policy Research Center
    Field Chair, Comparative Politics

    Research Interests

    Comparative Politics, Political Economy, Economic Inequality

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  • Thomas Willett profile image

    Thomas Willett

    Horton Professor of Economics
    Professor Emeritus
    Director, Claremont Institute for Economic Studies

    Research Interests

    International Money and Finance, Political Economy of Economic Policy

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Brian Ballesteros

Assistant Director of Admissions
T: 909-607-3925 (Direct)
T: 909-607-7811 (Central Admissions)
E: brian.ballesteros@cgu.edu