INTL Ph.D. Program Guidelines

COURSE SELECTION:

Required Courses: Ph.D. Students must take 9 courses* (27 Credits) in the course of the Ph.D. Program: 6 required courses (Including 1 Pre-requisite course), 3 Electives (2 area electives, 1 free elective).

Additionally, students are required to take 5 non- Credit courses;

ENGL 500: Academic Writing

KOLT 500: Teaching Experience (Required to be completed in the 1st semester)

TEACH 500: Teaching Assignments  (Required every semester)

ETHR 500: Online Ethics Course (Required to be completed latest by 2nd semester)

INTL 590: Seminar Course

INTL 695: Thesis Course (Required every semester after passing the Qualifying exam)

Students are urged to complete all the course requirements by end of 4th semester, if possible.

*Students admitted with a BA degree are required to take 14 courses (42 credits)

Students must have a minimum of 3.00 GPA to graduate.

Taking Courses from different departments: For free electives, Ph.D. students can take courses from other relevant graduate programs offered at KU or other universities with the approval of the program coordinators.

Undergraduate Courses: Undergraduate courses cannot be counted towards degree requirements. However, Ph.D. students may audit undergraduate courses with the approval of the course instructor.

Language Courses:  Language courses may not be counted towards degree requirements.

Transferring Courses from previous studies: Please consult with GSSSH office and then with the program coordinator.

ADVISOR ASSIGNMENTS:

Appointing an advisor: Students are required to choose and get the approval of a thesis advisor latest by the2nd semester and turn in their advisor appointment form to GSSSH office.

Changing an advisor: Students may change their advisor in the course of their studies with the approval of their previous advisor, prospective advisor and the program coordinator.

Withdrawal of an advisor: In the case that advisor decides to discontinue monitoring the student’s thesis, then the student must find an advisor within one month (30 days) or may opt to leave the program.

Co-Advisor: Students may appoint more than one advisor. Second advisor may be outside of KU.

QUALIFYING EXAMS:

Term to take the exam: Students are required to have their first attempt at passing the Qualifying Exam, in both of their fields, by the end of their 3rd semester. If they fail in their first attempt, they will be given a second exam after 6 months, which they must pass to continue the doctoral program.

Qualifying exams are generally held in the beginning of February and beginning of June of each year.

Structure of the exam: Students are examined in the two of the three sub-disciplinary fields (International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory). Students choose and indicate to the program coordinator in which of the two fields they will be examined in 2 months prior to the exam.

Qualifying exam is composed of two parts; written and oral.

Exam jury members: PhD Qualifying Exam Committee must have at least 5 members; of which at least 2 members must be outside of KU.

Students who fail the exam: Students who fail the first attempt of the exam may re-take the exam in the next date it is offered. The second exam must be in the same field. Students who fail the second time will lose their stipend, housing aid and all other benefits and will be required to pay an annual tuition.

Passing the Qualification exam: Students must bring the exam reports to GSSSH office once completed. Please see Ph.D. Milestones for details and forms:

!!! Students who fail the Qualifying exam twice are dismissed from the program

THESIS MONITORING COMMITTEE:

One month after passing the qualification exam, students are required to form a thesis monitoring committee.  If a student fails to form the committee by the suggested deadline their scholarship will be put on hold.

* Please see Ph.D. Milestones for committee composition and appointment forms:

THESIS PROPOSAL:

When to propose: Students are required to propose their thesis research no later than six months after passing their qualification exam . All Thesis Monitoring Committee members must approve the proposal. If the student fails to propose her/his thesis by the suggested term, then the student must submit a petition to GSSSH with the approval of the advisor and the program coordinator. If a student fails to form the committee by the suggested deadline his/her scholarship will be put on hold.

Forms Required: * Please see Ph.D. Milestones for committee for thesis proposal forms:

!!! Students who do not  successfully defend the Thesis Proposal by the suggested time-line , students who fail to meet this deadline will  only  be given an additional 3 months and if not successful or completed, student will be dismissed from the program

THESIS PROGRESS MEETINGS:

When? After thesis proposal student must meet with the thesis monitoring committee every six months. All Thesis Monitoring Committee members must approve the progress of the student. If the student fails to meet with the committee members by the suggested term, then the student must submit a petition to GSSSH with the approval of the advisor and the program coordinator.

According to YÖK students must hold min. of  3 Thesis Monitoring Committee meetings before graduations

Forms Required: * Please see Ph.D. Milestones for committee for thesis proposal forms:

!!! It is the students responsibility to schedule their monitoring committee meetings every six-months after the proposal is defense Students who do not turn in their progress report  on time to the GSSSH office will be considered to have failed the progress meeting, will receive an “U” Unsatisfactory grade. Students  who receive two consecutive “U”  or three “U”s in total will be dismissed from the program !!!

FORMAT OF THE THESIS:

Traditional format: Thesis can be written in a form of a book consisting of chapters. Please visit the library for samples.

COMPOSITION OF THE THESIS JURY:

Thesis jury is composed of Thesis Monitoring Committee + 2 members. Thesis jury must have 2 members from another University. 2nd advisor may attend meetings. Jury must be appointed by the Department and approved by the Graduate School. Members of this committee must be affiliated with a University or an Academic Institution and must at least hold the rank of an Assistant Professor.

Forms Required: * Please see Ph.D. Milestones for committee for thesis proposal forms:

FINALIZING THE THESIS:

Final draft of the thesis must be sent to all the appointed Jury members 3 weeks before the defense date in a hardcopy format.

Students must notify the Graduate School of their defense date and provide announcement information 2 weeks before the defense date.

After the thesis is revised and finalized, students must submit a bound copy to all jury members who prefer to have one.

Forms Required: * Please see Ph.D. Milestones for committee for thesis defense forms:

LEAVE OF ABSENCES:

Except for official holidays when the University is closed, graduate students are expected to be on campus fulfilling their degree requirements. During summer months graduate students who are on scholarships can take paid vacation (maximum two weeks) upon the recommendation of their advisors and the program coordinator. Otherwise they all have to be on campus.

Long-Term Leave of Absence: Students may hold their studies up to two consecutive semesters with the approval of their advisor, program coordinator and the graduate office. Their stipends will also be on hold in these terms.  Students who would like to expand their hold beyond two consecutive semesters will have to consult with the program coordinator and the graduate school and students may lose their stipends and benefits and may be subject to pay registration fee.

TA / RA DUTIES:

All students are appointed as TA and RA in the beginning of each semester. Please find the TA/RA regulations set by the graduate school enclosed. Please note that the task found in the enclosed is not exhaustive. TA Duties are graded under TEACH 500 course. Students must be enrolled every semester.

RA Spring assignments will continue in the summer months unless indicated otherwise.

PROCTORING:

All GSSSH students are expected to be present for proctoring exams (including make up and amnesty exams) of the courses they are assigned to. They may also be asked to proctor exams for courses, which they are not assigned to as TAs. These extra proctoring assignments would not exceed 4 per academic year. Proctoring assignment will be done centrally by the graduate office. Proctoring may be necessary on weekends, late evenings, or times outside of regular hours.

GRIEVANCE:

All grievances should be first communicated to the program coordinators.