Comparative Politics - Introduction and Requirements
Introduction and Requirements| Examination Guide | Master Syllabus | Faculty
The Department of Political Science at the University of Florida offers a comprehensive and challenging program in Comparative Politics. The curriculum has been revamped recently to reflect changes in the field nationally. Comparative Politics is increasingly taking a cross- regional perspective, particularly on subjects such as democratization, the spread of the market, and environmentalism. We want our students to be aware of these trends toward a cross-regional perspective and to be able to participate fruitfully in the disciplinary dialogue along those lines. Such awareness will make them better scholars and more competitive nationally.
Students entering the program are required to take the Introductory Seminar before taking any other. The former is being offered every Fall Semester. It exposes students to the major theoretical traditions that have shaped the study of comparative politics. In the course of the semester students are introduced both to landmark books in the field and significant critiques of these original works.
Students will then choose from a menu of thematic and area seminars. The thematic seminars cover a broad range of themes that are of particular currency in the field. They will have a cross-regional perspective and include readings on at least two major regions of the world. The various area seminars serve two principal purposes. The first is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the politics of a particular region of the world. The second is to enable the student to acquire greater familiarity with theories and concepts used by comparativists in their studies. The structure of the program is indicated below:
Introductory Seminar:
- CPO 6091 - Introduction to Comparative Political Analysis
Thematic Seminars:
- CPO 6732 - Democratization and Regime Transition
- POS 6933 - A Comparative Perspective on the Political Economy of the State
- POS 6933 - Public Choice, Institutions, and Development
- POS 6933 - Approaches to Comparative Political Culture
- CPO 6077 - Social Movements in Historical and Comparative Perspective
- POS 6933 - Comparative Elections and Party Systems
- POS 6933 - Politics of Natural Resources
- POS 6933 - Peasant Politics
- POS 6292 - Religion and Politics
- POS 6933 - Law, State and Society
Area Seminars:
- CPO 6046 - Politics in Advanced Industrial Societies
- CPO 6206 - Seminar in African Politics
- CPO 6307 - Latin American Politics
- POS 6933 - Post-Communist Politics
Minimum Credit Requirement
The following are minimum requirements for each category of student:
- Ph.D. students (Second ) - Introductory Seminar plus two thematic seminars (9 credits)
- Ph.D. students (dissertation) - Introductory Seminar plus three thematic seminars
Students are encouraged to go beyond the minimum requirements and, together with their advisors, should craft an individual plan of study that fits their particular needs. For example, a student planning to conduct primary field research in Latin America/African should take the Latin American/African Politics area seminar in addition to the minimum requirements.
Students intending to defend a Ph.D. prospectus, master's exam (thesis or non-thesis), or a ph.d. dissertation must complete the scheduling four weeks prior to the defense. This involves the following three steps: (1) finding out, e.g. via the Graduate Secretary, which time slots committee members are potentially available,(2) inform the student's Committee Chairperson accordingly, and (c) leave it in the Chair's hands to finalize the time and location of the defense with other committee members.
