Annual - All Graduate Students

Annual activity report, updated CV, annual advisor assessment - Due by January 9, 2026

Fall 2026 Course Registration - Begins Monday, March 16; Complete prior to the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Political Science Department Comprehensive Exams - Fall 2026

Students must have an approved Ph.D. Plan of Study on file before taking the Comprehensive Exams.

Tentative Schedule:

Field Exams due in the semester after the coursework on the Ph.D. plan of study is completed (fifth or sixth)
August 10-13, or August 11-14, 2026
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

Methods Paper due in the semester after the coursework on the Ph.D. plan of study is completed (fifth or sixth)
Paper Due by Friday, October 2, 2026
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS on Wednesday, October 28.

Major Field Research Paper due by the twelfth week of the sixth semester, but can be submitted as early as the fourth semester. To remain in satisfactory progress, a student must receive a passing evaluation on their major field research paper by the end of their sixth semester.
Complete the permission to submit form and submit paper document.
Form is due no later than Friday, October 30, 2026.
Paper is due no later than Friday,  November 13, 2026.
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS no later than Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

OGSPS Preliminary Oral Examination - Fall 2026

Students must successfully complete a preliminary oral examination in which they defend their dissertation prospectus. Developed in consultation with the dissertation chair, the prospectus presents the research design and plan of work for the dissertation, including a detailed summary of the student’s research question(s), theoretical framework, and methodological approach, and selected format – book-style or article-style. See the dissertation section below for additional expectations.

Before scheduling the preliminary oral examination, the student must pass both major and minor field examinations and meet their major field paper requirement. Three credits of POL 590 Teaching Political Science or two credits of POL 685 Professional Development Practicum must also be completed before scheduling the preliminary oral exam.

Students must defend their prospectus by the end of their seventh semester in the program to remain within the guidelines of satisfactory progress. The oral preliminary examination cannot be held during the last week of classes.  The oral preliminary examination is limited to two hours, and notice of the exam is posted within the department to allow additional attendees.

• When day, time and manner of examination are decided by the student and advisory committee, the student contacts the graduate coordinator to request a room reservation and provides the dissertation name listed on the prospectus.
  
  
• Next, the student submits Form 8 Request for Appointment of Examining Committee to the OGSPS via myPurdue. Members of the examining committee are listed on this form by the student.  Upon submission by the student, the myPurdue software requests signatures of approval from the examining committee, department head, and OGSPS.

Students earning Master's Degrees Fall 2026

Ph.D. CAND991 students graduating in August, 2026

Ph.D. Plan of Study approved - May 17
Candidate Registration by Department - May 22
Candidate Registration by Student - June 12, 5:00 p.m.
Thesis Format Review with the Records, Thesis and Dissertation Office - June 29
Defense Scheduling (Form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal, which is found in myPurdue) - due three weeks in advance of defense, so July 1 is last possible day
Defense - July 22 is last possible day
** The Doctoral Exit Questionnaire, Survey of Earned Doctorates and Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be completed immediately after the defense - see note below
Dissertation Deposit - July 29, 5:00 p.m.

Ph.D. CAND991 students graduating in December, 2026

Ph.D. Plan of Study approved - August 23
Candidate Registration by Department - August 28
Candidate Registration by Student - September 18
Thesis Format Review with the Records, Thesis and Dissertation Office - November 6
Indicate Participation in Commencement - November 6
Defense Scheduling (Form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal, which is found in myPurdue) - Due three weeks prior to Defense (November 11 is last possible day)
Defense - December 2 is last possible day
** The Doctoral Exit Questionnaire, Survey of Earned Doctorates and Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be completed immediately after the defense - see note below
Dissertation Deposit - December 9, 5:00 p.m.

Note Below:

1. After your defense, complete both the Doctoral Exit Questionnaire and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (both are found in your online student Plan of Study account in myPurdue). These must be completed prior to final deposit approval.
2. Form 9: Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be electronically signed & approved by all committee members & your department’s thesis form head before the deposit deadline. After they approve it, you will receive instructions to submit your final thesis/dissertation.
3. Your final deposit submission must be made before the deposit deadline. Revisions, if requested, must be completed within 24 hours.
4. After approval, billing for the deposit fee will be initiated. It may take up to 10 business days to appear.

 Registration

Graduate students in the Department of Political Science are expected to enroll in 9 cr of coursework/research during the Fall and Spring semesters. Additional stipulations apply in certain cases. Please refer to the Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate Student Programs.

This document is updated and reissued every academic year.