fiu dissertation advisor status

Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

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Phd in global and sociocultural studies.

The PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies is an innovative interdisciplinary degree which combines the theories and practices of three key social science disciplines; geography, sociocultural anthropology, and sociology. All students receive interdisciplinary training and the opportunity to focus their coursework and dissertation research in one of the three disciplines. Of the minimum 75 semester hours required for the doctoral degree, 12 comprise the interdisciplinary core, 33 the major discipline, and 30 the electives inside and outside the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies.

Global & Sociocultural Studies Graduate Student Handbook   GSS Graduate Student Handbook

FIU Graduate Catalog- Official Document on Program Requirements

The Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. program consists of 75 semester hours of course work (including the 36 hours a student may have earned in the Department's M.A. program). Students acquire competencies in theory, methods and proposal writing during the first two years of the Ph.D. program by successfully completing a common interdisciplinary core curriculum of 12 hours of coursework.

In addition to the common core curriculum, each Ph.D. program student declares a major in Geography, Sociocultural Anthropology or Sociology. Each major consists of the corresponding disciplinary theory course; one approved methods course, a minimum of two discipline-based seminars; and a dissertation supervised by a faculty member from the major discipline. A student may declare only one major. As student's progress through the program, they increasingly pursue their own research interests by taking elective courses across the disciplines and by working with their committee to prepare a doctoral dissertation. A student takes a minimum of 30 hours of electives.

A grade of “B” or higher must be earned in all courses and a cumulative average of 3.0 or higher must be maintained. Students may apply to transfer a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours earned in another program or institution. An exception is made for courses contained within an earned master’s or doctoral degree.

After completing the common core curriculum and the major's course requirements, and while continuing to take electives, a student typically takes the Ph.D. General Exam at the end of the third year of study. A student then takes the Dissertation Proposal and Defense/Candidacy Exam, prepares a dissertation under the guidance of a faculty committee, and defends the dissertation before the committee and the University community.

Core Courses (12 Credits)

• ISS 6346 Theory and Inquiry
• ISS 6305 Research Design and Methods
• ISS 6306 Writing Research Proposals
• ISS 6317 Social Research Quantitative Methods I

Major's Requirements (33)

• GEO 6118 Theory in Geography (3)
• One additional methods course taught within the Department, for which GIS may be used. (3)
• One additional theory course, either ANT 6083 Theory in Anthropology or SYA 6018 Theory in Sociology
• Geography course electives (6 minimum)
• Exam Prep GEO 7964 (6 maximum)
• Dissertation, GEO 7980, supervised by a member of the geography faculty (15 minimum)

Sociocultural Anthropology

• Theory in Anthropology (ANT 6083).
• One additional theory course, either GEO 6118 Theory in Geography or SYA 6018 in Sociology
• Anthropology course electives (6 minimum)
• Exam Prep ANG 7964 (6 maximum)
• Dissertation, ANG 7980, supervised by a member of the anthropology faculty (15 minimum)
• SYA 6018 Theory in Sociology (3)
• One additional theory course, either GEO 6118 Theory in Geography or ANT 6083 Theory in Anthropology
• Sociology course electives (6 minimum)
• Exam Prep SYA 7967 (6 maximum)
• Dissertation, SYA 7980, supervised by a member of the sociology faculty (15 minimum)

General Electives (30)

Students will take 30 hours beyond the common core curriculum and the majors’ requirements. This includes a maximum of one directed studies course (three hours). Students are allowed a maximum of two courses (six hours) taken in other departments. In some circumstances, such as the case of a student pursuing a graduate certificate, the Graduate Director may approve additional coursework outside of the department.

Total Credits (75)

Ph.d. general examination.

After successfully completing the common core requirements, the major's course requirements, and electives, a student prepares for the Ph.D. General Exam by enrolling in a maximum of six credits of exam preparation for their major. In preparation for the exam, a student forms a dissertation committee according to the regulations published on the University Graduate School web page (   http://gradschool.fiu.edu ). The Ph.D. General Exam addresses the student’s anticipated dissertation topic conducted according to the University Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual and the Department’s Ph.D. General Exam guidelines.

The Dissertation Proposal and Defense/Candidacy Exam

After passing the Ph.D. General Exam, a student works under the guidance of the dissertation committee to prepare a dissertation proposal and defend it orally before the committee. The chair of the dissertation committee must hold Dissertation Advisor Status from the University Graduate School. The proposal defense serves as the doctoral candidacy exam for the Ph.D. program in Global and Sociocultural Studies. Upon passing the proposal defense, a student is admitted to candidacy status.

The Dissertation and Dissertation Defense

After successfully defending a dissertation proposal, a student conducts the proposed research and completes a dissertation under the guidance of a dissertation committee. Only after successfully defending the dissertation proposal may a student register for dissertation hours (ANG 7980, GEO 7980, or SYA 7980). The Ph.D. program requires a student to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 3 hours of Doctoral Dissertation each semester from the time of advancement to candidacy until completion of the dissertation, including summers. Upon completion of the dissertation manuscript and authorization by the committee, a student defends the dissertation before the committee and the University community. The University Graduate School’s regulations governing the dissertation are described at   http://gradschool.fiu.edu .

Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

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Ph.d. in public affairs.

Fall 2024 Application Deadlines: December 10, 2024 : Priority deadline to be considered for all possible fellowships . February 1, 2025 : Regular fall admission and to be considered for graduate assistantships .

Dear Prospective Ph.D. student,

Thank you for your interest in the   Ph.D. program in Public Affairs   at FIU. Our Ph.D. program equips you with critical thinking and research capacity on urban and comparative international governance issues. It broadly encompasses public administration, management, policy, and service and prepares you for research and analytic positions in universities, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Please see below for an overview of the admissions process as well as more information about the program's curriculum and requirements.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions.

Alexander Kroll, Ph.D. Associate Professor and PhD Program Director Email: [email protected]

Applicants should generally have a Master’s degree prior to their enrollment, though outstanding applicants with only a baccalaureate degree may also be considered. Admission is not restricted to students with prior course work in Public Administration. The program encourages applicants with diverse academic backgrounds, with preference given to those with grounding in the policy or administrative sciences. Applicants should ideally demonstrate knowledge of American political institutions and fundamentals of social research methods.

If you are interested in applying to the Ph.D. program please visit   FIU's Graduate Admissions website   to complete the online application.

For international students interested in applying to the Ph.D. program, please visit FIU's International Graduate Admissions website for additional information and resources related to the application process and requirements.

The application materials required are as follows:

• FIU Application for Doctoral Programs (completed online).
• Official transcripts (applicants must demonstrate excellence in prior academic work by an earned GPA of 3.25 or better in either the undergraduate or the graduate degree from regionally accredited institutions).
• A personal statement describing the applicant’s background, career goals, and reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Affairs; the statement should also indicate how the applicant’s research and career interests fit with those of current faculty. Please indicate in your statement whether you intend to enroll as a full-time or part-time student.
• A current resume.
• Three references using the Graduate Admission's recommendation form included in the   graduate application ; two references should preferably be from academics.At least one writing sample.
•  At least one writing sample.
• The GRE is NOT required.

Students are generally admitted only for the Fall term. Although the FIU online application system allows for other semesters, the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs does not encourage such admission. Spring or Summer admissions will only be considered under special circumstances. All applicants will be required to complete an interview with the Public Affairs Ph.D. Committee during the admissions process. Virtual Interviews will be arranged for applicants where appropriate. Foreign applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by presenting a minimum score of a 100 on the TOEFL iBT, which is equivalent to 600 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT). If applicants take the language proficiency assessment administered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a minimum score of 7.0 is desirable. Please review the Enlish-Language Proficiency requirements carefully.

To fulfill the Ph.D. degree in Public Affairs, admitted students must complete at least 63 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree or its equivalent (75 total credits). Admitted students may transfer a maximum of 12 semester credits from other institutions towards Ph.D. degree requirements, subject to the approval of the Ph.D. Program Committee. The credit hours include 48 hours of approved course work (including comprehensive examination) and 15 hours of dissertation work after admission to candidacy. In addition, there is a residency requirement of at least 18 semester hours in three consecutive semesters of study during the first year of enrollment, and a minimum of six hours in all subsequent semesters. Successful completion of course work and passing scores on the comprehensive examination are required in order for students to advance to Ph.D. candidacy and present a dissertation proposal. Students are advised to consult the doctoral program handbook for any additional information regarding benchmarks for student progress in grade point average, course completion, comprehensive examinations, and dissertation work.

Upon starting the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor who is a full-time faculty member, possibly relevant to the student’s area of research interest. When completing all coursework, students must demonstrate competence in the following areas: American political economy, advanced statistical and qualitative research methods, international development administration, organizational theory and design, and local economic development and urban management. The Program Director may assign specific coursework to students with deficiencies in any of the above-mentioned areas.

Program of Study (Public Affairs)

The Ph.D. program in Public Affairs is a 63 credit hours program (beyond a master's degree). Of this, 48 hours are for coursework as follows: seven principal core courses (21 credit hours), two flexible core courses (6 credit hours), five specialization elective courses (15 credit hours), and a comprehensive examination (six credit hours). The remaining 15 credit hours are for Ph.D. dissertation work. Students are provided a Program Planning Sheet for tracking degree progress.

Principal Core Curriculum (21 credits)

• PAD 7277 Public Administration and the American Political Economy
• PAD 7155 Organizational Development and Change in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
• PAD 7703C Empirical Methods in Public Administration
• PAD 7705 Applied Quantitative Analysis I
• PAD 7707 Applied Quantitative Analysis II
• PAD 7055 Scope and Theory of Public Administration
• URS 7156 Research Practicum

Flexible Core Courses (6 credits)

• PAD 7808 Economic Development and Urban Management
• PAD 7865 Development Administration
• PAF 7002 Foundations of Policy Analysis
• URS 7644 Managing Public Financial Resources
• URS 7380 Contemporary Management Issues and Problems

Specialization Courses (15 credits)

Students are required to take five courses in an area of specialization to be designed with the advisor. Six of these courses must be at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level and may be taken within the University. These specialization electives may also be especially designed courses developed in conjunction with the student’s faculty advisor and with approval of the Ph.D. Director. Specialization areas may include subfields within the realm of public affairs (e.g., public budgeting and financing, human resource management; local government policies, urban management, international and comparative public administration, etc.) or may involve cognate disciplines (such as health services administration, criminal justice administration, environmental management, etc.). At least three hours must be URS 7926 (Supervised Readings). In developing a specialization and program of studies, a student may consult with the faculty advisor, appropriate faculty members in public administration, as well as others related to the student’s area of interest. If the student’s principal area of interest is in a cognate discipline outside of the Department of Public Administration, the student and Ph.D. Director should consult with appropriate faculty in designing the program of studies. With the help of the Ph.D. Director, the student is required to identify an appropriate Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Chair and Co-Chair (if required), both of whom may or may not be the same as the faculty advisor. The Chair or Co-Chair should have substantive expertise in the student’s area of research interest. The Chair must be a faculty member with Dissertation Advisor Status.

Comprehensive Examination (6 credits)

Subsequent to completion of course work, students are required to pass a three-part comprehensive examination. The first component is a one-day long written examination testing for knowledge of the Ph.D. core and related materials. The second component is a research proposal that will form the basis of the student’s dissertation work. Students’ are required to consult with their dissertation chair (and committee) about their proposal. A faculty committee reviews both the written examination and the research proposal. The third component is the face-to-face oral examination with the faculty committee. In the oral exam, the committee would seek clarifications and further explanations about the answers. The student will then get a passing or failing grade in the overall comprehensive examination from the committee.

If the student passes, s/he can move forward with the dissertation. S/he should then submit the University Graduate School’s D-2 form (Program for Doctoral Degree and Application for Candidacy).  A student who fails the examination on the first attempt must retake the examination at its next offering. If a student fails the examination twice, s/he will be automatically dismissed from the program in accordance with general FIU policy.

Dissertation (15 credits)

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, a student should select their Ph.D. Dissertation Committee with the help of their Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Chair. The student should then finalize their dissertation proposal in consultation with the Committee. Students are expected to defend their dissertation prospectus before the end of the first semester subsequent to passing the Comprehensive Examination. Upon the public defense and approval of the proposal, the student will initiate formal work on the dissertation. Students should contact FIU’s Institutional Review Board to ensure that their research meets the protocol for human subjects research before initiating their fieldwork. Then, the student is expected to make appropriate progress toward completing the dissertation, and to enroll continually (at least three credits per semester) until the degree is completed. Upon completion of the dissertation, the student should formally defend the research at a meeting conducted by the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee. The Ph.D. in Public Affairs degree will be awarded upon a positive recommendation of the Committee and compliance with all policies and procedures required by the University.

Award of Master’s Degree en route to Ph.D. Candidates: Under certain circumstances, students directly admitted into the Ph.D. program following completion of their bachelor’s degree, may be awarded a master’s degree in public administration. To be eligible, a student must satisfy the core requirements in the MPA program. Upon certification by the student’s faculty advisor that this requirement has been met, the MPA Director will approve the award of the master’s degree. Generally, the en route Master’s degree is given after passing the comprehensive examinations.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attending the Ph.D. program at FIU depends on whether you are a Florida resident or not. Florida residents have to pay lower tuition costs as compared to non-Florida residents. You must also take into account the living expenses, if you are coming from out of the state. The Graduate Tuition and Fees for the Academic Year 2022-23 are as follows: the tuition per credit hour is $455.64 for Florida residents, and $1,001.69 for non-Florida residents. A full time student would take 9 credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters, and 6 credit hours during Summer semester. There are additional fees for photo ID, health, athletic, and parking which total $885.60 during Fall, $875.60 in the Spring, and $642.41 during Summer. A photo ID fee of $10 is charged in Fall semester. The total tuition and fees cost for the year would be $13,338.97 for Florida residents, and $26,444.17 for out of state students. International students would normally be assessed the out of state tuition fees. The total costs for full time international students (with out of state tuition rates) is estimated in the FIU’s Declaration and Certification of Finances Form.

Further resources on estimating costs of attendance:

• FIU Office of the Controller : This website gives a detailed overview of current fee structure.
• FIU One Stop Enrollment Services : This website gives a detailed worksheet of cost of attendance at FIU.
• FIU’s Declaration and Certification of Finances form : This form gives the annual estimate of graduate costs, including maintenance, books and supplies, and medical insurance (the form is used for international students to demonstrate financial capacity to carry out their studies at FIU). You can find additional information by visiting International Graduate Admissions ' webpage here .
• For information regarding   funding and scholarships   visit the University Graduate School's   Graduate Funding Website   or   FIU's Office of Scholarships

Submit an application online. Follow the link to start an application online via   FIU Graduate Admissions.

Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

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M.a./ph.d in asian studies & global & sociocultural studies, joint degree pathway: master of arts in asian studies & ph.d. in global & sociocultural studies.

The combined Asian Studies MA/Global & Sociocultural Studies PhD pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees at the same time. Students can develop an expertise in Asian Studies while progressing towards a PhD in one of the three majors in the Global and Sociocultural Studies PhD: geography, sociology, or anthropology.

To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an online application to the PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies with a sub-plan for a MA in Asian Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. Students must submit an application by February 15th in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

M.A./Ph.D. Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for BOTH programs must be met in order to be considered for admittance. All applicants for graduate study at FIU must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education, or equivalent degree from a foreign institution.

All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements before applying to the Joint Degree Pathway of Asian Studies MA/PhD in Global & Sociocultural Studies:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education (or equivalent);
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work and/or a GPA of 3.5 on any previous graduate work;
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores;
• International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the internet based (iBT) TOEFL (equivalent to 550 on the paper-based version) or a 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

The following documents must be submitted to complete the online application:

• Online application and application fee;
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework;
• Official GRE scores;
• Official TOEFL scores, if applicable;
• Statement of purpose explaining his/her interest for enrolling in both the AS MA program and in the Ph.D. program in GSS. The statement of purpose must clearly address the applicant's academic and professional objectives for enrolling in both fields of inquiry. The statement of purpose must also indicate the intended major (international political economy or Asian cultural studies for the AS MA ,and anthropology, geography, or sociology for Ph.D. in GSS) the applicant plans to select while engaged in the PhD in GSS;
• Three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability;
• A curriculum vitae or resume; and
• Writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications.

Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MAAS)

MAAS offers two tracks based on choice of exit option, Thesis (30 credits) or Master's Essay (Non-Thesis) (30 credits).

Up to 30 credits earned for the MA in Asian Studies will count towards the 75 credits required for the PhD in GSS. Exceptions can be made based on the needs of the doctoral program.

Core Coursework (6 credits)

• ASN 5050 Methods in Asian Studies
• ASN 5315 Topics in Modern Asia

Courses required for GSS Track (12 credits)

• ISS 6305 Research Design and Methods
• SYA 6127 Theory and Inquiry
• ISS 6317 Social Research Quantitative Methods
• SYA 6959 Writing Research Proposals

Asian Studies Courses (6 credits)

6 credits Asia-specific courses pertaining to main concentration (from courses listed below):

• SYD 5656 Global Japan
• SYD 6418 Graduate Seminar in Urban Sociology
• SYD 6655 Seminar on Social Change in Asia
• SYD4654 State and Society in China

Language Requirement

Depending on the research topic students may be required to demonstrate language competency by the Asian Studies Graduate Committee.

MAAS Exit Options, Thesis or Master's Essay (Non-Thesis)

Thesis Exit Option (3 credits):

• ASN 6972 Thesis

Master's Essay (Non-Thesis) Exit Option (6 credits):

• ASN 6912 Master’s Essay (3 credits) and one additional Asia-specific course (3 credits)

Ph.D in Global and Sociocultural Studies (GSS)

The doctorate in Global and Sociocultural Studies requires a minimum of 75 credits beyond the baccalaureate including a dissertation based on original research, up to 33 credits of the MA in AS will count toward the 75-credit minimum. Thus, a minimum of 42 credits must be earned beyond the MA.

Major Courses (36 credits)

All doctoral students will choose a major in Anthropology, Geography, or Sociology. The following distribution of coursework is required:

a) Major theory methods (3)

b) Major methods (3)

c) Major course electives (9 minimum)

• Doctoral Exam Preparation (6 maximum)
• Doctoral Dissertation (15 minimum)

General Electives (6 credits)

GSS and non-GSS Department electives

Ph.D. General Examination

After successfully completing the common core requirements, the major's course requirements, and electives, a student prepares for the Ph.D. General Exam by enrolling in a maximum of six credits of exam preparation for their major. In preparation for the exam, a student forms a dissertation committee according to the regulations published on the University Graduate School web page http://gradschool.fiu.edu/ . The Ph.D. General Exam addresses the student’s anticipated dissertation topic, and is conducted according to the University Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual and the Department’s Ph.D. General Exam guidelines.

The Dissertation Proposal and Defense/Candidacy Exam

After passing the Ph.D. General Exam, a student works under the guidance of the dissertation committee to prepare a dissertation proposal and defend it orally before the committee. The chair of the dissertation committee must hold Dissertation Advisor Status from the University Graduate School. The proposal defense serves as the doctoral candidacy exam for the Ph.D. program in Global and Sociocultural Studies. Upon passing the proposal defense, a student is admitted to candidacy status.

Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs

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Combined m.a. / ph.d., combined m.a. in religious studies/ph.d. in international relations.

The combined M.A. in Religious Studies/Ph.D. in International Relations program allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees simultaneously.

Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs, and up to 36 credits completed as part of the M.A. in Religious Studies will be counted toward the 75 credit Ph.D. in International Relations.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission.

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education (or equivalent);
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work and/or a GPA of 3.5 on any previous graduate work;
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores;
• Minimum 156 GRE verbal score or a minimum 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work.
• International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the internet-based TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version) is required.

Although admissions decisions typically are made in the spring, decisions for students who have not yet received their bachelor’s degree will be conditional, pending confirmation of the B.A. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

All applications are subject to review by the members of the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Religious Studies Department.

Admission Procedures:

To be accepted into this program, students must submit an application to the Ph.D. in International Relations with a sub-plan for a M.A. in Religious Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application.

The application must be submitted by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

The following documents must be submitted and will be reviewed by the Admissions Committees from both units.

The following must be submitted as part of the on-line application:

• Online application and application fee;
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework; 3. Official GRE scores;
• Official TOEFL scores, if applicable;
• A statement of research interests, including reasons for seeking the M.A./Ph.D., future career goals, and a summary of scholarly preparation for this program;
• Three letters of reference from academic sources or others able to judge academic abilities and potential; and
• A curriculum vitae.

Masters of Arts in Religious Studies Degree Requirements (36 credits)

• RLG 6935 Seminar in Sacred Sources 3
• RLG 6013 Modern Analysis of Religion 3
• RLG 5038 Advanced Fieldwork in Religious Studies 3

12 credit hours of electives approved by the Graduate Program Director 12

• RLG 6971 Thesis or 6 additional hours of elective credits 6
• INR 5615 Research Design in International Relations 3
• INR 5609 Contemporary Dynamics of International Relations 3
• INR 6706 Political Economy of International Relations 3

Students who choose the thesis exit option must include at least one Politics and International Relations faculty member, though the majority must be from Religious Studies.

Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations Degree Requirements:

Students will begin study towards the Ph.D. in International Relations immediately following their satisfactory completion of M.A. in Religious Studies requirements. A minimum of 39 credits beyond the M.A. degree in Religious Studies will be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Ph.D. Program in International Relations.

Degree Requirements beyond the M.A. in Religious Studies are the following:

9 Core Course credits:

• GEO 6473 Space, Place and Identity 3
• INR 6604 International Relations Theory I 3
• INR 6608 Contemporary International Relations Theory 3

12 Major Field credits in either:

• Global Institutions and Issues,
• Comparative Area Studies,
• Foreign Policy and Security Studies, or
• International Law.

With advisor approval, these may include 3 credits taken in satisfaction of the requirements for the M.A. in Religious Studies.

9 Minor Field credits in either:

• a second field from the above major field list, or
• a field offered within another Ph.D. program at FIU (with approval of the Graduate Program Director), or
• a petition field (with approval of the Graduate Program Director).

Elective Credits:

Elective credits necessary to bring total credits earned beyond the M.A. in Religious Studies to a minimum of 24.

Dissertation Credits:

15 credits of dissertation research.

Comprehensive Exams

After completing 60 hours of course work (or in the semester in which they expect to do so), students may take their written comprehensive examinations on the core sequence and in both of their fields. Students must sit for these examinations within 6 months of completing the minimum 60 hours of coursework unless granted an extension by the International Relations Graduate Program Director. Before advancing to candidacy, students must also demonstrate an ability to use a foreign language other than English for scholarly purposes.

Dissertation

Within 3 months of passing the comprehensive examinations, students should publicly present a dissertation proposal that is acceptable to a committee of at least four qualified scholars. Three members of the committee, including the dissertation supervisor, must be graduate faculty members of the Department of Politics and International Relations. One must be from outside the department, but inside FIU. Other members must be approved by the International Relations Graduate Program Director. To complete program requirements, Ph.D. degree candidates must enroll for a minimum of 15 dissertation credits and maintain enrollment for 3 credits every semester until the degree is awarded.

Combined M.A. in Religious Studies/Ph.D. in Global and Sociocultural Studies Degree Pathway

The combined Religious Studies M.A./Global and Sociocultural Studies Ph.D. pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees at the same time. Students can develop an expertise in Religious Studies while progressing towards a Ph.D in one of the three majors in the Global and Sociocultural Studies Ph.D. geography, sociology, or anthropology. The dissertation may be directed by a qualified professor in either department

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for higher education (or equivalent)
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores,
• International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the internet based TOEFL (equivalent to 550 on the paper-based version) or a 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

Admission Procedures

To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an application to the Ph.D. in Global and Sociocultural Studies with a sub-plan for a M.A. in Religious Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an application by March 1 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework;
• Official GRE scores;
• Statement of purpose explaining their interest for enrolling in both the M.A. Religious Studies program in the Department of Religious Studies and in the Ph.D. program in GSS. The statement of purpose must clearly address the applicant's academic and professional objectives for enrolling in both fields of inquiry. The statement of purpose must also indicate the intended major (anthropology, geography, or sociology) the applicant plans to select while engaged in the Ph.D. in GSS;
• Three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability;
• A curriculum vitae; and
• Writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications

Degree Requirements for M.A. in Religious Studies

The 36 credits earned for the M.A. in Religious Studies will count towards the 75 credits required for the Ph.D. in GSS.

Religious Studies Core (9 credits)

Courses required for gss track (12 credits).

• ISS 6346 Theory and Inquiry (Fall)
• ISS 6306 Writing Research Proposals (Spring)
• ISS 6305 Research Methods and Design (Spring)
• ISS 6317 Social Research Quantitative Methods I (Fall)

Electives (9 or 12 credits depending on exit option)

9 or 12 credits or elective courses from within the Department of Religious Studies Department

Religious Studies MA Exit Options (6 or 3 credits)

Students may choose any of the exit options offered by the Religious Studies degree.

RLG 6971 Thesis (minimum 6 credits) See the Religious Studies program description for more information. The thesis is publicly defended and approved by a committee of three graduate faculty members

RLG XXXX (3 credits) Preparation of two directed research papers. Both papers require an oral presentation, defense and approval by a committee of three graduate faculty members;

RLG XXXX Internship and major research paper (3 credits). Supervised internship leading to a major research paper based upon the students work during the internship. The research paper requires an oral presentation and approval by a committee of three graduate faculty members.

SIPA Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English according to the nature of their thesis or research paper/proposal and professional interests.

Application for Graduation from Religious Studies program

Students should apply for graduation for the Religious Studies degree as soon as they have completed all requirements for the degree including the exit option. Ordinarily, the M.A. will be conferred before the student advances to candidacy for the Ph.D. in GSS.

Matriculation to Ph.D. in GSS

All students must undergo a successful M.A. review upon completion of the Religious Studies Program requirements in order to continue toward the Ph.D. in GSS. The GSS Graduate Committee, along with an appointee from Religious Department conducts these reviews. The purpose of the M.A. review is to determine the ability of the student to do Ph.D. level work with the department's faculty. Among the information considered during the review are a students overall performance, grades in courses, and faculty recommendations.

Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Global and Sociocultural Studies

The doctorate in Global and Sociocultural Studies requires a minimum of 75 credits beyond the baccalaureate including a dissertation based on original research. A maximum of 36 credits of the Religious Studies Master program will count toward the 75-credit minimum. Thus, a minimum of 39 credits must be earned beyond the M.A.

Major Requirements (33 credits)

All doctoral students will choose a major in Anthropology, Geography, or Sociology. The following distribution of coursework is required.

• Major theory (3)
• Additional methods (3)
• Major course electives (6 minimum)
• Doctoral Exam Preparation (6 maximum)
• Doctoral Dissertation (15 minimum)

General Electives (6 credits)

GSS and non-GSS Department electives.

Ph.D. General Examination

After successfully completing the common core requirements, the major’s course requirements, and electives, a student prepares for the Ph.D. General Exam by enrolling in a maximum of six credits of exam preparation for their major. In preparation for the exam, a student forms a dissertation committee according to the regulations published on the University Graduate School website . The Ph.D. General Exam addresses the student’s anticipated dissertation topic, and is conducted according to the University Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual and the Department’s Ph.D., General Exam guidelines.

The Dissertation Proposal and Defense/Candidacy Exam

After passing the Ph.D. General Exam, a student works under the guidance of the dissertation committee to prepare a dissertation proposal and defend it orally before the committee. The chair of the dissertation committee must hold Dissertation Advisor Status from the University Graduate School. The proposal defense serves as the doctoral candidacy exam for the Ph.D. program in Global and Sociocultural Studies. Upon passing the proposal defense, a student is admitted to candidacy status.

The Dissertation and Dissertation Defense

After successfully defending a dissertation proposal, a student conducts the proposed research and completes a dissertation under the guidance of a dissertation committee. Only after successfully defending the dissertation proposal may a student register for dissertation hours (ANG 7980, GEO 7980, or SYA 7980). The Ph.D. program requires a student to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 3 hours of Doctoral Dissertation each semester from the time of advancement to candidacy until the completion of the dissertation, including summers. Upon completion of the dissertation manuscript and authorization by the committee, a student defends the dissertation before the committee and the University community.

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