Writing
Each student is required to write at least three research papers in connection with seminars taken in the first two years, at least one of which must be completed in the first year. Each paper counts toward the seminar grade.
In addition, each student is required to take one term of directed research (POL 591) in the spring of the second year. This project is independent of any seminar. So they can become involved in research and collaboration with faculty as soon as possible, students are required to select their independent work adviser and the general topic of their paper by the midway point of the spring of their first year. These choices must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies in writing. This paper often builds on prior work done in a seminar. The Pol 591 draft is due no later than the first day of the Spring term. Students are required to present the POL 591 paper in the appropriate research seminar during the fall or spring term of the second year. Students revise the Pol 591 draft in light of advisor's comments and discussion at the seminar. The final paper is due by April 30.
Students are urged to use these various research and writing experiences to build toward a dissertation. For example, a student with a promising seminar paper might use POL 591 to do more extensive research on the subject and develop a dissertation proposal based on it.
So that students will write papers of article length, all research papers are limited to 30 pages. This applies to papers written for both seminars and POL 591.