The course requirement is satisfied by the successful completion (with an average grade of B+ or better), or exemption (by placement) based on comparable courses, preceptorial teaching, or offering suitable substitutes, of a minimum of six (6) courses chosen from each of the three categories below. 

Doctoral students should prepare a detailed course of study with their faculty advisor so that the chosen courses can best be tailored to their expected research area. Ideally, these six courses cover a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as various disciplines, that will be useful for the student’s dissertation research. Students are expected to take the majority of their courses during their first year, but may take classes into their second year (completing all required coursework by the end of the fourth semester).

A minimum of three courses relevant to the student’s interests, either from within SPIA or from science or engineering departments, selected with approval of the primary advisor and the faculty coordinator of the STEP PhD cluster.

A minimum of two social science courses, relevant to the students’ interests, must be taken. They can be drawn from the following economics and politics courses, with a preference for at least one from each discipline being taken.

a. Economics

• SPI 511c Microeconomic Analysis for Policymakers (Advanced)
• SPI 525 Public Economics and Public Policy,
• SPI 543 International Trade Policy,
• SPI 562c Economic Analysis of Development, Advanced,
• OR a course from the SPI 581/2 series, including SPI 581c Energy Economics
• OR a graduate-level approved substitute course in the Economics Department

b. Politics

• POL 506/SPI 595 Qualitative Methods (or approved substitute),
• SPI 521 Domestic Politics,
• SPI 541 International Politics,
• SPI 561 The Comparative Political Economy of Development,
• OR an approved substitute Politics course

At least one methods course must be taken, drawing from statistics, qualitative methods, energy systems, atmospheric modeling, etc., depending on the students’ research interests. Options include:

• PhD Seminar in Research Design, currently designated as POL 506/SPI 595 Qualitative Methods (offered in spring 2025). A substitute course in research design may be approved by the Faculty Chair, if this course is not offered in a given academic year. 
• SPI 508c, Econometrics and Public Policy (Advanced)
  Please note that auditing SPI 507c is helpful, but not required.
• ENE 570/MAE 570: Advanced Optimization Methods for Energy Systems Engineering 
• Or other courses with approval by the adviser and cluster coordinator may be substituted

In addition, all students must take a non-credit course in Research Ethics and Integrity.

The student must produce an original research paper that is certified by the student’s primary advisor and one other SPIA or cluster-affiliated faculty member as being of publishable quality and format. Ideally this paper is submitted to a journal for publication. Papers written for courses normally would not satisfy this standard without substantial revision. Students are expected to complete this requirement before the end of their third year.

Two topical examinations must be taken in areas selected by each student in collaboration with their adviser. Each exam must be written and graded by two examiners. 

The student, in consultation with the faculty examiners who will examine the student on the topics in which they wish to declare expertise, prepares a reading list (~25 readings per examiner) and an examination proposal. The two faculty for each exam will use this proposal for guidance in finalizing the student’s reading list and in preparing questions for the written examinations.

General exam questions must be answered within a 10-hour time period. If, due to poor performance on the written exam, the evaluation committee feels that an oral examination is necessary, the student's responses to the written exams will form the point of departure for such an oral examination.

Alternatively, the student, with approval of their faculty advisers, can choose to take a general exam that is regularly administered in the Security Studies cluster or in another department at Princeton.

All students are required to complete an oral defense of a research prospectus setting forth the research plan for their dissertation, typically by the fifth semester and no later than the end of the sixth semester in the program.

In the STEP cluster, the prospectus is usually a 20-30 page document that provides a substantial outline of the student’s planned research. This generally includes ~3 main projects or chapters. The prospectus should describe the key questions the student hopes to study, their motivation, planned research methods, and justification for how their topics fit into the field of existing literature. The first project should be described in the most detail (as this should be underway already), with the second two projects generally conceptualized.

Cluster Coordinator (2024-2025 Academic Year)
Elke U. Weber
Email: eweber@princeton.edu