The Comparative Politics field provides a broad array of thematic and area-specific courses on governments and politics around the world.
The Ohio State comparative politics faculty are the U.S. leaders of the Comparative National Elections Project (CNEP), which focuses on politicization, political communication, and social structure within the context of election campaigns using compatible research designs and common survey questions across two dozen nations. The CNEP is now located at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies.
Graduate students in Comparative Politics have won an array of prestigious grants to support dissertation research around the world, including: Fulbright Hays, Social Science Research Council (IDRF and Pre-dissertation), National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant, IREX, Horowitz Foundation, Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS)
Comparative Politics Faculty:
Paige Bollen, Sarah Brooks, Zuheir Desai, Haifeng Huang, Marcus Kurtz, Erin Lin, Jan Pierskalla, Amanda Robinson, and Sara Watson.
Emeriti: Richard Gunther, William Liddle, Anthony Mughan, and Goldie Shabad.
Focus Field
Three courses — PS 7200 (Basic Theories in the Study of Comparative Politics) and two other substantive courses within the subfield — are required of everyone choosing a focus field in Comparative Politics. Students who are putting together a program of study in Comparative Politics should consult closely with the field coordinator and other faculty to choose courses that will best provide exposure to broad theoretical debates, important methodological issues, and empirical applications in geographic areas of their choice.
Those focusing in Comparative Politics are expected to take a minimum of three methods courses (PS 7551, PS 7552, PS 7553). Students are also encouraged to take PS 7780 (Political Science Research Methods) in the second year and to consult closely with faculty to ensure that their methods training is sufficient given the requirements of their proposed research. Competency in a foreign language or languages is expected of students planning to specialize in countries or regions where English is not the principal language.
For students writing a dissertation in Comparative Politics, enrollment in PS 7095.01 and 7095.02 is required after passing the Candidacy Examination in the third year. Enrollment in 7193.02 in the autumn semester of Candidacy Examinations is not allowed, except with the explicit approval of the Comparative Politics field.
Research Workshop
The Comparative Politics Workshop serves as a multi-disciplinary forum for the presentation and discussion of research related to comparative politics.
Related Programs
Graduate students in Comparative Politics have the opportunity to participate in a dissertation research workshop and university-wide centers and workshops such as the Globalization Workshop at the Mershon Center, among others.