Hi all,
I am considering what type of Ph.D. program to apply to, and would appreciate any advice from the forum. I am currently working on a M.A. in Political Science in a mid-tier Poli Sci graduate program where the M.A. is a terminal degree. I have undergraduate majors in both Political Science and History. I am posting here because over the past year or so my research interests seem to have shifted from the study of conflict (which I intended to study during my Ph.D.) to pure comparative international education policy. I’m not sure at this point if I want to complete a Ph.D. in Political Science focusing on conflict with a specialization in the effect education has on conflict, or in Education with a focus on international education policies. So if anyone has any advice (or maybe could tell me if I’m way off track even thinking Education) it would be appreciated.
MY background: I would be applying for the Fall of 2014 (assuming Education programs don't admit students in the Spring?)
_Undergraduate GPA of 3.6 from an unknown small Liberal Arts college, Graduate GPA of 3.8 from a large Liberal Arts school (well known but not a top 10 school)
-Undergraduate honors thesis was a case study of the civil war in Cote d’Ivoire, where one specific variable looked at was education.
-M.A. thesis looking specifically at education variables (secondary schooling rates, literacy rates, education investment numbers, etc.) across all African nations broken down into 5 year periods looking to draw connections between this data and the occurrence of political violence.
-Co-authored publication as an undergrad (third tier PA journal) evaluating the dissatisfaction of college students in China in specific areas of their college experience in an attempt to make connections to the high unemployment of college graduates in China. (Fieldwork in china as part of the research)
-I have never taken a course in the education department, but do have an opportunity to do so in the next year should I need to.
-GRE Scores 740 quant. 610 Verbal 4.5 writing, but can retake if necessary
-My research tends to be more quantitative than qualitative
-My specific interests are in the education policy of African nations, and the outcomes of those policies on society.
If there is anything else big I am missing, just let me know and I’ll try to fill in the missing pieces.
Thanks again for any help!
