EXCEL IN THE FIELD OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
The PhD / Doctorate in Political Economy is being offered jointly with Universidad Central de Nicaragua.
The PhD / Doctorate in Political Economy is an extensive study of the political and diplomatic trends of today, requiring learned to have a solid background in the field both academically and professionally. The program consists of courses which provide a broad spectrum of political international problems from the perspective of different parties involved. The program targets individuals who wish to excel in this field of ever increasing importance and who wish to obtain an international perspective on their previous education and career experience. It also is aimed at individuals wishing to give their career an academic direction, developing skills of applied research, political consulting and lecturing in the field of diplomacy/political science.
UCN Universidad Central de Nicaragua was founded in 1997 as a private Nicaraguan university in Managua, Nicaragua. It was accredited by the Consejo Nacional de Universidades and received the status of a fully autonomous university with unrestricted degree awarding authority by Act of Parliament and by the award of the fully autonomous university status by Decree of the President of Nicaragua.

DURATION
The program is entirely flexible and thus its duration depends on your progress and on the time and effort you are prepared to dedicate. Students are free to start courses at any time, this is to honor and support the particular agendas of our students who are mainly working professionals in managerial positions. Nevertheless at the beginning of each course, together with your professor, you will construct a schedule for the completion of the course.
COURSE OUTLINE
Core Stage
This course introduces students to the field of research. It examines the research process in depth and introduces doctoral candidates to the various aspects of doing scientific research, providing practical advice and insight in the field. Topics covered include hypothesis formulation and theory construction, data collection techniques, ethical issues in research, and research design.
Upon completion, participants will be able to distinguish amongst the different types of research, be aware of the tools used and their relative roles and reliability. Participants review the steps to be undertaken in the research design, writing, and in publishing the results. This is a very practical course aimed to guide participants through the work that lies ahead.
The Research Methodology and Design II course is divided in two parts, which will provide doctoral candidates with a solid foundation and valid framework to accomplish their research goals.
The first part of the course examines qualitative research and behavioral research. Topics covered include: criteria for valid and reliable research; advantages and disadvantages of different research strategies; electronic and paper tools for searching literature; research methods – observational, survey and experimental; general writing techniques and writing style; data analysis; and data presentation.
The second part of the course examines the fields of quantitative and econometric research. Topics covered include: scientific methods, cognitive guidelines, quantification and standardization in survey research and reconciling practical and scientific requirements for creating valid and unbiased surveys. It also examines research tools and applied econometrics. Topics include: regression analysis, estimation procedures, hypothesis testing, time series modeling, and forecasting.
The course permits learners to distinguish between the different methods of collecting data, analyzing data and the research techniques to be used for optimum results. A wide range of concepts and methods for observing, interviewing, recording and analyzing field data is covered, exposing the learner to quantitative and qualitative methods, and the ethical considerations in qualitative research practice. Furthermore the course provides a solid understanding of statistical tools used in empirical analysis enabling participants to develop solid analytical skills. Additional emphasis is placed on the process of rigorous formulation of research questions and design.
Specialization Stage
Dissertation Stage
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Swiss Management Center welcomes qualified applicants with no discrimination towards their gender, age, cultural, ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds. Distance learning candidates are admitted on a continuous basis.
Admission at Swiss Management Center sets minimum criteria which have been designed to identify applicants who have sound academic potential and who show creativity, critical thinking, social and moral values, evidence of English language proficiency and strong motivation.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
PROGRAM COST
As a student in the PhD in Political Economy program, you do not need to worry about student debt. We are here to help you do the math and figure out the best payment plan aligned with your situation. The tuition can be settled via our payment partners below or by bank transfer.
Tuition valid as of October 22, 2018. For more details please contact the administration at administration@swissmc.ch or +41 (0)44 586 5696.
We offer two payment options:
The tuition can be settled via online payment or by bank transfer.
The tuition can be settled via our payment partners below or by bank transfer.
PROGRAM INTAKE
Due to the flexible structure of the program, enrollment is on an ongoing basis. Supported through the asynchronous method of studying, admitted students may commence their studies at any time in alignment with their personal and professional commitments.
READY TO CHALLENGE YOUR FUTURE?
We’re here to help answer your questions. Our student helpdesk is on hand to help inform you of every aspect regarding your topic. Simply fill the contact form if you need any support. We take great pride in using our expertise for you and look forward to hearing from you.
We are located at Bahnhofstrasse 20, 6300 Zug, Switzerland.
You can also call us on +41 (0)44 586 5696.