Ph.D.-granting institutions want students to complete their doctoral
degrees. Most graduate departments in political science focus their
training on preparing students to pursue academic careers. We
provide valid and reliable empirical data about the factors that
affect students' prospects for successfully completing political
science doctoral degrees and finding academic jobs. Because National
Science Foundation data (2002, Table 53) reveal significant
differences in the number of doctoral degrees awarded to women
compared with men, we test a series of hypotheses based on the
existing literature that may account for these differences. Our
paper applies knowledge gained from previous studies, such as in the
area of mentoring (Wasby 2001; Andersen 2001; Benesh
2001), to explain observed gender differences in doctoral
degree completion and success in gaining academic employment
thereafter.The research was
commissioned and funded by the Executive Council of the Midwest
Political Science Association; additional funding was provided
by the department of political science at the University of
Iowa. Barbara Burrell of Northern Illinois University oversaw
the data collection for round two of the panel study. Kimberly
M. Lewis of the University of Iowa provided research
assistance.