Appendix A - Courses

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Political Science

POLS*6000 Comparative Approaches to Political Science U [0.50]
In this course, the students examine the main theoretical frameworks and debates in political science and the ways in which these conceptual approaches guide empirical analysis and explain political behaviour. Examples include neo-institutionalism, political culture, Marxism, feminist and identity based approaches.
POLS*6050 Gender and Politics U [0.50]
This course will survey theoretical approaches to gender, primarily feminist analysis. Through selected readings, students will be introduced to gender as an approach to examining current political problems such as social policy, security or development.
POLS*6210 Conceptions of Canada U [0.50]
This course will explore evolving conceptions of Canadian identity and nationalism through consideration of political culture, institutions and constitutional arrangements. Possible topics include: multiculturalism, aboriginal identity and community, Quebec nationalism, social citizenship, rights and representation, as well as Canada's global role and significance.
POLS*6250 Comparative Governments in the Americas U [0.50]
This course provides the theoretical and methodological foundation for the analysis of Canada, the United States, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Methodological issues in the analysis of constitutional regimes and theoretical frameworks for the comparative analysis of political institutions are examined.
POLS*6290 The American Political System U [0.50]
This course examines the institutions, processes and policies of the government and politics of the United States. Seminar discussion focuses on evaluating approaches to the study of the American system. Topics to be covered include Congress, interest groups, executive-legislative relations and reinventing government.
POLS*6370 Latin America and the Caribbean U [0.50]
The analysis of the political development of Latin America and the Caribbean looking at the context, ideologies, structures, processes and effects of policy formulation and implementation.
POLS*6390 Environmental Politics and Policy U [0.50]
This course analyses environmental actors, movements, institutions, processes and policies across national, sub-national regional and/or global levels of governance utilizing a range of environmental perspectives and theories. Depending on the instructor(s), different case studies of critical and contemporary environmental policy issues will be explored.
POLS*6400 Comparative Social Policy U [0.50]
In this course, students will study social policy in comparative perspective. Theoretical models and various policy fields will be examined in order to understand welfare state development and retrenchment. Policy fields may include immigration, health, child care and income.
POLS*6450 International Political Economy U [0.50]
The course relies on theoretical approaches in IPE to examine the relationships between politics and economics across national and regional levels. The evolution of the global political economy and its globalization and state and non-state actors' responses. Issue areas may include: money and power, technology, trade, development and the environment.
POLS*6630 Approaches to Public Policy U [0.50]
This course introduces students to the main theoretical approaches utilized in understanding public policy making and outcomes. Throughout the course, particular attention is paid to varying conceptions of institutions, ideas and interest and the role of these conceptions in various explanations of policy change and stasis.
POLS*6640 Canadian Public Administration: Public Sector Management U [0.50]
This course examines the growth of the administrative state in Canada, especially in the post World War II period. It critically reviews issues such as the concept of public sector management, the delegation of authority, personnel management, accountability and the ethics of ministers and officials to Parliament and the public.
POLS*6730 The Politics of Development and Underdevelopment U [0.50]
This course, for MA students specializing in international and comparative development, has a primarily theoretical orientation, focusing on the main paradigms that have evolved to explain central problems and issues of development and underdevelopment, particularly modernization theory, dependency theory, world-systems theory and Marxist state- theory.
POLS*6750 Development in Practice U [0.50]
This course examines the politics of international development policy and practice. Drawing upon theories of development and underdevelopment, it examines the role of transnational regimes, international institutions, national governments, and NGOs in the provision of international development assistance.
POLS*6900 Pro-Seminar U [0.25]
This course is a 0.25 credit course introducing students to graduate studies in the department and to the profession of political science. It includes information on the following: formation of a student's faculty advisory committee; preparation of research proposals for thesis and major papers; library orientation; research using the WWW and computers; and discussion of faculty research. All graduate students are required to take this course. The course is graded satisfactory (SAT) or unsatisfactory (UNS).
POLS*6940 Qualitative Research Design and Methods U [0.50]
This course focuses on the elements of designing and writing a research question and proposal. It further examines a variety of research methods, such as the case study, comparative and survey methods. Data collection techniques also are examined.
POLS*6950 Specialized Topics in Political Studies U [0.50]
This course is intended to be an elective course for students wishing to pursue an area of investigation not covered in the other courses offered by the department. This course may also be chosen by students who want to further pursue a subject area to which they were introduced in a previous course.
POLS*6960 Directed Readings U [0.50]
This is an elective course for students wishing to pursue an area of investigation not covered in other courses offered by the department. This course may also be chosen by students who want to further pursue a subject area to which they were introduced in a previous course.
POLS*6970 Major Paper U [1.00]
The major paper is an extensive research paper for those who do not elect to complete a thesis. It may be taken over two semesters. The length of the major paper is not to exceed 10,000 words.
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1

Canada
519-824-4120