IX. Graduate Programs
Political Science
MA Program
The MA program revolves around the field of Rights, Justice, Citizenship, and Identity while allowing flexibility for students to pursue their various interests. Within the broader framework of Rights, Justice, Citizenship and Identity, the Department has particular strengths in Public Policy and Administration and Global Justice and Politics and offers a number of courses related to those topics.
Our broad range of course offerings and routes to complete the degree allow students to tailor their experience towards their future employment or academic goals. Graduates of the program are engaged in a wide range of careers with academic institutions, government and public sector agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industry.
Application Procedure
Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines and required documents https://www.uoguelph.ca/polisci/masters/how-apply . Complete application submission instructions can be found at http://www.uoguelph.ca/graduatestudies/apply
Graduate students are admitted each Fall semester.
Admission Requirements
The department requires an Honours BA degree (4 years) in political science (or its equivalent) with at least a 'B+' average for consideration for admission to the program. A methodology course equivalent to The Systematic Study of Politics, POLS*3650, in the Department of Political Science undergraduate program, is necessary for admission to the graduate program. Students not satisfying this requirement may be admitted with the provision that it be satisfied by completing the requisite extra course.
Degree Requirements
Students enrol in one of three study options: 1) course work only, 2) course work and major research paper or 3) course work and thesis.
Thesis
In order to satisfy the degree requirements, the student will complete three courses plus the Communications seminar (POLS*6900), the Research Design and Methods course (POLS*6940) and complete a Thesis.
Three courses with at least two of them from the following core courses:
| POLS*6050 | [0.50] | The Politics of Identity |
| POLS*6130 | [0.50] | Rights and Public Policy |
| POLS*6150 | [0.50] | Constitutionalism and Judicial Politics |
| POLS*6400 | [0.50] | Citizenship and Social Policy |
| POLS*6510 | [0.50] | Political Participation and Engagement |
| POLS*6730 | [0.50] | Development and Global Justice |
Plus
| POLS*6900 | [0.25] | Communications |
| POLS*6940 | [0.75] | Research Design and Methods |
or an approved equivalent from another department
A thesis of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 words (approximately 80 to 100 double-spaced pages). The written thesis is defended in an oral examination.
Course Work and Major Research Paper
In order to satisfy the degree requirements, the student will complete four courses plus the Research Design and Methods course POLS*6940, a Communications seminar POLS*6900, for a total of six courses and complete the Major Research Paper POLS*6970.
Four courses with at least two of them from the following core courses:
| POLS*6050 | [0.50] | The Politics of Identity |
| POLS*6130 | [0.50] | Rights and Public Policy |
| POLS*6150 | [0.50] | Constitutionalism and Judicial Politics |
| POLS*6400 | [0.50] | Citizenship and Social Policy |
| POLS*6510 | [0.50] | Political Participation and Engagement |
| POLS*6730 | [0.50] | Development and Global Justice |
Plus
| POLS*6900 | [0.25] | Communications |
| POLS*6940 | [0.75] | Research Design and Methods |
or an approved equivalent from another department
| POLS*6970 | [1.00] | Major Paper |
The research paper is approximately 10,000 to 12,500 words (approximately 40 to 50 double-spaced pages).
Course Work
In order to satisfy the degree requirements, the student will complete the Research Methods course POLS*6940 and the Communications seminar POLS*6900, plus five additional courses.
Five courses with at least three of them from the following core courses:
| POLS*6050 | [0.50] | The Politics of Identity |
| POLS*6130 | [0.50] | Rights and Public Policy |
| POLS*6150 | [0.50] | Constitutionalism and Judicial Politics |
| POLS*6400 | [0.50] | Citizenship and Social Policy |
| POLS*6510 | [0.50] | Political Participation and Engagement |
| POLS*6730 | [0.50] | Development and Global Justice |
Plus
| POLS*6940 | [0.75] | Research Design and Methods |
or an approved equivalent from another department
| POLS*6900 | [0.25] | Communications |