X. Degree Programs

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

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Political Science (POLS)

Department of Political Science, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

The Department of Political Science offers courses in the following areas: Political Thought; Canadian Politics; Public Policy, Governance, and Law; Comparative Politics; and International Relations and Global Studies. The Department of Political Science also participates in several interdisciplinary programs, including Criminal Justice and Public Policy, International Development Studies, Environmental Governance, and European Studies.

Students taking courses in Political Science may enrol initially in POLS*1150, POLS*1400, POLS*1500, the latter 2 courses providing overview and introductory treatments of particular interest to students who wish to take higher level courses in the department but who do not intend to specialize in the discipline. For students intending to pursue a general or honours specialization in Political Science, however, POLS*1150 is required.

Courses at the 2000 level provide students with essential grounding in specific areas of the discipline and are normally prerequisite for enrolment in 3000 and 4000 level courses. Students in the honours program major are required to take POLS*3180 and POLS*3650. Students in the honours program minor are required to take POLS*3180.

In addition to the requirements set out in the B.A. Program Regulations, the Department of Political Science requires that students pursuing general and honours programs successfully complete a core requirement of 2.50 credits and meet specific distribution requirements as follows:

Core Requirements

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
One of:
PHIL*2280 [0.50] Key Concepts in Political Philosophy
POLS*2000 [0.50] Political Theory
One of:
POLS*2080 [0.50] Development and Underdevelopment
POLS*2100 [0.50] Comparative Politics
POLS*2200 [0.50] International Relations
One of:
POLS*2150 [0.50] Gender and Politics
POLS*2250 [0.50] Public Administration and Governance
POLS*2350 [0.50] Law from a Political Science Perspective

Area of Concentration (General Program)

A minimum of 5.00 credits is required, including:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
One of:
PHIL*2280 [0.50] Key Concepts in Political Philosophy
POLS*2000 [0.50] Political Theory
One of:
POLS*2080 [0.50] Development and Underdevelopment
POLS*2100 [0.50] Comparative Politics
POLS*2200 [0.50] International Relations
One of:
POLS*2150 [0.50] Gender and Politics
POLS*2250 [0.50] Public Administration and Governance
POLS*2350 [0.50] Law from a Political Science Perspective

2.50 additional credits, at least 1.50 of which must be at the 3000 level or above.

Major (Honours Program)

A minimum of 9.00 credits is required, including:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
POLS*3180 [0.50] Research Methods I: Political Inquiry and Methods
POLS*3650 [0.50] Research Methods II: Quantitative Methods
One of:
PHIL*2280 [0.50] Key Concepts in Political Philosophy
POLS*2000 [0.50] Political Theory
One of:
POLS*2080 [0.50] Development and Underdevelopment
POLS*2100 [0.50] Comparative Politics
POLS*2200 [0.50] International Relations
One of:
POLS*2150 [0.50] Gender and Politics
POLS*2250 [0.50] Public Administration and Governance
POLS*2350 [0.50] Law from a Political Science Perspective

at least 0.50 credits at the 3000 level in three of the five fields in the department

1.50 credits at the 4000 level, two of which must include either one course from the 1.00 credit-weighted research and writing intensive seminar courses or two courses which comprise the POLS*4970/POLS*4980 Honours Thesis sequence.

4000 level courses that fulfill the Honours writing and research intensive course requirement:

POLS*4050 [1.00] Advanced Topics in Law and Politics
POLS*4070 [1.00] Courts and Parliament
POLS*4100 [1.00] Women, Justice and Public Policy
POLS*4140 [1.00] Conceptions of Canada
POLS*4160 [1.00] Multi-Level Governance in Canada
POLS*4200 [1.00] International Political Economy
POLS*4250 [1.00] Topics in Public Management
POLS*4260 [1.00] Topics in Public Policy
POLS*4300 [1.00] Human Rights, Ethics, and Development
POLS*4340 [1.00] Nationalism, State-building and Identity
POLS*4710 [1.00] Topics in Comparative Politics
POLS*4720 [1.00] Topics in International Relations
POLS*4730 [1.00] International Relations of the Middle East
POLS*4740 [1.00] Advanced Topics in Rights and Liberties
POLS*4900 [1.00] Special Topics Seminar in Political Science
POLS*4970 [0.50] Honours Political Science Research I

an additional 2.50 credits from courses in Political Science.

** Students interested in pursuing graduate or professional studies related to Political Science are encouraged to consider taking the POLS*4970/POLS*4980 Honours Thesis sequence. Interested students must obtain instructor consent in order to register for this option.

Minor (Honours Program)

A minimum of 5.00 credits is required, including:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
POLS*3180 [0.50] Research Methods I: Political Inquiry and Methods
One of:
PHIL*2280 [0.50] Key Concepts in Political Philosophy
POLS*2000 [0.50] Political Theory
One of:
POLS*2080 [0.50] Development and Underdevelopment
POLS*2100 [0.50] Comparative Politics
POLS*2200 [0.50] International Relations
One of:
POLS*2150 [0.50] Gender and Politics
POLS*2250 [0.50] Public Administration and Governance
POLS*2350 [0.50] Law from a Political Science Perspective

0.50 credits at the 4000 level

1.50 additional credits from courses in Political Science

Choices for fulfillment of prerequisites for 4000 level courses (see course descriptions for corresponding requirements).

Political Thought

POLS*3230 [0.50] Modern Political Thought
POLS*3710 [0.50] Politics and Sexuality

Canadian Politics

HIST*3160 [0.50] Canadian Political History
POLS*3050 [0.50] Canadian Political Parties, Elections and Pressure Groups
POLS*3210 [0.50] The Constitution and Canadian Federalism
POLS*3270 [0.50] Local Government in Ontario
POLS*3470 [0.50] Business-Government Relations in Canada

Public Policy, Governance and Law

POLS*3130 [0.50] Law, Politics and Judicial Process
POLS*3210 [0.50] The Constitution and Canadian Federalism
POLS*3250 [0.50] Public Policy: Challenges and Prospects
POLS*3300 [0.50] Governing Criminal Justice
POLS*3370 [0.50] Environmental Politics and Governance
POLS*3440 [0.50] Corruption, Scandal and Political Ethics
POLS*3470 [0.50] Business-Government Relations in Canada
POLS*3670 [0.50] Comparative Public Policy and Administration

Comparative Politics

POLS*3000 [0.50] Politics of Africa
POLS*3060 [0.50] Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
POLS*3080 [0.50] Politics of Latin America
POLS*3160 [0.50] Women and Politics in the Third World
POLS*3320 [0.50] Politics of Aid & Development
POLS*3410 [0.50] U.S. Politics and Government
POLS*3440 [0.50] Corruption, Scandal and Political Ethics
POLS*3450 [0.50] European Governments and Politics
POLS*3670 [0.50] Comparative Public Policy and Administration
POLS*3890 [0.50] Government and Politics of India
POLS*3920 [0.50] Modern China

International Relations and Global Studies

POLS*3160 [0.50] Women and Politics in the Third World
POLS*3320 [0.50] Politics of Aid & Development
POLS*3490 [0.50] Conflict and Conflict Resolution
POLS*3790 [0.50] The Political Economy of International Relations

The Department of Political Science offers a academic advising service for students in Political Science.

Students are encouraged to consult with the faculty advisor for either of these programs about course selection, substitution of courses offered by other departments, or other matters.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120