X. Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
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: |
|
One of: |
|
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: |
|
One of: |
|
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: |
|
One of: |
|
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: |
|
One of: |
|
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).
Canadian Politics
HIST*3160 |
[0.50] |
Canadian Political History |
POLS*3050 |
[0.50] |
Canadian Political Parties, Elections and Pressure Groups |
POLS*3140 |
[0.50] |
Politics and the Charter of Rights |
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*3140 |
[0.50] |
Politics and the Charter of Rights |
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] |
International Political Economy |
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.