Political Science (BA Program)
Alex Michalos, Professor Emeritus
Boris DeWiel, Associate Professor and Chair
Michael Murphy, Associate Professor, and Canada Research Chair,
Comparative Indigenous-State Relations
Tracy Summerville, Associate Professor
Gary Wilson, Associate Professor
John Young, Associate Professor
Jason Lacharite, Assistant Professor
Alberto DeFeo, Adjunct Professor
Greg Poelzer, Adjunct Professor
Jason Morris, Lecturer
Besides literacy and numeracy, citizenship and diplomacy are
fundamental skills needed to achieve a good quality of life.
Citizenship includes both the rights and duties of membership in a
political community. Diplomacy is the art and practice of reaching
agreements through negotiation. A healthy democracy requires the active
and informed participation of its citizens, but this is only possible
with a good understanding of its political institutions, processes and
issues. Political Science is the discipline devoted to the systematic
investigation of citizenship and diplomacy in local, national and
international communities.
To achieve its purposes, the Department of Political Science offers the
opportunity to study political philosophy, comparative politics,
Canadian government, international politics and public administration.
The latter field is offered in two public administration certificates.
These certificates are available in municipal administration and First
Nations administration.
Majors in Political Science must take a minimum of 51credit hours in Political Science or other designated disciplines.
The minor requires a minimum of six Political Science courses. Students
may also choose to complete one or both of the above mentioned
certificates in public administration (see below for a description and
a listing of requirements for the two certificate programs).
Political Philosophy
Political philosophy investigates normative questions about political
life: What is the best form of government? What is justice? Is there an
inherent right to self-government?
Comparative Politics
Comparative politics examines the relationships between government and
society around the world. This includes studies of individual countries
such as Russia or Japan, as well as political issues such as the role
of government in the economy, transitions to democracy or
aboriginal-state relations across sets of countries.
Canadian Government
The study of Canadian government investigates the conflicts and
challenges within Canadian society and the institutions of government
at federal, provincial, local and First Nations levels. This includes
such topics as Canadian political culture, federalism, political
economy and the Charter.
International Politics
International politics examines politics among nations and will cover a
wide variety of topics such as Canadian Foreign Policy, International
Organizations as well as a diversity of theoretical approaches.
Major in Political Science
Political Science majors are required to take 51 credit hours in Political Science and related disciplines.
The Political Science major offers a foundation in four fields of
political science: Canadian Government, Comparative Politics, Political
Philosophy, and International Politics.
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirement
Lower-Division Requirement
100 Level
200 Level
| INTS 205-3 | | Introduction to International Studies | | POLS 200-3 | | Canadian Government and Politics | | POLS 202-3 | | Canada in Comparative Perspective
| | POLS 270-3 | | Political Philosophy: Antiquity to Early Modernity
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Research and Writing in Political Science |
Upper-Division Requirement
300 and 400 Level
An additional 21 credit hours in POLS or INTS, of which at least 6 credit hours must be at the 400 level.
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation 15).
Joint Major in Economics/Political Science
See Calendar entry under Economics.
Joint Major in International Studies/Political Science
See Calendar entry under International Studies.
Joint Major in Political Science/Women's Studies
The Political Science/Women's Studies Joint Major will equip students
to understand the relationship between the study of the literature and
its women's studies context. The degree will be particularly attractive
to students who intend to pursue a career in teaching or further
studies in Political Science or Women's Studies.
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a
Joint Major in Political Science and Women's Studies is 120 credit
hours.
Program Requirements
Lower Division Requirement
| POLS 100-3 | | Contemporary Political Issues | | POLS 200-3 | | Canadian Government and Politics | | WMST 100-3 | | Introduction to Women's Studies | | POLS 202-3 | | Comparative Government and Politics | |
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Statistics for the Social and Management Sciences
Basic Statistics | | POLS 270-3 | | Political Philosophy: Plato to Locke | |
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Research and Writing for Political Science |
Three additional Women's Studies courses at the 100 or 200 level.
Upper Division Requirement
Additional Requirement
Three additional courses selected from:
| ANTH 401-3 | | Anthropological Perspectives on Inequality | | ANTH 406-3 | | Feminist Perspectives in Anthropology | | COMM 333-3 | | Women in Organizations | | ECON 301-3 | | Women and the Economy | |
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Contemporary Women's Literature | | ENVS 309-3 | | Women and Environmental Studies | |
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Indigenous Women: Perspectives | |
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First Nations Perspectives on Race, Class, Gender and Power | |
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Topics in Aboriginal Women's Studies | | HIST 309-3 | | Women in Canada | |
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Introduction to the History of Gender | | HIST 453 (3-6) | | Topics in the History of Gender | | HIST 454 (3-6) | | Topics in Women's History | |
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Women and Health | |
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Women in the Human Services | |
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Gender and Bisexual Lives | |
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Lesbian and Bisexual Lives | WMST 304-3
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| Contemporary Women's Writing in an International Frame
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Gender and Film | |
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Cultural Studies: Gender, Race, and Reproduction | |
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Feminist Political Philosophy | |
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Contemporary Feminist Theories | |
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Selected Topics |
Three of:
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation 15).
Minor in Political Science
This minor provides students with a foundation in each of the fields of
Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory, as well
as permits some specialization in upper division courses.
A minor in Political Science requires students to take at least six
Political Science courses (18 credit hours), at least four of which
must be upper division.
A maximum of two courses (six credit hours) used to fulfill program
requirements for a major or another minor may also be used to fulfill
requirements for a minor in Political Science.
To fulfill the minor, students must successfully complete the following courses:
One of:
and four upper division courses in Political Science.
Alternative courses may be substituted for the above with the written permission of the Department Chair or Dean of the College.
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