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.
Area of Concentration (General Program)
A minimum of 5.00 credits is required, including:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
POLS*1150 | Understanding Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2300 | Canadian Government and Politics | 0.50 |
PHIL*2280 | Key Concepts in Political Philosophy | 0.50 |
or POLS*2000 | Political Theory | |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
IDEV*2000 | The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions | 0.50 |
POLS*2100 | Comparative Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2200 | International Relations | 0.50 |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
POLS*2150 | Gender and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2230 | Public Policy | 0.50 |
POLS*2250 | Public Administration and Governance | 0.50 |
POLS*2350 | Law from a Political Science Perspective | 0.50 |
2.50 additional credits, at least 1.50 of which must be at the 3000 level or above. | 2.50 |
Major (Honours Program)
A minimum of 9.00 credits is required, including:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
POLS*1150 | Understanding Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2300 | Canadian Government and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2650 | Political Inquiry and Research Methods | 0.50 |
POLS*3650 | Quantitative Methods of Data Analysis | 0.50 |
PHIL*2280 | Key Concepts in Political Philosophy | 0.50 |
or POLS*2000 | Political Theory | |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
IDEV*2000 | The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions | 0.50 |
POLS*2100 | Comparative Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2200 | International Relations | 0.50 |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
POLS*2150 | Gender and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2230 | Public Policy | 0.50 |
POLS*2250 | Public Administration and Governance | 0.50 |
POLS*2350 | Law from a Political Science Perspective | 0.50 |
At least 0.50 credits at the 3000 level in three of the five fields in the department | 1.50 | |
1.50 credits at the 4000 level 1,2 | 1.50 | |
2.50 additional credits from courses in Political Science. 2 | 2.50 |
- 1
Must include one course from the 1.00 credit-weighted research and writing intensive seminar courses or the two courses which comprise the POLS*4970 Honours Political Science Research I/POLS*4980 Honours Political Science Research II Honours Thesis sequence.
- 2
A maximum of 2.00 credits at the 4000 level may be counted towards a major in Political Science.
4000 level courses that fulfill the writing and research intensive course requirement:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
POLS*4020 | Global Law and Courts | 1.00 |
POLS*4050 | Advanced Topics in Law and Politics | 1.00 |
POLS*4070 | Courts and Parliament | 1.00 |
POLS*4090 | Seminar in Digital Politics | 1.00 |
POLS*4100 | Women, Justice and Public Policy | 1.00 |
POLS*4110 | Criminal Justice Policy and Law | 1.00 |
POLS*4140 | Conceptions of Canada | 1.00 |
POLS*4160 | Multi-Level Governance in Canada | 1.00 |
POLS*4170 | Global Environmental Politics | 1.00 |
POLS*4200 | International Political Economy | 1.00 |
POLS*4250 | Topics in Public Management | 1.00 |
POLS*4260 | Topics in Public Policy | 1.00 |
POLS*4300 | Human Rights, Ethics, and Development | 1.00 |
POLS*4340 | Nationalism, State-building and Identity | 1.00 |
POLS*4710 | Topics in Comparative Politics | 1.00 |
POLS*4720 | Topics in International Relations | 1.00 |
POLS*4730 | International Relations of the Middle East | 1.00 |
POLS*4740 | Advanced Topics in Rights and Liberties | 1.00 |
POLS*4900 | Special Topics Seminar in Political Science | 1.00 |
Students interested in pursuing graduate or professional studies related to Political Science are encouraged to consider taking the POLS*4970 Honours Political Science Research I/POLS*4980 Honours Political Science Research II 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:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
POLS*1150 | Understanding Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2300 | Canadian Government and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2650 | Political Inquiry and Research Methods | 0.50 |
PHIL*2280 | Key Concepts in Political Philosophy | 0.50 |
or POLS*2000 | Political Theory | |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
IDEV*2000 | The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions | 0.50 |
POLS*2100 | Comparative Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2200 | International Relations | 0.50 |
Select 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
POLS*2150 | Gender and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*2230 | Public Policy | 0.50 |
POLS*2250 | Public Administration and Governance | 0.50 |
POLS*2350 | Law from a Political Science Perspective | 0.50 |
1.00 credits from Political Science at 3000-level or above | ||
1.00 additional credits from courses in Political Science |
Choices for fulfillment of prerequisites for 4000 level courses (see course descriptions for corresponding requirements).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Political Thought | ||
POLS*3230 | Modern Political Thought | 0.50 |
POLS*3710 | Gender, Sexuality and Law | 0.50 |
Canadian Politics | ||
HIST*3160 | Canada: Political & Policy History | 0.50 |
POLS*3050 | Canadian Campaigns and Elections | 0.50 |
POLS*3130 | Law, Politics and Judicial Process | 0.50 |
POLS*3140 | Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms | 0.50 |
POLS*3210 | The Constitution and Canadian Federalism | 0.50 |
POLS*3270 | Local Government in Ontario | 0.50 |
POLS*3340 | Indigenous Politics in Canada | 0.50 |
POLS*3470 | Business-Government Relations in Canada | 0.50 |
Public Policy, Governance and Law | ||
POLS*3130 | Law, Politics and Judicial Process | 0.50 |
POLS*3140 | Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms | 0.50 |
POLS*3210 | The Constitution and Canadian Federalism | 0.50 |
POLS*3250 | Public Policy: Challenges and Prospects | 0.50 |
POLS*3300 | Governing Criminal Justice | 0.50 |
POLS*3350 | Comparative Law and Courts | 0.50 |
POLS*3370 | Environmental Politics and Governance | 0.50 |
POLS*3440 | Corruption, Scandal and Political Ethics | 0.50 |
POLS*3470 | Business-Government Relations in Canada | 0.50 |
POLS*3670 | Comparative Public Policy | 0.50 |
POLS*3710 | Gender, Sexuality and Law | 0.50 |
Comparative Politics | ||
POLS*3000 | Politics of Africa | 0.50 |
POLS*3060 | Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 0.50 |
POLS*3080 | Politics of Latin America | 0.50 |
POLS*3160 | Global Gender Justice | 0.50 |
POLS*3320 | Politics of Aid and Development | 0.50 |
POLS*3350 | Comparative Law and Courts | 0.50 |
POLS*3410 | U.S. Politics and Government | 0.50 |
POLS*3440 | Corruption, Scandal and Political Ethics | 0.50 |
POLS*3450 | European Governments and Politics | 0.50 |
POLS*3670 | Comparative Public Policy | 0.50 |
POLS*3890 | Government and Politics of India | 0.50 |
POLS*3920 | Politics of China | 0.50 |
International Relations and Global Studies | ||
POLS*3020 | International Law and Organizations | 0.50 |
POLS*3160 | Global Gender Justice | 0.50 |
POLS*3320 | Politics of Aid and Development | 0.50 |
POLS*3490 | Conflict and Conflict Resolution | 0.50 |
POLS*3790 | International Political Economy | 0.50 |
The Department of Political Science offers an 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.