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:

Area of Concentration (General Program)

A minimum of 5.00 credits in Political Science is required, including:

  1. the Political Science core

  2. 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 in Political Science is required, including:

  1. the Political Science core

  2. POLS*3180 and POLS*3650

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

  4. 2.00 credits at the 4000 level, two of which may include the POLS*4970/POLS*4980 Honours Thesis **

** 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 in Political Science is required, including:

  1. the Political Science core

  2. POLS*3180

  3. 0.50 credits at the 4000 level

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

Political Thought

POLS*3220 [0.50] Classical Political Thought
POLS*3230 [0.50] Modern Political Thought
POLS*3280 [0.50] Modern Political Ideologies
POLS*3710 [0.50] Politics and Sexuality

Canadian Politics

POLS*3050 [0.50] Canadian Political Parties, Elections and Pressure Groups
POLS*3110 [0.50] Politics of Ontario
POLS*3130 [0.50] Law, Politics and Judicial Process
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
POLS*3940 [0.50] Accountability and Canadian Government

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
POLS*3930 [0.50] Politics of the Agri-Food System
POLS*3940 [0.50] Accountability and Canadian Government

Comparative Politics

POLS*3000 [0.50] Politics of Africa
POLS*3060 [0.50] Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
POLS*3070 [0.50] Comparative Politics of Asia Pacific
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*3330 [0.50] Politics and Trade Liberalization in the Americas
POLS*3390 [0.50] Comparative Democratic Institutions
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*3460 [0.50] Russia and Eastern Europe
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*3070 [0.50] Comparative Politics of Asia Pacific
POLS*3160 [0.50] Women and Politics in the Third World
POLS*3320 [0.50] Politics of Aid & Development
POLS*3330 [0.50] Politics and Trade Liberalization in the Americas
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 comprehensive counselling service for students in Political Science. As part of their program, the department also permits students to include 0.50 credits towards the general degree and 1.00 credits towards the honours degree from an approved list of courses offered by other departments.

Students are encouraged to consult with the departmental 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