X. Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Political Science (Co-op) (POLS:C)
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.
Program Requirements
The Co-op program in Political Science is a four and a half year program, including three work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term, and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to adjusting this schedule.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academic Semester 1 | Academic Semester 2 | Off |
| 2 | Academic Semester 3
COOP*1100 |
Academic Semester 4 |
COOP*1000 Work Term I |
| 3 | COOP*2000 Work Term II | Academic Semester 5 | Academic Semester 6 |
| 4 | Academic Semester 7 | COOP*3000 Work Term III | Off |
| 5 | Academic Semester 8 | N/A | N/A |
To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.
For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Educationweb site.
Credit Summary (21.50 Total Credits)*
9.00 - Required Core Courses
1.50 – Humanities credits from at least two areas (BA distribution requirement)
0.50 - Social Science credit outside of POLS (BA distribution requirement)
1.00 - Natural Science credits (BA distribution requirement)
8.00 - Electives
1.50 - Co-op Work Terms
Note: Three Co-op work terms including a Summer, Fall, and Winter are necessary to complete the Co-op requirement.
The recommended program sequence is outlined below.
Major (Honours Program)
Semester 1 - Fall
| POLS*1150 | [0.50] | Understanding Politics |
| 2.00 electives* | ||
Semester 2 - Winter
| 2.50 electives* |
Semester 3 or 4 - Fall or Winter
| COOP*1100 | [0.00] | Introduction to Co-operative Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLS*2300 | [0.50] | Canadian Government and Politics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLS*2650 | [0.50] | Political Inquiry and Research Methods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.50 electives * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Note: These may include electives required to complete the Humanities, Social Science, Natural and Mathematical Science distribution requirements, or POLS restricted electives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summer Semester
| COOP*1000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term I |
Fall Semester
| COOP*2000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term II |
Semester 5 - Winter
| POLS*3650 | [0.50] | Quantitative Methods of Data Analysis |
| 1.50 POLS restricted electives | ||
| 0.50 electives | ||
Semester 6 - Summer
| Two of: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1.50 electives, which may include: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Note: POLS*3850 and POLS*3960 are subject to faculty availability and departmental approval. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Semester 7 - Fall and Semester 8 - Fall
A minimum of 1.50 and a maximum of 2.00 credits of 4000-level POLS courses are required in semesters 7 and 8. At least 1.00 credits must come from either a 1.00 credit fourth-year seminar or the Honours Thesis sequence (POLS*4970 and POLS*4980).
Option A
| 1.50 POLS credits 4000-level | ||
| 1.50 POLS electives | ||
| 2.00 electives |
Option B
| 2.00 POLS credits 4000-level | ||
| 1.00 POLS electives | ||
| 2.00 electives |
Winter Semester
| COOP*3000 | [0.50] | Co-op Work Term III |
Summer Semester
No academic semester or work term.
Restricted Electives
1. At least 0.50 credits at the 3000 level in three of the five fields in the department (see field lists below).
Canadian Politics
| HIST*3160 | [0.50] | Canadian Political History |
| POLS*3050 | [0.50] | Canadian Campaigns & Elections |
| POLS*3140 | [0.50] | Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms |
| 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] | Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms |
| 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] | Global Gender Justice |
| 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] | Politics of China |
2. 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. 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 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 |
Note: 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.
3. An additional 2.50 credits from courses in Political Science. Note: If 2.00 credits of 4000 level POLS courses are being completed then only an additional 2.00 credits from courses in Political Science are required.