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.

Political Science Academic and Co-op Work Term 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
One of:
PHIL*2280 [0.50] Key Concepts in Political Philosophy
POLS*2000 [0.50] Political Theory
One of:
IDEV*2000 [0.50] The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions
POLS*2100 [0.50] Comparative Politics
POLS*2200 [0.50] International Relations
One of:
POLS*2150 [0.50] Gender and Politics
POLS*2230 [0.50] Public Policy
POLS*2250 [0.50] Public Administration and Governance
POLS*2350 [0.50] Law from a Political Science Perspective
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:
POLS*3130 [0.50] Law, Politics and Judicial Process
POLS*3140 [0.50] Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
POLS*3320 [0.50] Politics of Aid & Development
POLS*3370 [0.50] Environmental Politics and Governance
POLS*3210*DE [0.50] The Constitution and Canadian Federalism
POLS*3300*DE [0.50] Governing Criminal Justice
1.50 electives, which may include:
POLS*3850 [0.50] Experiential Learning in Political Science
POLS*3960 [0.50] Selected Topics in Political Science
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).

Political Thought
POLS*3230 [0.50] Modern Political Thought
POLS*3710 [0.50] Politics and Sexuality
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
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
POLS*3890 [0.50] Government and Politics of India
POLS*3920 [0.50] Politics of China
International Relations and Global Studies
POLS*3160 [0.50] Global Gender Justice
POLS*3320 [0.50] Politics of Aid & Development
POLS*3490 [0.50] Conflict and Conflict Resolution
POLS*3790 [0.50] International Political Economy

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.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120