X. Degree Programs

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

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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:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
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 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 is required, including:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
POLS*2300 [0.50] Canadian Government and Politics
POLS*2650 [0.50] Political Inquiry and Research Methods
POLS*3650 [0.50] Quantitative Methods of Data Analysis
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

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

1.50 credits at the 4000 level, which 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/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 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

an additional 2.50 credits from courses in Political Science.

** 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 is required, including:

POLS*1150 [0.50] Understanding Politics
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

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).

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

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.

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