The Political Science BA program is designed for students who are interested
in the study of politics. The study of politics is concerned with the nature
and workings of power, state and government; the rights and duties of citizenship;
the limits and possibilities of collective political action; and the social,
economic, and cultural formations that shape the life of the political community.
The scope of inquiry is local, national, and international; it includes
the empirical analysis of individuals, groups, institutions and processes
as well as the investigation of longstanding philosophical questions concerning
human nature, freedom, democracy, and justice.
The Political Science program is organized into four main subfields: Canadian
politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.
The program offers students the opportunity to gain a strong foundation
in all four subfields and to combine empirical, practical and theoretical
approaches in each year of study. In addition to the Canadian Politics subfield,
the Department also offers specialized area courses in Africa, the United
States, Europe, and the Middle East. Political Science students who seek
a more intensive concentration in one particular subfield can integrate
courses from other programs in Canadian Studies, International Relations,
History and Philosophy.
