Political Science MA

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate honours degree or the equivalent is required with a minimum GPA of 3.30.
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Additional Admission Requirements

Students who do not have the necessary background in political science, as well as in the concentration which they have chosen, may be required to take specific undergraduate courses in addition to the regular program. In certain cases, applicants may be required to complete a qualifying program in order to be eligible for admission to the graduate program.

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Political Science Courses page for course descriptions.

Political Science MA (45 credits)

3	credits of Core Courses in Area of Concentration: • POLI 603 International Relations Theory (3.00) ‌ • POLI 626 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3.00) ‌ • POLI 632 Seminar in Political Theory (3.00) ‌ • POLI 636 Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration (3.00) ‌ • POLI 638 Seminar in Canadian and Quebec Politics (3.00) ‌
3	credits chosen from: • POLI 601 Research Design (3.00) ‌ • POLI 644 Quantitative Methods (3.00) ‌
6	credits of Concentration Courses chosen from one of the following subfields in which the student intends to write a thesis: International Politics (MA)‌ Comparative Politics (MA)‌ Political Theory (MA)‌ Public Policy and Administration (MA)‌ Canadian and Quebec Politics (MA)‌
6	credits of Approved Elective Courses chosen from any of the 600-level courses in political science, or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines. For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved
3	credits: • POLI 694 Thesis Proposal (3.00) ‌
24	credits: • POLI 696 Master’s Thesis (24.00) ‌

Canadian and Quebec Politics (MA)

• POLI 606 Policy Making and the National Purpose in Canada (3.00)

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• POLI 611 Judicial Politics and Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 615 The Politics of Citizenship in Canada (3.00)

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• POLI 618 Canadian Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 624 Public Administration of Intergovernmental Affairs (3.00)

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• POLI 638 Seminar in Canadian and Quebec Politics (3.00)

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• POLI 645 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3.00)

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• POLI 684 Special Topics in Canadian and Quebec Politics (3.00)

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Comparative Politics (MA)

• POLI 604 Comparative Public Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 621 Political Leadership and Decision Making (3.00)

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• POLI 622 Comparative Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 626 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3.00)

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• POLI 629 Critical Perspectives in Development (3.00)

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• POLI 639 Development Policy and Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 645 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3.00)

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• POLI 650 Resistance, Informality and Violence (3.00)

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• POLI 651 Public Security and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean (3.00)

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• POLI 657 Nationalism and Ethnicity (3.00)

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• POLI 670 Latin American Politics and Society (3.00)

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• POLI 681 Special Topics in Comparative Politics (3.00)

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International Politics (MA)

• POLI 603 International Relations Theory (3.00)

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• POLI 605 Global Environmental Politics (3.00)

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• POLI 616 Theories of Foreign Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 649 Gender and Global Politics (3.00)

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• POLI 659 International Organizations (3.00)

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• POLI 660 European Union (3.00)

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• POLI 662 International Political Economy (3.00)

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• POLI 665 International Human Rights (3.00)

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• POLI 687 Special Topics in International Politics (3.00)

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Political Theory (MA)

• POLI 623 Ethics, Morality and Justice (3.00)

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• POLI 625 Policy Discourse of Biotechnology (3.00)

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• POLI 628 Ethics and Values in Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 631 Political Texts (3.00)

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• POLI 632 Seminar in Political Theory (3.00)

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• POLI 643 Rational and Public Choice (3.00)

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• POLI 652 Science, Technology and Power (3.00)

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• POLI 654 Concepts of the State (3.00)

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• POLI 658 Authors of the Political Imagination (3.00)

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• POLI 685 Special Topics in Political Theory (3.00)

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Public Policy and Public Administration (MA)

• POLI 604 Comparative Public Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 605 Global Environmental Politics (3.00)

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• POLI 606 Policy Making and the National Purpose in Canada (3.00)

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• POLI 607 Ageing and Public Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 609 Mechanics of Briefing Notes (3.00)

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• POLI 611 Judicial Politics and Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 612 Public Policy and Business Cycles (3.00)

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• POLI 616 Theories of Foreign Policy (3.00)

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• POLI 618 Canadian Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 621 Political Leadership and Decision Making (3.00)

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• POLI 622 Comparative Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 624 Public Administration of Intergovernmental Affairs (3.00)

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• POLI 625 Policy Discourse of Biotechnology (3.00)

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• POLI 628 Ethics and Values in Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 630 0rganization Theory (3.00)

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• POLI 633 The State and Immigration (3.00)

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• POLI 634 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3.00)

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• POLI 636 Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 639 Development Policy and Administration (3.00)

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• POLI 640 Politics of Immigration (3.00)

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• POLI 645 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3.00)

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• POLI 648 Feminist Policy Studies (3.00)

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• POLI 652 Science, Technology and Power (3.00)

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• POLI 674 Legislative Studies (3.00)

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• POLI 683 Special Topics in Public Policy and Administration (3.00)

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Additional Degree Requirements

Approved Elective and Cognate Courses. Two 3-credit courses chosen from any of the 600-level courses in political science, or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines. For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved (6 credits).

Academic Regulations

Academic Standing. Please refer to the Academic Standing section of the Calendar for a detailed review of the Academic Regulations.
Program Specific Requirements. Students must obtain a assessment grade point average (AGPA) of 2.70 based on a minimum of 12 credits.
Residence. The minimum residence requirement is one year (3 terms) of full-time study, or the equivalent in part-time study.
Time Limit. Please refer to the Academic Regulations page for further details regarding the Time Limits.
Graduation Requirement. In order to graduate, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.70.