P O L I T I C A L   S C I E N C E

Notes

Some of the courses listed are not offered in the current academic year. Precise information on course offerings and more detailed descriptions of the content of Political Science courses are available in the Department at the time students select their classes.

PSCI 100s


PSCI 100 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014381
Power, Politics, and Policy: An Introduction
What are the key political issues in Canada and abroad? Students will undertake comparative study of ideas, institutions, and interests central to issues of policy and politics.

 
PSCI 150 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014382
Introduction to Global Politics
What are the politics underlying the contemporary distribution and governance of global wealth and power? This course provides students with an introduction to core issues in the study of global politics.

 

PSCI 200s


PSCI 225 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007738
Classics in Political Thought
Where do the core tenets of Western political philosophy come from? In this course students will trace the development of political philosophy by examining Ancient Greek plays (e.g., Antigone, Medea) and foundational political texts (e.g., Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics) which set the stage for modern Western political thought (Machiavelli and after).
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 150
(Cross-listed with CLAS 225)

 
PSCI 226 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007740
Modern Political Thought
Where do contemporary ideas about political obligation, equality, freedom, and justice originate? By studying some of the most influential texts in Western political theory that emerged from the 1500s to the 1800s, students will consider such concepts as social contract theory (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau), personal liberty (Mill), and structural-institutional critiques (Marx).
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 150, 225/CLAS 225

 
PSCI 231 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007744
Government and Business
How do the relations between government, business, and civil society function? Focusing on Canada in comparative context, students will study national and sub-national government policies relating to key debates in socio-economic development.
Prereq: Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 244 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014267
Irrational and Rational Choices in Politics
Why do some powerful dictators allow independent legislatures and parties to exist? Why are the frontlines of some civil wars spared from violence? Why do the same people sometimes choose language to define their ethnic identity but then choose religion at other times? Students will examine apparently random, puzzling, and even seemingly irrational choices made in political life. This course uses a rational choice framework to provide a unified explanation for some of these puzzling questions.
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 110, 150

 
PSCI 250 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011344
The Comparative Politics of State and Nation
How do states and regimes interact with cultural and national identity? In this core comparative politics course, students will assess various approaches to the study of politics within states, emphasizing political developments, institutions, and processes in countries both across the Global South and advanced industrial worlds.
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 110, 150

 
PSCI 252 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007724
Global South
Why are some countries in the world poor and others rich? Why have some developing countries experienced rapid economic growth in recent years while others remain stagnant? What are some of the costs and benefits of development for societies and the environment? Students will explore multiple factors shaping economic growth, and political and social development in the Global South.
Prereq: PSCI 150 or INTST 101

 
PSCI 253 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011866
Religion and Politics
Religion continues to influence politics around the world as seen in the return of religious nationalism, religious opposition to globalization, populism and religion, and grassroots political movements for social change. Considering both historical and contemporary cases, students critically analyze how religion shapes - and is shaped by - politics.
(Cross-listed with RS 220)
Offered at St. Jerome's University

 
PSCI 254 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014384
The Political Documentary
What role do political documentaries play in political thought, political practice, and the public sphere? Students will critically assess a range of documentary films made by government agencies, professional filmmakers, and activists.
Prereq: Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 255 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007747
Comparative Political Economy of Advanced Industrial Democracies
How is the wealth of the "rich democracies" made? How is some of that wealth redistributed through democratic institutions and the actors who control them? Students will undertake comparative analyses across advanced industrialized liberal democracies.
Prereq: PSCI 100

 
PSCI 257 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011978
Introduction to Middle East Politics
An introduction to modern Middle East political dynamics and the important role this strategic region has played in world affairs. The course examines Middle Eastern states, their domestic political challenges, geopolitical complexities, and relations with the international political community.
Prereq: Level at least 2A.
Antireq: HIST 230/PSCI 257 taken before fall 2021

 
PSCI 259 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012187
Government and Politics of Asia
How are countries in Asia (including East, South, and South East Asia) governed and what policies have helped make them one of the fastest growing economic centers in the world in recent decades? Using a comparative perspective of the political economy of major countries in Asia, students will study their political histories and government institutions.
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 110, 150

 
PSCI 260 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007749
Canadian Government & Politics
An examination of Canada's federal system, parliamentary government, and national political processes, such as the party system, interest groups, the electoral system, and voting behavior.
Prereq: One of PSCI 100, 101, 110
(Cross-listed with LS 206)

 
PSCI 264 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007752
American Government and Politics
How do the key institutions of the United States' federal government function? Students will study the crucial elements of national political processes in America. Where appropriate, the course will focus on a particular upcoming electoral event.
Prereq: Level at least 1B

 
PSCI 277 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 013313
International Relations of East Asia
This course explores key topics in the international relations of East Asia after World War 2. Classes examine literature on major developments of East Asian relations, including the Cold War, East Asian regionalism, and the foreign policies of China, Japan, and Korea.
Prereq: Level at least 2A
(Cross-listed with EASIA 277R)

 
PSCI 281 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007756
World Politics
What patterns the distribution of power around the globe? When, where, and why does violent conflict or war break out? When, where, and why do co-operation and peace prevail? Students will study how billions of people live together in various degrees of harmony and disharmony.
Prereq: PSCI 150 or INTST 101

 
PSCI 282 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007757
Foreign Policy
What trends prevail in foreign policy across states? Using a comparative approach by focusing on particular country-specific issues and approaches, students will explore important influences on the development of foreign policies and on the differentiation of big, middle, and small powers.
Prereq: PSCI 150 or INTST 101

 
PSCI 283 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012302
International Political Economy
How is the world economy governed? Students will study the politics of international trade, global money and finance, foreign investment, global agriculture and resources, regional economic integration, global inequality and development, and international economic governance.
Prereq: At least 0.50 unit in PSCI or ECON, or INTST 101

 
PSCI 299 LEC,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014797
Political Science Beyond the Classroom
Course topics vary. Students will focus on learning about politics through experiences both within and beyond the classroom.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]

 

PSCI 300s


PSCI 300 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014224
Theories of Political Economy
What is the relationship between politics and economics, power and wealth, states and markets? Students will study influential historical and contemporary works that shape political economy debates in the contemporary world.
Prereq: PSCI 110 or 150; ECON 101 or 102; Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 301 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 015920
Canadian Political Economy
What is the relationship between Canadian politics and economics? How do states and markets, and governments and businesses interact? Focusing on theoretical understandings of historical Canadian political-economic development, students will examine a range of current issues. Topics may include the evolution of the Canadian welfare state, labour relations, capitalist (re)production, and gendered and environmental concerns.
Prereq: PSCI 231; Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 302 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 015366
Local Government
How do Canadian local governments function? Students will study the relationship between municipalities and other levels of government, current governance challenges facing local officials, and the design and implementation of public policy within a complex local political environment.
Prereq: Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 303 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 015367
Political Economy of the Environment
How do major political actors, with diverging interests, resources, and strategies, influence environmental policy and outcomes? Students will study major historical and contemporary environmental debates in Canada, drawing on insights from comparative cases.
Prereq: Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 304 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 016397
Pan-African Global Politics
This course examines Africa's role in international order and offers an in-depth study of the evolution of Africa's global political relations. Engaging with concepts related to political and economic underdevelopment, post coloniality, and early Pan-African political thought and practice, students will be challenged to develop and apply an historical understanding of Africa's past political relations to analyses of contemporary African multilateralism, global Pan-Africanism, and increased political and economic engagement with world nations. Students will engage with current concepts of Pan-African politics and envision prospects of future Black global leadership.
Prereq: BLKST 101 or BLKST 102; Level at least 2A or students pursuing the Diploma in Black Studies or the Diploma in Fundamentals of Anti-Racist Communication
(Cross-listed with BLKST 304)

 
PSCI 310 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012208
Politics and Diplomacy of Contemporary Japan
This course surveys several key topics in the politics and diplomacy of contemporary Japan, particularly in its relations with its Asia-Pacific neighbours. Topics may include the Pacific War and its legacies, the Japan-US security alliance, the Okinawa problem, and Japan-Canada relations.
Prereq: Level at least 3A
(Cross-listed with EASIA 300R)

 
PSCI 314 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007733
Quantitative Analysis
How do quantitative methods contribute to political science? Students will study a range of quantitative methods, with an emphasis on practical applications. The course requires only a rudimentary understanding of mathematics.
Prereq: Level at least 2A; Not open to Math students.
Antireq: ARTS 280, BIOL 361, ECON 221, ENVS 278, ISS/SDS 250A/B, 250R, KIN 222, 232, PSYCH 292, REC 371, SMF 230, SOC/LS 280, STAT 202, 204, 206, 211, 221, 231, 241, SWREN 205R

 
PSCI 315 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007764
Research Design in Political Science
What makes political science political science? Drawing on techniques from across various fields of political research, students will study the fundamentals of research design in political science, contrasting these approaches with dominant approaches in other closely related disciplines.
Prereq: At least 0.5 unit in PSCI; Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 324 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007771
Issues in Contemporary Political Theory
What is freedom? What does justice require? How does equality matter? Students will study 20th- and 21st-century thinkers' interpretations of these, and other, key political values. Theoretical analysis will be grounded in current problems, such as poverty, racism, sexism, global inequalities, colonialism, and environmental degradation.
Prereq: Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 331 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007774
Public Administration
What is the role of the public service in Canada? Students will study the structures and functions of Canada's political system by examining the ways in which the public service relates to other institutions, such as the political executive and the legislature.
Prereq: Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 334 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011638
Public Policy
An examination of the policy-making process in liberal democratic societies, and an evaluation of the tools employed by policy analysts to understand that process.
Prereq: One of PSCI 250, 255, 264, LS 206/PSCI 260
(Cross-listed with SOC 334)

 
PSCI 348 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 016134
Protests, Movements, and Revolutions
This course is about different forms of political contention including protests, social movements, and revolutions. It explores what motivates people to dissent, what strategies and tactics are employed to achieve objectives, what factors influence the outcomes of social movements, and what is the government response to these demands for change.
Prereq: Level at least 3A.
Antireq: PSCI 390 taken fall 2019

 
PSCI 350 LEC,TUT 0.50
Course ID: 007789
Political Economy of Development
What problems impede development in the Global South? Students will undertake the critical examination of North-South relations through the examination of topics including trade, investment, aid, industrialization, agri-business, development assistance, education, health, and food production.
Prereq: One of PSCI 250, 252, 281.
Antireq: INDEV 200

 
PSCI 351 LEC,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007791
Power Sharing in Divided Societies
How does the sharing of power ease or worsen conflict within society? Students will study different forms of power sharing, including pluralism, corporatism, consociationalism, and federalism.
Prereq: Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 352 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014386
Culture and Political Violence
What structural, direct, and symbolic violence occur in everyday experiences? Students will examine ethnographic and cultural accounts of political violence.
[Note: PSCI 281 or 351 recommended.]

 
PSCI 353 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011637
Politics in Russia
What explains the successes and failures of democratization in Russia? Students will undertake the comparative study of political processes, institutions, and reforms in Russia, focusing on the dilemmas posed by democratization and authoritarianism.
[Note: One of PSCI 244, 250, 252, 255, 259, 260, 264 strongly recommended]
Prereq: Level at least 2B

 
PSCI 355 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 009514
Russia and its Neighbours
How has Russia interacted with its many neighbours and how does it manage those relationships today? Students will study a range of topics including, but not limited to, nationalism and ethnicity, nuclear weapons, NATO expansion, the colour revolutions, energy politics, Baltic regional security, German-Russian relations, and the rise of China. Where appropriate, the course will include a crisis simulation, pushing students to think strategically.
Prereq: Level at least 2B

 
PSCI 358 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012183
Political Change in China
How does political change in China occur? Students will study China's political history, contemporary political institutions, political economy, and foreign relations.
Prereq: Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 359 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 015027
Politics of South Asia
How do international and domestic politics interact in South Asia? Students will study bilateral relations between countries within South Asia and the involvement of external powers, such as the U.S. and China, and delve into the challenges of political development in the region as they are shaped by class, ethnicity, religion, and gender.
Prereq: Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 360 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011768
Topics in Canadian Government and Politics
Course topics vary. Topics may include provincial politics, the federal system, parliamentary government, Indigenous self-government, and ethnicity and multiculturalism.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: LS 206/PSCI 260

 
PSCI 362 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014387
Cultural Politics and Indigenous Practices
How does research in Indigenous communities proceed? What cultural questions and methodological issues arise? Students will study colonialism, power, and voice in the context of Indigenous struggles within the Canadian nation-state and around the globe.
Prereq: At least 0.50 unit in PSCI course at the 200-level or above; Level at least 2B

 
PSCI 363 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007797
Canadian Constitutional Law
An introduction to the nature and basic principles of constitutional law. Explores constitutional conventions, the distribution of powers in the Canadian federalism, Aboriginal and treaty rights, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Prereq: LS 101 or LS 206/ PSCI 260
(Cross-listed with LS 363)

 
PSCI 367 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012063
Topics in American Government and Politics
How does the U.S. government function? Students will study the core institutions of American government, examining their implications for its politics.
Prereq: PSCI 264

 
PSCI 369 DIS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012944
The Politics of Decolonization
This course examines the break-up of empires in the mid/late 20th century, and assesses how the colonial experience has shaped relations between and among former imperial polities to the present. Focus is given to questions of political identity in colonial and post-colonial societies, and how these identities shape current political challenges.
Prereq: Level at least 2A
(Cross-listed with HIST 369)

 
PSCI 370 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011639
Gender and Politics
How does gender inform - and challenge - political ideas? Students will study the interrelationship of important concepts such as power, equality, oppression, representation, intersectionality, and autonomy.
Prereq: At least 0.50 unit in PSCI or GSJ; Level at least 2B

 
PSCI 373 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 011118
Political Parties, Elections, and Political Marketing
What is the role of political parties and electoral competition in established democracies? Students will focus on the practice of political marketing and its implications for democracy.
Prereq: One of PSCI 231, 250, 255, 264, LS 206/PSCI 260; Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 375 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 014268
Transnational Migration
This survey of transnational migration in the contemporary moment examines the reasons people have migrated voluntarily (e.g., as migrant workers) and involuntarily (e.g., as refugees), and how international and domestic law and policies affect, enable, and/or criminalize the movements of people across state borders.
Prereq: One of PSCI 250, 252, 255, 259, 264, 281, LS 206/PSCI 260; Level at least 3A
(Cross-listed with LS 365)

 
PSCI 380 DIS,ESS,LEC 0.50
Course ID: 016323
Political Economy of International Trade
What determines international trade policies? Through an examination of alternative theories and through empirical study, students will gain an understanding of how institutions, interests, and ideas shape countries' trade policies.
Prereq: PSCI 283.
Antireq: PSCI 402

 
PSCI 382 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007805
Politics of Canadian Foreign Policy
What forces shape Canadian foreign policy? Students will study both the domestic and international factors that influence Canada's foreign policy.
Prereq: LS 206/PSCI 260; PSCI 281 or 282

 
PSCI 384 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 015918
Technology and International Security
What is the relationship between technology and international security? How have technological innovations altered national security strategy and military competition in world politics? Students will be exposed to a number of case studies, including motorized armour, aircraft, nuclear weapons, submarines, autonomous weapons, digital communication, cyber security, biotechnology, and new media.
Prereq: Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 385 LEC,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014883
Chinese Foreign Policy Since 1949
This course examines the major elements and evolution of Chinese foreign policy since 1949 and China's external relations in the context of rising Chinese power.
Prereq: Level at least 2A
(Cross-listed with EASIA 302R)

 
PSCI 387 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 010348
Globalization
How is globalization changing the nature of politics? Students will examine leading political debates surrounding the forces that promote and resist global integration in the contemporary age.
Prereq: PSCI 150 or INTST 101; Level at least 2A

 
PSCI 389 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 012593
Global Governance
Global governance is governing beyond the state. An examination of diverse problems - global warming, international human rights, terrorism, property rights disputes, and health crises - which transcend borders and demand cooperative global solutions.
Prereq: Level at least 3A
(Cross-listed with LS 366)

 
PSCI 390 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 007806
Special Studies
Course topics vary. Past examples include climate change justice and transnational migration.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: At least 0.50 unit in PSCI; Level at least 3A

 
PSCI 391 RDG 0.50
Course ID: 007807
Special Studies
Course topics vary. Students wishing to study a topic of a particular interest may consult with the department's undergraduate officer about the requirements of a reading course. Past examples include political economy of energy in Canada, and dynastic politics in Pakistan.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times.]
Department Consent Required

 

PSCI 400s


PSCI 400 ESS 1.00
Course ID: 016178
Special Honours Essay
Honours Political Science students wishing to undertake a senior honours essay and to complete it in one term should consult the department's undergraduate officer.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3B Political Science majors; Political Science average at least 75%.
Antireq: PSCI 499A, PSCI 499B

 
PSCI 403 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014226
Topics in Politics and Business
Course topics vary. Topics may include accumulation, crisis, and the state and the ups and downs of capitalism.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times.]
Prereq: Level at least 4A Political Science students

 
PSCI 404 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014527
Globalization, International Business, and Development
How does international business influence development in the context of economic globalization? Students will study contending perspectives on how international business practices have affected economic, social, and political development in host countries, home countries, and the world in general.
Prereq: Two of PSCI 252, 283, 300, 350, 387, PSCI 389/LS 366

 
PSCI 405 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014528
Chinese Political Economy
How has China been able to achieve decades of sustained economic growth? Students will study various aspects of the deep economic, political, and social changes associated with China's transition from an insular command economy to an increasingly internationalized and market-oriented economy.
Prereq: PSCI 259 or 358

 
PSCI 420 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 015098
Gender and Global Politics
Does looking at the world through the lens of gender change how we see the state, sovereignty, diplomacy, security, trade, migration, globalization, governance, and other foundational concepts in global politics? Students will review feminist theories of politics, with a particular focus on international relations and global governance; examine how gender shapes the roles and experiences of women and men in global politics; and discuss how to do feminist research.
Prereq: One of PSCI 281, 282, 283, WS 202.
Antireq: PSCI 490 (LEC 002) taken winter 2015

 
PSCI 421 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007813
Justice and Gender
Theories of justice are concerned with the distribution of the basic goods of society - money, power, status, leisure, and so on. This course considers how the gender system fares from the standpoint of liberal justice, and to what extent the promises of liberal justice can be used to overturn the unequal treatment of women.
Prereq: One of PSCI 225/CLAS 225, PSCI 226, 370, LS 201; Level at least 4A
(Cross-listed with LS 464)

 
PSCI 423 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007815
Democratic Theory and Practice
What are the normative foundations, as well as limits, of democracy? Students will study contemporary challenges to democratic theory, focusing on questions of pluralism, inclusion and exclusion, rights, democratic organization, protest, and communication.
Prereq: PSCI 225/CLAS 225 or PSCI 226; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 426 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007816
Selected Subjects in Political Philosophy
Course topics vary. Past examples include genetics and justice.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 428 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007818
The State and Economic Life
What is the relationship between the state and economic life? Students will study current debates and competing ideological traditions as these conceptualize the relationship between the state and economic life.
Prereq: At least 2.0 units in PSCI; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 431 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007819
Canadian Public Policy
Students will examine major trends in contemporary Canadian public policy, with course topic varying to reflect pressing policy issues.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: PSCI 334; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 432 LEC,TUT 0.50
Course ID: 005377
Global Environmental Governance
Examination of the ways in which world society is striving to address environmental challenges by means of "global governance" - that is, international organizations and institutions intended to deal with these challenges. The history of international environmental politics will be reviewed, specific organizations and other actors involved in global environmental governance will be examined and the management of particular global environmental challenges investigated.
Prereq: Level at least 3A
(Cross-listed with ERS 404)

 
PSCI 433 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007776
Topics in Canadian Public Administration
Students will examine the major issues in public administration, with course topic varying to reflect recent developments in Canada.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 434 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007822
Comparative Public Administration
How do systems of public administration vary across developmental contexts? Students will study the rise of the administrative state across cultural and political contexts.
Prereq: At least 2.0 units in PSCI; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 435 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014529
Comparative Public Policy
How successful are competing explanatory theories of public policy? Students will undertake the comparative study of explanatory theories of public policy, with specific reference to selected current public policy issues.
Prereq: PSCI 334

 
PSCI 437 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 016177
Working with Data in Politics
This course will help students to develop the specialized skills required to analyze political data, and to use data in order to answer political questions. For example, where should one go to collect political data? How does one use data to understand political trends, to predict electoral victories, or identify polarizing tendencies in society? The course also trains students on the use of software to process data.
Prereq: Level at least 3A or one of PSCI 100, PSCI 150, ARTS 280

 
PSCI 439 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012359
Global Social Policy
What are the effects of economic integration on global social issues? Students will study three interrelated aspects of global social policy: the global social issues resulting from increased economic integration, the role of international governmental and non-governmental actors in fashioning cross-national responses to these issues, and the effects of global and regional economic and political integration on domestic social policy.
Prereq: One of PSCI 334, 357, 387, PSCI 389/LS 366; Level at least 4A

 
PSCI 450 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 015028
Kings, Generals, and Tyrants
What are the differences between non-democracies like China, hybrid regimes like Russia, one-party states like Singapore, patrimonial and personalist states in Africa, and military dictatorships in Latin America? Students will study how political power is structured in authoritarian regimes and how it shapes the relationship between state and society.
Prereq: PSCI 250

 
PSCI 451 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007827
Comparative Political Systems: Eastern Europe
What factors influence the politics of Eastern Europe? Students will compare political institutions and processes across the state of Eastern Europe.
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 452 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012947
Comparative Political Parties
With a primary focus on advanced industrialized countries, this course examines the origin and function of parties, party organization, their social and economic basis, the party system and its evolution, radical left and right parties, and the decline or adaptation of parties.
Prereq: One of PSCI 250, 252, 255, 373; Level at least 4A

 
PSCI 454 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007830
Topics in Politics in the Global South
Students will undertake advanced study of topics pertaining to politics and development, with topic varying according to current political issues and challenges.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 455 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012949
Comparative Political Economy
What are the social and economic consequences of politics, including its influence on poverty, inequality, growth, and declinate? Focusing on advanced industrialized countries, students will survey the key topics in political economy including the influence of politics on social and economic policies in relation to welfare states, labour markets, training, corporate governance, and technological innovation.
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 456 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007831
Ethnic Conflict and Conflict Resolution
What causes ethnic conflict? What strategies do states use to manage or resolve ethnic conflict? Students will undertake a comprehensive review of such strategies including both those that are morally unacceptable and those that are morally desirable.
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 460 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014388
The Cultural Politics of Israel/Palestine
What are the key features of the cultural politics that underlie the Israel/Palestine conflict? Students will study the everyday lives of those affected by the violence to understand the complex narratives of violence, peace, and human rights that circulate across the region, as well as among those in diaspora and exile.
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 461 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007834
Canadian National Politics
Course topics vary. Past examples include the health (or ill-health) of Canadian democracy.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: LS 206/PSCI 260; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 462 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 013476
Government and Politics of Indigenous Peoples
An introduction to the history and development of government policy and regulations that have altered the political and social structures of aboriginal societies. We explore contemporary challenges to government policy and regulations, as reflected in the struggles for land, aboriginal rights, and self-government, as well as the development of a global identity.
Prereq: Level at least 4A
(Cross-listed with LS 462)

 
PSCI 463 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014530
Rights and Public Policy
An examination of the role that rights and rights discourse plays in public policy development and policy change. Examines Canadian public policy in relation to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and human rights legislation, as well as cases in comparative context.
Prereq: LS 101 or LS 206/ PSCI 260
(Cross-listed with LS 463)

 
PSCI 472 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007837
Women and Public Policy
How, if at all, do public policies meet women's needs? How do women experience public policies? Reviewing developments in Canada and elsewhere, students will reflect on the significance of feminist approaches to public policy.

 
PSCI 479 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014531
International Political Economy of Asia
What are the political and economic implications of growing interdependence in the region? Students will study patterns of economic development in Asia at the national level.
Prereq: PSCI 259 or 283

 
PSCI 480 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 014227
China and Global Governance
Has China's rising power changed it from a rule-taker to a rule-maker in global governance? This course examines China's involvement in global governance on a range of issues (e.g., security, economy, human rights, the environment, and social policy) in light of China's evolving preferences, capabilities, and relations with the rest of the world.
Prereq: Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 481 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007841
Interstate War
What political forces shape war and conflict? Course topics will vary, depending on the instructor and current events.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: PSCI 281 or 282; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 482 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012950
Critical Security Studies
This course reviews critical analytical models for the study of security and covers a range of issues which might be considered non-traditional including environmental security, public safety, cyber security, and counter-terrorism.
Prereq: PSCI 281 or 282; Level at least 4A

 
PSCI 485 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007844
Selected Topics in International Political Economy
Students will study particular issues of relevance to the latest debates in the field of international political economy. Topics may include the politics of global money and finance.
Prereq: PSCI 283 or 387; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 486 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 010240
Special Topics in International Diplomacy
What are the key issues within, and perspectives on, diplomacy? Students will study public diplomacy, the use of technological innovation such as cyber-diplomacy, the widening definitions of diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy, and "niche" diplomacy.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: One of PSCI 281, 282, 283; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 487 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 012951
International Relations Theory
Students will examine the major schools of international relations theory with attention paid to positivist and critical approaches.
Prereq: PSCI 281 or 282; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 488 LEC 0.50
Course ID: 013955
Global Food and Agricultural Politics
This course examines the global food and agriculture system. Specific themes to be covered include political and governance issues related to the Green Revolution, global food corporations, agricultural trade liberalization, food aid, international agricultural assistance, the global agro-chemical industry, and agricultural bio-technology.
Prereq: Level at least 3B
(Cross-listed with ERS 462, GEOG 462)

 
PSCI 490 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007847
Special Subjects
Course topics vary. Topics may include international trade and cultural literacy, and the practice of politics.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: At least 0.5 unit in PSCI; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 491 SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007848
Special Subjects
Course topics vary. Topics may include the ethics of war, the 2018 U.S. election, and U.S. foreign policy.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of 10 times.]
Prereq: At least 0.5 unit in PSCI; Level at least 3B

 
PSCI 492 RDG 0.50
Course ID: 007849
Special Subjects
Course topics vary. Students wishing to study a topic of a particular interest may consult with the department's undergraduate officer about the requirements of a reading course.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times.]
Department Consent Required

 
PSCI 493 FLD 0.50
Course ID: 015368
Field Course
A combination of academic study and field experience that expose students to "real-world" political scenarios, including important political gatherings, such as the meetings of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank in Washington, DC; or sites of political significance, such as Israel/Palestine.
[Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of two times. Course will be graded on a CR/NCR basis. Additional fees required.]
Department Consent Required

 
PSCI 494 PRA 0.50
Course ID: 016176
Current Issues in Political Science
Students in this course attend talks or conferences, monitor the media, and do independent research to investigate how a broad concept in political science plays out in contemporary politics, policy, and governance. Students will complete assignments and have the opportunity to share their experiences with other students.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3A Political Science majors.
Antireq: PSCI 495, 496, 497, 497A, 497B, 498A, 498B, 498C

 
PSCI 495 PRA 0.50
Course ID: 016175
Research Apprenticeship in Political Science
Research apprenticeship in which students assist a political science professor with a research project. Students will complete assignments, share their experiences with other students, and complete a final project related to their research apprenticeship.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3A Political Science majors.
Antireq: PSCI 494, 496, 497, 497A, 497B, 498A, 498B, 498C

 
PSCI 496 PRA 0.50
Course ID: 016174
Civic Engagement in Political Science
Students participate in a civic engagement experience and reflect on how concepts in political science help to illuminate it. Students may also participate in a seminar in which they complete guided reflections, share their experiences with other students, and complete a final project related to their civic engagement experience.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3A Political Science majors.
Antireq: PSCI 494, 495, 497, 497A, 497B, 498A, 498B, 498C

 
PSCI 497 PRA 0.50
Course ID: 016173
Study Abroad Experience
While participating in a study abroad experience, students will complete reflections and a project that integrates what they learned while studying abroad with contemporary politics, policy, and governance.
[Note: Students enrolled in this course must also be registered in a university-sanctioned exchange or study abroad program.]
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3A Political Science majors.
Antireq: PSCI 494, 495, 497, 497A, 497B, 498A, 498B, 498C

 
PSCI 499A ESS,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007859
Special Honours Essay
Honours Political Science students wishing to undertake a senior honours essay in their fourth year should consult the department's undergraduate officer.
[Note: A numeric grade for PSCI 499A will be submitted only after the completion of PSCI 499B.]
Department Consent Required
Prereq: Level at least 3B Political Science majors; Political Science average at least 75%

 
PSCI 499B ESS,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 007860
Special Honours Essay
Honours Political Science students wishing to undertake a senior honours essay in their fourth year should consult the department's undergraduate officer.
Department Consent Required
Prereq: PSCI 499A