Academic Calendar 2024-2025

Political Studies (POLS)

POLS 101  Contemporary Issues in Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of current political issues. By examining an issue or problem students will be exposed to political institutions, processes and concepts in political science. The subject matter will change depending on the instructor and current political events.
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 12 Off-Campus Activity, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite None. Note This course does not lead to further courses in Political Studies. This course cannot be used as credit towards any POLS Plan.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Apply political science concepts such as power, and authority to contemporary political issues.
  2. Develop and practice critical skills in writing, reading, and political analysis.
  3. Differentiate between different actors, institutions, and parties and their role in political decision making.
  4. Understand how political decisions are made in different contexts.
  
POLS 111  Power and Politics  Units: 3.00  
This course introduces students to core concepts and tools of political science and their relationship to politics.
NOTE POLS 111 and POLS 112 together, are equivalent to POLS 110/6.0*.
NOTE Also offered online; consult Arts and Science Online (Learning Hours may vary).
NOTE Also offered at Bader College, UK (Learning Hours may vary).
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite None. Exclusion POLS 110/6.0*.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Master important concepts in political science and apply them to institutions and the practice of politics.
  2. Understand how concepts in political science can be applied to contemporary political issues.
  3. Develop critical analysis in reading and writing by analyzing journal articles, chapters, and articles.
  4. Begin mastering skills such as time management, argumentative writing, and active engagement in tutorials.
  
POLS 112  Enduring Political Debates  Units: 3.00  
This course examines important and enduring debates in politics and political science. Themes will vary year to year.
NOTE POLS 111 and POLS 112 together, are equivalent to POLS 110/6.0*.
NOTE Also offered online; consult Arts and Science Online (Learning Hours may vary).
NOTE Also offered at Bader College, UK (Learning Hours may vary).
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite None. Exclusion POLS 110/6.0*.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Learn key concepts and debates in politics and political science.
  2. Develop critical analysis in reading and writing by analyzing journal articles, chapters, and articles.
  3. Develop skills in time management, argumentative writing, and active engagement in tutorials.
  
POLS 211  Canadian Government  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the institutions and constitutional foundations of government and politics in Canada.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Define key concepts relevant to Canadian government and politics.
  2. Explain how history and political institutions shape contemporary politics in Canada.
  3. Assess evidence and arguments relevant to Canadian government and politics.
  4. Examine how Canadian political institutions matter for issues you care about.
  5. Reflect on your role as a political actor and possibilities for political change in Canada.
  
POLS 212  Canadian Politics  Units: 3.00  
An analysis of the processes, groups, parties, voters, and culture of Canadian politics.
Learning Hours: 130 (10 Lecture, 30 Tutorial, 40 Group Learning, 10 Individual Instruction, 20 Off-Campus Activity, 20 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Describe how the trends, processes, and balances of social power in Canada are shifting and what the implication are for our political structures and processes.
  2. Identify the key institutions that mediate between state and society, such as political parties, social movements and interest groups.
  3. Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the multiple social forces shaping Canada today.
  
POLS 230  American Elections  Units: 3.00  
This course provides a general introduction to the institutions and politics of the electoral process in the United States. The course integrates literature on the electoral system (including the system of primary elections), campaign financing, political parties, voting behaviour, political sociology, and political communication.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand and analyze elections in the United States.
  2. Develop tools and principles to evaluate political behavior of individuals and groups in the United States as they interact with the political system.
  3. Learn about the tools that political scientists use to study politics.
  
POLS 241  Comparative Politics: Transformations  Units: 3.00  
An examination of how and why societies change and the context in which transformation occurs.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 242  Comparative Politics: Contemporary Regimes  Units: 3.00  
The nature of political regimes in advanced industrial countries and the developing world.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand and apply tools and approaches used in comparative politics.
  2. Develop a deeper understanding of contemporary political regimes from around the world using both theories and case studies.
  3. Develop transferable skills in research, writing, analysis, and critical thinking.
  
POLS 243  States, Ethnic Diversity, and Conflict  Units: 3.00  
A comparative examination of the ways in which selected polities respond to national, ethnic, linguistic, religious, and racial diversity.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Develop a deeper understanding of key course concepts, such as genocide, assimilation, integration, power-sharing, autonomy, centripetalism, and domination.
  2. Develop a deeper understanding of key theories and debates in ethnic conflict and conflict management/resolution.
  3. Develop analytical skills and present them clearly in writing.
  4. Apply academic theories and concepts to the practice of conflict resolution: learn how to make a difference “on the ground”.
  
POLS 244  Comparative Politics: Democracy and Democratization  Units: 3.00  
A comparative exploration of the apparent disjuncture between the normative assumptions of liberal democratic theory and the realities of democracy-building.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify the conditions under which democratic government is achieved and sustained.
  2. Apply comparative concepts and methods used by political scientists in your own work.
  3. Communicate clearly, and in professionally in written and oral form.
  
POLS 250  Political Theory: Foundations  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to political theory. Students will learn how to interpret, and critically assess, a wide range of historical political thinkers and political concepts. Topics may vary year to year, but typically include Plato's critique of democracy, debates about human nature (between statists like Thomas Hobbes and anarchists like Emma Goldman), civil disobedience (MLK, Jr.), authority, colonialism, private property and arguments for the social contract tradition as well as criticisms against the social contract tradition from feminism, critical race theory and Indigenous rights.
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0). Exclusion POLS 250/6.0*.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 261  International Politics  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to the major issues in the study of international relations: questions of war and peace, national security, the role of the 'state', foreign and defence policy, gender and international relations, and international institutions.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify and define key concepts and theoretical approaches in the discipline of International Relations.
  2. Generalize from individual case studies to broader phenomena in world politics.
  3. Engage with complex materials pertaining to the analysis of world politics with increased ease.
  4. Critically assess analyses of contemporary world politics.
  5. Engage in constructive discussion of the course materials in a tutorial environment.
  6. Identify their own inclinations and preferences in analyzing specific topics of world politics.
  
POLS 262  International Political Economy  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to the major issues in the study of international political economy, including transnationalism, integration, globalization, and underdevelopment.
Learning Hours: 118 (24 Lecture, 10 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 263  Introduction to International Security  Units: 3.00  
This course introduces students to current theoretical and policy debates about the nature of 'international security.' In addition to addressing the meaning of this contested concept, we will examine three principal ways in which security has been organized by states, specifically: collective security, collective defence, and security communities.
NOTE Also offered at Bader College, UK (Learning Hours may vary).
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 264  World Politics in Historical Perspective  Units: 3.00  
This course examines the evolution of global politics in the modern era, from the institutionalization of sovereignty in the Peace of Westphalia to the contemporary period.
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 280  Introduction to Women, Gender, and Politics  Units: 3.00  
This course analyzes the status of women and men in domestic and global politics. It presents primary concepts used in political science to address: What is gender? How is it political? How have the women's movement and other collectivities addressed inequality and oppression? What does gender equality look like, and how can it be obtained?
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0).  
Course Equivalencies: POLS 280, POLS 280B  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. To provide students with an intensive introduction to the gendered dynamics of politics around the world.
  2. Critically engage a wide range of theoretical and policy literatures on woman in politics.
  3. Analyze patterns and trends of women’s political participation.
  4. Examine and discern the effects of gender in interaction with other critical social identifies and experiences "religion, race, class, sexuality, ethnic, and national identity" in political life.
  5. Develop research and writing skills for presenting arguments in a clear and concise fashion.
  
POLS 284  Introduction to Political Research  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of major issues and schools of thought in the philosophy of social science and an examination of contemporary approaches to the study of politics.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite Registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan and 3.0 units of POLS at the 100-level. Exclusion POLS 384/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify key components of published research in political studies.
  2. Analyze different research designs and methods in political studies.
  3. Assess the usefulness of different research methods for answering particular research questions.
  4. Evaluate the quality of research conducted in research projects in political studies.
  
POLS 285  Introduction to Statistics  Units: 3.00  
This course is an introduction to quantitative approaches to political science research. You will learn how to use quantitative techniques to make causal and descriptive inferences. You will also gain basic familiarity with Stata, a widely used statistical software package. The course will consist of weekly lectures and tutorials. Tutorials will involve seminar-style discussions and computer and pencil-and-paper based problems. No prior background in statistics is assumed or required.
Learning Hours: 118 (24 Lecture, 10 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (POLS 110/6.0* or [POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0] and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department. Exclusion BIOL 243/3.0; CHEE 209/3.5; COMM 162/3.0; ECON 250/3.0; GPHY 247/3.0; HSCI 190/3.0; KNPE 251/3.0; NURS 323/3.0; PSYC 202/3.0; SOCY 211/3.0; STAM 200/3.0; STAT 263/3.0. Equivalency POLS 385/3.0*.  
Course Equivalencies: POLS 285, POLS 385  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand basic principles of statistical inference.
  2. Evaluate descriptive and causal claims found in the news, and a variety of academic and non-academic fields.
  3. Apply basic principles and tools of statistical inference to a variety of problems.
  4. Develop foundation for more advanced courses in statistics and data science.
  
POLS 310  Principles of the Canadian Constitution  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the evolution of constitutional principles in Canada. Topics include developments in federal-provincial relations, the role of the courts in federal-provincial disputes, and the nexus between the community values of federalism and the individual rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Engage with the literature about the Canadian Constitution and its underlying principles (federalism, democracy, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, and respect for minorities).
  2. Explain the role of the judiciary, through the practice of judicial rule, in the interpretation of the constitution, and the underlying principles.
  3. Discuss the evolution of the constitution since 1867, explaining how politics and judicial review has shaped and guided it.
  4. Stake positions in debates and disagreements about the Canadian Constitution and its underlying principles and defend these positions.
  5. Write a critical analysis of an opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada, making an argument and presenting the relevant material in a clear and coherent manner.
  
POLS 312  Political Behaviour  Units: 3.00  
This course provides an introduction to the principal theoretical perspectives and empirical debates in the study of elections, voting, public opinion, political participation and political culture in established democracies.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 313  Mass Media and Politics in Canada  Units: 3.00  
A critical examination of the relationship between the mass media and politics, focusing on the functions of the media in modern liberal democracies and the ways in which news stories are created and packaged.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify the ways in which the mass media shape political events.
  2. Describe different theoretical models to explain how the media operate.
  3. Identify the way the media frame, agenda set, and perform gate keeping in their work.
  4. Critically read newspapers and other media.
  5. Refine the ability to make arguments orally.
  6. Participate collaboratively in group work and learn skills of active participation.
  7. Learn the importance of time management and reflection on readings.
  
POLS 317  Charter Politics  Units: 3.00  
How courts are responding to their responsibility to review legislative and executive decisions in terms of their impact on citizens; the impact of the Charter on the way government is viewed.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Engage with the literature on how the Charter of Rights is evolving, explain how the Supreme Court approaches judicial review, demonstrate knowledge of key judicial rulings and their implications for governing and governance.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of key judicial rulings and their implications for individual rights and freedoms, governance, public policy formulation, and Canadian democracy.
  3. Explain how the Charter constrains and shapes the decisions and actions of the executive and legislative branches of government.
  4. Explain how the Charter affects the conduct of the police or other officials acting on behalf of the state.
  5. Write an essay and demonstrate the ability to engage in the critical analysis of a “democratic dialogue.”
  
POLS 318  The Canadian Welfare State  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the character and functions of the Canadian welfare state. Theoretical explanations of the welfare state. The historical development of the Canadian welfare state. Proposals for social policy reform and their implications.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department. Exclusion GNDS 421/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify the major players in the social policy arena.
  2. Compare and contrast major theoretical approaches to understanding the welfare state.
  3. Describe how our social protections have evolved.
  4. Identify factors that drive change in social policy.
  5. Explain the major challenges that we face as a society, like poverty, inequality, disadvantage, work insecurity, and joblessness.
  6. Develop skills to critically analyze social policy and think creatively about alternatives to problems.
  
POLS 319  Public Discourse in Canada: Issues and Debates  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to Canadian political thinkers who have addressed important themes in contemporary Canadian public, legal and theoretical discourse, including multiculturalism, critical race theory, antipornography campaigns, sexual violence, globalization and modern alienation.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 320  Indigenous Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of Indigenous politics in a Canadian context, including aboriginal self-government.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Compare and contrast Indigenous approaches to Settler-colonial institutions.
  2. Analyze the difference in Indigenous theories of governance and resistance between the Global North and the Global South.
  3. Analyze and critique international legal and governmental response to Indigenous political demands.
  4. Compare and contrast Indigenous theories of governance and resistance.
  5. Compare and contrast the difference in State responses to Indigenous political demands between the Global North and the Global South.
  
POLS 327  Topics in Comparative Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in comparative politics. Topics will vary from year to year; consult department homepage.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 328  Topics in European Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in European politics. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the department homepage.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 331  American Government  Units: 3.00  
Survey of the political process in the United States; functioning and interaction of the principal formal and informal political institutions, the relationship between those institutions and their environment, the making of public policy, and current issues and trends.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand basic structures and institutions in the American political system and how they affect governmental outcomes.
  2. Develop tools and principles to evaluate political behaviour of individuals and groups in the United States as they interact with the political system.
  3. Become familiar with different kinds of writing styles. Specifically: historical documents, contemporary journalism, and academic publications.
  4. Improve research and writing skills through analysis of political science literature.
  
POLS 332  Continuity and Change in Central and Eastern European Politics  Units: 3.00  
This course examines the major institutional and societal changes and powerful continuities that have shaped states and people in Central and Eastern Europe - a region that experienced unprecedented transformations since the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet bloc and beginning of NATO and European Union Enlargement. The class explores how these processes unfolded across this diverse region, and how governments and societies respond to internal and international crises today.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Develop deeper knowledge about the politics and society of Central and Eastern Europe.
  2. Apply new concepts and analytical tools to salient questions “e.g., the drivers of regime change and social transformation; the power of nationalism; the continuing role of institutional and cultural history; the challenges of democratization and democratic backsliding” in the region and beyond.
  3. Apply comparative concepts and methods used by political scientists in your own work.
  4. Communicate clearly, and in professionally in written and oral form.
  
POLS 338  European Integration  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the European union and the forces towards integration: origin, politics and future.
NOTE Also offered at Bader College, UK (Learning Hours may vary).
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 339  Politics of India  Units: 3.00  
This course provides an overview of the society, economy, and politics of India through the lens of some of the most influential theories in comparative politics. This format is designed to engage with the key debates in the field and challenge the canonical texts by drawing on the experience of a large multiethnic non-western democracy.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 341  Chinese Politics  Units: 3.00  
The course begins with an historical overview of the late Qing dynasty, the origins of the Chinese revolution, and 50 years of the People's Republic of China. It then focuses primarily on political science concepts and approaches to the study of Chinese politics as well as issues of reform in various sectors of China's economy and polity.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 342  Latin American Politics  Units: 3.00  
Comparative study of Latin American politics. Topics include the political legacies of colonialism and independence, the evolution of class structures, populism, the role of the military, and the transition to democracy and free market policies. Emphasis is on the countries of continental South America.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 347  The Politics of Africa  Units: 3.00  
Major issues in the contemporary politics and political economy of sub-Saharan Africa. The development of the colonial and post-colonial state, capitalist development and the role of indigenous and international capital, and political and socio-economic aspects of class, ethnicity and gender.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 348  Middle East Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the politics of the Middle East, including the legacy of the Ottoman Empire and European colonialism, the rise of nationalism, the role of religion, the nature of the state and political participation in different countries in the region.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 349  Contemporary Antisemitism: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices  Units: 3.00  
This course addresses key questions about contemporary antisemitism. It examines various ways antisemitism has been conceptualized and identifies its main attributes. It also examines how its contemporary manifestations are similar and different from the past, and how they are expressed in the social and political arenas, and other domains.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Compare and contrast various definitions of antisemitism; evaluate their strengths and weaknesses; and develop a comprehensive understanding of the concept.
  2. Analyze the similarities and differences between antisemitism and other forms of racism and prejudice.
  3. Analyze the relationship between contemporary and older forms of antisemitism to explain how practices of pre-existing ideas have evolved over time to fit the social and political environments of the 21st century.
  4. Critique a recent work on antisemitism in the realm of culture and explain how the observations of the author do or do not apply to other arenas.
  5. Conduct an in-depth investigation into one of the themes studied in the course, construct an argument around it, and communicate it in writing.
  
POLS 350  Political Theory: History  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to political theory, and a complement to POLS 250. Topics may vary year to year, but typically include historical thinkers from the late 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. POLS 350 surveys a diverse range of political traditions, such as conservatism, feminism, Black Political Thought, utilitarianism, and Marxism. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to both comprehend and critically evaluate the material.
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite POLS 110/6.0* or (POLS 111/3.0 and POLS 112/3.0). Exclusion POLS 250/6.0*.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Examine the modern era (18th-19th century), as well as early 20th century, political thought.
  2. Critically evaluate, analyze, and contrast traditions of political thought.
  3. Identify key thinkers, concepts, and arguments in the history of political thought.
  4. Identify the different political values and aspirations which have informed the institutions of modern liberal democracies, as well as the criticisms raised against these traditions and ideas.
  
POLS 351  Liberal Theory  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the major theories and critiques of liberalism, focusing on the rival conceptions of freedom and equality that animate classical 'laissez-faire' liberalism, egalitarian liberalism, left-libertarianism, and perfectionist liberalism, and the critical responses these various kinds of liberalism have provoked from communications, feminists, Marxists, and others.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 354  Democratic Theory  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of the normative underpinnings of democracy, based on a survey of selected historical texts, contemporary theories, and current problems.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 355  Issues in Contemporary Political Theory  Units: 3.00  
This course discusses important contemporary issues that arise in political theory. Examples include: liberty and paternalism, toleration, punishment, multiculturalism, climate change, intergenerational justice (or injustice) and violence.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 358  Critical Perspectives on Contemporary Capitalism  Units: 3.00  
Selected topics in the critique of capitalism, e.g. Marxism, democracy, the environment, globalization, employment and popular culture.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Learn what defines capitalism as a mode of production.
  2. Understand some of the historical and geographical changes in capitalisms development.
  3. Become familiar with a range of critical perspectives on capitalism (e.g., Marx, Lukacs, Luxemburg, Gramsci, Polanyi, Keynes, Critical Theory, Anti-racism, Socialist Feminism, Indigenous Anti-Capitalism).
  4. Analyze, compare, and contrast this range of critical perspectives.
  5. Consider the contribution of capitalism (according to these perspectives) to social and political problems and concerns.
  6. Develop stronger reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
  
POLS 359  Issues in Political Theory  Units: 3.00  
The course will focus on central issues that arise in political theory: citizens' relation to the state and to each other. Specifically, the course will discuss problems of liberty, toleration, punishment, and multiculturalism; and inter-state problems such as global justice, just war, justice and the environment, and inter-generational justice.
Learning Hours: 120 (24 Lecture, 12 Seminar, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Develop a deeper understanding of key course concepts, such as rights, freedom, and equality.
  2. Develop a deeper understanding of key theories and debates in political theory.
  3. Present clear and logical arguments in writing.
  4. Apply theories and concepts in political theory to a variety of practical issues, and problems.
  
POLS 360  International Relations Theory  Units: 3.00  
This course examines the theoretical approaches, concepts, and debates (e.g. levels of analysis, causality, methodology, historiography) that shape the evolution of International Relations as a discipline, including subfields (e.g. international security and international organizations) and how they relate to the conduct of international politics.
Learning Hours: 114 (36 Lecture, 78 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 361  Regional International Organization  Units: 3.00  
A survey of selected regional international organizations for political cooperation, military security and economic integration in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 364  International Peace and Security  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the concept of international security and the causes of war and conditions of peace. Topics include: the role of nuclear weapons after the Cold War; the economics of security; new security themes (environmental and ethnic factors); regional security and peacekeeping; alliance dynamics; and European security and the future of NATO.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 366  The United Nations  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the principles, institutions and politics of the United Nations, assessing its effectiveness in maintaining international peace and promoting cooperation among states.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 367  American Foreign Policy  Units: 3.00  
An examination of American foreign policy, with particular emphasis on the analysis of concepts and issues and the study of decision-making processes.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 369  Canadian Foreign Policy  Units: 3.00  
An analysis of Canadian foreign policy, its major objectives and orientations. Topics covered include Canada's role and interests in major international organizations and its relations with key countries and regions.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 380  Puzzles in Political Economy  Units: 3.00  
The course introduces students to the scientific method and its application to various puzzles in Canadian and comparative political economy. Following a primer on research methods, several empirical and theoretical puzzles are examined (e.g. relationships between voting and economic interests, the origins and drivers of government taxation, etc.).
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 12 Online Activity, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 382  Gender and Social Policy  Units: 3.00  
This course explores feminist questions about the role of social policy in alleviating gender inequalities. Through an intersectional analysis of gender, race and class, this course examines how social policies address poverty, un/employment, immigration and colonialism. Each student will explore one Canadian social policy in detail.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 383  Law and the Governmental Process  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the role of law in politics, the differences between legal and political reasoning, the law and politics of constitution-making, and the political character of criminal and civil law. Topics include the victim's rights movement, pornography and censorship, and the role of litigation in political life.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 384  Strategies of Political Research  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of major issues and schools of thought in the philosophy of social science and an examination of contemporary approaches to the study of politics.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 12 Tutorial, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department. Exclusion POLS 284/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify key components of published research in political studies.
  2. Analyze different research designs and methods in political studies.
  3. Assess the usefulness of different research methods for answering particular research questions.
  4. Evaluate the quality of research conducted in research projects in political studies.
  
POLS 387  Politics and Culture  Units: 3.00  
The course explores contemporary approaches to understanding the politics of culture. In the everyday behaviours, attitudes and practices that form our culture, politics play a role. The course considers a range of diverse theoretical perspectives on the interrelationship of culture with social, political, and economic power.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 388  Politics of Migration  Units: 3.00  
A broad but detailed introduction to the politics of international and internal migration on a global scale. The first half of the course deals with core issues such as the differences between migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees; why people move; migrant legal status and rights; migration and integration policy and governance; and effects of and responses to migration. The second half applies this foundation to the world's major regions, including Canada, the rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 391  Introduction to Electoral Systems  Units: 3.00  
This course introduces students to the various families of electoral systems in use around the world. It examines their variations and assesses the consequences of electoral systems on political parties, legislatures and governments.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 392  Topics in Canadian Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of selected aspects of Canadian politics and government, including institutions and behavioural approaches. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 393  Topics in Comparative Politics  Units: 3.00  
A comparative examination of the politics and government of different countries, or theories or themes in comparative politics. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 394  Topics in Political Theory  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of different aspects of political thought, political theory, and political philosophy. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 395  Topics in International Political Economy  Units: 3.00  
An examination of different topics and issues in global political economy, such as the role of international financial institutions, the politics of global trade, or the global distribution of wealth. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 396  Topics in International Relations  Units: 3.00  
Issues in global politics, international relations, international diplomacy, or foreign policy will be examined in this course. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental homepage for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 397  Topics in Gender and Politics  Units: 3.00  
An investigation of selected problems in feminist and gender analysis, examining the different authors and issues. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 398  Introduction to International Law and Politics  Units: 9.00  
This course provides foundational knowledge about the relationship between international politics and international law. It then explores more specific aspects of international law, including international criminal law and the Law of Armed Conflict, and situates the central statutes, customs, and institutions of international law within the broader context of global governance.
NOTE Only offered at Bader College, UK as part of the Field School in International Law and Politics.
Learning Hours: 348 (72 Lecture, 36 Seminar, 24 Group Learning, 24 Off-Campus Activity, 192 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite ([Level 3 or above and 6.0 units of POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 2.00 on all units in POLS] or permission of the Department) and registration at Bader College.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 400  Seminar in Political Science  Units: 3.00  
This seminar will examine key texts in the discipline of political science. The focus of this course will vary from year to year. See the departmental website for further details.
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze and critique various methods of studying social movements.
  2. Apply methods of analyzing social movements through the drafting and revision of an article length paper.
  3. Compare and contrast methodological approaches to analyzing social movements.
  
POLS 401  Political Theory: Questions and Challenges  Units: 3.00  
This course will consider various theoretical writings and topics in political science. The focus of this course will vary from year to year. Consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 402  Science and Justice  Units: 3.00  
The word 'science' comes from the Latin scientia, which means 'having knowledge'. What is the relation between science and normative political ideals such as democracy, justice and equality? The topics covered in any given year will vary, but may include the ethical, legal and social consequences of advances in the biomedical or environmental sciences.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 403  Gender Politics: Questions and Challenges  Units: 3.00  
An investigation of selected issues in gender analysis, considering a variety of perspectives and case studies. The focus of this course will vary from year to year. Consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 404  Canadian Politics: Questions and Challenges  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in Canadian Politics. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 405  International Relations: Questions and Challenges  Units: 3.00  
Issues in global politics, international relations, international diplomacy, or foreign policy will be examined in this course. The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental homepage for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 406  Comparative Politics: Questions and Challenges  Units: 3.00  
A comparative examination of the politics and government of different countries, theories or themes in comparative politics. The focus of this course will vary from year to year. Consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 410  Seminar in Canadian Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in Canadian politics. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 412  Provincial Politics  Units: 3.00  
Content varies from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 414  Politics in Quebec  Units: 3.00  
An introduction to the political history of Quebec: the development of ideologies (including nationalism), constitutional developments, and the building of the Quebec state during the Quiet Revolution. Some contemporary issues in Quebec politics, and the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Become more critically-informed citizens when negotiating the difficult and emotionally-charged debates on Canada-Quebec relations.
  2. Gain a richer understanding of the ideas, actors and institutions defining the parameters of Quebec politics.
  3. Learn tools of political analysis that can be brought to bear to study issues of nationalism, identity, and public policy in other political settings.
  4. Reflect on the state of Quebec studies within the Canadian politics field.
  
POLS 415  Canadian Federalism  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the evolution and operation of the Canadian federal system. Topics include the concept and meaning of federalism, the implications of provincial/federal interdependence, and the politics of constitutional reform.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Apply theories, and concepts of federalism to a variety of topics, including intergovernmental relations, constitutional reform, judicial review, the politics of diversity, and recognition, Indigenous politics, and Canada's economic, fiscal, and social union.
  2. Compare and contrast the operation of Canadian federalism to dynamics in other federal systems.
  3. Describe the history and operation of Canada's federal system.
  4. Develop research, writing, and presentation skills.
  
POLS 419  Political Communication  Units: 3.00  
A critical examination of the rhetoric of political persuasion, the framing and construction of political messages and the way in which meaning is interpreted and created in the political system. The mass media are an important, though not exclusive, focus of this course.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Examine various forms of political communication such as social media, traditional mass media, political speech, and advertising, to determine the ways in which persuasion occurs.
  2. Explain and identify channels of political communication and how they influence the reception of information.
  3. Understand the various ways in which political elites use persuasion to influence political behaviour and attitudes.
  
POLS 421  Elections  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the importance of elections to the maintenance of democratic systems. Six themes are discussed: the history and theory of democratic participation; the legal framework; campaign organization; why people vote the way they do; the manifestation of social cleavages during campaigns; and the future of electoral participation. Canadian examples are placed in a comparative context.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Think critically about how marginalization on account of gender, race and ethnicity, Indigeneity, class / socioeconomic status, and analogous factors affects electoral politics, participation, and/or representation.
  2. Analyze contemporary problems within elections and campaigns in light of conceptual frameworks and empirical evidence presented in the class.
  3. Critically analyze rules and practices that structure electrons, and provide a perspective on whether they support democratic principles.
  4. Effectively communicate about different dimensions of elections and apply that knowledge about new elections and campaigns.
  5. Explain why elections are central to the democratic process.
  6. Identify and assess the major theoretical accounts of voter turnout and vote choice.
  7. Identify major challenges in elections today.
  8. Think critically about how elections relate to democratic principles.
  
POLS 422  Public Opinion  Units: 3.00  
This course provides an extensive survey of the principal theoretical perspectives and empirical debates in the study of public opinion.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 430  Seminar in Comparative Politics  Units: 3.00  
Topics vary from year to year, and may include class, ethnic, and regional politics, law and politics, interests and interest articulation, and democracy and democratization. Consult the departmental homepage.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 431  European Politics  Units: 3.00  
Multi-level politics in Europe: the European Union and its member states. Development of the EU, institutions and policy processes at the EU level, how the domestic politics of European states affects the EU and vice-versa. Economic union, supranationalism, political impulsion for economic integration, accession of new member states.
NOTE Also offered at Bader College, UK (Learning Hours may vary).
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 432  The Modern Welfare State  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of the emergence and functioning of the modern welfare state in comparative perspective.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 433  Problems of American Democracy  Units: 3.00  
Focuses on recent debates about the sources of malaise in the American system, with a special emphasis on understanding the dynamics of mass public opinion and the factors influencing public disaffection from political institutions.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 434  Multiculturalism  Units: 3.00  
This course explores the political implications of multiculturalism from a variety of perspectives, including theory, policy, and historical meaning. Issues include: history and policy of multiculturalism in the Canadian, US and global contexts; the construction of 'race' and anti-racism; and the role of multiculturalism in citizenship inclusion and exclusion.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 435  The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict  Units: 3.00  
The course introduces students to some of the important questions about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. What is the history of the conflict? How did distinct national identities emerge? What issues are at stake for the actors involved? How do domestic factors shape Palestinian-Israeli relations? Why have peacemaking efforts been unsuccessful?
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze the factors that shape outcomes of peacemaking efforts.
  2. Discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict knowledgably.
  3. Explain the way in which the conflicting parties interpret the conflict and its history.
  4. Improve research, analytical, and writing skills.
  5. Reflect in depth about the obstacles that have made peacemaking difficult.
  
POLS 436  Race and U.S. Politics  Units: 3.00  
This course puts race front and center in American politics. Topics include the subjugation of Blacks, Latinos, and Asian Americans during the 19th and 20th centuries; the civil rights movement; contemporary manifestations of racial discrimination and their impact on who gets elected to positions of power and whose prerogatives become law.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Lecture, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Become proficient on the history of racial conflict in the U.S. and its impact on political development.
  2. Compare and describe the role of race in contemporary U.S. politics relative to non-U.S. contexts.
  3. Conduct independent research through analysis of historical documents, news journals, and political science literature.
  4. Engage in dialogue about race and diversity.
  
POLS 437  The Politics of Representation  Units: 3.00  
Across democracies, marginalized groups - such as Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities - are under-represented in elected office. This course examines contemporary debates about the importance, causes, and consequences of the representation of marginalized groups in Canadian politics.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Apply theoretical concepts about the representation of marginalized groups to real-world examples.
  2. Critique the methodology of research on the representation of marginalized groups in politics.
  3. Develop oral and written communication skills.
  4. Evaluate and develop normative arguments about the importance of political representation for marginalized groups.
  
POLS 439  American Politics  Units: 3.00  
Focus varies from year to year depending on the research interests of the faculty members involved. See the departmental homepage for further details.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 440  The Politics of Ethnicity and Nationalism  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of the causes of ethnic conflict, but focuses in particular on the strategies which states use to manage or resolve such conflicts. The review of state strategies is comprehensive in nature: using case studies, it includes approaches which are morally unacceptable as well as approaches which many consider morally desirable.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Develop theoretical, analytical, and communication skills to serve you beyond the course.
  2. Learn about empirical cases from different regions of the world.
  3. Learn new tools for drawing comparative lessons on the politics of nationalism and ethnicity studies from empirical cases.
  
POLS 441  Gender and International Relations  Units: 3.00  
This seminar investigates the central place of gender in international relations (IR). It introduces students to gender analysis of global politics, and feminist approaches to IR by interrogating how ideas about masculinity and femininity affect foreign policy, nationalism, international power relations, war, and peace. While the study of IR has long focused on states and their political and economic power in the international system, this class moves between the centres of power and the margins of international politics to see how power flows between gendered bodies and institutions.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Online Activity, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze feminist scholarship of international relations to develop a gendered perspective on issues of war, peace, and foreign policy.
  2. Assess and articulate different theories of gender and international relations to distinguish between sex and gender, masculinity and femininity and compare their respective implications in world politics.
  3. Demonstrate analytical and communications skills though in-class discussions and the production of essays, presentations, and book reviews.
  4. Discuss intersectional feminist questions to evaluate crosscutting power dynamics of international relations.
  
POLS 442  Latin American Politics  Units: 3.00  
Advanced research course focusing on problems relating to the consolidation of democracy in contemporary Latin America. Topics may include political parties and elections, economic policy, mass media, social movements, and political violence. Case studies are drawn largely from continental South America.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 443  Gender and Globalization  Units: 3.00  
General issues and selected specific topics reflecting an interdisciplinary approach combining international political economy, feminist theory and comparative politics. Case studies from both industrialized and developing nations.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 444  Ethnicity and Development  Units: 3.00  
This course explores the dominant themes in the field of ethnic politics and development. We examine the role of social norms, group-differentiated rights, electoral politics and patronage, status inequality, and the historical role of ethnicity in the state-building process on development outcomes.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 445  Dialectics of Development  Units: 3.00  
A critical examination of selected 'new' theories of development (neo-Marxism, postmodernism, new social movements, rational choice, flexible specialization, etc.), followed by a study of selected Asian countries' development strategies to evaluate the relevance of the theories.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 447  Social Movements  Units: 3.00  
Survey of main theories on and methods of studying social movements within the field of political science.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze and critique various methods of studying social movements.
  2. Apply methods of analyzing social movements in written work.
  3. Compare and contrast methodological approaches to analyzing social movements.
  
POLS 450  Political Theory: Appeals to Human Nature  Units: 3.00  
An analysis of texts that take the nature of humans as the basis for political argument. Emphasis is on the search for foundations for political claims and the nature of 20th-century relativism, cultural and moral.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 451  Seminar in Political Theory  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in political theory. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the departmental homepage.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 453  Modern Political Philosophy  Units: 3.00  
An examination of a particular problem or theme in Western political thought post-1500; issues covered might include property, revolution, sovereignty, republicanism, or gender.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 455  Ethics of Migration  Units: 3.00  
This course provides a broad but in-depth foundation for normatively addressing a range of urgent ethical questions regarding migration. Topics covered include border controls, asylum seekers and refugees, detention, deportation, temporary foreign workers, majority-group nationalism, the rights of non-citizens, and migrant integration, among others.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand and explain the key debates regarding the ethics of migration.
  2. Understand and explain the ways in which the current world state system and associated migration policies affect important normative concerns such as individual autonomy, freedom of movement, and equality.
  3. Develop original arguments regarding important issues related to the ethics of migration.
  4. Apply knowledge developed in previous years of studying politics to the ethics of migration.
  
POLS 456  Theories of Identity Politics  Units: 3.00  
An investigation into different theoretical perspectives on the issue of 'identity' and the import of these perspectives for the 'politics of identity'. Theories of gender, race, class, nation, and sexual orientation, from a variety of perspectives, including Marxist, feminist, postmodern, and psychoanalytic theory.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Become familiar with a range of identity politics issues and historical events that inform this theoretical work.
  2. Become familiar with a variety of theoretical approaches to identity politics, and their accompanying conceptual vocabulary.
  3. Compare and contrast the political implications of different theoretical understandings of the self, subjectivity, and identity.
  4. Learn the skills involved in developing an engaging, supportive, and challenging intellectual community.
  5. Practice advanced skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  6. Reflect upon one's own experiences of identity, privilege, oppression, difference, normalcy, etc., and interrogate the relationship of those experiences to conceptions of justice and political activity.
  
POLS 457  Issues in Global Justice  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of issues in international politics from a theoretical and normative perspective, including global redistributive justice, just war theory, theories of secession, and normative theories of humanitarian intervention. Among the questions posed are whether we have an obligation to redistribute wealth to strangers, what can justify secession, intervention and war; and the terms on which people can migrate to other countries.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 458  Ethics of War and Intervention  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the debates about when it is (morally) justified to go to war - and when it isn't. Topics will include war as self-defense, humanitarian intervention, preventive war, and different conceptions of the morally proper way to wage war.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Compare, evaluate, and apply deontological, consequentialist, virtue ethical, and feminist approaches to ethics.
  2. Compare, evaluate, and apply orthodox and revisionist approaches to just war theory.
  3. Compare, evaluate, and apply statist and cosmopolitan approaches to just war theory.
  4. Develop well-reasoned answers to the "should/ought" questions of normative political theory.
  5. Evaluate issues such as when it is just to go to war, what conduct is justified during war, and what justice requires after war.
  
POLS 459  Anarchist Politics, or the Art of Not Being Governed  Units: 3.00  
This course considers the contemporary possibility of anarchist politics, focusing on the politics that might come from resistance to rule. Anarchist politics come in a multitude of forms' from organized resistance to state authority and expressions of power, to mutual aid societies and cooperative politics, to Indigenous forms of resistance.
Learning Hours: 117 (39 Seminar, 26 Online Activity, 52 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS). Exclusion POLS 451/3.0 (Topic Title: Anarchist Politics - Winter 2020, Winter 2021).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Compare and contrast the theories of classical, European anarchist thinkers with those of non-European anarchist philosophers.
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills through the accumulative process of writing the paper throughout the semester.
  3. Evaluate, compare, and critique anarchist theories starting from the "classical anarchists" to modern de-colonial anarchist thought.
  4. Interpret and critique theories and philosophies presented in class through an article length paper.
  
POLS 460  International Relations of the Asia-Pacific  Units: 3.00  
This IR seminar introduces students to major issues shaping the study and conduct of international politics in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Asia-Pacific. Seminar topics examine the involvement of major powers in the region, regional institutions and regimes, norms and identities, transnational crime, non-state actors, and natural disasters.
Learning Hours: 120 (30 Seminar, 3 Tutorial, 3 Group Learning, 84 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Critically assess and engage with existing scholarly research and policy debates on Asia-Pacific International Relations and apply these skills to one's own research interests.
  2. Develop practical knowledge of the current conduct of Asia-Pacific international relations from the perspectives of practitioners.
  3. Identify, explain, and discuss key elements and concepts that inform the study and conduct of international politics in the Asia-Pacific.
  4. Improve written and communication skills.
  5. Produce rigorous and coherent written analysis of contemporary problems, cases, or issues of international politics as they manifest in the Asia-Pacific.
  6. Understand ongoing and current issues, challenges, and developments that shape Asia-Pacific international relations.
  
POLS 461  International Regimes  Units: 3.00  
An exploration of problems of order and change in the international system with particular attention to the theory and practice of co-operation, ranging from classic concepts of international organization to current debates about international regimes.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 462  Studies in National Security  Units: 3.00  
Contemporary aspects of Canadian international security policy. Topics include: the evolution of policy towards NATO; bilateral defence arrangements with the US; collective security and cooperative security; peacekeeping; defence economics; the role of domestic factors in the shaping of strategy; and aid of the civil power.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 463  International Relations Theory  Units: 3.00  
Critical examination of selected themes, issues and works in classical and contemporary international relations theory.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 464  Russian Foreign Policy  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the determinants of Russian Foreign Policy, and the extent to which they have changed over the last half-century. The course will cover both historical and contemporary issues in Russian foreign relations.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 465  The Politics of War  Units: 3.00  
A consideration of the main types of war theory, including descriptive, legal, normative, causal, process, and consequential, with applications to selected case studies.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 466  Politics of War in Africa  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the political dimensions of violent conflict in Africa, including the causes of inter-state and intra-state conflict, and responses such as peace-building and global governance initiatives.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze the chosen questions and write up their research findings.
  2. Evaluate and discuss the political and economic dimensions of violent conflict in Africa.
  3. In alignment with the main themes of the course, develop research questions and approaches that seek to understand the causes of violent conflict and offer potential solutions.
  4. Recognize and critique a range of International Relations-specific theoretical approaches employed in the study of Africa.
  5. Working in small teams, engage in collaborative research and present a synthesis of their policy papers.
  
POLS 467  International Political Economy  Units: 3.00  
Theoretical approaches and issues within the field, while paying particular attention to hegemony and leadership, the economic dimension of post war and post cold war security, trade, money, debt, underdevelopment, regionalism, and international organization.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 468  The International Relations of the Middle East  Units: 3.00  
This course analyzes Middle Eastern politics from the perspective of international relations. Themes covered include the evolution of various identities in the region, the role of outside actors in the Middle East, contemporary Middle Eastern state and social relations, and the role that Middle Eastern states play in contemporary world politics.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 469  Issues in Canadian Foreign Policy  Units: 3.00  
This course focuses on Canadian-American relations, emphasizing the interaction in both bilateral and multilateral contexts. Primary concern with issues of trade, investment and resources, with some attention paid to security issues.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 470  Seminar in International Politics  Units: 3.00  
The theoretical problems of analyzing foreign policy and the practical issues of diplomatic action.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 471  Politics and Science in Technological Societies  Units: 3.00  
An examination of connections between politics, science and technology. Topics include: ideologies and the autonomy of science; science in the Warfare State; controlling the social uses of science.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS). Exclusion POLS 478/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 478  Politics of Artificial Intelligence  Units: 3.00  
This course provides a broad, in-depth introduction to the politics of artificial intelligence (AI) and covers topics such as the technical fundamentals of existing AI, computational propaganda, surveillance, decision-making, autonomous weapons, political economy, regulation and governance, and speculative possibilities such as 'superintelligence'.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS). Exclusion POLS 471/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand and explain the fundamentals of narrow artificial intelligence.
  2. Understand and explain the ways in which narrow artificial intelligence affects the distribution of power.
  3. Apply the fundamental information, concepts, and theories introduced in the first theme of the course, both on their own and as a means of analyzing the topics covered in the second and third themes of the course.
  4. Develop original arguments regarding important issues related to the politics of artificial intelligence.
  5. Apply knowledge developed in previous years of studying politics to the politics of artificial intelligence.
  
POLS 482  Public Policy  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in the political economy of public policy. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the departmental homepage.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 483  Justice and Gender  Units: 3.00  
An examination of how contemporary theories of justice fare from the standpoint of gender (specifically inequalities in gender relations) and what a just, non-gendered society might look like.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 484  The Politics of Globalization  Units: 3.00  
An examination of the major theoretical debates and issues in contemporary globalization, including the historical roots of globalization, and the impact of globalization on culture, economics, trade, global governance, and global social movements.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Analyze the chosen questions and write up their research findings.
  2. Develop research questions and approaches that seek to understand the behaviour of state and non-state actors within the evolving contours of the international order, international institutions, and global governance.
  3. Evaluate and discuss the historical and contemporary governance issues associated with globalization.
  4. Recognize and critique a range of International Political Economy-specific theoretical approaches employed in the study of globalization.
  5. Working in small teams, engage in collaborative research and present a synthesis of their policy papers.
  
POLS 485  Seminar in Women and Politics  Units: 3.00  
An examination of key issues in gender and politics. Topics will vary from year to year; consult the departmental homepage.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 486  The Politics of Rights  Units: 3.00  
A difficult challenge facing a liberal-democratic polity is how to distinguish allowable state action from the protected sphere of human activity. The course examines contemporary debates about whether rights provide an appropriate critical standard for evaluating state action and looks at different institutional methods to assess the justification of state actions.
Learning Hours: (LECTURE) 120 (36L;84P). LEARNING HOURS (SEMINAR) 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 492  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 493  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 494  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 495  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 496  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 497  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 498  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 499  Topics in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
The focus of this course will vary from year to year; consult the departmental website for further details.
NOTE This course is repeatable for credit under different topic titles.
Learning Hours: 120 (36 Seminar, 12 Group Learning, 72 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 511  Directed Special Reading  Units: 3.00  
Students arrange their course of reading in consultation with members of the Department. They are expected to write reports on their readings and to discuss them in seminars.
Learning Hours: 120 (9 Individual Instruction, 111 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 512  Directed Special Reading  Units: 3.00  
Students arrange their course of reading in consultation with members of the Department. They are expected to write reports on their readings and to discuss them in seminars.
Learning Hours: 120 (9 Individual Instruction, 111 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 590  Thesis  Units: 9.00  
The thesis is optional and counts as one course toward an honours concentration in Political Studies. The thesis subject must be selected at the end of the penultimate year after consultation with members of the Department, and the thesis must be submitted by 31 March of the final year. The student can choose to pay for the binding of the departmental copy.
Learning Hours: 348 (24 Seminar, 24 Practicum, 24 Group Learning, 12 Individual Instruction, 48 Off-Campus Activity, 216 Private Study)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Level 4 or above and registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan) and ([POLS 250/3.0 and POLS 350/3.0] or POLS 250/6.0*) and a (minimum GPA of 2.50 on all units in POLS).  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 594  Independent Study  Units: 3.00  
Exceptionally qualified students entering their third- or fourth-year may take a program of independent study provided it has been approved by the Department or Departments principally involved. A Department may approve an independent study program without permitting it to be counted toward a concentration in that Department. It is, consequently, the responsibility of students taking such programs to ensure that the concentration requirements for their degree will be met.
NOTE Requests for such a program must be received one month before the start of the first term in which the student intends to undertake the program.
Requirements: Prerequisite Permission of the Department or Departments principally involved.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 595  Independent Study  Units: 6.00  
Exceptionally qualified students entering their third- or fourth-year may take a program of independent study provided it has been approved by the Department or Departments principally involved. A Department may approve an independent study program without permitting it to be counted toward a concentration in that Department. It is, consequently, the responsibility of students taking such programs to ensure that the concentration requirements for their degree will be met.
NOTE Requests for such a program must be received one month before the start of the first term in which the student intends to undertake the program.
Requirements: Prerequisite Permission of the Department or Departments principally involved.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 596  Independent Study  Units: 12.00  
Exceptionally qualified students entering their third- or fourth-year may take a program of independent study provided it has been approved by the Department or Departments principally involved. The Department may approve an independent study program without permitting it to be counted toward a concentration in that Department. It is, consequently, the responsibility of students taking such programs to ensure that the concentration requirements for their degree will be met.
NOTE Requests for such a program must be received one month before the start of the first term in which the student intends to undertake the program.
Requirements: Prerequisite Permission of the Department or Departments principally involved.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 597  Independent Study  Units: 18.00  
Exceptionally qualified students entering their third- or fourth-year may take a program of independent study provided it has been approved by the Department or Departments principally involved. The Department may approve an independent study program without permitting it to be counted toward a concentration in that Department. It is, consequently, the responsibility of students taking such programs to ensure that the concentration requirements for their degree will be met.
NOTE Requests for such a program must be received one month before the start of the first term in which the student intends to undertake the program.
Requirements: Prerequisite Permission of the Department or Departments principally involved.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  
  
POLS 598  Internship in Political Studies  Units: 3.00  
An internship and experiential learning course that allows students to develop practical skills related to their degree by pairing them with local organizations engaged in work related to politics, broadly conceived. Roles may include assisting with the day-to-day tasks of an organization, special projects, event planning, community activism, report writing, and/or other responsibilities. Consult the Political Studies website for further information and instructions on how to apply.
NOTE Students will be given a grade of Pass/Fail for work done.
Learning Hours: 120 (10 Seminar, 20 Individual Instruction, 90 Off-Campus Activity)  
Requirements: Prerequisite (Registration in a POLS Major, Joint Honours, or POPE Plan, and 12.0 units in POLS at the 200-level or above and a minimum GPA of 3.00 on all units in POLS) or permission of the Department. Exclusion DEVS 411/3.0.  
Offering Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science  

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Make connections between theoretical concepts related to political studies and practical experiences in the field.
  2. Engage in a critically reflective process that advances students' understanding of their skillset (what they bring into the professional environment, what they have gained from their internship, and how they've handled/overcome any challenges).
  3. Make connections between how political processes and outcomes in the internship affect the political and social concerns of the community and/or global scale.
  4. Articulate how the internship - including their successes, challenges and their contributions - has affected their personal and professional growth and future goals.