Program Requirements
The M.A. program is generally recognized as among the most demanding and rewarding in Canada. Students take courses in two or more sub-fields of political science. The focus of the program is to provide training in the discipline of political science and prepare students for further graduate work. Students need to demonstrate an ability to design and execute with competence a major piece of research, comparable to a full鈥恖ength article in a scholarly journal.
Thesis Courses (24 credits)
A thesis is required to demonstrate proficiency in research. It is normally about 100 pages long and is subject to evaluation by one examiner internal to the Department and one examiner external to the Department.
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POLI 697 M.A. Thesis Proposal (12 credits)
Overview
Political Science : Preparatory work towards the Master's research project.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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POLI 698 Master's Thesis Submission (12 credits)
Overview
Political Science : A thesis to demonstrate proficiency in research. The thesis is normally about 100 pages long, and is subject to evaluation by one examiner internal to the Department and one examiner external to the Department.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Required Course (3 credits)
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POLI 694 Research Preparation 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : Preparatory work towards the Master's research project, or the Master's thesis.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
3-6 credits, either of the following 3-credit options or, preferably, both:
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POLI 612 Research Methods in Political Science (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : This seminar offers an overview of the fundamental principles of political science research. Emphasis is placed on acquainting students with the methods and techniques most commonly used by political scientists. Topics include research project design, procedures for carrying out research, as well as both qualitatively- and quantitatively-oriented methods of data collection, processing, and analysis.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Belanger, Eric (Fall)
or a more suitable advanced course at the 500 level or higher.
or, one of the following courses:
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POLI 561 Seminar: Political Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : A topic in political philosophy such as democracy, liberty, property or nationalism, or a political philosopher, is studied to enable students to research a topic in depth, to present their papers to the seminar, and to engage in and profit from discussion and debate.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Lu, Catherine (Fall) Berry, Aberdeen (Winter)
Prerequisite: At least one upper-level course in political philosophy
Restriction: Open to graduate students, final year Honours students, and other advanced undergraduates with the permission of the instructor
Note: The field is Political Theory.
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POLI 613 Selected Themes: Political Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : A seminar on a theme in contemporary political theory or in the history of political theory.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: The field is Political Theory.
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POLI 614 Proseminar in Political Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : A broad survey of major works in the history of political thought, mostly or entirely drawn from the reading list for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam in political theory.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Levy, Jacob (Fall)
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POLI 616 Modern Political Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : An introduction to the concepts underlying modern approaches to the study of politics. The scope of the discipline will be delineated and the foundations of empirical research, including the philosophy and methodology of science especially as these apply to social science, will be considered. Various alternatives and critiques will be presented and evaluated.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: The field is Political Theory.
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POLI 617 Problems in Political Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : An introduction to central normative issues in the study of politics. The seminar consists of lectures, oral presentations, discussion and research papers.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Abizadeh, Arash (Fall) Winter, Yves (Winter)
Note: The field is Political Theory.
12-15 credits of 500- or 600-level courses as determined by the student's area of study.
Of the 18 credits of complementary courses, up to 3 credits at the 500 level or higher may be outside the Department.
Candidates for the M.A. degree follow an individual program approved by the Department.
