Motion #1:
That ARCC recommend to the Arts & Science Executive that the following program-level
expectations for an Honours Major and Specialization in Political Science, Philosophy, and
Economics be approved.
Program-Level Expectations for
Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics
at Nipissing University
December 9, 2013
This document is prepared in accordance with OCAV’s Guidelines for University Undergraduate
Degree Level Expectations (approved by COU, December 2005). It was approved by the
Department of Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics at the meeting of the Department
on December 6, 2013.
I. OVERALL PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
This degree is awarded to students
who have demonstrated the
following qualities and abilities:
1. DEPTH AND BREADTH OF
KNOWLEDGE
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
HONOURS
This degree is awarded to students
who have demonstrated the
following qualities and abilities:
a) a general knowledge and
understanding of fundamental
concepts, methodologies, and
theoretical and practical approaches
in political science, philosophy, and
economics
a) a developed knowledge and
critical understanding of the key
concepts, methodologies, theoretical
and practical approaches in political
science, philosophy, and economics
b) a broad understanding of
important topics and questions in
each of the contributing disciplines
as well as their interdisciplinary
implications
b) a developed understanding of
important topics and questions in
each of the contributing disciplines
as well as their interdisciplinary
implications
c) a broad understanding of
qualitative and quantitative research
methods in the social sciences and
their philosophical presuppositions
c) a developed understanding of
qualitative and quantitative research
methods in the social sciences and
their philosophical presuppositions
d) an ability to gather, read
carefully, interpret charitably, and
critically evaluate political scientific,
philosophic, economic data and texts
d) a developed ability to gather, read
carefully, interpret charitably, and
critically evaluate political scientific,
philosophic, and economic data and
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texts
2. KNOWLEDGE OF
METHODOLOGIES
e) ability to apply use PSPE insights
and analysis in discussion and
critical evaluation of problems and
policies in contemporary societies
e) developed ability to apply PSPE
insights and analysis in discussion
and critical evaluation of problems
and policies in contemporary
societies
f) demonstrated critical thinking and
analytical problem-solving skills
f) demonstrated sophisticated critical
thinking and advanced analytical
problem-solving skills
h) an ability to demonstrate
cumulative intellectual development
by applying learning from the
curriculum
h) an ability to demonstrate
cumulative intellectual development
by applying learning from the
curriculum, especially in the
construction and completion of
original, self-directed
interdisciplinary research
a) a broad understanding of both
qualitative and quantitative,
theoretical and empirical research
methods in political science,
including the ability to: Identify,
interpret, and evaluate the adequacy
of political arguments and data
regarding political life; and construct
and critically defend original
arguments regarding important
political questions
a) a developed understanding of both
qualitative and quantitative,
theoretical and empirical research
methods in political science,
including the ability to: Identify,
interpret, and evaluate the adequacy
of political arguments and data
regarding political life; construct and
critically defend original arguments
regarding important political
questions; and develop and pursue a
coherent, original plan of political
scientific research which utilizes
major research sources where
appropriate
b) a broad understanding of
important modes of reasoning and
argumentation in historical and
contemporary philosophy, which
enables the student to: Identify,
charitably interpret, and evaluate the
adequacy of arguments found in
primary texts; and construct and
critically defend original arguments
regarding the issues that have
occupied philosophers, both
historical and contemporary
b) a developed understanding of
important modes of reasoning and
argumentation in historical and
contemporary philosophy, which
enables the student to: Identify,
charitably interpret, and evaluate the
adequacy of arguments found in
primary texts, both historical and
contemporary; construct and
critically defend original arguments
regarding the issues that have
occupied philosophers, both
historical and contemporary; and
develop and pursue a coherent,
original plan of philosophical
research, including utilizing major
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research sources where appropriate
c) an understanding of the nature,
purpose, and methods of economic
analysis, including an ability to
identify and appraise established
economic theories and to devise and
sustain analytical arguments
c) an understanding of the nature,
purpose, and methods of economic
analysis, including an ability to:
identify, appraise, and question
established economic theories;
devise and sustain analytical
arguments; and employ current
theoretical approaches in economic
analysis
d) an ability to integrate the methods
and results of methods described
above (a-c), including especially that
ability to identify the methods of
research best suited for the
exploration of given aspects of a
social problem which calls for
interdisciplinary investigation
3. APPLICATION OF
KNOWLEDGE
a) an ability to identify, interpret,
and evaluate evidence and
arguments relevant to the analysis of
given political problems and
phenomena, including the critical
evaluation of both empirical data
and theoretical presuppositions
regarding the nature of political life
a) a developed ability to identify,
interpret, and evaluate evidence and
arguments relevant to the analysis of
given political problems and
phenomena, including the critical
evaluation of both empirical data
and theoretical presuppositions
regarding the nature of political life
b) a demonstrated sensitivity to the
normative questions raised by social
organization and social life, as
reflected in an ability to locate,
analyze, critically evaluate, and
present (both orally and in written
work) relevant philosophical
material, including: framing
appropriate questions for the
purpose of identifying and/or
solving a problem; developing
original lines of argument; drawing
on existing arguments to identify or
to solve novel problems; critically
evaluating arguments, assumptions,
concepts, and information.
b) a developed and demonstrated
sensitivity to the normative
questions raised by social
organization and social life, as
reflected in an ability to locate,
analyze, critically evaluate, and
present (both orally and in written
work) relevant philosophical
material, including: framing
appropriate questions for the
purpose of identifying and/or
solving a problem; developing
original lines of argument; drawing
on existing arguments to identify or
to solve novel problems; critically
evaluating arguments, assumptions,
concepts, and information.
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c) an ability to identify, comprehend
and interpret empirical evidence as
relevant to the analysis of a given
economic problem, as well as to
identify and evaluate the underlying
theoretical principles which frame
that evidence
c) a developed ability to identify,
comprehend and interpret empirical
evidence as relevant to the analysis
of a given economic problem, as
well as to identify and evaluate the
underlying theoretical principles
which frame that evidence
d) an ability to identify research
problems which call for
interdisciplinary investigation and to
integrate the methods and insights of
political science, philosophy, and
economics in the attempt to
understand and respond to those
problems
4. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
5. AWARENESS OF LIMITS OF
KNOWLEDGE
a) an ability to communicate
arguments, concepts, information,
and evidence, both orally and in
writing, in a clear, coherent, concise,
and illuminating manner, and which
demonstrates the premium placed in
PSPE on clarity of expression and
structure, soundness of argument,
charity of interpretation, and the
sympathetic consideration of
objections
a) a developed ability to
communicate arguments, concepts,
information, and evidence, both
orally and in writing, in a clear,
coherent, concise, and illuminating
manner, and which demonstrates the
premium placed in PSPE on clarity
of expression and structure,
soundness of argument, charity of
interpretation, and the sympathetic
consideration of objections
c) an ability to initiate and engage
in a scholarly critical discussion by
independently raising important
critical questions, listening actively
to others, and responding in an
informed, apposite, and nuanced
manner
b) a developed ability to initiate and
engage in a scholarly critical
discussion by independently raising
important critical questions,
listening actively to others, and
responding in an informed, apposite,
and nuanced manner; in addition, an
honours student will demonstrate an
ability to engage in a sustained
critical discussion of a specialized
topic in an advanced seminar
a) an understanding of the limits of
their own knowledge and abilities,
and an awareness of how these
might affect their own analyses and
a) an understanding of the limits of
their own knowledge and abilities,
and an awareness of how these
might affect their own analyses and
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6. AUTONOMY AND
PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY
interpretations.
interpretations
b) a demonstration of this
understanding and awareness
(described above) through the ability
to anticipate and the willingness to
welcome objections to one’s own
position and arguments, and in the
respectful and sympathetic
consideration of those objections
b) a demonstration of this
understanding and awareness
(described above) through the ability
to anticipate and the willingness to
welcome objections to one’s own
position and arguments, and in the
respectful and sympathetic
consideration of those objections
c) an understanding and
appreciation that each discipline,
including the components disciplines
of PSPE, produce bodies of
knowledge that may enhance,
complement, or conflict with one
other
c) an understanding and
appreciation that each discipline,
including the components disciplines
of PSPE, produce bodies of
knowledge that may enhance,
complement, or conflict with one
other
a) demonstration of intellectual
autonomy or freedom from narrow,
solipsistic thinking, including
respect and tolerance for the views
of others and for diversity,
generally;
a) demonstration of intellectual
autonomy or freedom from narrow,
solipsistic thinking, including
respect and tolerance for the views
of others and for diversity,
generally;
b) The ability to manage selfdirected learning in changing
circumstances, both within and
outside the discipline, including
seeking assistance to identify and
address weaknesses, and an ability
to identify their goals for their
degree and beyond
b) The ability to manage selfdirected learning in changing
circumstances, both within and
outside the discipline, including
seeking assistance to identify and
address weaknesses, and an ability
to identify their goals for their
degree and beyond, including
selecting an appropriate program for
further study
c) Behaviour consistent with
academic integrity and social
responsibility.
c) Behaviour consistent with
academic integrity and social
responsibility.
e) the exercise of initiative, good
judgment, personal responsibility
and accountability
e) the exercise of initiative, good
judgment, personal responsibility
and accountability
f) an ability to work effectively and
collegially with others
f) an ability to work effectively and
collegially with others
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II. STAGED PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
a) At the completion of 1000-level courses, successful students will have begun to demonstrate
the development of following abilities:

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
a general understanding of some of the fundamental concepts, methodologies, and theoretical and practical
approaches in political science, philosophy, and economics
a broad understanding of some of the important topics and questions in each of the contributing disciplines
to gather, read carefully, interpret charitably, and critically evaluate political scientific, philosophic,
economic data and texts
an understanding of various concepts and theories of citizenships, including their relationship to political
theories of the state, to normative philosophical theories of the “good” and to political responsibilities, and
to economic theories of productivity and economic participation
to communicate arguments, concepts, information, and evidence, both orally and in writing, in a clear,
coherent, concise, and illuminating manner
to initiate and engage in a scholarly critical discussion by independently raising important critical
questions, listening actively to others, and responding in an informed, apposite, and nuanced manner
b) At the completion of 2000-level courses, successful students will have demonstrated the
development of following abilities:





an understanding of the nature and purpose of both qualitative and quantitative, theoretical and empirical
research methods in social science, especially of political science and economics, including the ability to
identify, interpret, and evaluate the adequacy of arguments and data regarding political and economic
policy and theory
an understanding of important modes of reasoning and argumentation in philosophy, including the ability to
identify fallacies, charitably interpret and reconstruct arguments, and critically evaluate those arguments
which respect to both the truth of premises and the validity of inference
a sensitivity to the normative questions raised by social organization and social life, including both general
questions of the relationship between normative judgment/principles and political and economic practices
as well as some specific awareness of and ability to treat particular issues surrounding the legislation of
values
to communicate arguments, concepts, information, and evidence, both orally and in writing, in a clear,
coherent, concise, and illuminating manner
to initiate and engage in a scholarly critical discussion by independently raising important critical
questions, listening actively to others, and responding in an informed, apposite, and nuanced manner
c) At the completion of 3000-level courses, successful students will have demonstrated the
development of following abilities:

a more advanced knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts, methodologies, and
theoretical and practical approaches in political science, philosophy, and economics
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


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

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
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a wider-ranging understanding of important topics and questions in each of the contributing disciplines
as well as their interdisciplinary implications
to apply PSPE insights and analysis in discussion and critical evaluation of problems and policies in
contemporary societies
strong critical thinking and advanced analytical problem-solving skills
cumulative intellectual development by applying learning from the curriculum, especially in the
construction and completion of original, self-directed interdisciplinary research
to identify, interpret, and evaluate evidence and arguments relevant to the analysis of given political
and economic problems and phenomena, including the critical evaluation of both empirical data and
theoretical presuppositions regarding the nature of political and economic life
an understanding of the role of the state in markets and in the macroeconomy, including knowledge of
contrasting theories for and against state involvement in the economy
an understanding of the concept and measurement of economic development and of the main theories
of growth and development in the context of developing countries
to identify, interpret, and evaluate evidence and arguments relevant to the analysis of given political
and economic problems and phenomena, including the critical evaluation of both empirical data and
theoretical presuppositions regarding the nature of political and economic life
to communicate arguments, concepts, information, and evidence, both orally and in writing, in a clear,
coherent, concise, and illuminating manner
to initiate and engage in a scholarly critical discussion by independently raising important critical
questions, listening actively to others, and responding in an informed, apposite, and nuanced manner
d) At the completion of 4000-level courses, successful students will have demonstrated the
following abilities:










an advanced knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts, methodologies, and theoretical and
practical approaches in political science, philosophy, and economics
a developed understanding of important topics and questions in each of the contributing disciplines as well
as their interdisciplinary implications
to apply PSPE insights and analysis in discussion and critical evaluation of problems and policies in
contemporary societies
sophisticated critical thinking and advanced analytical problem-solving skills
cumulative intellectual development by applying learning from the curriculum, especially in the
construction and completion of original, self-directed interdisciplinary research
to identify, interpret, and evaluate evidence and arguments relevant to the analysis of given political and
economic problems and phenomena, including the critical evaluation of both empirical data and theoretical
presuppositions regarding the nature of political and economic life
to identify research problems which call for interdisciplinary investigation and to integrate the methods and
insights of political science, philosophy, and economics in the attempt to understand and respond to those
problems
an understanding and appreciation that each discipline, including the components disciplines of PSPE,
produce bodies of knowledge that may enhance, complement, or conflict with one other
to communicate arguments, concepts, information, and evidence, both orally and in writing, in a clear,
coherent, concise, and illuminating manner
to initiate and engage in a scholarly critical discussion by independently raising important critical
questions, listening actively to others, and responding in an informed, apposite, and nuanced manner
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

to engage in a sustained critical discussion of a specialized topic in an advanced seminar
to manage self-directed learning in changing circumstances, both within and outside the discipline,
including seeking assistance to identify and address weaknesses, and an ability to identify their goals for
their degree and beyond, including selecting an appropriate program for further study