Department of Political Science
Honours Political Science, Law and Politics Specialization
This program offers a specialized concentration of learning within the four-year Honours
Political Science degree. It is designed for students who are interested in a career in
law, or who wish to learn more about the Canadian legal system and contemporary
legal issues. It does not guarantee admission to law school or direct entry to the legal
profession, but rather provides students with an academically rigorous curriculum aimed
at fostering the skill sets demanded by law schools, such as analytical and problemsolving skills, critical reading abilities, strong oral and written communication, critical
thinking, organizational skills, and knowledge of the law and social justice. The
Specialization introduces students to the ways in which legal studies intersect with
political science, philosophy, history, labour studies, women's studies and sociology.
Program Structure
Total courses: forty.
Major requirements [20 courses]:
(a) 45-100, 45-130, 45-160 and 45-275;
(b) one of 45-251 or 45-252 [should be taken in Semester 3, 4 or 5];
(c) two of 45-214, 45-314, 45-321, and 45-363;
(d) three of 45-201, 45-212, 45-220, 45-221, 45-309, 45-323, 45-324, and 45-326;
(e) ten additional courses, with at least two at the 300-level and three at the 400-level.
Option requirements [6 courses]:
(a) two courses from Arts;
(b) two courses from Languages or Science;
(c) two courses from any area of study, excluding Social Sciences.
Other requirements [14 courses]:
(a) 01-150, 01-151, 02-250, 34-160, and 34-261;
(b) one of 01-209 or 34-221;
(c) two of 34-226, 43-287, 48-262, 53-310, and 54-200;
(d) three courses from any area of study, including Political Science;
(e) three courses from any area of study, excluding Political Science.
Suggested Program Sequencing
Year 1 [Semester 1]
01-150. Foundations of Academic Writing I
45-100. Introduction to Canadian Politics
45-130. Comparative Politics or 45-160. World Politics
One 'Option requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 3 [Semester 5]
45-XXX. Political Science course
45-XXX. Political Science course
45-XXX. Political Science course
One 'Option requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 1 [Semester 2]
01-151. Foundations of Academic Writing II
45-130. Comparative Politics or 45-160. World Politics
45-XXX. Political Science course
One 'Option requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 3 [Semester 6]
45-XXX. Political Science course
45-XXX. Political Science course
One 'Option requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 2 [Semester 3]
02-250. Basic Quantitative Methods
45-XXX. Political Science course
45-XXX. Political Science course
34-160. Reasoning Skills
One 'Option requirement' course
Year 4 [Semester 7]
45-3XX. Political Science course
45-3XX. Political Science course
One 'Option requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 2 [Semester 4]
45-275. Introduction to Research Methods
45-XXX. Political Science course
45-XXX. Political Science course
34-261. Informal Logic: Argumentation
One 'Other requirement' course
Year 4 [Semester 8]
45-4XX. Political Science course
45-4XX. Political Science course
45-4XX. Political Science course
One 'Other requirement' course
One 'Other requirement' course
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS – MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
45-100. Introduction to Canadian Government and Politics
An introduction to the politics and government of Canada. The course will focus on political
culture, the constitution, federalism, the executive, parliament, public service, courts, political
parties, interest groups, and elections.
45-130. Comparative Politics in a Changing World
Introduces students to issues such as democracy, authoritarianism, nationalism, political
culture, and how political power is organized. The course focuses on the democratic states of
the West, but also examines non-democratic states such as China and the transitional
democracies of Eastern Europe.
45-160. Issues in World Politics
An examination of competing perspectives on international relations and of such critical themes
as power, security, war, imperialism, nationalism, interdependence, development and
underdevelopment, human rights, environmental concerns, and the quest for a new world order.
45-275. Introduction to Research Methods
Introduces students to quantitative and qualitative social research. Looks at how surveys and
focus groups are used and abused for political and commercial purposes. Examines what field
and archival research can teach us about human behaviour and social, political, and economic
trends.
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One of:
45-251. Classical Political Thought
An introduction to the history of political thought from the ancient Greeks to the end of the
Middle Ages. Topics may include human nature, justice, natural law, and the relationship
between Church and State.
45-252. Modern Political Thought
Toward the new science of politics from Machiavelli to Rousseau and the French Revolution.
Two of:
45-214. Legal Process in Canada
An introduction to the legal system in Canada, including the sources of Canadian law, the
general concepts of constitutional and administrative law, the court structure, and the study and
practice of law. (Prerequisite: one of 45-100 or 45-130.)
45-314. Constitutional Law and Politics in Canada
The nature and purpose of constitution and major issues in Canadian constitutional politics.
Topics may include judicial review, the development of human rights law in Canada, and the
impact of the Charter of Rights on Canadian politics and government.
45-321. The Legislative Process
An introduction to representative democracy, parliamentary behaviour, and legislative process.
May include role-playing exercises and a simulation of the Federal House of Commons.
45-363. Principles of International Law
An introduction to the role of international law in international relations, this course will consider
the role of justice in the international system and will examine the basic principles of modern
international law, including sources, subjects, and procedures.
Three of:
45-201. Current Issues in Canadian Politics
An examination of one or more current issues in Canadian politics, for example, energy and
resources, the environment, native peoples, aging, women's rights, urban problems, and health
care.
45-212. Environmental Policy and Politics
The course examines the domestic and international context of environmental policy-making in
Canada. Topics examined may include global warming, Great Lakes pollution, and endangered
species.
45-220. Introduction to Public Administration
This course introduces students to the political science sub-field of public administration.
Building on classical theories of organization, it examines the institutions of government, the
dynamics of public sector management, and the relationship between elected officials and
administrators in the political system.
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45-221. Canadian Public Administration and Policy
An introduction to the processes of public policy formation in Canada. Includes an analysis of
political/bureaucratic relationships, decision making theory, and the role of interest groups in the
context of selected contemporary policy issues.
45-309. Canadian Provincial Government
A comparative study of provincial governments and politics in Canada including an examination
of the powers exercised by provinces, the institutions of provincial government and the
behaviour of provincial electorates and politicians. In given terms, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic
or the Western provinces may be given particular attention.
45-321. The Legislative Process
An introduction to representative democracy, parliamentary behaviour, and legislative process.
May include role-playing exercises and a simulation of the Federal House of Commons.
45-324. Public Infrastructure
This course examines the role of the public sector in the ownership and operation of major
capital facilities for transportation, water, sanitation, electric power, health care and education.
Topics include alternative funding mechanisms, environmental impacts and regulations, public
consultation and the influence of political interest groups, and the role of infrastructure in the
economy. The course also provides an introduction to analytical methods used to support
infrastructure decision-making.
45-326. Local Government
An introduction to the politics and administration of local government. Topics include local
political structure, relationships between municipalities and other levels of government, public
policy-making, and current challenges facing local officials.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS – OTHER REQUIREMENTS
01-150. Foundations of Academic Writing I
A basic course designed to develop effective writing skills for communicating ideas in academic
and other contexts. Topics will include: grammar; the audience; the writing process; conventions
of different paragraph prose forms. This course is structured as an on-line course (Not Distance
Education), and is not an ESL course. There will be on-campus mid-term and final exams.
01-151. Foundations of Academic Writing II
A basic writing course designed as a follow up to 01-150. This course aims to develop and
refine effective writing skills for communicating ideas in academic and other contexts. Topics will
include a cursory review of grammar; writing processes; and conventions of different prose
forms in various scholarly disciplines. The main content of the course is paragraph and essay
writing, basic research skills, and forms of scholarly citation. This course is structured as an online course (Not Distance Education). There will be on-campus midterm and final exams.
02-250. Basic Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Introduction to measurement of variables, organization and description of numerical data,
testing hypotheses, inference, and interpretation of findings in the Social Sciences. Topics
include descriptive statistics, normal distribution, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, ttests, correlation, and chi-square tests.
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34-160. Reasoning Skills
An explanation of, and practice in, the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes which are essential
components of reasoning well.
34-261. Informal Logic: Argumentation
The objective is to develop the ability to analyze and evaluate extended arguments found in the
public media, books and articles, and to construct a well-argued case.
Two of:
34-226. Law, Punishment and Morality
An introduction to the philosophical issues related to understanding the nature of law and legal
obligation, the relation between law and morality, and the purpose of punishment. The
theoretical points and distinctions will be illustrated by their applications to particular current
issues.
43-287. History of Crime
Examines the ways in which crime and criminal justice were shaped by the societies in which
they occurred and the ways in which they changed as these societies changed.
48-262. Law and Social Order
This course will examine the creation and administration of law and justice. Topics may include:
legal systems, legal and justice professionals, civil and criminal law, courts and sanctions.
Focus of the course will vary by instructor.
53-310. Women and the Law
This course examines the relationship between gender inequality and the legal system. Topics
include abortion, marriage, divorce, custody, equal pay, sexual harassment, rape, pornography,
and prostitution. Students are introduced to basic legal research tools, such as statutes,
regulations, cases, and legal literature.
54-200. Labour Law and Policy
An interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between the state, law, and labour unions.
This course examines the role of the state and labour law in shaping and mediating the
relationship between labour and employers. The impact of laws in labour relations, employment
standards, workers' compensation, human rights, and occupational health and safety are
examined.
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