18 Political Science Bachelors Degree Programs in Canada

Political Science is concerned with the study of the political actors, institutions and processes that affect our daily lives. A healthy democracy requires an understanding of how governments work, how decisions are made, and the input that we as ordinary citizens can have in shaping our community. At the same time, studying political science also helps us understand the world around us, and some of the global events and forces that shape politics in Canada and at the international level.

Political Science provides a strong foundation in Canadian and international politics, comparative politics, and political theory. The study of politics examines the nature and workings of power, state, and government; the rights and duties of citizenship; the limits and possibilities of collective political action; and the social, economic, and cultural formations that shape the life of the political community.

Political science is the study of power and governance. You will have the opportunity to learn from award-winning teachers and leading international researchers who will challenge you to think broadly about power and the responsibilities of engaged citizenship. Through innovative teaching methods, such as participating in simulations and student-driven research projects, you will gain the necessary knowledge to apply to social problems in Canada and around the world. Courses include democracy, citizenship, and law; municipal, provincial, and federal (Canadian) politics; politics of gender and health; and international politics.

Political science studies the governance of public communities. The program focuses on political institutions such as the state, executive, courts and legislatures, and it examines the role of citizens, public officials, interest groups and political parties within the political system as a whole.

Canadian politics and society are becoming more diverse and more global. New opportunities are open to those who are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing Canada and a changing world. Political science helps students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to be a part of those opportunities, and to direct their lives and careers, by providing the intellectual tools needed to understand and critically analyze real world issues, conduct research and develop solutions to complex problems.

A degree in Political Science helps students understand the political context in which critical issues affect populations as individuals, families, and more. Political Science students often go on to exist in the epicenter of community intersecting with the state, rights and responsibilities and public policy, and the relationships between cities, countries and peoples – to name a few.

Politics is central to addressing the shared concerns of citizens, and political science highlights the underlying forces that drive and constrain power and government. As a StFX Political Science student, you will study how power is used in politics and public life. This involves the analysis of government structures, historical political trends and the role of ideas and ideologies in politics, both nationally and globally.

This degree program examines political topics that range from the foundations of international relations and foreign policy to Canadian politics. The Political Science Program at Nipissing University offers courses of study in Political Theory, Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Public Administration.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science Explore how power and authority produce or reduce conflicts within and between societies. Study issues including democracy, war and peace, and the rule of law. Develop your problem-solving and communication abilities. You will gain skills that are essential to careers in the public, private, non-profit, and business sectors.

The B.A. Major in Political Science offers the chance to explore the political world through an innovative suite of offerings that combines a solid foundation in scholarship with 'hands-on' learning opportunities in debate, diplomacy, and policy. The Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science is designed with a special focus on emerging power dynamics at the national, trans-national, and global levels, and is therefore an ideal choice for those with a serious interest in engaging with the many dimensions of power in the modern world.

Besides literacy and numeracy, citizenship and diplomacy are fundamental skills needed to achieve a good quality of life. Citizenship includes both the rights and duties of membership in a political community. Diplomacy is the art and practice of reaching agreements through negotiation. A healthy democracy requires the active and informed participation of its citizens, but this is only possible with a good understanding of its political institutions, processes and issues. Political Science is the discipline devoted to the systematic investigation of citizenship and diplomacy in local, national and international communities.

The Political Science and International Relations department explores the big questions about issues of power and authority that go to the heart of how people are governed. Our world is being reshaped in fascinating and critical ways. Security considerations, geopolitics, divisions born of wealth and poverty, and global development challenges have all become unavoidable realities. Our award-winning faculty offer courses across each of the major subfields in political science, including Canadian politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and administration.

The University of Manitoba’s Global Political Economy (GPE) program is unique among Canadian undergraduate universities. The GPE program is an interdisciplinary approach for the study of international political, social, environmental, and economic issues. It brings together faculty and course offerings across five disciplines to give you a superb education in global political and economic relations, and their effects on local communities.

Campus Saint-Jean, the only French-speaking post-secondary institution in Western Canada, offers its students the ideal setting for learning and community involvement thanks to its small classes, its scholarships rewarding academic excellence, and its research opportunities.

Trent’s versatile Political Studies program introduces students to a variety of political topics, while encouraging you to dive deeper into one of three concentrations in world politics, Canadian politics, or political theory. In small seminars, you’ll sharpen your analytical skills and enhance your understanding of how to make a positive impact in the world as you participate in lively discussions about democracy, power relations, and relationships between the state, business, and citizens. Define where you stand on issues of local, national, and global importance, building the confidence and skills for success in a variety of careers. Interested in a career in law? You can also pursue a degree in Political Studies as part of the Trent/Swansea Law Dual Degree program.