Overview
The completion of a degree in Political Science has long been recognized as sound undergraduate preparation for careers in law, business, politics, social work, and public administration. The Major in Political Science is designed to produce a graduate with a solid understanding of the institutions of government, their relationship to politically active non-governmental organizations, the articulation and implementation of public policy, and the role of the informed citizen in a liberal democracy. At UBC Okanagan, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree with a major or minor in political science.
Major in Political Science
Admission Requirements
Admission into the program requires an overall average of at least 70% in all courses attempted toward the B.A. degree.
Degree Requirements
| Major in Political Science | Credits |
|---|---|
| Foundational Requirements | 21 |
| Distribution Requirements | 12 |
| Program Requirements | 48 |
| 300/400-level Electives | 15 |
| Electives any level | 24 |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Note: Some program requirements may be applied to Foundational and Distribution requirements; see B.A. requirements.
Program Requirements
| First and Second Years | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLI 100 | 3 |
| One of POLI 202, 230 | 3 |
| One of POLI 210, 220 | 3 |
| One of POLI 240, 250 | 3 |
| One of POLI 221, 270 | 3 |
| Total 100/200-level credits | 15 |
| Third and Fourth Years: See POLI Focus Areas table | Credits |
|---|---|
| One of course from each of the four focus areas | 12 |
| Two additional 300/400-level courses from a single focus area | 6 |
| 400-level seminars: Two of POLI 403, 409, 429, 449, 454, 456, 464, 469, 486, 489 | 6 |
| Additional 300/400-level POLI | 9 |
| Total 300/400-level credits | 33 |
| Program Requirement Total Credits | 48 |
| POLI Focus Areas | |
|---|---|
| Political Theory | |
| POLI 354, 356, 358, 359, 360, 361, 365, 367, 369, 454, 456, 469, 4621, 4701, 474 | |
| Canadian Politics | |
| POLI 3032, 325, 3312 ,332, 333, 335, 337, 349, 363, 384, 4043, 430, 431, 4323; 449 | |
| International Relations | |
| POLI 3644, 3665, 370, 372, 3734, 374, 377, 378, 379, 380, 382, 383, 384, 386, 3875, 389, 4646, 472, 4896 | |
| Comparative Politics | |
| POLI 310, 311, 3127 314, 315, 317, 318, 319, 3347, 411, 413, 429 |
Note: Courses that are listed in two focus areas can only be used to meet the requirement for one or the other area, not both areas simultaneously.
Credit will only be granted for one of:
1 POLI 462 or POLI 470.
2 POLI 303 or POLI 331.
3 POLI 404 or POLI 432
4 POLI 364 or POLI 373
5 POLI 366 or POLI 387
6 POLI 464 or POLI 489 when topics are of the same nature.
7 POLI 312 or POLI 334
Within these areas, the following requirements need to be met:
- at least 3 credits at the 300 or 400 level in each of these four areas;
- an additional 6 credits at the 300 or 400 level in one of the areas;
- completion of at least two 400 level Political Science seminar courses;
- 9 credits of any Political Science courses at the 300 or 400 level.
Minor in Political Science
To complete a Minor in Political Science, students must accumulate no fewer than 30 credits in Political Science out of the 120 credits required for the B.A. degree. At least 18 of these credits must be numbered 300 or above.