Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Hons.B.A.Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
An undergraduate education in Political Science has traditionally led students into a number of directions, such as careers in government services (municipal, regional, provincial or federal), journalism, media and communications, support services for politicians (such as political assistants, consultants, and researchers), public affairs managers, and international organizations. Some graduates have continues their studies at professional schools, such a Law, Social Work, and Colleges of Education.
Whether you are thinking about taking Political Science as an undergraduate degree or only one course for interest you will find that our Department offers an undergraduate curriculum that is both diverse in scope and high in quality. Our programme allows you to learn about important issues such as democracy, development or war, while preparing you for a wide range of careers in government, law, business, education or the non-profit sector.
Our undergraduate students run a very successful McMaster Political Science Students Association (MPSSA) and participate in a range of activities such as the yearly Model United Nations event. Please explore these pages for further information and contact us if you have any questions.
The Department of Political Science at McMaster University offers specialization in various subfields including Political Theory, Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics of Developed and Developing Countries, International Relations, Public Law, and Public Policy.
- Canadian Politics teaches students about Canadian Political Institutions such as Parliament or Federalism and politics around issues such as economic restructuring or the role of indigenous peoples.
- Comparative Politics examines the domestic politics of other countries. We have courses that focus upon the politics of particular countries or regions (US, Europe, Asia, Latin America) as well as courses which examine a particular theme across a number of countries (social movements, multiculturalism, women and politics).
- International Relations examines the relations between peoples of different countries. The focus can be on security, cultural or economic relations.
- Political Theory investigates key theoretical texts and concepts in the field of Political Science. These can range from the work of ancient Greek philosophers to the latest in postmodern thought.
- Public Policy examines how a range of government policies are designed or implemented. These policies can range from health to development
- Public law and judicial studies provides an overview of three bodies of public law – administrative, criminal and constitutional. It examines the historical, philosophical and theoretical aspects underlying constitutions, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and interpretation and evolution of the Canadian Constitution and Canadian public law.
The Department's Level I (1AA3 and 1AB3) courses are the foundation courses for all Political Science programs at McMaster. We believe it is vital to introduce students to an understanding of the nature of politics, power and the institutions of political governance within countries and internationally. The instructor that teaches Political Science 1AA3 and1AB3 is among the Department's best. Following the first year, students can select courses from five fields: Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Public Policy or International Relations.
Level 1
POLSCI 1AA3 Government, Politics and Power
POLSCI 1AB3 Politics and Power in a Globalizing World
*Only one course is required for admission to Political Science but both POLSCI 1AA3 and 1AB3 must be completed by the end of Level II.
Level 2
POLSCI 2O06 A/B Political Theory
POLSCI 2NN3 Politics by Design
Up to 15 units of Level 2 Political Science (not including POLSCI 2O06 or POLSCI 2NN3)
At least one course must be from the Canadian Politics Field of Study
Second year courses are designed to give students a foundation in our five fields: Some of these courses are prerequisites for third and fourth year classes, so make your choices carefully. Course descriptions are in the current Undergraduate Calendar.
Level 3
POLSCI 3NN3 Statistical Analysis of Primary Data
Minimum of 9 units of Level 3 Political Science (not including POLSCI 3NN3)
The third year offers a wide variety of courses that allow you to develop specialized knowledge in a particular subject. Course descriptions are in the current Undergraduate Calendar.
Study abroad usually takes place in your third year. The Political Science Department strongly encourages students to do a year abroad studying at a university in another country. Such visits can be life changing experiences as you are introduced to new courses, new faculty, new perspectives and new friends. Here is some information to get you started:
Who can go?
To be eligible you must:
- Be enrolled in an Honours or combined Honours program
- Be in the third year of a four-year program or the fourth year for a five-year program.
- Have completed at least 60 units of work with a cumulative average of at least 7.0. (Note: individual programs may have additional requirements)
- Not study abroad in your home country (international students)
Where can I go?
We have exchange agreements with universities in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Japan. For a current student exchange list visit the McMaster Global Hub.
What about money?
If you participate in an exchange, you should apply for a travel scholarship. Further details are available from the International Student Services Office and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
What should I do?
- Attend one of the International Student Services Office Exchange Information Sessions. They are held in October, November and January. For more details, visit https://iss.mcmaster.ca/outgoing-mcmaster-students/exchange-information-sessions.html
- Gather information at these sessions so that you can discover your exchange options, application process, dates, deadlines, funding your exchange program and have other questions answered.
- Then make an appointment to discuss your exchange university choices and to develop a study plan with an Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
- Contact the Department’s Internationalization Officer to let them know what your are doing so we can follow your progress. (Dr. Tony Porter at tporter@mcmaster.ca)
Level 4
12 units of Level IV Political Science
Students may take a maximum of 12 units of Level IV Political Science. Additional units of Level IV POLSCI courses may not be used towards electives
Regular Honours Political Science students are required to take any combination of Level IV Political Science courses to achieve a total of 12 units. As stated in the Undergraduate Calendar, Students may take a maximum of 12 units of Level IV Political Science and will be removed from any excess units of Level IV Political Science unless permission is granted by the Department.
6 units of Level IV Political Science
Students enrolled in a Combined Honours BA in Political Science and another subject may take a maximum of 6 units of Level IV Political Science and will be removed from any excess units of Level IV Political Science unless permission is granted by the Department. Additional units of Level IV POL SCI courses may not be used towards electives.
This requires completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including a grade of C or greater in one of POLSCI 1AA3 or 1AB3 or a grade of at least C in POLSCI 1G06 A/B. For continuation in the program, see Minimum Requirements for Entering and Continuing in a Program Beyond Level I in the Faculty of Social Sciences Academic Regulations.
Students also have the option of pursuing a four year Combined Honours BA in Political Science and another subject. This requires completion of any Level I program with a GPA of at least 5.0. Students must have a grade of C or greater in one of POL SCI 1AA3 or 1AB3 or a grade of at least C in POL SCI 1G06 A/B. It also requires satisfaction of the admission requirements for the Honours program in the other B.A. subject. For continuation in the program, see Minimum Requirements for Entering and Continuing in a Program Beyond Level I in the Faculty of Social Sciences Academic Regulations.
Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
All undergraduate students accepted for admission to McMaster University are automatically considered for a McMaster University entrance award. Additional entrance awards, in-course scholarships, bursaries and other forms of financial assistance are available to you at various stages of their undergraduate careers.
Each scholarship, bursary, Government Aid or Work Study Program has its own unique application process and requirements. More information on Aids & Awards visit the Student Affairs, Office of the Registrar website.
The Clarke Prizes in Advocacy and Active Citizenship
Established in 2014 by Ryan Clarke (Class of '88) and Leanna Clarke to reward distinguished advocacy demonstrated by students at McMaster University who are - or wish to - advocate for some type of meaningful social and/or political change.
Parliamentary Internship Programs
Fall / Winter 2022-2023
Undergraduate Chair
Dr. Todd Alway
alwayto@mcmaster.ca
Political Science Academic Advisor
Dr. Robert O'Brien
obrienr@mcmaster.ca
Recruitment, Awards & Scholarship Coordinator
Dr. Nibaldo Galleguillos
gallegui@mcmaster.ca
Careers, Experiential & Alumni Coordinator
Dr. Lana Wylie
wyliel@mcmaster.ca
Academic Advising
The Academic Advising office is run through the Office of the Associate Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The primary goal of the Advising Office is to provide all Social Sciences undergraduate students with the information and guidance they need to succeed in their academic careers.
Advisors can help you make the right academic decisions by explaining policies and regulations as well as presenting different options and supports available in your studies.
An academic advisor can assist you with:
- Course requirements, dropping and adding courses
- Program selection, application and changes
- Studying abroad
- Transfer credits
- Petitions for missed term work, deferred examinations and special consideration
- Appeals procedures
- Referral to other campus services
Learn more about Academic Advising in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
• POLSCI 1AA3 - Government, Politics, and Power
• POLSCI 1AB3 - Politics and Power in a Globalizing World
• POLSCI 2C03 - Force and Fear, Crime and Punishment
• POLSCI 2D03 - Canadian Democracy
• POLSCI 2EM3 - Political Economy and the Media
• POLSCI 2F03 - Politics, Power and Influence in Canada
• POLSCI 2H03 - Globalization and the State
• POLSCI 2I03 - Global Politics
• POLSCI 2J03 - Global Political Economy
• POLSCI 2LW3 - Communication Policy and Law
• POLSCI 2M03 - Governance, Representation, and Participation in Democracies
• POLSCI 2MN3 - Reel Politics
• POLSCI 2NN3 - Politics by Design
• POLSCI 2O06 A/B - Political Theory
• POLSCI 2PF3 - Politics of Funny
• POLSCI 2U03 - Public Policy and Administration
• POLSCI 2US3 - US Politics
• POLSCI 2XX3 - Politics of the Developing World
• POLSCI 3B03 - Honours Issues in International Relations and Global Public Policy
• POLSCI 3BB3 - Political Communication: Canada and the World
• POLSCI 3C03 - Government and Politics of Indigenous People
• POLSCI 3CC3 - Political Authority: 20th-Century Political Theory
• POLSCI 3CL3 - Constitutional and Public Law in Canada
• POLSCI 3EE3 - International Relations: North-South
• POLSCI 3FG3 - Public Service Leadership
• POLSCI 3G03 - Ethnicity and Multiculturalism: Theory and Practice
• POLSCI 3GC3 - Global Climate Change
• POLSCI 3GG3 - Federalism
• POLSCI 3H03 - Honours Issues in Comparative Politics
• POLSCI 3I03 - Topics in American Politics
• POLSCI 3IP3 - Intellectual Property
• POLSCI 3J03 - Honours Issues in Canadian Politics and Canadian Public Policy
• POLSCI 3JJ3 - Provincial Politics in Canada
• POLSCI 3JR3 - The Rule of Law and Legal and Judicial Reforms in the Developing World
• POLSCI 3K03 - Migration and Citizenship: Canadian, Comparative and Global Perspectives
• POLSCI 3KA3 - Indigenous Human Rights
• POLSCI 3KK3 - Genocide: Sociological and Political Perspectives
• POLSCI 3LA3 - Religion and Politics
• POLSCI 3LB3 - Globalization and the World Order
• POLSCI 3LC3 - Southeast Asian Politics
• POLSCI 3LL3 - Development and Public Policy
• POLSCI 3LP3 - Topics in Law and Policy
• POLSCI 3NN3 - Statistical Analysis of Primary Data
• POLSCI 3PB3 - Politics from Below
• POLSCI 3PG3 - Political Geography
• POLSCI 3PR3 - Practice of Politics
• POLSCI 3Q03 - The Causes of War
• POLSCI 3RF3 - The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• POLSCI 3UU3 - Reading Course
• POLSCI 3V03 - Gender and Politics
• POLSCI 3VV3 - Democratic Theory
• POLSCI 3WP3 - Working in Politics
• POLSCI 3Y03 - Democratization and Human Rights
• POLSCI 3Z03 - Canadian Public Sector Management
• POLSCI 4AA6 A/B - Contemporary Politics
• POLSCI 4CA3 - Issues in Canadian Politics
• POLSCI 4CF3 - Canadian Foreign Policy
• POLSCI 4D06 A/B - International Politics
• POLSCI 4DV3 - Death and Violence
• POLSCI 4FF3 - Rights and Justice
• POLSCI 4G06 A/B - Politics of Public Policy
• POLSCI 4GC3 - Advanced Issues in Global Citizenship
• POLSCI 4GG3 - Conceptual Issues in Global Politics
• POLSCI 4HH3 - Critical Theory
• POLSCI 4HR3 - Human Rights
• POLSCI 4JJ3 - Cosmopolitanism
• POLSCI 4JS3 - Judicial Studies
• POLSCI 4KB3 - Non-Western International Relations
• POLSCI 4KC3 - Comparative Democratization
• POLSCI 4KK3 - Advanced Issues in Global Security
• POLSCI 4LA3 - Politics in Latin America
• POLSCI 4LC3 - Research on Law and Courts
• POLSCI 4NN3 - Studies in Global Political Economy
• POLSCI 4O06 A/B - Canadian Politics
• POLSCI 4OL3 - Origins of Law
• POLSCI 4PA3 - Policy Analysis and Implementation
• POLSCI 4PE3 - Global Political Ecology
• POLSCI 4PO3 - Public Opinion
• POLSCI 4Q06 A/B - Comparative Politics
• POLSCI 4QQ3 - Issues in International Politics
• POLSCI 4RR3 - Health Policy in the Industrialized World
• POLSCI 4RT3 - Radical Political Theory
• POLSCI 4SS3 - Public Opinion and Policy
• POLSCI 4UF3 - US Foreign Policy
• POLSCI 4UP3 - Urban Politics in the Post-Industrial Era: Hamilton & Detroit
• POLSCI 4Y03 - Domination and Decolonization
• POLSCI 4YR3 - Child/Youth Rights and Security in Global Political Perspective
• POLSCI 4Z06 A/B - Honours Essay
• POLSCI 4ZZ3 - Experiential Learning in Research
• POLSCI 4ZZ6 A/B - Experiential Learning in Research
- For more information:
-
Department of Political Science
KTH 527
905-525-9140 ext. 24741
binnies@mcmaster.ca
- Length:
- 4 years
- Required Credential:
- High School Diploma or equivalent, with 6 Grade 12 U/M courses including English 4U. The anticipated cut-off required by Ontario High School applicants for admission (subject to change) to Social Sciences I is 78% - 82%.
- Program Type:
- Course Based
- Program Options:
- Full-time, Part-time
- Typical Entry:
- September
- Current Deadline:
- April