Political Science Undergraduate Courses

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Basic concepts for political inquiry such as power, authority, state. Examination of governmental institutions and systems.
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Relations among nations, covering such topics as foreign policies of major powers, nature and functions of international organizations, international law and contemporary world problems.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000 or a previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Canadian political system, with special attention to political parties, the nature of federalism and functioning of the parliamentary system.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000, a previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science, or seven courses (21.0 credit hours) in Arts and Science
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Comparative study of power, authority, administration, law, leadership and participation in selected political systems.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000, a previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science, or seven courses (21.0 credit hours) in Arts and Science
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
A selective introduction to the basic concepts of western political theory, focusing on ideas such as rights, consent, obligation, citizenship and the common good. Readings drawn from classical (e.g., Plato, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill) and contemporary (e.g., Walzer, Taylor, MacIntyre, Nozick, Rawls) theorists.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000 or a previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Lib Ed Req: Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Concepts and methods of political inquiry; organization, development and articulation in research papers.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000 or a previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Process and institutions. Environmental, historical, social and economic influences on the process; external forces, including bilateral and multilateral commitments.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 2110 or Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
A review of the major theoretical approaches of the field. These theoretical perspectives will then be applied to various issue areas, such as international trade, foreign investment, regional integration, North-South relations, migration, labour, and the environment.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2110
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

POLITICAL SCIENCE 3170/MANAGEMENT 3670 (prior to 2021/2022)

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Focus on the political economy of Canadian trade policy. Exploration of political, economic and institutional factors shaping Canada's participation in international agreements on trade and related issues. Examination of the interaction of regional, economic, intergovernmental, and societal factors with trade policies in Canadian domestic politics. Students will also be exposed to theoretical literature related to international political economy, public policy, Canadian federalism, and Canadian foreign policy.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2110
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Municipal policy-making and administrative decision-making, financial functions, legal powers, land use management, public participation, and relations between municipalities and higher levels of government.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An examination of the key policy and administrative challenges as they relate to local governments and First Nations and urban Aboriginal Peoples. Topics include the impact of Aboriginal self-government and urban Indigenous self-determination, urban Aboriginal political representation and public participation, the politics of planning with neighbouring First Nations and urban Aboriginal peoples, urban government and sustainability, and conceptualizing urban governments in this new setting.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Equivalent: Political Science 3850 (Municipal Indigenous Governance in Canada) (prior to 2017/2018)
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Historical and current roles of federalism and regionalism in evolution of Canadian politics and policy; major issues including regional representation in federal institutions, federal-provincial and inter-provincial relations, influence of transnational and Aboriginal politics, and impact of federalism on Canadian economic and social policies.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Basic principles of Canadian constitutional law as they relate to the evolving concept and practice of Canadian federalism. The concept and practice of judicial review. Basics and evolution of the constitutional division of powers. Aboriginal rights and First Nations. Evolution and process of constitutional amendment.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, gender, and social change that includes: theories of the legitimacy of judicial review; analyses of selected sections of the Constitution Act through Supreme Court and appellate court decisions; contemporary critical race, postcolonial, gender, sexualities, Indigenous and legal literatures that address intersecting forms of discrimination; current issues that highlight the role of law as a means of social control and political contestation; analyses of selected statutes, regulations and the facta presented to courts.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 1000, Political Science 2210, or Women and Gender Studies 1000
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Problems in Alberta provincial politics; the formal and informal institutions of the Provincial government.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Factors and processes that enter into the making of Canadian public policy. Emphasis on specific policy areas which change periodically to take into account current government activities.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An introduction to Canadian social policy, outlining the historical trajectory of social policy and the social, ideological, political, and economic factors that shape contemporary debates. Analysis of certain national and provincial social programs, such as child welfare, social/public housing, employment insurance reform, and immigration.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Equivalent: Political Science 3850 (Social Policy in Canada) (prior to 2017/2018)
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Mass and elite political behaviour in Canada, including political culture, public opinion, political participation, voting and elections.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
The impact of digital communications technologies on the political process, including representation, campaigning, citizen activism and participation, and e-government.
Prerequisite(s): One of Political Science 2210 or Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
A comparative examination of the government and politics of selected Western European countries such as Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
A comparative examination of the communist legacy and the post-communist government and politics of selected Eastern European countries such as Russia, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An analysis of post-war integration of (Western) Europe, particularly its political and economic dimensions. History, institutions and policies of the European Union. Comparative national attitudes to integration.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Emphasis on American governmental institutions, political parties and behaviour and civil rights.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Comparative study of socio-economic and political development and modernization in selected African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and/or Middle Eastern countries, including general comparisons with some Western political systems.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
A comparative examination of the political development and politics of selected Latin American countries. Historical and current processes. Failures and limits to democratization. Presidentialism and party politics.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Role of administration in modern government including trends and challenges in government organization, interdepartmental and intergovernmental relations, administrative regulation, budgetary processes, and personnel administration.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Political thought from the ancient Greeks and Romans through the classical Christian period to the late Middle Ages. Various philosophers may be studied, such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, and Dante, and their views on virtue, wisdom, the best regime, politics and religion, friendship, justice, just war, and/or natural law.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2511
Lib Ed Req: Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Examination of modern and post-modern political thought, from the 16th to 21st century. The focus of each offering will vary, and may include philosophers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Tocqueville, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Arendt, Strauss, Oakeshott, and Voegelin, and their views on issues such as fortune, the state, liberty, democracy, equality, totalitarianism, Gnosticism, problem of natural right, and technology.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2511
Lib Ed Req: Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Philosophical examination of the interaction between politics and religion. Liberal democracy, Islam, Antiquity, Middle Ages, modernity, politics of reason and revelation, separation of church and state, civil religion, meanings of 'secular,' and conscience.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2511
Lib Ed Req: Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An examination of the relationship between news media, the public, and democracy. The state of contemporary journalism, emphasizing the key economic, organizational, social, technological, and other factors that influence editorial content and shape and constrain news production. Topics include the role of mass media in a democracy, political economy approaches to media analysis, institutional studies of news-making, effects of mass media on the public and politics, the political significance of entertainment media, media and foreign policymaking, propaganda and campaign advertising, and the internet and politics.
Prerequisite(s): One 2000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Equivalent: Political Science 3850 (Mass Media and Politics) (prior to 2017/2018)
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
The history of social movements, with an emphasis on Canada. Introduction to basic concepts and theories of social movement research to understand why and how individuals mobilize, with special attention to how specific movements form, grow, and decline.
Prerequisite(s): One 2000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Equivalent: Political Science 3850 (Social Movements) (prior to 2017/2018)
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
An examination of theories and concepts in politics and/or international relations through their portrayal in works of popular culture including movies, television, works of literature, and other media.
Equivalent: Political Science 3850 (Film and International Relations) (prior to 2018/2019) is equivalent to the same offering in the Political Science 3750 Series; Political Science 3850 (The International Relations of Middle Earth: Lessons from Lord of the Rings) (prior to 2018/2019) is equivalent to the same offering in the Political Science 3750 Series

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Seminars on topics in international politics, such as international relations theory, human rights, the environment, international security, diplomacy, the global economy, technology, international institutions and law, and conflict management.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2110 AND Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Seminars on topics in Canadian politics and government, such as aspects of the judiciary, business and government, Canada-US relations, political parties, pressure groups, the media, public policy, political institutions, and political behaviour and/or the interaction thereof.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2210 AND Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Seminars on topics in comparative politics, such as democratizat ion and democratic breakdown, comparative development, political institutions and executives, representation and electoral systems, voter turnout and compulsory voting, state formation and dissolution, rise and decline of nations and great powers, comparative federalism, comparative public policy, comparative party politics. Countries vary by topic(s).
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2310 AND Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
Themes in political philosophy, such as friendship, enmity, justice, war, equality, democracy, liberty, virtue, law, empire, technology, tyranny, religion. Texts vary yearly.
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 2511 AND Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)
Lib Ed Req: Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit hours: 3.00
Contact hours per week: 3-0-0
History and evolution of political science as an academic discipline. Overview of the main subfields. The scientific method and its application to research. Quantitative versus qualitative approaches. Viability of experimentation and formal models. Key journals in the discipline.
Prerequisite(s): Three 3000-level courses (9.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Lib Ed Req: Social Science

Credit hours: 6.00
Contact hours per week: Variable
This is a research-oriented course in which students will conduct empirical research, submit a report in the form of an Undergraduate Thesis which will be made publicly available, and report orally on the work. In consultation with their Thesis Supervisor, students will define a research problem and formulate a research plan.
Prerequisite(s): Fourth-year standing (a minimum of 90.0 credit hours) AND A cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher AND Political Science 2610 AND Three of Political Science 2110, Political Science 2210, Political Science 2310, or Political Science 2511 AND At least two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Political Science
Note: Contact hours will vary. Students should be aware that this course involves regular contact with the Thesis Supervisor as well as considerable independent work.