Dual Degree - Bachelor of Arts - Political Science & Bachelor of Education - Primary/Junior (PE)

Students will first complete their Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Once complete they will move into the two years of their Bachelor of Education.

This program is great for applicants who want a better understanding of power and authority in society, and the role they play in their everyday lives, or want to learn skills that will help them form their own responses to the political structures they live in. An undergraduate degree in Political Science from Nipissing University will give students a well-rounded view of Canadian politics, government structures, public administration and policy history, and how they relate to today’s world. They will ground their studies by reading the great books of Western political thought, and will use these philosophies and theories to gain insight into current political events.

In first year, students will take Power, Politics and the Common Good, a foundational course that provides an overview of the fundamental questions of political science—some of which are 2,500 years old—and they discuss them within a contemporary context. Upper years will include cross-disciplinary courses on subject areas like Canadian Social History, Gender and Global Politics, and Fanaticism. This allows students to choose courses from other disciplines of interest, such as History, Gender Equality and Social Justice, and Religions and Cultures.

Perhaps most importantly, Political Science prepares graduates to become actively engaged citizens in their community—so they can have a say in the rules, policies, and structures that shape their life and society.

After completing their Bachelor of Arts, students will begin Nipissing University's Bachelor of Education (BEd) program, which was one of the first pre-service teacher education programs to be fully accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers.

The Bachelor of Education (BEd) program is part of the university's Schulich School of Education and meets the requirements of the Ontario College of Teachers for teacher certification (Certificate of Qualification). The program provided by the Schulich School of Education is rigorous and demands a high degree of commitment. To be successful, a student must display sensitivity to pupils, a sense of responsibility to the teaching profession, and a respect for knowledge.

Candidates may apply to enroll in one of three divisions in the program: • P/J -- Primary/Junior (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6) • J/I -- Junior/Intermediate (Grades 4 to 10) • I/S -- Intermediate/Senior (Grades 7 to 12)

Upon successful completion of the two-year professional program, students will receive a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree.