Bachelor of Arts - Political Science - Honours

Politics are the “art of the possible.” Political science is the study and analysis of possibilities for states and their citizens: the possibility of peace in a war ravaged country; the possibility of democracy in an authoritarian state; the possibility of economic equity in a capitalist system; and the possibility of harmony in a system of sovereign states.

The study of politics has always been at the centre of an education geared toward sustaining and improving community life. The ancient Chinese, Greeks, and Romans regarded politics as one of the highest forms of human expression. Indigenous peoples all over the world have practiced unique and effective forms of politics for millennia.

Algoma University’s four-year Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree focuses on three areas of study: Canadian politics, public policy and government; comparative politics and international relations; and political theory, philosophy, and economy.

Our program also works to incorporate Indigenous and Aboriginal content, ideas, and methodology in its approach. The program will help students to understand and identify important institutions, forces, and ideas that shape society, and permit change to occur or not occur. Students will gain an understanding of the history, values, structures, and processes of political systems, and will study the principles of effective democratic citizenship from local to international levels, along with the relationships between states and non-state actors in the wider, interdependent global system and how they organize themselves into various decision making and administrative forums.

A degree in political science will teach students how to systematically, rigorously, and analytically evaluate competing explanations of the same event or phenomenon, and gain an understanding of who or what exerts power. Students will also examine how political leaders understand their obligations toward each other, and how decisions are shaped by different views of what’s right, what works, and what’s possible in varying circumstances.

Within the program, students will develop a wide range of skills that apply beyond the study of political science. These include the ability to think clearly and critically, write and speak effectively, and to undertake primary and secondary research confidently. All of these skills are in high demand in the public and private workforce. They are also highly sought after in those proceeding to law school, medical school, teacher’s college, and graduate studies.