Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Political Studies (QA)

Politics is about power – who has it and how it is exercised by nation-states, individuals, groups, classes, or political parties, and how different interests are reconciled in and between communities. Political Studies are also concerned with institutions created to govern communities, as well as political practices such as voting habits or protests, and how rules, behaviour and culture are created in societies. Since power in society is often dependent upon material resources, political scientists study the distribution of wealth, both within and between nations.

Students sharpen their debating skills at the Queen’s Model Parliament; they discuss international issues at the Queen’s Model UN or with the Queen’s International Affairs Association. Politics at Queen’s extends past the classroom.

Top 5 Reasons to study Political Studies:

• Course topics examine facets of political theory as well as national and international politics. • Students learn to think critically about the distribution of power and resources. • Diverse group of faculty and teaching fellows who are leading experts in their respective fields. • Students learn how ideological and physical distributions inform systems of governance, political behaviour, and public policies. • Students are encouraged to consider taking part in an exchange program in their third year.

Note: Students in this program are also eligible for the Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP) which provides 2nd or 3rd year students with a 12-16 month work experience. The internship normally occurs following the student’s third year of study, after which the student completes the final year of the honours degree. The internships are paid, professionally supervised, career-related positions offering students the opportunity to learn about current advances, practices, and technologies in business and industry.