Bachelor of Arts and Science - Political Science and Geography (Optional Co-op)

For the Bachelor of Arts and Science, students must complete two majors: an Arts major, and a Science major.

Political Science

Political Science is the systematic study of government, politics and political behaviour. It studies how a society governs itself at all levels and various ideas about how it should be governed in the future.

Political Science students will study how political conflict is organized and resolved in the “real world.” Students will look at how rulers are chosen, governmental decisions are taken and how decision-making processes are organized. Students will learn how governments design and implement their laws and policies in Canada and abroad.

Students will also consider how political leaders understand their obligations towards one another and how decisions are shaped by different views of “what’s right,” “what works” and “what’s possible” in different circumstances.

The Department of Political Science offers four subfields of study and encourages students to choose a variety of courses from each area to ensure they gain a broad view of the discipline. These are: Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.

Geography

Geography deals with the diverse landscapes around the world. It is about everything from the original formation of the earth’s surface, to the effects humans have on the environment: past, present and future.

The primary focus of the program is to give students the skills necessary to analyze the organization and interaction of all creatures and ecological processes on the planet — and sometimes beyond it — to address real-world issues.

The department is particularly strong in the areas of geographical information science (GIS) and remote sensing, water research and rural & urban studies; areas of spectacular growth in research, teaching and employment for graduates.

Students will have access to the latest hardware and software available in geography, economics, environment, agriculture, ecology, planning etc, as well as state-of-the-art facilities like the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. This facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of University of Lethbridge’s award-winning faculty, the instructors, as they investigate diverse areas such as: weather and climate, water, glaciers, sediments, plants and insects.

Situated in the Oldman River Valley, the University’s location offers an excellent centre for field research, surrounded by farm and rangelands, and in easy reach of the Rockies and the city of Calgary.