Undergraduate programs

The children of Sandoka Village stand in front of Raza Khan Primary School built by UVic political science student, Marwan Khan and named after his late grandfather. (credit: Marwan Khan)

We encourage you to study a wide range of subjects as part of our program. Learn more below about our general, major and honours programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. You can also pursue a double major or specialize in one of our minor programs.

Major
Minor
Honours
Related programs

Major Program

The requirements for the Major Program in Political Science are described in the University Academic Calendar.

The Major degree exposes students to a broad range of approaches and questions about the study of politics and governance. It establishes a well-rounded education while providing a rigorous grounding in political analysis, research and writing. Students who graduate with a BA in Political Science are able to research and write thesis-driven political analysis and to do so with awareness of the critical perspectives relevant to specific political questions or problems.

Double Major program

Many students pursue a double major of political science in combination with disciplines like sociology, economics, history, philosophy or environmental studies. Reasons you might want to pursue a double major:

Political science and environmental studies for a career as an environmental policy analyst.
Political science and women's studies for a career in women's advocacy and policy development.
Political science and economics for a career in international relations and economic development.

General or minor program

A concentration in Political Science under the General or Minor Program requires:

6 units of courses numbered at the 100 or 200 level
9 units of courses numbered at the 300 or 400 level

Honours program

The requirements for the Honours program in Political Science are described in the University Academic Calendar.

The Honours Program in Political Science provides students the opportunity to develop an in-depth set of skills which are primarily designed for graduate school. You will be part of a close-knit student cohort and work closely with a faculty supervisor on your Honours thesis. Many students choose to pursue an honours degree to get a taste for the kind of scholarship that they would encounter in graduate school. An honours degree is traditionally considered excellent preparation for graduate school, even though it is not a requirement for many graduate programs.

Admission to the Honours program requires a GPA of 6.0 in at least 7.5 units of Political Science courses numbered at the 100- or 200-level. It is strongly recommended that students take a broad range of Political Science courses including at least one on Canadian politics, one on comparative politics, one on international politics and one on political theory. Some courses on offer will incorporate material from more than one of these fields.

If you're interested in pursuing an honours degree, contact the Honours Advisor, Dr. Simon Glezos before your third year.

Congratulations to our 2022 Honours students!

Rachel Barnett "Sewing Dissent: A Discursive Reframing of Skill in Canada’s Garment Industry" Committee: Justin Leifso, Feng Xu

Nigel Bisnar "Clean Growth or Climate Justice? The Framing of Climate Change Mitigation in Canadian News Media" Committee: Will Greaves, Jamie Lawson

Aza Bryson-Bucci "Democratic Backsliding in Hungary: A Domestic and Supranational Threat" Committee: Valerie D’Erman, Amy Verdun

Jenna Hrechka "Exploring Provincial Government Policy Reponses to COVID-19 Regarding Indigenous Populations: A Comparative Case Study of Alberta and BC" Committee: Michael Prince, Justin Leifso

Grace Johnson "Relativizing Canadian Identity: An Exploration of the Canadian Myth of Benevolence" Committee: Matt James, Scott Watson

Seamus Lim-Heley "Justifying War in an Insecure World: Understanding the Military Spending of the United States and the Discourse Used to Rationalize It" Committee: Scott Watson, Colin Bennett

Q Roxas "Reclaiming Filipin* Identities at the Asterisk: Diaspora, TGNC Experiences, and the Case of Babaylan" Committee: Kelly Aguirre, Rita Dhamoon

Ben Rutowski "Financing Institutions: Using Women’s Political Participation to Assess the Potential Benefits of Microcredit on Democracy" Committee: Marlea Clarke, Reeta Tremblay

Isabel Simons "Restoration economies and agrarian reform rural sub-Saharan Africa: the case of the Great Green Wall in Ethiopia" Committee: Mara Marin, Marlea Clarke

Option in European Studies and Minor Programs

Interested in European politics? Thinking of pursuing an international career? UVic's European Studies Program offers courses to broaden your knowledge and give you a thorough understanding of Europe's multifaceted history, culture, fast-changing political realities and its extraordinary role in today's world.

The European Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program offered by the Faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Students may obtain this Minor together with Honours, a Major program or other degree program in another department or faculty.
The European Studies Option is a specialisation in European Studies designed for Majors and Honours students in Political Science who wish to graduate with a concentration in European Politics.

Opportunities include: Internships and study tours to the EU institutions in Brussels, exchange opportunities, West Coast Model EU and many others.

Latin American Studies

Thinking of pursuing an international career? Interested in social justice or global citizenship? UVic’s Latin American Studies programme will introduce you to or broaden your knowledge of the politics, history, language, and diverse cultures of this dynamic region. Consider a minor, double-majors or honours in Latin American Studies to complement your political science degree with greater regional understanding. The programme offers fields schools and study abroad opportunities in Latin America. For more information on the programme, contact Dr. Michelle Bonner.

Minor in Global Development Studies

Offered by the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Minor in Global Development Studies (GDS) aims to foster the development of critical, knowledgeable and engaged global citizens. You will learn about the range of factors, actors and conditions that have shaped global development patterns, inequalities, and the conditions and opportunities under which these patterns and inequalities change. Interdisciplinary introductory and capstone courses are designed to enable students to integrate insights from a variety of disciplines in Humanities and Social Sciences. For more information about courses and field school opportunities, contact Dr. Marlea Clarke.

Social Justice Studies

The Faculties of Human and Social Development, Humanities and Social Sciences jointly offer an interdisciplinary Minor in Social Justice Studies. This program will give you a thorough understanding of the range of ways to address and engage with issues of social inequity and injustice in the contemporary world from a variety of different perspectives. Together with an Honours, Major, or General degree program, the Minor program requires 13.5 units of coursework. You are strongly encouraged to plan your program in consultation with the Director of Social Justice Studies sjs@uvic.ca.

Technology and Society

More than ever, an interdisciplinary approach to the questions of technology and society is required in order to keep pace with rapid technological change and an increasingly complex digital future. The Minor in Technology & Society positions students at UVic on the cutting edge of new and innovative educational responses to the real world of technological change.