COURSE CURRICULUM

The Political Science degree at StFX offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with a deep understanding of politics at local, national, and global levels. First-year courses introduce students to fundamental concepts, political power, government structures, comparative politics, and global political systems. Second-year courses build on this foundation, covering ancient, medieval, and modern political thought, Canadian political institutions and society, U.S. politics, comparative politics of Western and non-Western states, global politics, business-government relations, and international organizations. Students also gain methodological skills through courses in research design and quantitative analysis. Third-year courses allow students to specialize in areas such as liberalism, Marxism, human rights, global justice, European and Latin American politics, democratization, dictatorships, political economy of development, politics in the Muslim world, Indigenous politics in Canada, provincial and Atlantic Canadian politics, parties and elections, political communications, religion and politics, international security, and contemporary conflicts including the Arab-Israeli dispute. Fourth-year courses include advanced seminars in political theory, Canadian politics, comparative politics, and international relations, culminating in options for an honours thesis or directed study. Across all levels, the program emphasizes critical analysis, theoretical understanding, practical research skills, and engagement with contemporary political challenges, preparing students for careers in government, law, international organizations, academia, and other fields requiring strong analytical and civic competencies.