COURSE CURRICULUM

The Political Science major at St. Thomas University is designed to provide students with a well-rounded and critical understanding of political systems, ideas, and practices, both within Canada and globally. To complete the major, students must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours in Political Science. This includes at least one introductory-level course—any 1000-level POLS course or LAPS 1003—which serves as the foundation for more advanced study in the discipline.The program requires students to gain exposure to each of the four key subfields of Political Science offered at STU: Canadian Government and Politics, Comparative Government and Politics, International Relations and Foreign Policy, and Political Philosophy. For Canadian Politics, students must complete POLS 2103 and one additional Canadian politics course at either the 2000 or 3000 level. This ensures familiarity with Canada’s institutions, political actors, and governance structures.To meet the requirements in Comparative Politics, students must complete POLS 2303 and POLS 2313, which provide insights into how political systems operate in both developed and developing regions. For the International Relations field, students must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours chosen from a broad list of courses, such as POLS 2613, 2623, 3313, or others dealing with foreign policy, diplomacy, international organizations, or global issues.Finally, students must fulfill the Political Philosophy requirement by completing POLS 2803 and POLS 2813. These courses introduce foundational texts and ideas in political thought, helping students engage critically with questions about justice, rights, power, and the nature of political community.This structured yet diverse program equips students with the analytical tools and theoretical grounding necessary to interpret political developments, evaluate policies, and understand the complex factors that shape public life. It also prepares graduates for careers in law, public service, policy analysis, journalism, international relations, or further academic study in political science or related fields.