COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies (Honours) at Trent University is a 20.0-credit program designed to provide an advanced understanding of politics, governance, and power structures at the local, national, and international levels. The program builds strong analytical, research, and communication skills while allowing students to critically examine political systems, public policy, and global relations. Students complete 9.0 credits in Political Studies (POST), beginning with foundational courses such as POST 1001H, 1002H, 2351H, 2352H, and 3600H, which introduce core concepts in political theory, Canadian politics, and world politics. They also complete 1.0 credit from intermediate-level courses such as POST 2011H, 2012H, 2231H, or 2232H to strengthen their understanding of key political issues. The program requires 1.5 credits at the 3000 level, allowing students to engage in more specialized and advanced political analysis, followed by 3.0 credits at the 4000 level that emphasize in-depth research, critical thinking, and independent study in political topics. An additional 1.0 POST credit provides further flexibility to explore specific areas of interest within the discipline. In addition to program requirements, students must complete university-wide degree requirements, including 0.5 credit from an Approved Indigenous Course List. Overall, the program prepares graduates for careers in government, law, policy analysis, international organizations, journalism, and graduate studies.