Political Science

Department of Political Science

General Information: Tilley Hall, Room 219
Mailing Address: Department of Political Science
University of New Brunswick,
P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, N.B.,
Canada, E3B 5A3 
Phone: (506) 453-4826
Email: polisci@unb.ca
Website: //www.unb.ca/fredericton/arts/departments/politicalscience/
Chair:  Dr. Donald Wright

 Faculty

  • Bigonnesse, Catherine, BA, MA (Sherbrooke), PhD (Simon Fraser), Asst Prof - 2022
  • Emery, Herb, BA (hons) (Queen's), MA, PhD (UBC), Prof - 2016
  • Hindmarch, Suzanne, BA (Alberta), MA (Dalhousie), PhD (Toronto), Assoc Prof - 2015
  • Howe, Paul, BA (Tor), MSc (London School of Economics & Pol. Sc.), PhD (UBC), Prof - 2001 
  • MacLean, George, BA (King’s College/Dalhousie), MA (McMaster), PhD (Queens), Prof – 2014
  • McDonald, Ted, BA (St. Francis Xavier), MA, PhD (Melbourne), Prof - 2001 
  • Millar, Heather, BA (Simon Fraser), MPP (Simon Fraser), PhD (Toronto), Asst. Prof - 2019
  • Rosales, Antulio, BA (Trent), MSc (Venezuela), PhD (Waterloo), Asst. Prof - 2017
  • Workman, Thom W., BA (Car), MA, PhD (York), Prof - 1994
  • Wright, Donald, BA (MtA), MA (McGill), PhD (Ottawa), Prof & Chair – 2005
  • Wright, Joanne, BSc (MtA), MA (UNB), PhD (York), Prof & Dean - 2005

General Information

1000-level courses introduce the discipline. Students who are thinking of pursuing a Political Science program - a Minor, Major, or Honours - should take one or two of these courses in their first year.

2000-level courses are Foundation courses, which introduce the main sub-fields.

3000-level courses are Advanced courses on specialized topics.

4000-level courses are Seminars, open to senior students.

The courses are grouped into sub-fields, which are intended to guide students in developing a coherent program of study, but students may choose according to their interests and course availability as long as they meet program requirements.

Minor, Majors and Honours

Minor

A Minor in Political Science consists of 24 ch in Political Science courses, of which at least 6 ch must be in Introductory Level courses (1000 or 2000 level) and 12 ch in Upper Level courses (3000 or 4000 level).

Minor in Public Policy

This is a joint Minor offered by the Departments of Economics and Political Science. The Minor is open to all students including those majoring in Economics and Political Science.

Students may minor in Public Policy by completing 24 ch of courses offered by the Department of Economics and the Department of Political Science. 

a. 6 ch of economics (ECON) courses chosen from: ECON 1014 or ECON 1013, ECON 1024 or ECON 1023, ECON 2203, ECON 3505, ECON 3705, ECON 3905.
b. 6 ch of introductory political science (POLS) courses chosen from: POLS 1203, POLS 1603, POLS 2013POLS 2202, POLS 2303, POLS 2403, POLS 2603, POLS 2703.
c.  6 ch of advanced economics (ECON) courses from: ECON 3055, ECON 3203, ECON 3504, ECON 3702, ECON 3755, ECON 3775, ECON 3801, ECON 3815, ECON 3845, ECON 3865.
d. 6 ch of advanced political science (POLS) courses from: POLS 3103, POLS 3213, POLS 3215, POLS 3217POLS 3241, POLS 3251, POLS 3257, POLS 3323, POLS 3392POLS 3461, POLS 3531, POLS 3647, POLS 3845POLS 4724, POLS 4725, POLS 4727, POLS 4734, POLS 4735.

Major Program

NOTE: These regulations apply to students who began their program at UNB in Fall 2022 or after. For regulations pertaining to students who entered before that date, please consult an earlier calendar or the Department.

Single Major: Students studying for a Single Major in Political Science shall complete a total of 42 ch in Political Science, 24 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Students must include 12 ch from the list of required courses below:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
Double Major: Students studying for a Double Major in Political Science and another discipline shall complete a total of 30 ch in Political Science, 18 ch of which must be upper level courses. Students must include 9 ch from the list of required courses below: 
  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy or Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)

Honours Program

In order to be eligible for admission to the Honours program, students must have:

  1. a GPA of at least 3.0 in Political Science courses
  2. a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. at least 60 ch of course work completed
  4. at least 12 ch of course work in Political Science completed

Students studying for Honours in Political Science should contact the Departmental Undergraduate Advisor. Approval by the Undergraduate Advisor, in consultation with the Department, is required. 

Students wishing to apply for admission to the program are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Advisor in the term prior to entry.

Single Honours 
Students studying for Honours in Political Science must complete at least 48 ch in Political Science, 30 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Honours students must include the following in their program:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Methods from the courses below:
    • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science (3 ch)
    • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (3 ch)
  • POLS 4900 Honours Thesis
  • 6 ch of Political Science courses at the 4000-level (in addition to POLS 4900)

Joint Honours 
Students studying for Joint Honours in Political Science and another discipline must complete at least 30 ch in Political Science, 18 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Honours students must include the following in their program:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy or Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Methods from the courses below:
    • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science (3 ch)
    • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (3 ch)
  • 6 ch of Thesis from the courses below:
    • POLS 4900 Honours Thesis (6 ch)
    • 6 ch Honours Thesis from another department.
      • If a student is completing a Joint Honours in Political Science and any other Arts program requiring a 6 ch Honours thesis, that 6 ch course may replace POLS 4900. Prior approval from the Undergraduate Honours Advisor must be obtained.
  • 3 ch of Political Science courses at the 4000-level (in addition to POLS 4900)

Course Credit:

Students may count courses towards the fulfilment of their program requirements in a Single Major, Double Major or Honours in Political Science only if they receive a grade of C or better. Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in POLS 4900 to receive an Honours degree.

SUB-FIELDS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

CANADIAN POLITICS
POLS 1203 Political Issues in Canada and Beyond
POLS 2202* Canadian Politics
POLS 3103 Rights in Conflict in North America
POLS 3213 Capitalism, Canada, and Class
POLS 3215 Issues in Canadian Public Policy
POLS 3217 Canadian Environmental Policy
POLS 3237 The Politics of Memory in Canada and the United States (O)
POLS 3241 Canadian Foreign Policy
POLS 3247 Trudeau's Canada
POLS 3251 Canadian Federalism
POLS 3257 Law and Politics in Canada
POLS 3647 Democratic Disengagement
POLS 4416 Canadian Political Thought
POLS 4724 Topics in Environmental History and Politics
COMPARATIVE POLITICS
POLS 1303 Pivotal Political Events
POLS 1451 The American Presidential Election in Historical Context (O)
POLS 1803 Politics of Climate Change
POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy
POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World
POLS 2503 Women and Politics
POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World
POLS 3103 Rights in Conflict in North America
POLS 3104 African American Politics (O)
POLS 3105 American Politics
POLS 3312 Political Sociology (Cross-Listed: SOCI 3312)
POLS 3323 Urban Politics and Policy (O)
POLS 3387 Theories of Comparative Politics
POLS 3392 Comparative Public Policy
POLS 3418 Politics and Protest Music
POLS 3461 Politics and Policy Analysis
POLS 3647 Democratic Disengagement
POLS 3717 The Politics of Nationalism
POLS 4721 Politics and the Human Condition
POLS 4723 The Rise of the Far Right
POLS 4724 Topics in Environmental History and Politics
POLS 4725 Climate and Energy Policy
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
POLS 1603 Politics of Globalization
POLS 1703 Issues in World Politics
POLS 1803 Politics of Climate Change
POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy
POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World
POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations
POLS 3213 Capitalism, Canada and Class
POLS 3241 Canadian Foreign Policy
POLS 3447 Gender, Race and Global Politics
POLS 3614 Ethics and International Politics
POLS 3615 International Relations Theory
POLS 3635 The Critical Study of War
POLS 3637 Capitalism and War
POLS 3643 United Nations
POLS 3716 Governance of the Global Economy
POLS 3718 International Security in Theory and Practice
POLS 4495 Gender and War: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (O)
POLS 4496 Thucydides: War and Empire
POLS 4727 The Politics of Global Health
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLS 1303 Pivotal Political Events
POLS 1703 Issues in World Politics
POLS 1803 Politics of Climate Change
POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy
POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World
POLS 3011 European Imperialism, 1815-1914 (Cross-Listed: HIST 3011)
POLS 3012 European Imperialism, 1914-1975 (Cross-Listed: HIST 3012)
POLS 3213 Capitalism, Canada and Class
POLS 3447 Gender, Race and Global Politics
POLS 3637 Capitalism and War
POLS 3716 Governance of the Global Economy
POLS 3724 Latin American Politics and Development
POLS 4724 Topics in Environmental History and Politics
POLS 4734 Political Economy of Energy and the Environment
PUBLIC POLICY
POLS 1803 Politics of Climate Change
POLS 3103 Rights and Conflicts in North America
POLS 3213 Capitalism, Canada and Class
POLS 3215 Issues in Canadian Public Policy
POLS 3217 Canadian Environmental Policy
POLS 3241 Canadian Foreign Policy
POLS 3251 Canadian Federalism
POLS 3257 Law and Politics in Canada
POLS 3323 Urban Politics and Policy (O)
POLS 3392 Comparative Public Policy
POLS 3461 Politics and Policy Analysis
POLS 3531 Political and Policy Writing
POLS 3647 Democratic Disengagement
POLS 3845 Law and Public Policy
POLS 4724 Topics in Environmental History and Politics
POLS 4725 Climate and Energy Policy
POLS 4727 The Politics of Global Health
POLS 4734 The Political Economy of Energy and the Environment
POLS 4735 Theories of the Policy Process
THEORY
POLS 1403 Contemporary Political Ideas and Ideologies
POLS 2503 Women and Politics
POLS 3313 Political Psychology
POLS 3387 Theories of Comparative Politics
POLS 3415 Liberalism
POLS 3418 Politics and Protest Music
POLS 3433 Late Modern Political Thought
POLS 3441 Women Political Thinkers
POLS 3443 Feminist Issues in Political Thought
POLS 3446 Subjects, Citizens. Individuals: Politics of the Early Modern World (O)
POLS 3471 When Bards are Bothered: Political Critique in Literature (O)
POLS 3475 Marx and Marxism (O)
POLS 3615 International Relations Theory
POLS 3645 Society, Politics, and War in 5th Century Greece
POLS 4416 Canadian Political Thought (O)
POLS 4495 Gender and War: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (O)
POLS 4496 Thucydides: War and Empire
POLS 4721 Politics and the Human Condition
METHODS, SKILLS & INDEPENDENT STUDY
POLS 3531 Political and Policy Writing
POLS 3533 Research Methods in Political Science
POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science
POLS 3900 Independent Study in Political Science
POLS 3903 Independent Study in Political Science
POLS 3905 Independent Study in Political Science
POLS 4900 Honours Thesis