Program Length
- 4 Years
Credential
- Bachelor Degree
Options
- Major
- Minor
Fully Available at
- Nanaimo
Partially Available at
- Cowichan
- tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)
Graduate ready for a career with impact
Do you want to help build a more stable, just and sustainable world? A Bachelor of Arts with a Political Studies major can lead to many careers where you can make a positive difference. In the VIU Political Studies program, you gain leadership and analytical skills that are in-demand in the public and private sector.
Study ethical leadership
VIU is part of a unique network of schools in Canada working on trust and ethical practices in governance and leadership. The network is made up of five Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership. VIU holds the only chair in British Columbia. When you study at VIU, you benefit from the knowledge, connections and innovative education associated with this network
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Learn critical skills as you grow into your career
The hands-on experiences you get while earning a Political Studies degree at VIU means you’ll graduate with the skills employers in many sectors look for.
Fieldwork and internships
Gain experience working with political organizations.
In-class experience
Put what you learn into action in courses like Politics in Practice.
Model UN
Build your diplomacy skills and learn to be a leader.
What can you do with a Political Studies degree?
A Bachelor of Arts with a Political Studies major is a foundation for a range of rewarding careers in the public service and private sectors. You can move into areas like journalism, law or education. Or you can use your leadership and advocacy skills working for a non-profit.
- assistant in a political riding
- campaign manager
- community relations officer
- consultant
- diplomat
- economic development officer
- elected official
- executive assistant
- executive director
- government affairs specialist
- governmental relations expert/lobbyist
- journalist
- legal analyst
- legal clerk
- lobbyist
- lawyer
- organizer
- parliamentary assistant or advisor
- policy advisor
- policy analysis for political parties
- policy analyst
- policy advocate
- policy director
- police officer
- pollster
- program manager
- program/policy evaluator
- prosecutor
- recruiter
- researcher
- risk analyst
- staff member in a political party
- teacher
- technical writer
About the program
In the VIU Political Studies program, you explore how politics influence decisions and systems that affect our daily lives. You consider important questions like: Who holds power? How are resources distributed? What drives political action? You gain the skills to analyze political issues at local, national and international levels. And you graduate with a deep understanding of political theory and the link between politics and culture.
The program covers four key areas:
- international relations
- comparative politics
- political theory
- Canadian politics
You begin with foundational courses, and then you can specialize in areas of interest through upper-level courses.
The program also allows you to take courses in other disciplines, making it easy to combine Political Studies with related fields for a joint major or minor.
Courses and Concentrations
Requirements for a Major
Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:
| Years 1 and 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select eighteen credits of 100-200 level POLI courses as follows: | |
First-year Core Requirements: Take the following six credits: | 6 |
Second-year Core Requirements*: Select at least nine credits from the following list: | 9 |
Methods Course Requirement**: Select three credits from the following list: | 3 |
| Select three additional credits of 200 level POLI courses or PHIL 231 - (Social and Political Philosophy). | 3 |
* Students may take both POLI 200 and POLI 201, but only one can be used to meet the Second Year Core requirement.
* Students may take both POLI 221 and POLI 222, but only one can be used to meet the Second Year Core requirement.
* Students may take both POLI 260 and POLI 265, but only one can be used to meet the Second Year Core requirement.
** The prerequisite for SOCI 250 is SOCI 111 or SOCI 112 (recommended); or any 100-level course in Psychology, Geography, Anthropology, Criminology, or Political Studies; the prerequisite for SSID 250 is any 100-level course in Psychology, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, Criminology, or Political Studies; the prerequisite for CRIM 220 is CRIM 101.
| Years 3 and 4 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select thirty* credits of 300-400 level POLI courses. | 30 |
* Up to six of the required thirty minimum credits may be taken from the following: LBST 390 - (Advanced Special Topics in Liberal Studies (Abroad) I; GLST 390 - (Globalization: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry); GLST 391 - (Responses to Globalization); GLST 490 - (Selected Topics in Global Studies); GLST 491 - (Applied Seminar in Global Studies).
Note: These credits may not be used for more than one Major or Minor.
Note: Not all Political Studies courses are offered every year. Students are advised to see a BA Advisor early in their program to ensure timely completion.
Requirements for a Minor
Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:
| Years 1 and 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select fifteen credits of 100-200 level POLI courses as follows: | |
First-year Core Requirements: Select three credits from the following list: | 3 |
Second-year Core Requirements: Select three credits from the following list: | 3 |
| Select nine credits of 100-200 level POLI courses. | 9 |
| Years 3 and 4 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select eighteen* credits of 300-400 level POLI courses. | 18 |
* Up to three of the required eighteen minimum credits may be taken from the following: LBST 390 - (Advanced Special Topics in Liberal Studies (Abroad) I; GLST 390 - (Globalization: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry); GLST 391 - (Responses to Globalization); GLST 490 - (Selected Topics in Global Studies); GLST 491 - (Applied Seminar in Global Studies).
Note: These credits may not be used for more than one Major or Minor.
Note: Not all Political Studies courses are offered every year. Students are advised to see a BA Advisor early in their program to ensure timely completion.
Admission Information
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year* | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $169.73 per credit) | 5,091.90 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $28.87 per month) | 230.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 7,450.74 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year* | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $815.77 per credit) | 24,473.10 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $28.87 per month) | 230.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 26,831.94 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| Ongoing | tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) - Partially Available | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erin Johnson Phone: 604.485.8033 Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca
Comments:
Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604.485.2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements. |
|||
| to | Cowichan - Partially Available | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Cowichan - Partially Available | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
45.16
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Cowichan - Partially Available | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Cowichan - Partially Available | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June.
Application Fee:
46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Erica Ellenchuk Phone: 250.746.3512 Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca
Comments:
Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca. |
|||
International
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.
Application Fee:
$153
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
International Admissions Officer Contact:
Name: Elham Akhoundi Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Study@viu.ca
Comments:
For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to WorldVIU@viu.ca. |
|||
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.
Application Fee:
$153
Accepting Late Applications:
Yes
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
International Admissions Officer Contact:
Name: Elham Akhoundi Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Study@viu.ca
Comments:
For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to WorldVIU@viu.ca. |
|||
Take your studies further
A Political Studies degree is a solid base for graduate studies in many areas including:
- political science
- law
- education
- journalism
- business
- community planning
Want to know more?
Explore the Political Studies department pages site for information on the faculty. the Model UN and more.