- Program Length4 Years
- CredentialBachelor Degree
- Location OfferedNanaimo
If you are an engaged citizen, fascinated by the world of politics and how power is distributed, used and abused, a political sciences program is for you. In VIU’s degree in Political Science program, students address political theory, Canadian and global political issues, forms of governance and how politics relates to culture. In the Political Studies program, students graduate with an understanding of how to critique, assess and interpret political structures.
These skills carry over into future careers in law, government, social advocacy, journalism, public relations and non-profit organizations. VIU offers a Major in Political Science or a Minor in Political Science to students aiming for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
The Political Science (BA) Program
Politics can be understood as a community's deliberations about such fundamental matters as justice and injustice, freedom, human rights, democracy, law making, dispute settlement, governance and citizenship. Political Studies addresses critical questions such as: Who gets what, when, and how? Who can do what to whom? What is the point or objective of political action or inaction? The study of these questions and others provides students of Political Studies with a grasp of political issues and solutions at the domestic level and international level.
The civic and political life of Canadians is rapidly becoming more diverse and more global. Yet timeless political questions also lie below the changing surface. An awareness of what is possible and even desirable in the future depends upon familiarity with the history of political thought. New opportunities are opening to those who are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing Canada and a changing world. Political Studies helps students be a part of those new opportunities by providing them the intellectual tools needed to understand and analyze real world problems, conduct research, and be more informed citizens.
Political Studies prepares students for jobs in rewarding career areas such as public service in local, provincial or federal levels of government; international affairs; international organizations or non–governmental organizations; teaching; journalism; social research; and consultancy. A Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Studies from VIU prepares students to pursue graduate degrees in Political Science (MA), International and Global Studies (MA), Public Policy and Administration (MPA), Business (MBA), interdisciplinary studies, or Law (LLB).
VIU offers undergraduates the option of studying Political Studies as a Major or as a Minor in a 4–year Bachelor of Arts degree program. The B.A. Minor and Major in Political Studies are designed around four fields of political inquiry that together represent a core range of the discipline: international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and Canadian politics. Students are exposed to a representative range of this core in their choice of lower level courses, but are then given the opportunity to more freely choose field specializations in their choice of upper level courses.
The B.A. Minor and Major in Political Studies at VIU also provide students the opportunity to complement their degree in Political Studies with a select number of courses in other disciplines. This interdisciplinary element of the B.A. in Political Studies enriches the study of politics and gives students the option of completing a Minor or joint Major in a related field of study.
Program Outline
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: Select three credits from the following list: |
3 |
|
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 six additional credits of 100-200 level POLI courses or PHIL 231 - (Social and Political Philosophy). |
6 |
* 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 nine of the required thirty minimum credits may be taken from courses in other departments. Please check the departmental website or with the department chair for a current list of courses, or check with the department chair to determine other suitable courses within these areas.
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.
Note: Students who completed FNAT 220, FNAT 223, FNAT 350, FNAT 425, or FNAT 450 prior to May 2013 and who have not graduated may still apply these credits toward the completion of their Political Studies Major.
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 |
|
Methods Course Requirement: |
3 |
* 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 eighteen* credits of 300-400 level POLI courses. |
18 |
* Up to six of the required eighteen minimum credits may be taken from courses in other departments. Please check the departmental website or with the department chair for a current list of courses, or check with the department chair to determine other suitable courses within these areas.
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.
Note: Students who completed FNAT 220, FNAT 223, FNAT 350, FNAT 425, or FNAT 450 prior to May 2013 and who have not graduated may still apply these credits toward the completion of their Political Studies Minor.
Domestic Fees | International Fees
Domestic 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 $153.73 per credit) |
4,611.90 |
|
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) |
184.48 |
|
Student Services fee (30 credits x $6.79 per credit) |
203.70 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $20.73 per month) |
165.84 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($275 per year) |
275.00 |
|
Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year |
1,500.00 |
|
Total |
6,940.92 |
The Health and Dental Plan fee is in effect only for full-time students at the Nanaimo Campus.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
International 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 (2 semesters x $8340 per semester) |
16,680.00 |
|
Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $381.6 per semester) |
763.20 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $20.73 per month) |
165.84 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($275 per year) |
275.00 |
|
Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year |
1,500.00 |
|
Total |
19,384.04 |
The above table is based on 15 credits or less per semester. Additional fees of $695.00 per credit will be applied if taking more than 15 credits per semester.
The Health and Dental Plan fee is in effect only for full-time students at the Nanaimo Campus.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Updated| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2021 |
Sep 1, 2020 to Dec 14, 2020
|
Nanaimo
|
|||||||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Jan 7, 2021
Application Fee
$41.72
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Amelia Maher-Ahmed Comments
|
|||||||||
| Jan 7, 2021 |
Sep 1, 2020 to Dec 14, 2020
|
Powell River
|
|||||||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Jan 7, 2021
Application Fee
$41.72
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Erin Johnson Comments
Please consult the Vancouver Island University Calendar or contact Student Services/Advising at 604-485-2878 or email pr.studentaffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements. |
|||||||||
| Sep 7, 2021 |
Oct 1, 2020 to Mar 31, 2021
|
Nanaimo
|
|||||||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 7, 2021
Application Fee
$41.72
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Amelia Maher-Ahmed Comments
Please consult the Vancouver Island University Calendar or contact Student Services/Advising at 250-740-6410 or email advising@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements. |
|||||||||
| Sep 7, 2021 |
Oct 1, 2020 to Mar 31, 2021
|
Cowichan
|
|||||||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 7, 2021
Application Fee
41.72
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Zoe Doiron Comments
Please consult the Vancouver Island University Calendar or contact Student Services/Advising at 250-746-3509 or email advising.cowichan@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements. |
|||||||||
| Sep 7, 2021 |
Oct 1, 2020 to Mar 31, 2021
|
Powell River
|
|||||||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 7, 2021
Application Fee
$41.72
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant
Name: Erin Johnson Comments
Please consult the Vancouver Island University Calendar or contact Student Services/Advising at 604-485-2878 or email pr.studentaffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements. |
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Renatta Piros
“In POLI 320 (American Foreign Policy), Professor Mark Williams had us partake in a variety of live simulations of American foreign policy situations. Role-playing as different American political figures and representatives definitely put me outside my comfort zone, but it has made me a stronger public speaker. Mark William's simulations greatly impacted my learning experience at VIU.”
If you are interested in starting in January 2021 please apply on EducationPlannerBC for the Fall 2021 intake and contact amelia.maher-ahmed@viu.ca to switch your application to the Spring 2021 intake.