Political Science University of Toronto

Overview

About this Degree

The study of Political Science at the University of Toronto is wide-ranging and diverse. Courses are offered in political theory, Canadian government, international relations, and the politics of societies that are industrialized, developing, and in transition. Many courses deal with issues (such as environmental politics, diversity, peace and conflict, globalization) that cut across fields. Course offerings are designed to introduce students to Political Science at the first year level, provide the foundations for further study at the second year level, and provide specialized lecture and seminar courses at the intermediate and advanced levels. Studies in Political Science provide students with a good grounding in one of the chief social science disciplines and an opportunity to explore the issues that confront us as individuals, groups, societies and on the international level in the twenty-first century. In addition to the materials covered, Political Science courses are set up to offer students an opportunity to learn writing and analytical skills to support a challenging and diverse career.

Courses in Political Science dovetail with programs in many other disciplines of the social sciences and the humanities: Economics, Sociology, History, Philosophy, and Psychology. A student interested in Canadian studies or urban problems, for example, would be well advised to choose courses from all these disciplines, as would someone interested in international affairs or environmental studies. A student planning graduate work in the social sciences should seek to obtain a basic understanding of each of these disciplines.