Political Science
Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.
Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.
If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Additionally, you will study:
- International Relations
- Political Theory
- Law and Politics
- Public Administration and Policy
- Indigenous Governance
- Comparative Politics
The Lakehead Advantage
Our diverse course content, combined with an intimate learning environment, provides a comprehensive education in classic and contemporary government, law, and politics, as well as highly developed writing, research and analytical skills.
If you are thinking about applying to law school in the future, consider taking our specialized Pre-Law Program. It is designed to introduce you to the study of law by emphasizing subject matter related to the legal process, in addition to politics. Graduates from this program are regularly accepted to excellent law schools.
Transfer Options
It’s easy to transfer to Lakehead. Our pathway and general transfer policies are designed to help you maximize your credits from your current or previous studies at either college or university – or even both.
There are a number of ways to transfer to Lakehead. Let us help you achieve your degree completion goals. For more information regarding specific admission requirements from college or university, check out the “Admissions Requirement” tab above and select your most recent level of study.
Applying to Lakehead University is easy and we are here to help you along the way.
Step 1 – Determine your general admission requirements:
To determine your general admission requirements, select one of the definitions below:
Step 2 – Determine your program-specific prerequisite requirements for your program(s) of choice:
To determine your program-specific prerequisite requirements, choose from the drop-down menus below:
Program Specific Requirements
-
Economics & Political ScienceDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1, 1 from: Math 30-1, Math 30-2, or Math 31Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U), 1 from: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U), or Data Management (MDM4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1, 1 from: Math 30-1, Math 30-2, or Math 31Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, 1 from: Calculus 12, Foundation of Mathematics 12, Pre-Calculus 12, or Statistics 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:English, MathProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40S, 1 from: Applied Math 40S, Advanced Mathematics 45S & Introduction To Calculus 45S, or Pre-Calculus 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U), 1 from: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U), or Data Management (MDM4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to these requirements are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122, 1 from: Calculus 120, Foundations of Math 120, or Pre-Calculus A120 or B120Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201, 1 from: Academic Math 3201, Advanced Math 3200, or Calculus 3208Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African Heritage, 1 from: Calculus 12, Mathematics 12, or Pre-Calculus 12Program Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621A, 1 from: Calculus 611B, Foundations of Math 621A, or Pre-Calculus 621BProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604), 2 from: Calculus I (201-NYA or 201-103), Calculus II (201-NYB or 201-203), or Linear Algebra I (201-NYC, 201-105, or 201-106)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U), 1 from: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U), or Data Management (MDM4U). Equivalent courses to the Ontario prerequisite requirements will be considered.Program Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B, 1 from: Calculus 30 or Pre-Calculus 30
-
History & Political ScienceDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
-
Philosophy & Political ScienceDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
-
Political ScienceDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted. College transfer students entering via a transfer pathway are not required to satisfy the English prerequisite requirement.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
-
Political Science & Gender and Women's StudiesDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
-
Political Science (Pre-Law)Degree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted. College transfer students entering via a transfer pathway are not required to satisfy the English prerequisite requirement.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
As a first year student you must complete:
Political Science 1100 - Introduction to Political Science
This course will introduce you to the scope, concepts, and methods of Political Science including the institutional and social framework of political activity and the role of political ideas.
Introduction to Politics sets the stage for more in-depth courses at higher levels, including:
Contemporary Political Thought
World Politics
Global Terrorism
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Aboriginal Peoples and the Law
Honours students are encouraged to take advantage of the thesis option in order to supplement lecture-style courses. As an Honours student you will have one-on-one learning and research opportunities with a professor in the area of your choosing, such as voting behaviour or pressure groups.
Tutorials led by fourth year students are also available and are arranged as needed.
Our Department of Political Science is interdisciplinary in nature and allows you to double major in Economics, History, or Philosophy. Combining these majors will provide you with a deeper understanding of the real-world effects of political action and more diversified critical thinking and communications skills.
Interested in Law School? Consider our specialized Pre-Law program designed to introduce you to the study of law by emphasizing subject matter related to the legal process, in addition to politics.
More information about Payment Methods, and Payment Due Dates can be found here: Student Fees Information
Arts & Science
Orillia
Year | Tuition | Ancillary Fees | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $5,984.51 | $1,126.83 | $7,111.34 |
2 | $5,955.86 | $1,044.11 | $6,999.97 |
3 | $5,915.30 | $1,044.11 | $6,959.41 |
4 | $5,398.29 | $1,044.11 | $6,442.40 |
Arts (Includes, but is not limited to: ISTEM, ILIP, HB Mus, HBFA, Palliative Care, Dementia Studies, etc.)
Thunder Bay
Year | Tuition | Ancillary Fees | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $5,984.51 | $1,408.45 | $7,392.96 |
2 | $5,955.86 | $1,325.73 | $7,281.59 |
3 | $5,915.30 | $1,325.73 | $7,241.03 |
4 | $5,398.29 | $1,325.73 | $6,724.02 |