This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• M.A. Political Science
• M.A. Political Science with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies
• M.A. Political Science with Specialization in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Ph.D. Political Science
• Ph.D. Political Science with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies
• Ph.D. Political Science with Collaborative Specialization in Political Economy

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

All master's candidates must obtain a B standing or higher (GPA 8.0). One grade of C+ may be allowed.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Details on all program requirements are provided in the departmental Guidelines for Ph.D. Candidates.

All Ph.D. candidates will fulfill a 10.0-credit program requiring departmental approval. The student may choose to take a maximum of 0.5 credit outside the Department of Political Science.

Admission

The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is B.A.(Honours) (or the equivalent) in Political Science, with at least high honours standing.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs requires applicants whose native language is not English to be tested for proficiency in English. Applicants to the Political Science graduate program must meet the General Regulations requirements.

Applicants must have completed some political theory at the undergraduate level, or will be required to take PSCI 5310 History of Political Thought. This 0.5 credit counts toward the normal MA program requirements of 5.0 credits.

Applicants must have completed a social science research methods course at the undergraduate level, regardless of their desired field of specialization, or will be required to take PSCI 5700 Basic Research Methods  or PSCI 5705 Approaches to the Study of Political Theory. This 0.5 credit counts toward the normal M.A. program requirements of 5.0 credits.

Honours graduates in fields other than political science will be considered on the basis of their academic background and standing, and will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Those with only minor deficiencies may be required to take certain specified courses, while others whose degrees are less closely related to political science may be required to register in the qualifying year, at the discretion of the Department. Graduates of three-year programs in political science will be required either to complete the fourth year of an honours degree and reapply, or register in the qualifying year, depending on work completed to date and academic standing. The qualifying year is intended only for those students (with at least an 8.0 grade point average) whose universities do not offer an Honours degree or for graduates in other fields who did not major in political science. The qualifying year program is not intended to be a method for improving a student's undergraduate record. Admission to the qualifying-year program does not imply automatic admission to the master’s program.

Accelerated Pathway

The accelerated pathway in the Department of Political Science is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study. Students in their final year of a Carleton B.A. Honours degree in Political Science with demonstrated academic excellence and aptitude for research may qualify for this option.

Students in their third‐year of study in the B.A. Honours degree in Political Science should consult with both the Undergraduate Supervisor and the Graduate Supervisor to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to discuss the selection of courses for their final year of undergraduate studies.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

1. At least 0.5 credit in PSCI courses at the 5000‐level with a grade of B+ or higher.
2. Minimum overall CGPA of 10.5.

Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit of up to 1.0 credit which can reduce their time to completion.

Admission

The Ph.D. program in political science normally will be undertaken on a full-time basis. However, in cases of exceptional merit, the Department may accept a few candidates for the degree on a part-time basis.

The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or its equivalent) in political science with high honours standing or better.

Ph.D. candidates must have completed a political theory course at the undergraduate or master's level, regardless of their desired field of specialization, or will be required to take PSCI 5310 History of Political Thought. This 0.5 credit counts toward the normal Ph.D. program requirements of 5.0 credits.

Ph.D. candidates must have completed a social science research methods course at either the undergraduate level or master’s level, regardless of their desired field of specialization, or will be required to take PSCI 5700 Basic Research Methods or PSCI 5705 Approaches to the Study of Political Theory. This 0.5 credit counts toward the normal Ph.D. program requirements of 5.0 credits.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs requires applicants whose native language is not English to be tested for proficiency in English. Applicants to the Political Science graduate program must meet the General Regulations requirements.

Upon entry to the program, each Ph.D. candidate will be assigned a faculty member to advise them on their studies. Students' programs, including the choice of supervisor and the thesis committee, must be approved by the Department. The thesis supervisor will normally be chosen from among faculty members in the Department of Political Science. Upon approval of the thesis supervisor and the Department, committee members may be chosen from elsewhere within the University.

Co-operative Education

For information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works, visit the Co-op website.

All graduate students participating in the Co-op program are governed by this Graduate Co-operative Education Policy.

Application Requirements

Graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Co-op Program during their first term of studies. Alternatively, students may delay their participation until later on, provided that they have mandatory credits remaining for degree completion.

Participation Requirements

Graduate students:

• must be registered as full-time before they begin their co-op job search and their co-op work term.
• will be registered in a Co-op Work Term course while at work. This course does not carry academic course credit, but is noted on academic transcripts.
• may register in a 0.5 credit during a work term, provided the course is offered during the evening or is offered asynchronously online.
• are not permitted to hold a Teaching Assistantship while on a co-op work term. Where eligible, Teaching Assistantships will be deferred to a later term.
• in receipt of internal or external scholarships should contact the Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Affairs to discuss the possible funding implications of being on a co-op work term
• must have mandatory courses left to complete following their final co-op work term. In cases where the graduate student has just a 0.5 credit left, he or she may request permission of the Co-op Office to complete this course during the work term.

Co-op Participation Agreement

All graduate students must adhere to the policies found within the Co-op Participation Agreement.

Communication with the Co-op Office

Graduate students must maintain regular contact with the Co-op Office during their job search and while on a work term. All email communication will be conducted via the student’s Carleton email account.

Graduation with the Co-op Designation

In order to graduate with the Co-op Designation, graduate students must satisfy all requirements of the degree program in addition to the successful completion of two work terms.  Students found in violation of the Co-op Participation Agreement may have the Co-op Designation withheld. 

Employment

Although every effort is made to ensure a sufficient number of job postings for all Co-op students, no guarantee of employment can be made. The Co-op job search process is competitive, and success is dependent upon factors such as current market conditions, academic performance, skills, motivation, and level of commitment to the job search. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for positions via the Co-op job board in addition to actively conducting a self-directed job search. Students who do not obtain a co-op work term are expected to continue with their academic studies. It should be noted that hiring priority for positions within the Federal Government of Canada is given to Canadian citizens.

Work Term Assessment and Evaluation

Work Term Evaluation

Employers are responsible for submitting to Carleton University final performance evaluations for their Co-op students at the end of their work terms.

Work Term Assessment

In order to successfully complete the co-op work term, graduate students must receive a Satisfactory (SAT) grade on their Co-op Work Term Report, which they must submit at the completion of each four-month work term.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students who are currently on a co-op work term or who have already committed to a co-op work term either verbally or in writing may not leave the position and/or withdraw from the co-op option until they have completed the requirements of the work term.

Involuntary or Required Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Graduate students may be removed from the Co-op Program for any of the following reasons:

1. Failure to attend all interviews for positions to which the student has applied;
2. Declining more than one job offer during the job search;
3. Reneging on a co-op position that the student has accepted either verbally or in writing;
4. Continuing a job search after accepting a co-op position;
5. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer;
6. Leaving a work term without approval from the Co-op Management Team;
7. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation;
8. Receiving a grade of UNS on the work term report;

International Students

All Graduate International Students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before they can begin working. The Co-operative Education Office will provide students  with a letter of support to accompany their Co-op Work Permit application. Students are advised to discuss the application process and application requirements with the International Student Services Office.

Co-op Fees

All participating Co-op students are required to pay Co-op fees. For full details, please see the Co-op website.

Political Science
Co-operative Education Option

Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Co-operative Education Program by the end of their first term of academic study.

To be eligible for admission to Co-op, students must:

1. be enrolled in the M.A. in Political Science;
2. have successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, 2.5 credits of required courses;
3. be registered as a full-time student in each academic term prior to a work term;
4. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work terms)

For more information, please refer to the Co-operative Education Policy.