Program Highlights

Political Studies investigates political change, governance and cultural movements at all levels of society, from the local to the global stage. Political ideas and values create our society and shape how we see and think.

Political Studies helps you understand why governments make the decisions they do, and allows you to be an informed, active citizen.

Students also gain the tools to create and implement policy change.  As a political studies student, you’ll learn how political systems work, and look at how to understand the sources of local, national and international conflict.

We emphasize important areas in the discipline of political studies: Canadian politics (both national and regional), women and politics, public policy, politics and culture, political philosophy (both classical and contemporary) and international affairs. We encourage our students to explore all of these areas!

 

   

Faculty of PECS – Dr. Maya Eichler, Dr. Tammy Findlay, Dr. El Jones, Dr. Jeff MacLeod, Dr. Meredith Ralston, Dr. James Sawler, Dr. John Schellenberg (missing from photo – Dr. Nargess Kayhani)

 

Students in Action

 

 

 

Kenya Thompson (MSVU BA 2020, Public Policy Studies, minor in Canadian Studies and English) meeting with former professors.  Kenya is currently completing her Doctorate in Political Science and Graduate Diploma in Justice System Administration at York University.

 

 

 

 

Career Options

A frequently asked question is –what can I do with a degree in political studies? The simple answer is – many things. A degree in Political Studies opens diverse career opportunities.

For example, recent graduates have found careers as:
• Lawyer
• Manager, Communications in the Canadian Armed Forces
• Intelligence Analyst in the Canadian Armed Forces
• Teacher
• Journalist with CNN in India
• Manager for a Recreational Facility


Other possible careers include:
• Public Service Officer
• Non-Governmental Organization Worker (e.g. the Red Cross)
• Senior Parliamentary Researcher
• Lobbyist
• Consumer Advocate
• Public Policy Analyst
• Political Aide
• Political Scientist
• Health and Social Policy Researcher
• Survey Poll Analyst