Site Navigation
Welcome
Important Notice and Disclaimer
Faculty of Graduate Studies General Information
Graduate Students' Association (GSA)
Academic Schedule
Faculty of Graduate Studies Degrees Information
Admissions
Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students
Fees and Expenses
Academic Regulations
Program Descriptions
Anthropology ANTH
Archaeology ARKY
Art ART
Biological Sciences BISI
Biomedical Engineering BMEN
Chemistry CHEM
Communication and Culture CMCL
Communications Studies COMS
Computational Media Design CMD
Computer Science CPSC
Culture and Society CUSP
Drama DRAM
Economics ECON
Education Graduate Programs
Engineering Programs ENGG
Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum ENCH
Engineering, Civil ENCI
Engineering, Electrical and Computer ENEL
Engineering, Geomatics ENGO
Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing ENME
English ENGL
Environmental Design EVDS
French, Italian and Spanish FISL
Geography GEOG
Geoscience GLGP
German GSEA
Greek and Roman Studies GRST
Haskayne School of Business: Management MGMT
History HIST
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program IGP
Kinesiology KNES
Law LAW
Linguistics LING
Mathematics and Statistics MTST
Medicine Programs
Military and Strategic Studies CMSS
Music MUSI
Nursing NURS
Philosophy PHIL
Physics and Astronomy PHAS
Political Science POLI
Psychology PSYC
Public Policy PPOL
Religious Studies RELS
Social Work SOWK
Sociology SOCI
Sustainable Energy Development SEDV
Veterinary Medical Sciences VMS
Interdisciplinary Specializations
Courses of Instruction
Student Services
About the University of Calgary
Graduate Studies Calendar 2015-2016 Program Descriptions Political Science POLI
Political Science - POLI
Contact Information

Location: Social Sciences Building, Room 756
Program number: 403.220.5921
Fax: 403.282.4773
Email address: poligrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: http://poli.ucalgary.ca

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA), thesis-based

The MA and PhD programs in Political Science are offered as full-time programs only.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

a) A minimum grade point average of 3.40 on a four-point scale over the last ten full-course equivalents taken in the applicant’s undergraduate program.

b) Normally a four-year BA in Political Science or a strong background in Political Science of at least 5.0 full-course equivalents in Political Science. Special consideration may be given to those who have not achieved this background.

c) All students whose native language is other than English are required to pass a language proficiency test: TOEFL with a minimum score of 620 (paper-based), or 105 (Internet-based); IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0; MELAB with a minimum score of 87; or PTE with a minimum score of 75.

d) Two reference letters.

e) A statement of research interests.

f) Sample of written work, preferably a paper submitted for a Political Science course.

g) Email confirmation from a potential supervisor who is interested in supervising your work.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) A minimum grade point average of 3.70 on a four-point scale over completed graduate courses.

b) Normally a Master of Arts in Political Science or a strong background in Political Science. Special consideration may be given to those who have not achieved this background.

c) All students whose native language is other than English are required to pass a language proficiency test: TOEFL with a minimum score of 620 (paper-based), or 105 (Internet-based); IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0; MELAB with a minimum score of 87; or PTE with a minimum score of 75.

d) Two reference letters.

e) A statement of research interests.

f) Sample of written work, preferably a paper submitted for a Political Science course.

g) Email confirmation from a potential supervisor who is interested in supervising your work.

3. Application Deadline

Deadline for the submission of completed applications is January 15 for September admission.

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not normally be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma. If graduate-level courses are taken as post-BA courses, the Graduate Program Director may allow the student to claim up to 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) at our graduate level.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department normally requires the following:

Master of Arts

a) Master of Arts students must complete a minimum of 15 units (2.5 full-course equivalents):

  • At least 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) must be taken in the Political Science Department at the University of Calgary.
  • Six or 9 units (1.0 or 1.5 full-course equivalents) will be in the student's major field (i.e. Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Thought).
  • A maximum of 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) can be a reading course.
  • Students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of research methods equivalent to Political Science 691. If students are required to take Political Science 691, it will be included in these 15 units (2.5 full-course equivalents). Students who have an equivalent of Political Science 691 will still be required to take 15 units (2.5 full-course equivalents).

b) A written thesis.

c) Thesis Oral Examination.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents):

  • At least 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) must be taken in the Political Science Department at the University of Calgary.
  • Six units (1.0 full-course equivalent) in each of the student's two major fields (i.e., Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Thought).
  • A maximum of 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) may be reading courses.
  • Language courses will not be considered part of the 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) requirement.
  • PhD Students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of research methods equivalent to Political Science 691. If students are required to take Political Science 691 it will not be considered part of the 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) requirement.

b) A candidacy examination with a written and oral component, normally completed within twenty months of first registration.

c) A thesis proposal, normally defended within four months of the oral candidacy exam.

d) A demonstration of reading proficiency in a language other than English, as determined by the supervisory committee. Normally students without prior reading proficiency will be required to achieve a grade of at least "B" in 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) in a second language.

e) A written dissertation.

f) Dissertation Oral Examination.

6. Additional Requirements

None.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

The department does not give graduate credit for courses taken below the 600-level, except in special cases.

8. Time Limit

Maximum completion time is four years for a master’s program and six years for a doctoral program.

The Department of Political Science encourages completion of the master’s within two years and the doctorate within four.

9. Supervisory Assignments

Master of Arts

Wherever possible, an incoming student should have a specific supervisor in mind when applying for the program and should initiate supervisory arrangements with this faculty member. A supervisor is determined as a result of consultations involving the student and the Graduate Program Director, normally within the first term of the student’s program, but the supervisor must be appointed within 12 months of initial registration.

Doctor of Philosophy

Wherever possible, an incoming student should have a specific supervisor in mind when applying for the program and should initiate supervisory arrangements with this faculty member. Supervisory arrangements are normally completed within the first six months of the doctoral program, but the supervisor must be appointed within 12 months of initial registration. Where the matter of supervision is still under consideration, the Graduate Program Director usually serves as interim supervisor until a final decision is made.

Supervisory committees for doctoral students are struck as the result of consultations amongst the student, supervisor, and Graduate Program Director and must be established as soon as possible and no later than three months after the supervisor’s appointment.

10. Required Examinations

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Department requires:

Doctoral Candidacy Examinations

The doctoral candidacy examination has a written and an oral component. The Department requires two written candidacy examinations, one in the student’s field of thesis research and the other in the student’s second chosen field of study. The examinations test the student’s general knowledge of the fields as well as specific topics within these fields.

Thesis Examinations (MA and PhD)

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee (if applicable) must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

Doctoral students must submit and defend a written thesis proposal (no more than 20 pages in length) for approval by the supervisory committee.

12. Special Registration Information

None.

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by January 15.

For Department funding information, refer to:
PhD funding: http://poli.ucalgary.ca/graduate/about-phd-program/phd-funding
MA funding: http://poli.ucalgary.ca/graduate/graduate-programs-offered/ma-program/ma-funding

14. Other Information

None.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

General departmental research interests are listed at: http://poli.ucalgary.ca/graduate.

Individual faculty members’ areas of research can be found at: http://poli.ucalgary.ca/research.