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Department of Political Science

The Discipline of Political Science

The discipline of political science, which studies governments, governing and political behaviour, remains as relevant for our professional and personal lives as ever. Governments, societal groups and businesses – our own and those of other societies – have a profound impact on our economic well-being, our sense of security and community, and how we solve our collective problems.

Political science provides us with the tools we need to understand how we might, for example, promote rural development in Haiti, reach our greenhouse gas reduction goals in Canada, integrate Syrian refugees into new communities, engage in peace-building in the Balkans, negotiate trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, ensure food security in African cities or understand how people voted in the last election – all issues that faculty in our department are actively researching!

Career Options for Political Science Majors

Laurier's Career Centre has compiled a great deal of information on the types of skills a Political Science major will acquire, as well as an extensive list of career opportunities well suited to those who have completed a BA in Political Science.

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Your Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Explore the Political Science experience and career guide to learn ways you can extend your classroom experience into the world and the career opportunities available to you.

Laurier's Department of Political Science

With 18 full-time professors, the department is able to provide you with a range of courses that encompasses all of the major fields of interest in the discipline, including international relations and trade, public policy, law and legal studies, Canadian government and politics, comparative government and area studies, political philosophy and political research methodology.

There are two features of our department and its undergraduate and graduate programs that we think make it distinctive. First, we stress the acquisition of those applied, analytic and research skills that are essential to career success after graduation, whether you go on to do policy analysis and design, advocacy work, market research/polling, or – as many of our students do – work in the field of law. Second, we are large enough to provide comprehensive coverage of all fields in political science, yet small enough to learn the names of our students and to tailor programs to fit their particular interests. You'll benefit from this close interaction, and have many opportunities to pursue independent research opportunities and to hone your leadership skills.