Political Science (POLI)
This is a list of the Political Science (POLI) courses available at KPU.
POLI 1110 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 2110 )
Ideology and Politics
Students will study and critically analyze the political ideologies that have played an important role in shaping the 20th century and the present political landscape, and that have influenced the political attitudes and actions of individuals, groups and societies.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 1120 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 2420 )
Canadian Government and Politics
Students will examine Canadian political culture, including the challenges to Canadian unity posed by those with separatist sentiments. They will discuss regionalism, multiculturalism, cultural and linguistic duality, bilingualism, Canadian identity, political parties and ideologies, the bureaucracy, federalism, the economy, constitutional change, and other topics of current interest.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 1123 CR-3
Politics in the City
Students will study the evolution of politics at the municipal level in Canada, including political parties and civic movements, the local management of services, labour relations, lobby groups, budgeting, and policy making. They will examine the relationships between municipal governments and the provincial and federal governments, and explore other topics of current interest relating to city politics in Canada.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 1125 CR-3
Introduction to Political Science
Students will study basic terms and concepts relevant to the study of institutions and processes in government. They will acquire an understanding of Canadian government and politics and will compare Canada to other countries in order to further a broad understanding of the effect of politics and government on the population.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 1145 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 2145 )
Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
Students will study, and critically analyze, the key topics in the field of comparative politics, with a special emphasis on understanding the dynamics that shape the character and quality of contemporary political systems.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 1150 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 2147 )
Introduction to International Relations
Students will develop the analytical skills with which to explain or understand world politics. They will be introduced to the intellectual tools such as core concepts and schools of thought, in order to make sense of the complex world of international politics. Students will explore a broad range of contemporary topics, including the role and importance of various state and non-state actors, the promotion of international order, and salient features of the international political economy, including the disparities between the countries of the North and South.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2100 CR-3
Sustainability and Government
Students will explore environmental sustainability as an issue in Canadian politics. They will examine the evolution of the environmental movement in Canada, and study the linkages between environmental concerns and Canadian political culture, parties, advocacy organizations, federal-provincial relations, domestic and foreign policy, and other areas of interest.
Note: Students may earn credits for only one of POST 2100 or POLI 2100 as they are cross-listed courses.
Prerequisites: Any 6 credits at 1100-level or higher
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2120 CR-3
Government & Politics of the Prairie Provinces
Students will study the structures and processes of government in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Students will study the role of the national government in shaping the Prairies and will analyze the theoretical approaches to federalism and regionalism. Comparisons with other Canadian provinces will enhance student awareness of different political traditions and allow them to develop reasoned judgments about politics and government in their home province as well as the country as a whole.
Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1120
POLI 2121 CR-3
Law and Politics: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Students will study the concepts of rights and freedoms as they have been treated historically in Canada, and will analyze the place of rights in Canadian law prior to the entrenchment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They will examine the Charter and the role of the courts with emphasis on the Supreme Court, and will discuss the place of rights and courts in a democratic society. Students will study the legalization of politics and politicization of the judiciary to better understand recent developments in Canadian law and politics regarding rights
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100 level POLI courses
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2130 CR-3
International Relations Theory
Students will learn the theories of International Relations, from realism and liberalism to "radical" challengers such as Marxism, dependency theory, critical theory, postmodernism, and feminism. Students will explore, debate, and compare theories to develop a solid grasp of the different perspectives and to establish their own theoretical preferences.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100 level POLI courses
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2131 CR-3
European Integration
Students will acquire a detailed factual and conceptual framework for the analysis of the process of European integration. They will study the historical origins of the European Union (EU), the institutions (structure and process) and the challenges of integration in the 21st century. Students will focus on the political, social, and economic impacts on the member states, the tension between nation-state and confederation, supra-national citizenship, democracy and regional integration, and the role and status of the EU in world affairs.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100-level POLI courses
POLI 2140 CR-3
Comparative Politics of Asia
Students will be introduced to the government and politics of key Asian states. They will learn about the dynamics that shape the character and quality of contemporary Asian political systems, the underlying assumption being that "they who know only one country, know no country well." Students will enhance their understanding of political transformation in a comparative context will be enhanced by the study of different Asian countries.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100-level POLI courses
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2150 CR-3
States, Markets, Globalization: International Political Economy
Students will acquire a detailed conceptual framework for the analysis of the international political economy. They will study the dynamic interaction among states, societies, firms, and markets, at the international level. Students will focus on major "IPE" perspectives and theories, and learn to apply these to issue areas including monetary and financial relations, international trade, foreign investment, foreign debt, and development finance.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100-level POLI courses
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2155 CR-3
War, Crime, and Violence: Contemporary Political Conflict
Students will study the sources and nature of major contemporary international and national conflicts, such as disputes between the great powers, rich nations and poor nations, between Third World countries and within states. Students will focus on the phenomena of war, violence, and crime.
Prerequisites: 3 credit of 1100-level POLI courses, or HIST 2335
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2200 CR-3
Classic Thinkers: History of Political Thought
Students will survey the development of political theory in the western tradition, ranging from the thought of Plato and other ancient thinkers to the works of modern liberal-democratic thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Mill, Nietzsche, and others. They will acquire a foundation in the great debates of western political life.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100-level POLI or PHIL or HIST courses, or by permission of the instructor
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 2235 CR-3
British Columbia Government and Politics
Students will examine British Columbia's political culture and various elements affecting it, such as immigration, native land claims, primary and secondary resource industries, federal-provincial relations, interest group behaviour, union activity, environmental issues, political parties, and government policy-making.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of 1100-level POLI courses
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3100 CR-3
American Government and Politics
Students will examine the institutions and processes associated with the federal government of the United States. They will study the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as the party system, the electoral system and election finance. Students will analyze the policy making process in America employing both foreign and domestic examples to highlight the important roles played by pressure groups, corporations and the media.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits (POLI 1110 or 1125 or 1145 recommended)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3122 CR-3
Introduction to Canadian Foreign Policy
Students will examine the history and current state of the foreign and defence policies of Canada. They will also study the following specific areas: domestic and foreign influences on policy, governmental structures affecting policy, the interplay of trade, defence and diplomatic decision-making. Students will appraise recent policy initiatives with a view to developing an understanding of Canada's place in the global community.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits (POLI 1110 or 1120 recommended)
POLI 3125 CR-3
Nationalism in Canadian Politics
Students will probe the intersection of nationalism and ideology in Canadian politics, examining varieties of Canadian nationalism, and the challenges that Quebec and aboriginal nationalisms pose to the Canadian state. They will also engage multicultural visions of Canadian nationhood. Students will gain an enriched understanding of the diversity and complexity of nationalism in Canada, a deeper command of key moments in Canadian thought, and a sharpened sense of the normative problems involved in nationalism.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits (POLI 1110 or 1120 recommended)
POLI 3131 CR-3
The Politics of Continental Integration
Students will examine the phenomenon of continental integration, paying particular attention to North America as a contested site of integration. Students will investigate the existing status of North American integration and analyze debates around the merits and demerits of deepening it, using the European Union as a key point of comparison. They will probe the challenges of treaty-making, legal compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolution in continental contexts. Students will also analyze the affinities and tensions between regional, continental, and global forms of integration, and assess the implications of North American integration.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3146 CR-3
Government and Politics of India
Students will examine the sources and nature of conflict, power and political change in India, developing a critical understanding of the forces – historical, cultural, institutional and economic – that shape contemporary Indian political life. They will analyze themes of development and modernization as they apply to India and the wider South Asian region, critically analyze the advantages and disadvantages of democracy in a developing society, and examine challenges facing India in the twenty-first century.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3147 CR-3
Foreign Policies of the Major Powers
Students will acquire a factual and conceptual comparative framework of foreign policy as practiced by major powers. They will analyze the types of powers, various foreign policies, styles of foreign policy, constellation of the major powers and the target audience of the major powers. Students will review some case studies on the challenges arising to, and by, the major powers. They will explore, debate, and compare theories to develop a solid grasp of the different theoretical perspectives of the foreign policies of major powers, and will establish their own theoretical preferences.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including 3 credits of POLI 1125 or 1145 or 1150 (POLI 2130 recommended)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3150 CR-3
American Foreign Policy
Students will examine the historical patterns of, and contemporary issues in, U.S. foreign policy. They will discuss the challenges faced by the U.S., its increasing reliance on unilateralism, and the response of other great powers to the U.S. in the Cold War and post-Cold War era. Students will also examine the sources of American foreign policy and will explore the linkages among political institutions, the policy formulation process, and policy outcomes.
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including 3 credits of POLI 1125 or 1145 or 1150 (POLI 2130 recommended)
POLI 3160 CR-3
International Organization
Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the nature, activities, and problems of international organizations in political, economic, and social issue-areas. They will analyze the historical evolution, structural mechanisms, and governance styles of these organizations in addressing various global problems. Students will critically examine the most prominent theoretical and conceptual approaches to the analysis of international organizations, with particular emphasis on the notions of multilateralism and global governance.
Prerequisites: 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including 3 credits of POLI 1125 or POLI 1145 or POLI 1150 or POST 2100
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3170 CR-3
International Peacekeeping
Students will examine the multiple dimensions of peacekeeping operations in the world. They will explore the origin and growth of peacekeeping operations undertaken by international organizations, particularly the UN and the regional organizations, and the debate about the philosophy and strategy of peacekeeping operations. Students will analyze case studies, assess the strengths and weaknesses of overall peacekeeping operations, and evaluate the lessons to be learned from the past
Prerequisites: Any 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including 3 credits of POLI 1125 or 1145 or 1150
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3190 CR-3
Selected Topics in Canadian Politics
Students will engage in an intensive study of an important selected issue, or related set of issues, in Canadian politics, as chosen by the instructor. Students will conduct readings, research, and class discussion at an advanced undergraduate level and be expected to demonstrate an effective mastery of the topic in question.
NOTE: Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Prerequisites: 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3199 CR-3
Selected Topics in International Politics
Students will engage in an intensive study of an important selected issue, or related set of issues, in international politics, as chosen by the instructor. Students will conduct readings, research, and class discussion at an advanced undergraduate level and be expected to demonstrate an effective mastery of the topic in question.
NOTE: Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Prerequisites: 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3240 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 1240 )
Chinese Government and Politics
Students will learn the characteristics of the Chinese civilization, the reform and revolution in the pre-Communist era, the Communist road to power, the development of Chinese politics from 1949 to the present, and China's international relations.
Prerequisites: POLI 1125 (POLI 2145 strongly recommended)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 3500 CR-3
Public Debates in Politics
Students will explore the theory and practice of political debate, examining fundamental principles of rhetoric and public communication, and examples of famous historical debates, before conducting their own formal debates around important political issues. Students will, under the supervision of the instructor, identify the issues to be debated, conduct rigorous scholarly research on their chosen topic, develop debating strategies, and moderate and conduct their own debates.
Prerequisites: 18 credits of 1100-level or higher, including any 3 POLI credits.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 4110 CR-3
Advanced Applied Policy Seminar
Students will study applications of policy, with a focus on sustainability, under the guidance of a practitioner. They will examine complex real-life situations and case studies, such as impacts of policy decisions on climate change mitigation, energy efficiency, subsidized housing, green space conservation, and others. They will study how concepts of ethics, governance, and economics, as well as the psychology of public behaviour, are integrated into policy decision-making for sustainability. They will work in groups on a specific project, liaise with community stakeholders, and make recommendations for action in a formal presentation to stakeholders.
Note: This course is cross-listed with POST 4110. This course is restricted to BA Policy Studies program students and students in a BA program in Political Science.
Prerequisites: POST 3110; or 18 POLI credits at the 1100-level or higher, including POLI 2100, and SOCI 2260
Not Transferable
POLI 4125 CR-3
The Politics of Multiculturalism in Canada
Students will critically explore the political issues raised by Canada's experience with cultural and religious diversity, informed by theoretical approaches to the wider themes of culture and religion in politics. They will examine the evolution of Canada's policy of official multiculturalism and the broader meanings attached to the term 'multiculturalism,' considering, in the process, liberal, nationalist, and radical critiques of multiculturalism in theory and practice. Students will also critically engage theoretical issues around the relationship between religious and cultural pluralism, and debates over the role of religion in the public life of a pluralistic society such as Canada.
NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: 45 credits at 1100-level or higher, including 3 POLI credits (POLI 1120 recommended)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 4145 CR-3 (Formerly POLI 3145 )
Border Regions and Trans-Border Politics
Students will acquire a factual and conceptual framework for the comparative analysis of trans-border regions in international politics. They will analyze two types and two levels of trans-borders: peaceful and conflictual, and regional-continental/local. Students will review a spectrum of trans-border areas in the Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, and Asia. They will address the challenges of multi-level governance in the 21st century in the context of case studies of peaceful trans-border regions. Students will analyze the political, social, economic and environmental impacts of trans-border integration; the tension between nation-state, inter-governmentalism and supra-nationalism; identity, citizenship and democracy; and the status of trans-borders in domestic and world affairs.Prerequisites: 45 credits at 1100-level or higher, including 3 POLI credits (POLI 1150 recommended)
Not Transferable
POLI 4210 CR-3
Democracy: Classic and Contemporary Debates
Students will critically examine democratic thought. They will explore such questions as the nature and foundation of democratic beliefs, critiques of democracy both ancient and modern, affinities and tensions between liberal and democratic ideals, and contemporary visions of democracy and their critics.
NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: 45 credits at 1100-level or higher, including 3 POLI credits (POLI 1110 highly recommended)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 4330 CR-3
International Human Rights
Students will critically examine a variety of issues relating to human rights, including the theoretical underpinnings of human rights, various categories of rights, the mechanisms available for their implementation, and issues relating to their effectiveness. They will probe the reasons why human rights violations continue to occur in many regions of the world, critically assess the emergence and evolution of the current international human rights regime, and explore the conditions that foster or hinder the implementation of international human rights norms.
Note: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: 45 credits at the 1100-level or higher, including 3 POLI credits.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 4340 CR-3
Public International Law
Students will examine conceptual, theoretical, and empirical dimensions of international law. They will explore the distinction between public and private international law, and probe a range of general areas of law, including: human rights and humanitarian law, as well as specialized international law, including criminal; environmental; trade and investment; and space law. Students will analyze the application of international law at the national level, with special emphasis on the incorporation of international law within the law of Canada. They will examine the challenges of international treaty making; legal compliance and enforcement; international dispute resolution; and will explore the relationship between international law and international relations.
NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: 45 credits of 1100-level or higher, including 3 credits of POLI 1110 or 1125 or 1145 or 1150
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
POLI 4420 CR-3
Issues in Public Policy and Administration
Students will acquire a detailed factual and conceptual framework for the analysis of specific topics within the discipline of public policy and administration. They will critically examine such subjects as the role of government, government intervention, the role and structure of government bureaucracies, interest and pressure groups, the management of the political process, and the relationship between public and foreign policy.
NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: Any 3000 level POLI course
Transferable (refer to transfer guide )
