205
Graduate Programs
205.63
Political Science
205.63 Political Science
Department of Political Science
10-16 Tory Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H4
E-mail: psgrad@ualberta.ca
205.63.1 General Information
The Department of Political Science offers programs leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The following fields of specialization are offered in the master's and doctoral programs: Canadian politics, comparative politics (Developing or Industrialized), gender and politics, international relations and political philosophy/theory.
Entrance Requirements
The Department's minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree with an average of 3.3 in the last two years of undergraduate work (or graduate work) at the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution, and a TOEFL score of 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper-based) where applicable (see §203.2.3).
Financial Assistance
A number of graduate assistantships are available for qualified students.
205.63.2 The Degree of MA
Program Requirements
Two MA routes are available: a) a thesis-based MA and b) a course-based MA for both full- and part-time students.
For the thesis-based MA, normally 
18 of graduate-level courses and a thesis (registering in a minimum of 6 of thesis registrations) are required. For the course-based MA, 24 of graduate-level courses and a project (POL S 900) are required.
There is no language requirement for the MA degree.
The minimum period of residence for full-time programs is two four-month terms of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the MA will vary with the program and candidate. Full-time students in the MA thesis-based program will normally complete the program within 18 months. Full-time students in the MA course-based program will normally complete the program within 12 months. A part-time MA student must maintain continuous registration and complete the program in four years.
205.63.3 The Degree of PhD
Program Requirements
A PhD student with an MA or equivalent in political science is normally required to complete a minimum of 18 at the graduate level. Students will normally be required to complete the core courses in each of their two chosen fields of concentration. Students must take and pass written comprehensive examinations in any two of the following five fields: Canadian politics; comparative politics; gender and politics; international relations; political philosophy/theory. The student's supervisor or supervisory committee may also determine that a special skill or area is essential to the student's program and may require additional coursework. It is normally expected that all coursework will be complete within two terms and that students would take comprehensive exams and defend their dissertation proposals during the second year in the program.
Students will also be expected to prepare a thesis proposal for oral candidacy examination. This normally occurs within eight months of passing the comprehensive exams, i.e., within the third year of the program. The thesis proposal must be approved and the oral candidacy examination passed before students become full doctoral candidates.
Before defending the thesis each student must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Students taking Canadian politics as a field will normally be required to take French.
All candidates for the PhD must prepare an acceptable thesis embodying the results of their research. Candidates will be examined orally on their thesis results.
The minimum period of residence is two academic years of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta.
Length of Program
A minimum of four years is normally required to complete the PhD.
205.63.4 Graduate Courses
Graduate courses can be found in §231, Course Listings, under the subject heading Political Science (POL S).
