phd political science concordia

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program overview.

Concordia’s PhD in Political Science program supports students’ development of theoretical competence and analytical skills in the empirical and philosophical study of politics. We provide students with the diverse methodological skills needed to manifest excellence in research and teaching, enabling them to flourish as scholars or practitioners. Our graduates work in universities and colleges, the public sector, and the non-profit sector. 

Our program provides students unique opportunities to be involved in on-the-ground research and to publish in diverse venues. Students benefit from faculty-led inter-institutional and university research networks, including the Lab for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LLACS), the Center for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology (CREGÉS), engAGE , the Center for the Study of Democratic Citizenship (CSDC), the Groupe de Recherche Inter-universitaire en Philosophie Politique (GRIPP), the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre , the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration dans le Québec actuel (ÉRIQA), and the Initiative de recherche sur l’immigration (IRI).

Program details

Admission requirements.

• MA in political science, political studies, international relations, public policy, or another relevant field from an accredited university normally with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or equivalent.
• Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.

All students will select two areas of specialization (for example Canadian Politics and International Politics).

Please see the  Political Science Courses  page for course descriptions.

Political Science PhD (90 credits)

Application process

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures.

Your completed application will include:

• Online Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
• provide a synopsis of your research interests and goals
• identify your particular fields of interest (i.e., intended fields of specialization)
• explain how a PhD in Political Science from Concordia University will help you achieve your goals
• identify at least one tenured or tenure-track faculty member with whom you would like to work. NB: students do not have to find a supervisor prior to admission
• highlight how your research interests fits with ongoing research in the department
• explain what makes you a good candidate for the program
• introduction and one chapter of your master’s thesis;
• a peer-reviewed publication for which you are the sole author;
• a conference paper for which you are the sole author;
• a MA-level term paper for which you received an “A” grade
• Transcripts  for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit  official language test scores , unless exempted.

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures. 

Application deadlines

Kindly note that we do not process admission applications on a rolling basis. All applications received for a specific term will be assessed after the application deadline for that term.

Examples of special topics courses include:

• Ageing and Public Policy
• Development Policy and Administration
• Ethics, Morality and Justice
• Feminist Critiques of Public Policy
• Gender and Global Politics
• Immigration Politics and Policy
• Indigenous Peoples and the State
• International Organizations
• Judicial Politics and Policy
• Nationalism and Ethnicity

Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses .

Students are guaranteed teaching assistantships for the first three years of their studies, valued at approximately $6,000 per year. Research assistant positions also exist for funded research but cannot be guaranteed. Individual faculty members determine if work opportunities are available based on their own research initiatives.

The opportunity to teach courses may also be available to students who have defended their dissertation proposals. These positions are awarded on a competitive basis and are valued at approximately $8,000 per semester.

Other awards available through the Faculty of Arts and Science include:

• Concordia Merit Scholarship
• Concordia University Graduate Fellowship
• Concordia International Tuition Award of Excellence
• JW McConnell Memorial Doctoral Fellowship
• John W. O'Brien Graduate Fellowship
• Conference Travel Awards

Consideration for Entrance Awards is automatically part of the admissions process for all new students.

Please also consult The Department of Political Science’s  graduate funding page  and  Financial Aid and Awards .

Faculty research interests

Environmental politics and policy

• Biodiversity and conservation
• Energy policy
• Natural resources
• Sustainable development

Immigration and social diversity

• Immigration politics and policy
• Social and political integration of immigrants
• Politics of the Charter and human rights
• Indigenous politics
• Value Diversity

Gender and Feminist Studies

• Feminist and critical policy studies
• Gender based analysis and gender mainstreaming
• Gender politics
• Transgender kids

Global South (Africa, China, India, Latin America, Middle East, South Asia)

• Clientelism and patronage politics
• Development policy and administration
• Electoral politics
• Ethnicity and nationalism
• Politics of violence

History of Political Thought

• Ancient to modern political thought
• Political emotions
• Political literature
• Political rhetoric
• Religion and science

International Relations

• European Union
• International political economy
• Non-governmental organizations
• Strategic studies
• United Nations

Social Policy

• Ageing and social service
• Biotech policy
• Health policy
• Reproductive policy

Learn more about research areas and consult the list of   faculty research interests .

Emerging ideas — student projects

Review an inspiring list of thesis topics and read about some of our  exceptional graduate students .

Student initiatives

The Political Science Graduate Student Association (PSGSA) provides a platform to stimulate opportunities for all members in a variety of cultural, intellectual, political, recreational and social activities.

Recent initiatives of the PSGSA include a graduate student conference in which students from Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada present their work and foster dialogue across multiple fields and disciplines. Past conference themes have included “Political and Economic Crises and their Implications,” “Challenges, Disconnects, and Clashes in Political Studies” and “Trends and Dynamics in Global Politics.”

Key resources

• Graduate funding at Concordia
• Graduate Calendar
• Required documents for admission
• Manage your list of referees
• Academic Assessment Form
• Tuition and fee estimator
• Graduate Student Handbook
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Doctorate (PhD) in Political Science, Ph.D.

Concordia University, Canada

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Atlas of Public Management

Concordia DPS

Concordia university, department of political science (dps) – mpppa  , program comparison highlights.

Institutional Structure: The Concordia MPPPA is delivered through the Department of Political Science within the Faculty of Arts and Science. The Department offers three degrees: BA in Political Science, Master in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA), and PhD in Political Science (see http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/programs.html ).

Curriculum Design: The curriculum of MPPPA degree reflects the fact that it is offered by a single-discipline department. All the listed courses are 600-level POLI courses with similar names to those in the 100-400-level baccalaureate courses and the 800-level doctorate courses. Virtually no study in economics or quantitative analysis is required for the degree. Our PEACO calculations below suggest that typical students take about 67% of their course work in policy-oriented subjects and 33% in management-oriented subjects. This places the Concordia MPPPA in the “medium course requirement, policy-oriented, lower math-economics content” curricular type, along with such programs as the York MPIAA and the Oregon MPA (see MPP/MPA Curricular Types ). The Concordia MPPPA offers three rather distinct options for academic- or practice-related research and internship. The Department of Political Science lists 54 courses at the Master’s level and the MPPPA is the only Master’s program offered by the department, which means that the ratio of program-specific courses listed to total courses listed is 100%. The competency gap analysis below suggests that a Concordia MPPPA student taking the required courses and a random selection of listed electives would, on average, graduate with approximately 59 course-weeks of shortfall in the core-competency subject matter identified in MPP/MPA Core Competencies , including shortfalls of 12 course-weeks in both Economic Analysis and Quantitative Methods, 7 course-weeks in Leadership Skills and 6 course-weeks in each of: Public Financial Management; Evaluation and Performance Measurement; and Macroeconomic. On the other hand, this student would graduate with well over the minimum competency requirements in Socioeconomic and Political Context, Global Context; and Democratic Institutions and Policy Process.

Professional Program Features:  The program website does not provide details on use of practitioners, career services, or research initiatives.

Program Summary

Website: http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/programs/graduate/mpppa-public-policy-administration.html

University: Concordia University

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Degree: Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA)

Marketing Approach: “The MA in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) dynamically blends academic excellence with professional expertise for those who wish to become creative participants in the shaping of their community.” (At http://politicalscience.concordia.ca/graduate/mapppa/ , accessed 2 January 2014.)

Degrees Awarded per Year: Not Stated

Posted Tuition: The Tuition Fee Calculator at http://www.concordia.ca/admissions/tuition-fees/calculator.html on 30 March 2015 provides the following results for Total Fees (over two years): Quebec Resident: $5,424.50, Non-Quebec Canadian Student: $11,962.55, International student: $26,276.17.

Concentration/ Curriculum Overview

Degree Requirements:

Summary: All students are admitted to the MPPPA into Option A (MPPPA with Courses). Once in the program, students may have the opportunity to transfer to Option B (MPPPA with Internship) or Option C (MPPPA with Thesis). Transfer into the Internship or Thesis Option is not guaranteed and requires permission of the MPPPA Director (Internship) or GPD (Thesis).  In order to be considered, students must complete the prescribed number of courses and achieve an acceptable level of academic excellence. A fully qualified candidate is required to complete a minimum of 45 credits (15 one-semester course equivalents). The MPPPA program (all Options) is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study. Students are expected to register for three-credit courses per fall/winter term. Option A and B students should also take 2 courses during the summer terms.  Option C students are expected to register in their proposal course. The School of Graduate Studies requires that the degree be completed in a maximum of four years (full-time) and five years (part-time) from the beginning of the degree. A French language exam is required for students in Option B who have not completed their Bachelor’s degree or CEGEP in French. To pass the French language exam, students must demonstrate an ability to translate literature relevant to their field of study from French into English (a French-English dictionary is allowed).

For purposes of comparison with other MPP/MPA programs, the Course Map below is based on Option A, which requires concentration courses in Public Policy and Administration. The 2014-15 Graduate Calendar describes the requirements as follows:

• Core Courses (3 courses) POLI 636 Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration POLI 644 Research Methods one of the following five courses: POLI 600 or 604 or 618 or 622 or 624
• Concentration Courses (4 courses from the following list in the field of Public Policy and Administration) POLI 600 Public Policy and the Governmental Process in Canada POLI 604 Comparative Public Policy  POLI 605 Environmental Policy and Governance  POLI 607 Ageing and Public Policy POLI 610 Economic Policy After Keynes  POLI 612 Public Policy and Business Cycles  POLI 617 Knowledge in International Relations POLI 618 Canadian Public Administration  POLI 622 Comparative Public Administration  POLI 624 Public Administration of Intergovernmental Affairs POLI 628 Ethics and Values in Public Policy Making  POLI 630 Organization Theory  POLI 634 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation  POLI 635 Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Policy POLI 645 Indigenous Peoples and the State POLI 648 Feminist Critiques of Public Policy  POLI 652 Science, Technology and Power POLI 683 Special Topics in Public Policy and Administration POLI 695 Directed Studies
• Approved Elective and Cognate Courses. (4 courses chosen from any of the following subfields: Canadian and Quebec Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory, or POLI 601 (Research Design), or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines. For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved (12 credits).
• Extended Research Essay. POLI 691. (4 course equivalents) The Extended Research Essay is a directed study supervised by a faculty member with whom a student completed a course in their area of concentration. Requiring additional research, this degree requirement builds on a term paper submitted at the graduate level in a concentration course and is considered to be a significant revision and extension of that paper, with an extensive bibliography (12 credits).

Duration: 2 years

Number of One-Semester-Equivalent Courses Required for Completion: 15

Number of required courses: Option A: 10 (including Extended Research Essay worth 4 courses)

Number of Typically Taken Electives: Option A: 5

Number of Courses offered within program: 54

Comprehensive examination: No

Thesis required: Yes, with type of essay or dissertation dependent on option selected.

Internship required: Option A and C: No, Option B: Yes

International study required: No

Co-Curricular Activities Supportive to Degree

Professional development and career support: Not referenced on program website.

Student run journal: Not specific to MAPPPA, although there is a Political Science Graduate Student Journal. See: http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/student-life/associations/psgsa.html , accessed 30 March 2015.

Applied Projects: Not referenced on program website.

Pro Bono Consulting: Not referenced on program website.

Courses Offered : The full list of 2014-2015 Concordia courses are found at  http://www.concordia.ca/academics/graduate/calendar/current/fasc/poli.html and many have short course descriptions. With permission, students can also select graduate-level courses offered by other units at Concordia University. The courses offered by the Department of Political Science have been assigned to Atlas subjects in the map below. Required courses are indicated by (R). Courses for which the Option A students must select 4 out of 19 courses are marked (4R/19).

Course Material Online: Short course descriptions are found at  http://www.concordia.ca/academics/graduate/calendar/current/fasc/poli.html but few if any syllabi are available to the public online.

Instructional Distribution (PEACO Profile): The table below indicates the distribution of instruction offered, based on the course assignments to subjects in the Course Map below, weighted by estimated enrolment determined by the PEACO Algorithm .

Source : At http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/programs/mpppa-public-policy-administration.html and   http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/programs/mpppa-public-policy-administration/options.html#a and related sites (accessed 30 March 2015).

Page created by: Kyle Richardson on 30 December 2013 and updated by Ian Clark on 10 May 2015, last modified by Ian Clark on 14 December 2015, except for main website on 5 July 2019. Updating and editing may consist of substantive and/or formatting changes. Unless otherwise noted, however, information regarding a program’s structure, curricular offerings and PEACO score is based on the program as it was on the date of page creation.

Image: Screenshot of school website on 14 December 2015.

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Concordia university - school of graduate studies, political science (phd), description:, prerequisites:.

* We make every attempt to provide accurate information on prerequisites, programs, and tuition. However, this information is subject to change without notice and we highly recommend that you contact the school to confirm important information before applying.

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Political Science (BA)

If you’re interested in law, American government, politics, political theory, policy studies or international relations, Concordia University Chicago offers you the opportunity to study any of these of subjects and more in the department of political science.

This program includes courses about all levels in government, political theory, public administration and much more, which are designed to give students a well-rounded and accurate view of their nation and the world

Career Opportunities

• Government Administrator
• Congressional Staffer 
• Customs Officer
• Government Analyst 
• Immigration Officer 
• Elected Official 
• Foreign Service Officer
• Attorney 
• Journalist 
• Archivist 
• City Planner
• Lobbyist 
• Campaign Manager
• Business Executive

Study Format

Political science program and degree overview.

At Concordia University Chicago, our small political science class sizes make it easy for students to get to know their professors. Professors are easily accessible to answer students’ questions and informally chat about class discussions or a wide variety of related issues.

We’re proud that approximately 90 percent of our students are employed or enrolled in graduate programs in their fields within six months of graduation. We educate students to be faithful, civic minded individuals who will actively engage and change the world through their careers and/or their volunteer efforts. Some political science majors continue their education in graduate school in political science or another social science discipline or go on to law school.

For this major, you will be required to take the introductory American government and politics course and then select your remaining coursework from a variety of electives. Past offerings have included The Politics of the Middle East, Global Terrorism and International Security in addition to:

• Political Theory
• The American Presidency
• State and Local Government 
• Constitutional Law
• Public Policy
• American Foreign Policy
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations 

For details about required courses and course descriptions, please visit our  online catalog .

Political Science Major Opportunities

Our proximity to Chicago allows you access to hundreds of government agencies, political consulting firms and advocacy organizations.

CUC's size allows you direct interaction with your professors—offering you the opportunity to truly engage throughout the course of your college career.

Washington Semester -  Students wishing to broaden their experiences can study in Washington, D.C. through the Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS). Participating in this small, personalized program allows you to live, study, and intern (for credit) in Washington, D.C. You may also consider enrolling in our study abroad program, in which we partner with universities around the world to offer unique experiences. For more information, talk with your academic advisor .

Eric R. Schmidt, PhD

Assistant Professor of Government and Politics, Millsaps College

Eric R. Schmidt, Ph.D

Welcome! I’m Dr. Eric R. Schmidt. In July 2021, I received my Ph.D from Indiana University; in August 2023, I will begin a tenure-track appointment in the Department of Government and Politics at Millsaps College . Prior to this, I served for two years as a Political Science Teaching Fellow at Concordia College , where I designed and taught courses on U.S. politics and democratic citizenship, helped rebuild and renew the College’s pre-law advising program, researched the negative effects of partisan polarization on faculty-student interactions, and received the Student Government Association’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award for AY 2022-2023.

As a scholar of long-term partisan change in the United States, my work explores the (complex and interconnected) dynamics of partisanship, ideology, and group attachments. As a teacher, I seek not just to teach American politics — but also to train students to constructively assess their responsibilities as democratic citizens. And as a participant in the (unwieldy and, often, maddeningly contradictory) project of higher education, I strive to recognize – and celebrate – students’ unique contributions to campus life.

During my Ph.D studies, my research was supported by an IU College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Research Fellowship (2019-2020) and multiple competitive grants from IU’s Center on American Politics; my work has been published in Political Behavior , P.S.: Political Science & Politics ,  Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy , and The Palgrave Handbook of Populism. At IU, I trained undergraduates in high-impact research design through the Indiana Political Analysis Workshop ; served as Research Assistant to the Center on American Politics ; and served as Project Manager (from 2017-2021) for the Center’s annual participation in the Cooperative Congressional Election Studies (CCES).

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Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Political science.

Kenneth W. Foster, chair Nicholas O. Howard Rebecca R. Moore Leila Zakhirova

Politics is the means by which citizens seek to control power and resources for the purpose of governing a community. At its best, politics is pursued to define and address common problems and challenges. Political science, then, is the study of the theory and practice of politics at the local, state, national, and international levels. Political Science majors are introduced to the four main subfields comprising the discipline: political philosophy, American politics, comparative politics, international relations. Through coursework in these four areas students:

• acquire a basic understanding of core political science concepts and vocabulary derived from the four key subfields of the discipline
• consider how their own values influence their understanding of what constitutes good governance.
• develop a theoretically, historically, empirically-based analytical framework for evaluating past, present, and future developments in the world of politics.
• working collaboratively with a diversity of interests to develop positions that reflect deliberation and differing perspectives
• participating in politics in a civil and constructive manner to further the interests of the individual and the community

Political science students also have opportunities to put their theoretical learning to practical use through internships and other off-campus experiences. These opportunities include the Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS), study abroad, and a mock trial program.

The political science department sponsors an honors program for motivated students. For information see the department chair.

In accordance with American Bar Association recommendations, Concordia College does not offer a specific pre-law curriculum; but rather, encourages all students interested in the law to pursue a well-rounded liberal arts education. In addition, Concordia’s pre-law advisors design individual programs to fit students’ strengths and interests, including coursework with a specific focus on the law. These programs are remarkably varied but all share the goals of clear thinking, critical reading, careful argumentation and persistent intellectual curiosity. Coupled with one-on-one advising and support during the law school application process, pre-law advisement and programming is designed to help students discern whether they have an aptitude for the study and practice of the law, and to empower those that do to succeed (see Pre-Law ).

Programs Offered

• Political Science Major
• Political Science Minor

This course invites participants to begin critical thinking about political issues. We will spend the semester reflecting on what politics is, how it may be understood, explained or seen. The course will serve both as an exercise in understanding politics and as an invitation to carry out further inquiries. While it will not introduce participants to political institutions, it will introduce them to political thinking.

This course introduces students to the foundational theories and concepts that frame the study of politics in all four disciplinary subfields through discussion of the works of political philosophers who have wrestled with fundamental questions regarding human nature, the nature of good governance, and the ranking of political values such as rights, liberty, and justice.

This course is designed to help students become familiar with the wide variety of career options available to political science majors. It is also intended to enable students to explore how their interests and talents intersect with the kinds of jobs that political science majors typically take up. This course will feature guest speakers and guidance from political science department faculty.

This course serves as an introduction to the American system of government. Primary emphasis is on the constraints placed upon political activity by our constitutional system, the development and maturation of political institutions, recent trends in political behavior, and the overall representative nature of our system of government.

This course explores basic concepts and theories in international politics through a historical overview of the evolution of the international system. Special emphasis will be given to changes that have transpired in the system and issues currently shaping international politics. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

This course is an introduction to the concepts, approaches, issues and debates that animate the field of comparative politics. The focus is on the study of politics in countries other than the United States and on making comparisons across geographical space and historical time. Students will become familiar with different kinds of regimes and states and gain an appreciation of the forces that shape politics in diverse contexts. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

The course introduces students to the global landscape of Islam and the broad spectrum of thought and practice in contemporary Muslim politics. In order to enhance their classroom learning experience, students will spend up to 20 hours outside class interacting weekly with the local Muslim community in a service-learning based opportunity. The objective is to apply abstract classroom learning about Muslim politics to the complex real life-situations and issues facing Muslim families in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Students learn to conduct scientific investigations of political phenomena by conducting and testing theories of individual interest. Emphasis is placed on the use of analytic tools and techniques such as computers and statistics, and on the interpretation of their output, rather than on the derivation and calculation of statistics. This course can also count toward the global studies program and the environmental and sustainability studies program.

This course introduces students to the evolution of the Russian state since the end of the Cold War. The central question guiding the course: "Is Russia sustainable - politically, economically, socially, and environmentally?" Students will study the state of Russia's post-1001 political institutions; its commodity-based economy and the associated environmental costs; and the lives of its ordinary citizens to assess Russia's influence on global stability.

Even as living standards have risen dramatically for some people and countries, large parts of the world remain desperately poor. Spurring economic development and lessening global inequalities are two of the central challenges of our time. This course will explore the political forces and processes that shape global and local efforts to promote development, while also evaluating the effectiveness of noteworthy development initiatives. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

This course provides an overview of the evolution of U.S. relations with China since the early 1800s, including early trade relations, efforts to isolate China after the People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949, and the impact of the developments at Tiananmen Square in 1989. Contemporary topics to be discussed include China's continuing economic reforms, regional and global security issues, human rights, and the status of Taiwan. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

This course will challenge our traditional understanding of what causes armed conflict. We will investigate the possible linkages between climate change and violent conflict. As the 21st century climate deteriorates, will conflict propensity increase around the world? If so, where and why? Special attention will be devoted to the rise of water wars.

The rise of China as an economic giant and aspiring superpower has made the country a powerful actor in global affairs. This course will equip students with a sophisticated understanding of China's political history and current domestic political situation so that they may be astute observers and analysts of trends in China and of China's engagement with the world. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

One of the greatest challenges of our time is determining how to generate global prosperity while ensuring that the ecological environment in which we live remains healthy enough to continue to support thriving human populations. This course focuses on environmental politics and policy at the national and sub-national levels, examining how various perspectives and interests intersect in the struggle to develop the policies that govern the interaction between humans and the natural environment. It is for all students who wish to prepare themselves to engage with the environmental challenges that will increasingly dominate public life in the coming decades. This course can also count toward the global studies program and the environmental and sustainability studies program.

This course is intended to provide a historical survey of U.S. foreign policy primarily since World War II. Particular emphasis will be placed on the principles, interests and theoretical perspectives shaping American foreign policy throughout this period. Attention will also be devoted to the problem of formulating foreign policy for a post-Sept. 11 era. This course can also count toward the global studies program.

This course explores the links between energy, politics, and the environment through several critical topics of global importance associated with our expanding use of energy and its impact on our environment. Alternatives to fossil fuels, such as renewable and efficient energy will be examined as solutions to our current fossil fuel-based economy, which is unsustainable.

This course explores evolving concepts of security and possible responses to security threats including, but not limited to, the threat and use of military force. Although a portion of the semester is devoted to the study of U.S. national security issues, this is not exclusively a course in U.S. national security policy. Security will be explored from international and global perspectives as well. Attention will also be devoted to the emergence of so-called non-traditional threats to security (e.g. economic instability, environmental degradation, human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, and organized crime). This course can also count toward the global studies program.

The case method is used to study and analyze the Constitution of the United States as it has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Freedom of speech and religion, civil liberties, and due process in criminal cases are among the topics considered.

The case method is used to study and analyze the Constitution of the United States as it has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Federalism, separation of powers, and regulation of the economy are among the topics considered.

This course examines two general categories of global issues - sustainable development and ecological sustainability - and the various interpretive perspectives that offer understandings of each. Integrating the contributions of several disciplines, we examine the historical origins and future trends of these problems, their causes and consequences, and their potential solutions. In addition, students will learn a variety of transferable skills, including the ability to construct policies and negotiate differences among competing interests. This course can also count toward the global studies program and the environmental and sustainability studies program.

Courses covering various topics of interest in this particular discipline are offered regularly. Contact department or program chair for more information.

This course explores the actions of political parties and organized interests as they seek to affect policies by presenting candidates for election, soliciting and contributing funds to those candidates, lobbying, engaging in demonstrations, and a host of other means. Students will study the two-party system, the role parties play as instruments of governance, minor parties, the organizational maintenance of interest groups, and group influence, among other topics.

Offered as part of the fall semester program in Segovia, Spain, this course examines a series of moral and ethical questions raised by modern Spanish history, from the Spanish Civil War and a study of the ideologies in conflict, the participation of American volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, U.S. government policy during the war, aspects of the 36-year dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, population movements, the political assassination of Franco's hand-picked successor, Basque nationalism and ETA terrorism (the latter of which originated during the Franco regime), to the Spain after the transition to democracy, the Spain of the European Union and the global world.

The course goal is to help students become skilled political participants. Learning techniques, (e.g., political games and simulated campaigns, electoral and survey data analyses) and actual campaign work provide students with the opportunity to hone their political skills and gain the insights necessary for effective political action.

This course explores the nature and content of a select number of American public policies, with a special emphasis on comprehending the values that underpin their making. Students are asked to evaluate current policies and proposals for reform, and are put in a position to encounter the consequences of these policies by engaging in an off-campus policy-related service experience.

This is a course about legal reasoning or, more correctly, about how judges decide cases. It is not primarily a course describing empirically how judges typically decide cases, but one about how judges can and should justify their judicial choices. The primary focus is on legal reasoning in federal appellate courts, especially the U.S. Supreme Court.

This course is a history of political philosophy from Plato to Nietzsche. Substantial portions of the following texts are read and analyzed: Plato's "The Republic," Aristotle's "Politics," Hobbes' "Leviathan," Locke's "Second Treatise of Civil Government," Rousseau's "Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality," Engels' "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific" and Nietzsche's "On the Genealogy of Morals." These texts help students understand the differences between ancient and modern political thought, as well as the origins of the major alternatives of 20th-century politics - liberal democracy, socialism and communism, and fascism. This course can also count toward the philosophy major.

This course focuses on how presidents seek to provide leadership in a constitutional system that fragments power and puts explicit checks on presidential action. As students examine presidential leadership, they will study the founding, structure and development of the office; how presidential candidates seek office; the relationship of the president to other actors in the political system; and the impact of personal characteristics on presidential behavior.

The role of ethics or morality in international relations is the primary focus of this course. The potential for moral choice in the realm of international politics is explored from a variety of theoretical/philosophical perspectives, as well as through particular foreign policy dilemmas. Specific issues that may be addressed include: military and humanitarian intervention; human rights; nationalism and self-determination; the erosion of state sovereignty; terrorism; and weapons proliferation.

This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct in-depth study of a particular topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Contact the department or program chair for more information.

This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct research in a specific area of study, completed under the direction of a faculty mentor. Specific expectations of the research experience to be determined by the faculty. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

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2023-2024 Concordia College Catalog

A PDF of the entire 2023-2024 catalog.

• Political Science Minor
• Faculty of Arts
• Undergraduate Minors
• Theatre at CUE
• Faculty & Staff
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• Our English Program
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• CUE Alumna: Keely Cronin
• CUE Alumna: Kelsea Gillespie
• CUE Alumnus: Benjamin Hertwig-Jaksch
• CUE Alumna: Bonnie Way
• CUE Alumna: Courtney Davies
• CUE Alumna: Olivia Babiak
• Design an Exceptional University Education
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• Religious Studies course skills
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A minor in Political Science at Concordia University of Edmonton gives you the skills necessary to understand and analyze the major domestic and international challenges in the world today through a study of governments and political systems.

See the Academic Calendar for further information about this Minor.

Program Details

Program type.

Undergraduate

University of Notre Dame

Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government

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Graduate Conference in Political Theory and Constitutional Studies

Time: Fri May 3, 2024, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Location: 1030 Jenkins Nanovic Hall

The first annual Notre Dame Graduate Conference in Political Theory and Constitutional Studies will take place on May 3, 2024 on-campus at the University of Notre Dame. The conference will feature a series of paper presentations by PhD students from programs across the world, with individualized comments provided by Notre Dame graduate student discussants and faculty.

We are also excited to announce that Dr. Bryan Garsten, Professor of Political Science and Humanities at Yale University, will give the keynote address for the conference. His work addresses a broad range of topics including representative government, politics and religion, and the role of emotion in politics. His forthcoming book The Heart of a Heartless World examines the ethical, political and religious core of early nineteenth-century liberalism in the United States and France.

We invite paper submissions from current PhD students in relevant fields. Please find our call for abstracts here . Abstracts are due on January 14, 2024 at midnight EST. The entire conference is free and open to the public.

Please find the final schedule for the conference below. All events will take place on Friday, May 3rd in 1030 Jenkins Nanovic Halls . Each paper can be accessed by clicking on its title below.

8:30 – 9:00 am: Breakfast and Welcome

9:00 – 9:50 am: Session I – “Father of Iphigenia and Argive King: An Examination Aristotle’s Account of the Household and City with the Help of Aeschylus,” Carol Kowara , University of Chicago

10:10 – 11:00 am: Session II – “A Meteor Amidst the Ruins: Nietzsche on Decadence," Mathis Bitton , Harvard University

11:20am – 12:10 pm: Session III – “Fugitive Sovereignty: On the Specter of Schmitt in Wolin’s Theory of Democracy,” Quanxin Yang , University of Wisconsin-Madison

12:15 – 1:45 pm: Lunch and Keynote Address – “The Liberalism of Refuge,” Dr. Bryan Garsten , Yale University

2:00 – 2:50 pm: Session IV – “The Chief Magistrate: Executive Power in Light of Hebraic Republicanism,” Daniel Slate , Stanford University

3:10 – 4:00 pm: Session V – “The Constitution Before the Court: Alternatives to ‘Juristocracy’ in the Era of the American Founding,” Angus Brown , University of Cambridge

Please email us with any questions at [email protected] .