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Political Science - POLI

Contact Information

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

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.

Specialization:

Israel Studies (Interdisciplinary)*

*See the Calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information.

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 applicantâ€™s undergraduate program.

b) Normally a four-year BA in Political Science or a strong background in Political Science of at least 5 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 the TOEFL with a minimum score of 620 (paper-based), or 105 (Internet-based), or 7+ on the IELTS, or 87 on the MELAB, or 75 on the PTE.

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.

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 two half courses 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 five half courses:

At least two half courses must be taken in the Political Science Department at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓÆµµ¼º½.
Two or three half courses will be in the student's major field (one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Thought).
A maximum of one half course 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 five half courses. Students who have an equivalent of Political Science 691 will still be required to take five half courses.

b) A written thesis.

c) Thesis Oral Examination.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Doctoral students must complete a minimum of six half courses:

At least four half courses must be taken in the Political Science Department at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓÆµµ¼º½.
One 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 two half courses may be reading courses.
Language courses will not be considered part of the six half course 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 six half course 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 one 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 Masterâ€™s program and six years for a Doctoral program.

The Department of Political Science encourages completion of the Masterâ€™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 studentâ€™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 ProgramÂ 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 supervisorâ€™s appointment.

10. Required Examinations

Doctoral Candidacy Exams

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

Thesis Oral Exams

A thesis/dissertation oral in the MA and PhD programs.

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: .

14. Other Information

None.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

General departmental research interests are listed at: .

Individual faculty membersâ€™ areas of research can be found at: .

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