Philosophy
Since it deals mainly with issues that have no simple solutions, philosophy emphasizes the exchange of ideas and debate, and thus cultivates an appetite for deep and serious reflection. By reading and discussing the works of the world's great thinkers on fundamental topics like truth, justice, morality and existence, you sharpen your own ability to think clearly, critically and independently. The Department's curriculum has a twin approach, historical and analytical, and covers political and social philosophy, ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind and logic.
The Department of Philosophy also runs a minor in applied ethics.
Political Science
Politics is omnipresent in our lives. Political science seeks to describe, analyze, understand and assess the principles and power relations that govern social life. It revolves as much around the structures and institutions that define these relations and principles as around the ideas and practices that drive them. It studies everything that influences political life and institutions (ideologies, groups, social movements, etc.) on a local, regional, national and international scale.
Our programs offer in-depth training in political science and encourage critical reflection on pivotal issues like citizenship, identity, political participation, globalization and development, governance and the state, and ethics and democracy. A discipline open to many theoretical and methodological approaches, political science constantly exchanges and shares with other fields. At the University of Ottawa's School of Political Studies, you build your knowledge in four subfields of political science: political thought, Canadian and Quebec politics, comparative politics, and international relations and global politics.
This program is offered in English and in French.
The French immersion stream is available with this program.
Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2024-2025 calendars for the previous requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Skills | ||
| ENG 1100 | Workshop in Essay Writing | 3 Units |
| PHI 1301 | Philosophy: Ideas and Arguments | 3 Units |
| PHI 1302 | Philosophy: Themes and Texts | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts | ||
| Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts | ||
| Selected Topics in Literature and Composition | ||
| Total: | 12 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy (42 course units) | ||
| Compulsory Courses | ||
| PHI 2170 | Logic I | 3 Units |
| PHI 2174 | Ethics | 3 Units |
| PHI 2183 | Political Philosophy | 3 Units |
| 6 course units from: | 6 Units | |
| Greek Philosophy | ||
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Modern Philosophy | ||
| PHI 4311 | Problems in Contemporary Political Philosophy | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Texts in Ethics and Political Philosophy | ||
| Problems in Contemporary Ethics | ||
| Optional Courses | ||
| 21 optional course units in philosophy (PHI) at the 3000 or 4000 level | 21 Units | |
| Political Science (48 course units) | ||
| Compulsory Courses | ||
| POL 1101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 Units |
| POL 2101 | Introduction to Canadian Politics | 3 Units |
| POL 2103 | Introduction to International Relations and Global Politics | 3 Units |
| POL 2104 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 Units |
| POL 2107 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 Units |
| POL 2108 | Modern Political Thought I | 3 Units |
| POL 2156 | Foundations of Research in Political Science | 3 Units |
| POL 3102 | Modern Political Thought II | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Qualitative Analysis in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Analysis in Political Science | ||
| 3 course units from the Canadian Politics group: | 3 Units | |
| Urban Politics in Canada | ||
| Quebec Politics | ||
| Politics and Francophonie in Ontario | ||
| Indigenous Politics in Canada | ||
| Comparative Provincial Politics | ||
| Immigration, Multiculturalism and Citizenship in Canada and Quebec | ||
| Political Participation and Mobilization in Canada | ||
| Federalism | ||
| Canadian Foreign Policy and North American Relations | ||
| Law, Politics, and the Constitution in Canada | ||
| Francophonie, Diversity, Citizenship | ||
| Electoral Systems and Political Parties | ||
| Parliamentary Government in Canada | ||
| Health Politics and Policy in Canada | ||
| Social and Political Thought in Quebec | ||
| Social and Political Thought in Canada | ||
| Selected Topics in Canadian Public Policy | ||
| 3 course units from the Comparative Politics group: | 3 Units | |
| Comparative Politics: Asia | ||
| Comparative Politics of Development | ||
| Comparative Politics: Africa | ||
| Comparative Politics: Latin America | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Comparative Politics: Middle East and Arab World | ||
| Comparative Politics: Europe | ||
| Comparative Politics: United States | ||
| Comparative Politics: Identity Issues | ||
| Democratization and Authoritarianism | ||
| Comparative Politics: China | ||
| 3 course units from the International Relations group: | 3 Units | |
| Migration, Mobility, Borders and Citizenship | ||
| Gender Studies and Feminist Theories in International Relations | ||
| The Politics of Security | ||
| Politics, Social Movements and Globalization | ||
| International Organizations and Global Governance | ||
| Contemporary Geopolitics | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of Foreign Aid | ||
| Agri-Food Politics | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Relations as Political Theory | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Selected Topics in Critical Security and War Studies | ||
| Selected Topics in International Political Economy and or Global Governance | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Honours Seminar in Political Thought | ||
| Honours Seminar in Canadian Politics | ||
| Honours Seminar in International Relations and Global Politics | ||
| Honours Seminar in Comparative Politics | ||
| Honours Seminar in International Relations and Global Politics | ||
| Optional Courses | ||
| 3 optional course units in political science (POL) | 3 Units | |
| 6 optional course units in political science (POL) at the 4000 level | 6 Units | |
| Total: | 90 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses 2 | ||
| 18 elective course units | 18 Units | |
| Total: | 18 Units | |
Note(s)
- 1
- This course has variable topics. Students may take this course twice.
- 2
The electives may be replaced by a combination of Option(s), and/or elective units.