Faculty Affiliation

Arts and Science

Degree Programs

Political Science

MA

• Fields:
  • Political Economy of International Development (admissions have been administratively suspended);
  • Political Science;
  • Political Theory

PhD

• Fields:
  • Canadian Politics;
  • Comparative Politics;
  • Development Studies;
  • International Relations;
  • Political Theory;
  • Public Policy

Combined Degree Programs

STG, Law, JD / Political Science, PhD

Collaborative Specializations

The following collaborative specializations are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:

• Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies
  • Political Science, MA
• Development Policy and Power
  • Political Science, MA
• Diaspora and Transnational Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD
• Environmental Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD
• Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD
• Global Health (U of T Global Scholar)
  • Political Science, PhD
• Jewish Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD
• Sexual Diversity Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD
• South Asian Studies
  • Political Science, PhD
• Women and Gender Studies
  • Political Science, MA, PhD

Overview

The Department of Political Science is one of the largest political science departments in the western world. It is committed to fostering a collegial environment for graduate students and personal interaction between faculty and students.

The department has a large and academically diverse research-oriented faculty, well represented in the various sub-fields of the discipline (Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, Canadian Politics, and Public Policy). The department also participates in a wide range of interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Since entrance requirements and standards of work are high, so is the calibre of students. Many hold prestigious fellowships, and several have recently won major awards, including the Canadian Political Science Association and American Political Science Association’s prizes for best doctoral theses in their areas.

Graduates have gone on to academic careers, public service, and other work in all provinces of Canada, the United States, and many other countries. The University maintains an active placement service to assist graduate students seeking employment in the academic world. Graduate students have established the Graduate Association for Students in Political Science to foster intellectual exchanges, social events, and student participation in all aspects of department life.

Contact and Address

Web: politics.utoronto.ca/graduate
Email: louis.tentsos@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-2017
Fax: 416-978-5566

Department of Political Science
University of Toronto
Room 3025, 100 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3
Canada

Master of Arts

Program Description

The MA program is designed to satisfy the diverse interests of students who wish to pursue a year of graduate study in political science. Students admitted to the MA program may choose from the fields in Political Science and Political Theory. Students whose interests are primarily normative and philosophical may choose the field of Political Theory.

The MA program may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Field: Political Economy of International Development (PEID)

Admissions have been administratively suspended. This field will close on August 31, 2024.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Political Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Cumulative grade average equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in an appropriate bachelor's degree program. Preference will be given to applicants with outstanding academic records and a strong background in political science.

• Applicants must provide evidence of a satisfactory background in political science and a second social science. Applicants intending to enrol in a master's-level economics course must meet undergraduate prerequisites in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics. A satisfactory background in political science means a minimum of five well-distributed courses including at least one relating to development.

• Admission is competitive. Enrolment in the program is limited, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. All applicants are considered on their individual merit by a departmental admissions committee. Applicants lacking an adequate background in political science may be required to complete additional undergraduate courses before being considered for admission. Such work should be undertaken in consultation with the MA supervisor.

• Applicants must submit a complete application according to instructions on the department's website.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • POL2408H Political Economy of International Development (0.5 FCE).

  • Either POL2345H Politics of Growth in Developing Countries or POL2400H Theories and Issues — The Politics of Development (0.5 FCE).

  • 0.5 FCE in anthropology, geography, or economics, selected from an approved course list.

  • 1.0 FCE taken from the approved political science course list.

  • A research essay in the political economy of international development within the context of the MA Research Seminars, POL2810Y MA Research Seminar I or POL2811Y MA Research Seminar II (1.0 FCE). Students enrolled in a collaborative specialization with a similar requirement are exempted.

  • 0.5 FCE from either list of approved courses.

• The equivalent of 1.0 FCE may be taken in a cognate discipline with the approval of the department.

• Programs in which additional requirements or prerequisites must be met may take longer than three sessions to complete.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Field: Political Science

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Political Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Cumulative grade average equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in an appropriate bachelor's degree program. Preference will be given to applicants with outstanding academic records and a strong background in political science.

• Admission is competitive. Enrolment in the program is limited, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. All applicants are considered on their individual merit by a departmental admissions committee. Applicants lacking an adequate background in political science may be required to complete additional undergraduate courses before being considered for admission. Such work should be undertaken in consultation with the MA supervisor.

• Applicants must submit a complete application according to instructions on the department's website.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • At least 0.5 FCE in Political Theory, which can be any other theory course.

  • At least 0.5 FCE in statistics or research design. POL2503H Thinking Through Research Design and POL2504H Statistics for Political Scientists are among the courses currently offered by the department which meet this requirement.

  • The equivalent of 1.0 FCE may be taken in a cognate discipline with the approval of the department.

  • A research essay (1.0 FCE) within the context of the MA Research Seminars, POL2810Y MA Research Seminar I or POL2811Y MA Research Seminar II. Students enrolled in a collaborative specialization with a similar requirement are exempted.

• Programs in which additional requirements or prerequisites must be met may take longer than three sessions to complete.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Field: Political Theory

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Political Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Cumulative grade average equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in an appropriate bachelor's degree program. Preference will be given to applicants with outstanding academic records and a strong background in political science.

• Admission is competitive. Enrolment in the program is limited, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. All applicants are considered on their individual merit by a departmental admissions committee. Applicants lacking an adequate background in political science may be required to complete additional undergraduate courses before being considered for admission. Such work should be undertaken in consultation with the MA supervisor.

• Applicants must submit a complete application according to instructions on the department's website.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • 2.0 FCEs in Political Theory.

  • At least 1.0 FCE in an area outside Political Theory.

  • The equivalent of 1.0 FCE may be taken in a cognate discipline with the approval of the department.

  • All courses must be chosen in consultation with the MA supervisor.

• Programs in which additional requirements or prerequisites must be met may take longer than three sessions to complete.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

PhD students will declare two fields:

• Field 1 will be one of:

  • Canadian Politics

  • Comparative Politics

  • Development Studies

  • International Relations

  • Political Theory

  • Public Policy

• Field 2 will be one of:

  • Canadian Politics

  • Comparative Politics

  • Development Studies

  • International Relations

  • Political Theory

  • Public Policy

Applicants may be admitted to the PhD program via one of three routes:

• With an MA: excellent students who have completed an MA degree in political science (or its equivalent) by the time of enrolment.

• Transfer: in exceptional cases, on the initiative of the Director of Graduate Studies, MA students may be transferred to the PhD program. Such transfers will occur only where a full assessment of an applicant's bachelor's record (or equivalent) was impossible and where that student's instructors concur that the student in question has excelled in the first half of the MA program.

• Direct-entry: exceptional students who have completed an appropriate bachelor's degree with a concentration in political science by the time of enrolment. Students admitted to the PhD from a bachelor's degree who receive less than an A– average in their first four courses will be recommended to SGS to transfer to the MA program. If the transfer is approved, these students will graduate with a terminal MA, provided their grades meet the requirements for the MA degree.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Political Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants must have completed an MA degree in political science (or its equivalent) by the time of enrolment.

• Applicants are expected to have achieved grades averaging A– or better in their most recent degree.

• Applicants must submit a complete application according to the instructions.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 2.0 to 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) depending on the student's relevant background in the fields or areas of choice:

  • Most students entering with an MA take the equivalent of 4.0 FCEs to satisfy program requirements; students must take a minimum of 2.0 FCEs with the department after entering the PhD program.

  • Graduate courses taken at the MA level at the University of Toronto or elsewhere may be counted, with the department's permission, towards meeting some course requirements.

• Students will declare two fields:

  • Field 1 will be one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Theory, or Public Policy. The normal course requirement for Field 1 will be 2.0 FCEs, including a 1.0 FCE core course requirement (with the exception of a 0.5 FCE core course requirement in Development Studies).

  • Field 2 will be one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Theory, or Public Policy. The normal course requirement for Field 2 will be 1.5 FCEs, including a 1.0 FCE core course requirement (with the exception of a 0.5 FCE core course requirement in Development Studies).

• The Director of Graduate Studies may exercise discretion to waive the Field 2 requirement for students enrolled in collaborative specializations.

• Students who do not designate Political Theory as Field 1 must complete 0.5 graduate-level FCE in Political Theory.

• Students must complete 0.5 FCE in qualitative methods. This requirement may be waived on the basis of MA work.

• Students who do not designate Political Theory as Field 1 must complete 0.5 FCE in quantitative methods. This requirement may be waived on the basis of MA work. Students who designate Political Theory as Field 1 will substitute a non-waivable 0.5 FCE intensive reading requirement for the quantitative methods requirement.

• Students must complete POL2812Y PhD Research Design (1.0 FCE), normally during Year 3; students who have designated Political Theory as Field 1 are exempted.

• Field examinations.

  • Students must complete field examinations in Field 1 and Field 2 by the end of Year 2.

  • The Field 1 examination should be taken in May or August of the year in which the core course is taken as long as all assignments in the core course have been completed.

  • The Field 2 examination must be taken no later than Year 2.

  • A student who fails to achieve a grade of at least A– is permitted one opportunity to retake a field examination. After failing the examination once, the student is permitted two attempts to pass the examination in a new field.

• Thesis proposal, thesis committee, and thesis schedule. Students should assign a high priority to defining a thesis topic and choosing a thesis committee. By December of Year 3, students must have:

  • Established a thesis committee of three faculty members including a thesis supervisor and

  • Completed a draft of a thesis proposal of approximately 25 pages for submission to the thesis committee. Final revisions of the proposal must be approved by the end of Year 3. The research and writing of the thesis will follow the acceptance of the thesis proposal. The work schedule should permit the student to complete the thesis by the end of Year 5.

• Language requirement. Students must demonstrate competence in the language that is appropriate to the nature of the graduate work in which they are engaged. Students whose Field 1 is Canadian Politics are strongly encouraged to demonstrate competence in French.

• University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, thesis proposal, Field 1 and Field 2 qualifying exams, and language requirements) by the end of Year 3.

• Students must achieve an A– average in coursework and an A– in their field examinations to remain in good standing.

• Minimum of three sessions in residence, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

• Although the program has been designed for completion in four years, some students may require longer to complete all the requirements.

Program Length

4 years full-time; 5 years transfer-from-master's

Time Limit

6 years full-time; 7 years transfer-from-master's

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

• Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Political Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Exceptional students who have completed an appropriate bachelor's degree with a concentration in political science by the time of enrolment. Such students who receive less than an A– average in their first four courses will be recommended to SGS to transfer to the MA program. If the transfer is approved, these students will graduate with a terminal MA, provided their grades meet the requirements for the MA degree and provided they meet the course requirements of one of the three MA fields

• Applicants are expected to have achieved grades averaging A– or better in their most recent degree. Applicants from the BA level will apply to the MA program but indicate on the MA application that they wish to be considered for direct entry to the PhD program.

• Applicants must submit a complete application according to the instructions.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) with at least an A– average in their first four courses in order to continue in the PhD program. In selecting courses, students should ensure that they satisfy the following field requirements.

• Students will declare two fields:

  • Field 1 will be one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Theory, or Public Policy. The normal course requirement for Field 1 will be 2.0 FCEs, including a 1.0 FCE core course requirement (with the exception of a 0.5 FCE core course requirement in Development Studies).

  • Field 2 will be one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Theory, or Public Policy. The normal course requirement for Field 2 will be 1.5 FCEs, including a 1.0 FCE core course requirement (with the exception of a 0.5 FCE core course requirement in Development Studies).

• The Director of Graduate Studies may exercise discretion to waive the Field 2 requirement for students enrolled in collaborative specializations.

• Students who do not designate Political Theory as Field 1 must complete 0.5 graduate-level FCE in Political Theory.

• Students must complete 0.5 FCE in qualitative methods. This requirement may be waived on the basis of MA work.

• Students who do not designate Political Theory as Field 1 must complete 0.5 FCE in quantitative methods. Students who designate Political Theory as Field 1 will substitute a non-waivable 0.5 FCE intensive reading requirement for the quantitative methods requirement.

• Students must complete POL2812Y PhD Research Design (1.0 FCE), normally during Year 4; students who have designated Political Theory as Field 1 are exempted.

• Field examinations.

  • Students must complete field examinations in Field 1 and Field 2 by the end of Year 2.

  • The Field 1 examination should be taken in May or August of the year in which the core course is taken as long as all assignments in the core course have been completed.

  • The Field 2 examination must be taken no later than Year 2. A student who fails to achieve a grade of at least A– is permitted one opportunity to retake a field examination. After failing the examination once, the student is permitted two attempts to pass the examination in a new field.

• Thesis proposal, thesis committee, and thesis schedule. Students should assign a high priority to defining a thesis topic and choosing a thesis committee. By December of Year 4, students must have:

  • Established a thesis committee of three faculty members including a thesis supervisor and

  • Completed a draft of a thesis proposal of approximately 25 pages for submission to the thesis committee. Final revisions of the proposal must be approved by the end of Year 4. The research and writing of the thesis will follow the acceptance of the thesis proposal. The work schedule should permit the student to complete the thesis by the end of Year 6.

• Language requirement. Students must demonstrate competence in the language that is appropriate to the nature of the graduate work in which they are engaged. Students whose Field 1 is Canadian Politics are strongly encouraged to demonstrate competence in French.

• University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, thesis proposal, Field 1 and Field 2 qualifying exams, and language requirements) by the end of Year 4.

• Students must achieve an A– average in coursework and an A– in their field examinations to remain in good standing.

• Minimum of six sessions in residence, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

• Although the program has been designed for completion in five years, some students may require longer to complete all the requirements.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years

Some listed courses have an undergraduate component and begin the first week of the session. Not all courses are given every year. Consult the departmental timetable.

Canadian Politics

Comparative Politics

Development Studies

International Relations

Political Theory

Public Policy

Methods and Research Seminars

Independent Study and Special Topics