Politics and International Studies

Politics and International Studies

Be a leader. Be purple. BU.

The Department provides students with a working knowledge of society and how decisions are made. Governments, politicians, leaders in private industry and ordinary individuals function within a framework of accepted political norms, e.g. notions of justice, freedom, rights and duties. Over time, these perceived norms are challenged by conventional methods such as voting, political parties, interest group lobbying and protest movements; or the challenge may be by militant or revolutionary means such as radical Marxism, fascist organizations or discrete acts of terrorism. Politics and International Studies systematically examines and presents these phenomena.

Bishop's student wearing a suit and tie

Political Studies

Knowing the political system increases one’s capacity for choice. Therefore, a knowledge of Canadian, provincial or local politics presents the student with greater opportunities and advantages within his or her society. Political Studies also explores other political systems, e.g. the American presidential system, the European Union, communist and post-communist political systems and the impact of the new states on the emerging political economy of a new international order. The discipline allows for a critical evaluation of society and its institutions through a study of the history of political theory; in addition, the student may engage in a problem solving approach through empirical policy research using survey methods.

McGreer building on campus

International Studies

The International Studies programs provide students with a broad base of knowledge of the global community in which they live, along with more advanced study and experience in global affairs. The programs consist of an integrated group of courses reflecting international aspects from cultural, economic, environmental, legal, political and social perspectives. Foreign language training and study abroad experiences are also incorporated into the programs. The International Studies program is designed to be taken through one of two different concentrations: Global Governance or Global Culture.

Courses & Programs

Overview

The Department of Politics and International Studies offers the following programs of study: Honours, Major and Minor in Political Studies; Honours, Major and Minor in International Studies; and Honours and Major in International Political Economy.

B.A. Program, Political Studies

Honours (60 credits)
Major (48 credits)
Minor (24 credits)

Political Studies provides students with a working knowledge of power and authority in society and how decisions are made. Governments, politicians, leaders in private industry and ordinary individuals function within a framework of accepted political norms, e.g. notions of justice, freedom, rights and duties. Over time, these received norms are challenged by conventional methods such as voting, political parties, interest group lobbying and protest movements; or the challenge may be by militant, revolutionary or terrorist means. Political Studies systematically examines and presents these phenomena.

This program looks at the Canadian political system, as well as other systems around the world, and considers conflict and cooperation between states internationally. It also allows for a critical evaluation of society and its institutions through a study of the history of political theory.

The program is divided into six divisions:

  1. Canadian Politics,
  2. Political Theory,
  3. Comparative Politics,
  4. International Relations,
  5. Research Theory and Methods,
  6. Honours Thesis, Independent Studies, Practicum and Internships.
B.A. Program, International Studies

Honours (60 credits)
Major (48 credits)
Minor (24 credits)

The International Studies programs provide students with working knowledge of the global community in which they live, and prepare them to pursue careers involving international interactions. The programs consist of an integrated group of courses reflecting international aspects from cultural, economic, environmental, legal, political and social perspectives. Foreign language training and study abroad experiences are also incorporated into the programs.

B.A. Program, International Political Economy

Honours (60 credits)
Major (48 credits)

The International Political Economy program provides students with the tools to understand the interaction between economic and political forces in the global environment. Offered jointly by the Departments of Economics and the Department of Politics and International Studies, this area of inquiry examines the complexities of the increasingly interdependent global economy and its relationship to decisions about the governance and redistribution of resources locally, nationally and globally. In the process, students will be able to see how their individual decisions and local environments are intertwined with a worldwide system of economic and political processes that affect people around the globe.

What are the courses I can take?

We have an extensive list of course offered in our programs.

To see the complete list and description of all our courses, see the the Academic Calendar.

Why study Politics and International Studies at Bishop’s?

Students of the Politics department
Student Initiatives

Department Events and Activities

The department runs a variety of different events every year and brings in expert guest speakers from across the field. One of our popular event is Global Awareness Week, which takes place each fall. Each Global Awareness Week is organized through a joint effort involving faculty, staff and students around a particular theme that is of interest to the organizing committee.

World map on a laptop screen

International Exchanges

A number of Politics and International Studies students take advantage of Bishop’s University’s International Exchange Program each year. An international exchange or internship is required for students in the International Studies Honours degree, while students in the major are strongly encouraged to consider an exchange during the course of their degree as well.

United Nations building and flags

Where can this lead you?

Our graduates are employed in all sorts of interesting and, above all, challenging jobs. They are employed in urban affairs and planning, in journalism, financial management, government, including external affairs, and in teaching in colleges and universities in Canada and abroad. They are also engaged in teaching English as a second language in South Korea and Japan. In addition, they are employed in non-governmental organizations as policy analysts, working for a diverse range of organizations including interest groups, think-tanks, and even banks and large firms. Others are employed in management recruitment, insurance management, business-government consulting, communications consulting and even in consulting on security especially on terrorism. Still others are self-employed in small but profitable businesses and at least two of these businesses are located right here in Lennoxville.

Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries at Bishop's
Money matters

Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries

Through the help of government, alumni, current students, faculty and staff, the Bishop’s Foundation, corporations and private donors, over 53% of our students receive financial assistance through scholarships, awards, grants, bursaries and loans. Just because you aren’t top of your class, or super involved outside the classroom, or can’t run the fastest doesn’t mean you won’t be eligible. We have hundreds of scholarships and awards that have a wide variety of requirements…you never know what you might receive!

Carrie Robinson, a fourth-year International Studies and Political Science student
Opportunities

Experiential Learning and Internships

Each year the University sends a delegation to participate in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) simulation, held in New York City. This is just one of many opportunities for Politics and International Studies students, such as European Union Study Tour and Internship Program, the Nicholas Bachand Canadian Civil Society Internship, the Federal Student Work Experience Program. Many other opportunities such as the B.E.S.T. Project Fund are opened to all Bishop’s students.

Professors of Political Studies
Engaged professors with an open door policy

About your professors

Dr. Martin-Brûlé has been selected as one of the ten 3M National Teaching Fellows for 2021. She is one of ten professors who have been recognized for their contribution to higher education in Canada, and she works closely with students in concrete research and experiential learning opportunities, notably through initiating the annual Quebec Undergraduate Security Conference (QUSC).

Dr. Trygve Ugland’s research and teaching interests lie in the fields of Comparative Politics and Comparative Public Policy, with a focus on European and Scandinavian Politics. He held the position of Secretary General and Vice-Principal Government Relations & Planning at Bishop’s University between 2017 and 2022.

These are just two of our exceptional professors.

Questions?

Want to know more about studying Politics and International Studies?

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