Political Science

Department of Political Science

Location: Tilley Hall, Room 219
Phone: 506-453-4826
polisci@unb.ca

Department website

Chair: Dr. Herb Emery

Department of Political Science
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, N.B.
Canada, E3B 5A3

Faculty

  • Bigonnesse, Catherine, BA, MA (Sherbrooke), PhD (Simon Fraser), Asst Prof - 2022
  • Emery, Herb, BA (hons) (Queen's), MA, PhD (UBC), Prof and Chair - 2016
  • Hindmarch, Suzanne, BA (Alberta), MA (Dalhousie), PhD (Toronto), Assoc Prof - 2015
  • Howe, Paul, BA (Tor), MSc (London School of Economics & Pol. Sc.), PhD (UBC), Prof - 2001
  • MacLean, George, BA (King’s College/Dalhousie), MA (McMaster), PhD (Queens), Prof – 2014
  • McDonald, Ted, BA (St. Francis Xavier), MA, PhD (Melbourne), Prof - 2001
  • Millar, Heather, BA (Simon Fraser), MPP (Simon Fraser), PhD (Toronto), Assoc. Prof - 2019
  • Workman, Thom W., BA (Car), MA, PhD (York), Prof - 1994
  • Wright, Donald, BA (MtA), MA (McGill), PhD (Ottawa), Prof – 2005
  • Wright, Joanne, BSc (MtA), MA (UNB), PhD (York), Prof - 2005

Courses

1000-level courses introduce the discipline. Students who are thinking of pursuing a Political Science program - a Minor, Major, or Honours - should take one or two of these courses in their first year.

2000-level courses are Foundation courses, which introduce the main sub-fields.

3000-level courses are Advanced courses on specialized topics.

4000-level courses are Seminars, open to senior students.

With prior approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students may count one of the following ARTS experiential learning courses towards the fulfilment of their program requirements in a Single Major, Double Major, Honours, or Joint Honours in Political Science: ARTS3000, ARTS3001, ARTS3002, and ARTS4000.  

The courses are grouped into sub-fields, which are intended to guide students in developing a coherent program of study, but students may choose according to their interests and course availability as long as they meet program requirements.

Course credit

Students may count courses towards the fulfilment of their program requirements in a Single Major, Double Major or Honours in Political Science only if they receive a grade of C or better. Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in POLS 4900 to receive an Honours degree.

Minor, Major and Honours

A Minor in Political Science consists of 24 ch in Political Science courses, of which at least 6 ch must be in Introductory Level courses (1000 or 2000 level) and 12 ch in Upper Level courses (3000 or 4000 level).

Minor in Public Policy

This is a joint Minor offered by the Departments of Economics and Political Science. The Minor is open to all students including those majoring in Economics and Political Science.

Students may minor in Public Policy by completing 24 ch of courses offered by the Department of Economics and the Department of Political Science.

a. 6 ch of economics (ECON) courses chosen from: ECON 1014 or ECON 1013, ECON 1024 or ECON 1023, ECON 2203, ECON 3505, ECON 3705, ECON 3905.
b. 6 ch of introductory political science (POLS) courses chosen from: POLS 1203, POLS 1603, POLS 2013, POLS 2202, POLS 2303, POLS 2403, POLS 2603, POLS 2703.
c.  6 ch of advanced economics (ECON) courses from: ECON 3055, ECON 3203, ECON 3504, ECON 3702, ECON 3755, ECON 3775, ECON 3801, ECON 3815, ECON 3845, ECON 3865.
d. 6 ch of advanced political science (POLS) courses from: POLS 3103, POLS 3213, POLS 3215, POLS 3217, POLS 3241, POLS 3251, POLS 3257, POLS 3323, POLS 3392, POLS 3461, POLS 3531, POLS 3647, POLS 3845, POLS 4724, POLS 4725, POLS 4727, POLS 4734, POLS 4735.


These regulations apply to students who began their program at UNB in Fall 2022 or after. For regulations pertaining to students who entered before that date, please consult an earlier calendar or the Department.

Single Major

Students studying for a Single Major in Political Science shall complete a total of 42 ch in Political Science, 24 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Students must include 15 ch from the list of required courses below:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Methods from the courses below:
    • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science (3 ch) 
    • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (3 ch) 

Double Major

Students studying for a Double Major in Political Science and another discipline shall complete a total of 30 ch in Political Science, 18 ch of which must be upper level courses. Students must include 9 ch from the required courses:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy or Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)

In order to be eligible for admission to the Honours program, students must usually have:

  1. a GPA of at least 3.0 in Political Science courses
  2. a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. at least 60 ch of course work completed
  4. at least 12 ch of course work in Political Science completed

Students studying for Honours in Political Science should contact the Departmental Undergraduate Advisor. Approval by the Undergraduate Advisor, in consultation with the Department, is required.

Students wishing to apply for admission to the program are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Advisor in the term prior to entry.

Single Honours

Students studying for Honours in Political Science must complete at least 48 ch in Political Science, 30 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Honours students must include the following in their program:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Methods from the courses below:
    • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science (3 ch)
    • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (3 ch)
  • POLS 4900 Honours Thesis
  • 6 ch of Political Science courses at the 4000-level (in addition to POLS 4900)

Joint Honours

Students studying for Joint Honours in Political Science and another discipline must complete at least 30 ch in Political Science, 18 ch of which must be in upper level courses. Honours students must include the following in their program:

  • 3 ch of Canadian Politics
  • 3 ch of International Relations or Political Economy or Comparative Politics from the courses below:
    • POLS 2013 Introduction to Political Economy (3 ch)
    • POLS 2303 Politics of the Developing World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2603 Comparative Politics of the Industrialized World (3 ch)
    • POLS 2703 Introduction to International Relations (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Theory from the courses below:
    • POLS 2403 Political Theory into the Present (3 ch)
    • POLS 3403 The Tradition of Political Theory (3 ch)
  • 3 ch of Methods from the courses below:
    • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science (3 ch)
    • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (3 ch)
  • 6 ch of Thesis from the courses below:
    • POLS 4900 Honours Thesis (6 ch)
    • 6 ch Honours Thesis from another department.
      • If a student is completing a Joint Honours in Political Science and any other Arts program requiring a 6 ch Honours thesis, that 6 ch course may replace POLS 4900. Prior approval from the Undergraduate Honours Advisor must be obtained.
  • 3 ch of Political Science courses at the 4000-level (in addition to POLS 4900)

Sub-fields of political science







  • POLS 3531 Political and Policy Writing
  • POLS 3533 Research Methods in Political Science
  • POLS 3534 Quantitative Approaches in Political Science
  • POLS 3535 Qualitative Methods in Political Science
  • POLS 3900 Independent Study in Political Science
  • POLS 3903 Independent Study in Political Science
  • POLS 3905 Independent Study in Political Science
  • POLS 4900 Honours Thesis