Queen's University : Political Studies

School of Graduate Studies
2011-2012 Academic Year

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Political Studies

Head

Hiebert, J.

Graduate Chair

Farrelly, C. (Graduate Admissions, Curriculum and Policy)

Professor

Amyot, G.G., Bakan, A., Banting, K.G., Conaghan, C., Haglund, D.G., Hiebert, J., Little, M., McGarry, J., Moore, M., Nossal, K.R., Pentland, C.C.²

Associate Professor

Csergo, Z.¹, Farrelly, C., Haklai, O.¹, MacDonald, E., Rose, J., Soederberg, S.,Wood, P.J.

Assistant Professor

Cox, W., Goodyear-Grant, E., Grant, J.A., Lister, A.¹, Matthews, J.S.

Professor Emeritus

Berman, B.J., Black, E.R., Franks, C.E.S., Fyfe, S., Goldman, P., Gunn, J.A.W., Khalaf, n., Lele, J.K., Leslie, P.M., Leys, C., Meisel, J., Page, S.C., Perlin, G.C., Sayeed, K.B., Thorburn, H.G., Watts, R.L.

Cross-Appointed

Brock, K.L., Kymlicka, W., Sokolsky, J., Whitehorn, A., Wolfe, R.D.

1 On Leave July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011

2 Director of the Centre for International Relations

Relevant Facilities

The Centre for the Study of Democracy

Established in 1993, the Centre has a broad mandate to support programs of research and public education about democracy and has a particular interest in the study of public opinion. It houses a National Archive of Opinion Research on Public Policy, including data sets from opinion research by governments, polling firms, and the news media. Students who wish to specialize in the study of public opinion can take course-work in public opinion, political behaviour, and political communication, and write theses using data from the Center's resources. This concentration has been designed to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue careers in journalism, public policy analysis, and public opinion analysis.

The Institute of Intergovernmental Relations

Director T. Courcherne

This institute was established to provide a centre for research into the problems of intergovernmental relations in Canada and elsewhere. The Institute provides students in several disciplines with an opportunity for directed study in intergovernmental relations.

The Centre for International Relations (QCIR)

Director C.C. Pentland

The Centre was established in 1975 as an interdisciplinary research institution within the university. Its scope is international relations, with a special emphasis on issues relevant to Canadian-American relations, to general Canadian political and security interests in a changing international context, and, increasingly, to the evolving security environment in Europe. The QCIR offers no courses, but does encourage graduate students at the thesis-writing stage to get involved in its research programs and activities.

Financial Assistance The department is able to offer a number of teaching assistantships, which involve assisting professors in undergraduate courses. For details, consult the Graduate Chair.

Programs of Study

Applicants are accepted under the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants to the M.A. program must have an honours degree in political science with a minimum A- average; applicants to the Ph.D. must have an M.A. in political science with an A- average.

Further information regarding program requirements may be found in the Graduate Handbook, available on the Department's website.

MASTER OF ARTS

The M.A. is a one-year program that consists of six half-courses, with a 50-60 page major research paper (POLS-898*) (which may be developed out of a term paper in one of the courses). This MRP will be supervised by a member of faculty, and graded by that person and one other faculty member who has knowledge of the subject. All students will be expected to enrol in three half-courses in the first term.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Candidates for the Ph.D. are required to pass POLS-900* and five other one-term courses offered for graduate credit; to demonstrate translation proficiency in a language other than English; to pass examinations in two fields of concentration; to defend a thesis proposal; and to submit and defend a thesis.

Fields of Concentration The fields of concentration offered by the department are i) Canadian politics; ii) comparative politics iii) gender and politics; iv) international relations; v) political theory. Candidates will choose two fields of concentration in consultation with the Graduate Chair.

Language Requirement Candidates must demonstrate translating competence in a language other than English that is appropriate to their thesis research. French is mandatory for candidates writing theses in Canadian politics. The language requirement will normally be met by the end of the fourth term after initial registration.

Field Exams Before proceeding to the thesis, students must pass qualifying examinations in their chosen fields. These examinations will be held each year at the beginning of term 4. For the first field, the student takes a written and oral exam. For the second field, only a written exam is taken. Only those students who have completed all work in six courses will be permitted to write the field examinations. Candidates who fail one field examination may rewrite that examination in September; candidates who fail any two attempts at field exams (including rewrites) will be required to withdraw from the program.

Thesis Each candidate must submit a thesis proposal, which will include a substantial review of the literature in the field, in the fourth term after initial registration. The proposal must be accepted by a thesis committee before the candidate is permitted to proceed. The thesis will be examined by a committee as required by the general regulations.

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