With four central strengths — Canadian Politics, Global Politics, Politics & Business, and Public Policy & Administration — Political Science at Waterloo offers innovative specializations and career-relevant minors that explore Ideas for Changing the World.
Our undergraduate BA degree in Political Science teaches our students how to navigate the challenges of the global political landscape and to respond to our complex future. The degree emphasizes both classroom learning – with award-winning instructors – and experiential learning in the real world – to promote the development of a range of important skills, such as communication, collaboration, creativity, self-management, self-assessment, time-management, long-term and critical thinking, and strategies for lifelong learning.
At the graduate level, we offer a MA and a PhD in Political Science (with co-op options), and a Master of Public Service. Our instructors also form the core of faculty who teach courses and supervise students in the MA and PhD in Global Governance, which is housed at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
Discover our programs
Undergraduate studies
Navigate and respond to the challenges of the global political landscape with a major, minor or specialization in Political Science.
Master of Arts in Political Science
Gain a deeper understanding of global politics at multiple scales (domestic, regional, global) while developing analytical and professional skills for success in yoru career.
PhD in Political Science
Enjoy greater flexibility in core research activities and professional development for both academic and non-academic career paths, experiential and teaching options.
Master of Public Service
Gain the knowledge, skills, and work experience you need for a public service career at any level of government in Canada.
Global Governance programs
Our interdisciplinary Master and PhD programs focus on advanced research, writing and analytical skills to help you prepare for careers in academics or the public, private and civil sectors.
News
Dr. Emmett Macfarlane writes "Inventing a different kind of PhD program: The UWaterloo experience" on the Substack
Dr. Emmett Macfarlane contributed to a guest post on 'Reimagining Graduate Education' on the Substack. Read the full post here.
Eric Helleiner awarded 2024 recipient of the IPE Best Book Award
The International Political Economy Best Book Award recognizes an outstanding monograph in the field of IPE published within the past two years.
Congratulations to the 2024 recipient of the IPE Best Book Award, Eric Helleiner for The Contested World Economy: The Deep and Global Roots of International Political Economy!
Political Science PhD student, Dustin Fergusson-Vaux has presented multiple presentations at conferences
Presentation entitled "Making the Next Great Transformation: Systemic Coordination Challenges for Green Transition Policymaking in Advanced Economy States," delivered at the Waterloo Climate Institute's 1st Annual Climate Con, March 16th, 2024.
Presentation entitled "The Return of the State: The Incipient Fiscal Status-Quo and its Progressive Policy Implications," delivered at the Queens University PSGSA's Annual Graduate Conference, June 26th, 2024.
Forthcoming presentation entitled "From 'Special Relationship' to 'Strategic Partnership': Prospects for the Future of Canada-CARICOM Relations in a Polarizing Global Political Economy," to be delivered at the Canada Caribbean Institute's 3rd Annual Research Symposium, October 16th-19th, 2024.
The Department of Political Science acknowledges that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral), Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.