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 your 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
Prof. Eric Helleiner awarded a 2017 Killam Research Fellowship
Prof. Eric Helleiner is one of six 2017 recipients of the prestigious Killam Research Fellowship valued at $70,000 per year for 2 years. During this time Prof. Helleiner will pursue groundbreaking research on "Globalizing the Classical Foundations of International Political Economy".
Eric Helleiner recognized for "Best Book" at ISA 2016
The department of Political Science is pleased to congratulate Eric Helleiner, whose recent book, "The Forgotten Foundations of Bretton Woods: International Development and the Making of the Postwar Order"(Cornell University Press, 2014) was recognized at ISA 2016 with the Francesco Guicciardini Prize for Best Book in Historical International Relations.
Dr. Bessma Momani Awarded a 2015 Trudeau Fellowship
On September 15 2015, the Trudeau Foundation announced that Professor Bessma Momani, a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, was awarded one of five 2015 Trudeau Foundation Fellowships.
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.