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
Profs. Esselment, Macfarlane and Helleiner awarded the 2018 Outstanding Performance Award
In 2005 the University of Waterloo established an Outstanding Performance Fund to reward faculty members for outstanding contribution in teaching and scholarship. The Department of Political Science is proud to celebrate three of our very own 2018 Outstanding Performance Award recipients, Prof. Anna Esselment, Prof. Emmett Macfarlane and Prof. Eric Helleiner. Congratulations!
Prof. Momani links culturally inclusive teams to an increase in revenue and productivity
Diversity is good for business
At a time when global migration is at a record high, Prof. Momani, is examining the impact of immigration on the bottom lines of Canadian businesses. Her research shows that across all sectors in Canada, a 1% increase in workforce diversity corresponds to an average increase of 2.4% increase in revenue and a 0.5% increase in productivity. Momani explores how Canada is uniquely positioned to harness the benefits of immigration, a benefit that she has named Canada’s diversity dividend.
Dr. Esselment moderates panel on “#MeToo and Parliament” in Ottawa
On March 29th Dr. Anna Esselment moderated a panel on “#MeToo and Parliament” in Ottawa as part of the Canadian Study of Parliament Group seminar series.
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.