Proposal for a New Undergraduate Honours Degree Program

Proposal for a new Undergraduate Honours Degree Program:

B. A. Honours in Global Politics

(Commencement date: Academic Year 2008-2009)

Submitted by: Department of Political Science,

Faculty of Public Affairs, Carleton University

1. Objectives

The objectives of the program are:

to enable exceptional students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for informed assessment of and participation in global politics
to provide Canada and the international community with well-informed citizens, officials and decision-makers
to enhance Carleton University’s undergraduate profile by adding a stand alone Bachelor’s program in a subject area that highlights one of Carleton’s comparative strengths and complements existing programs
to deepen the pool of high quality applicants to Carleton University
to establish a flagship undergraduate degree for the Department of Political Science
to maintain the Department’s existing competitive advantage with respect to its competitors in offering high quality, specialized degrees in areas of growing interests to students

Mission statement. This program seeks to produce students with an outstanding knowledge of global politics that places a specialized disciplinary emphasis upon understanding the interactions between global political dynamics and regional or area-specific features of organized political societies. This knowledge will be deepened and extended through participation in organizations or institutions (governmental or non-governmental) active either at the regional or global level. To achieve this, students will have to develop critical analytical skills including qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, acquire knowledge of the special challenges posed by global and comparative politics, be able to function in a multilingual environment, have the capacity to work both independently and in teams, and be able to communicate ideas and advance arguments to the highest oral and written standards.

These skills will be achieved by pursuing a course of study that builds on some elements of the existing honours program in Political Science and adds important new elements at the first, third and fourth years. Students will choose their Program courses from a basket of options that spans select international relations, international political economy, security, international institutions and human rights courses, comparative politics and area studies.

Consistency of the program. There is a strong case to be made for Departments to play to their strengths in attracting high quality candidates for a flagship program, which reflects well both on the Department but also on the entire University. By combining two of the strongest elements of this Department’s areas of expertise – international relations and comparative politics – this program offers to suitable students a uniquely focused subject while also sharpening the varied skills which any graduate needs further their career and make an solid contribution to the world after completion of their undergraduate studies.

In devising this degree, we have steered clear of overlapping with other programs whose strengths and attractions lie either in the emphasis on policy or on inter-disciplinary study (or both). This degree anchors its prime attraction for students solidly in the Department of Political Science, and in the areas of international relations and comparative politics that the vast majority of students declare anyway for their degree (when they do declare). It therefore builds on the strengths of Political Science, and by carving out a flagship program should deepen and extend the applicant pool at the high end for Carleton as a whole.

This program seems to fit most closely with the B.A. Honours Specialization degree as it appears in Template for the New B.A. Degrees. However, it differs from the template in that the total number of credits in the Major range from a minumum 10.5 (9.5 for Combined Honours) to a maximum of 15, while the corresponding figures in the template are 12 and 15, with no Combined Honours).

2. Program Description

B.A. Honours, Global Politics (20 credits)

2.1 By year:

First year (5 credits):

new course PSCI 1004GPOL1000: small group seminar (modelled on existing PSCI 2601 (International Relations: Global Politics) / 2602 (International Relations: Global Political Economy) – no further credit for 2601/2602): 1 credit
language skill (open to any language; see lang. req.): 1 - 2 credits
B.A.Honours Breadth Requirement course: 1 credit
other courses (including other Political Science courses): 1- 2 credits (number depends on language credits taken). Students may take one or more of: PSCI 2101 and PSCI 2102, with departmental permission.

Second year (5 credits):

PSCI 2101 (Comparative Politics of Industrialized States) /2102 (Comparative Politics of Development and Underdevelopment): 1 credit
PSCI 2701 (Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science) /2702 (Quantitative Research Methods in Political Science): 1 credit
language skill (unless lang. requirement fulfilled) and/or PSCI 2300 (History of Political Thought): 0 – 2 credits
other courses (including those from the GP list, other Political Science courses, and non-Political Science courses): 1 – 3 credits (number depends on language credits taken)

Third year (5 credits):

new course PSCI 3609 GPOL 3000 (Seminar on ‘Themes in Global and Comparative Politics’): 0.5 credit
one semester internship in institution or organization active in global or regional politics (equivalent of 2.5 credits). This internship is not required but strongly recommended.
other courses (including those from GP list, other Political Science courses, and non-Political Science courses): 2 credits

Fourth year (5 credits):

GPOL 4908 (honours thesis + prep-seminar): 1 credit (thesis + seminar participation), and one additional 4th year seminar credit from GP list; or two 4th year seminar credits from GP list: 2 credits
other courses (including those from GP list, other Political Science courses, and non-Political Science courses): 3 credits

2.2Calendar Language

B. A. Honours Global Politics (B.A. Hons. G.P.)

Department of Political ScienceFaculty of Public Affairs

The Department offers this degree program to enable exceptional students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for informed assessment of and participation in global politics.

Academic Performance Evaluation and Graduation Requirements

Students in B.A.Hons.G.P. must satisfy the University regulations (see the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar.) for B.A.Honours programs, as well as those requirements listed below under ‘Program Requirements’.

Program Language Requirement

Prior to graduation, students must satisfy a language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Successful completion of two languages other than English at the 2xxx level in languages offered at Carleton; or
Successful completion of one language other than English at the 3xxx level in a language offered at Carleton; or
Successful completion of one language other than English at the 2xxx level in a language offered at Carleton, and PSCI 2300.

If Russian is chosen by the student, RUSS 2200 will be treated as the equivalent of a credit at the 3xxx level. If French is chosen, FREN 1100 will be treated as the equivalent of a credit at the 2xxx level in another language, and FREN 2xxx as the equivalent of a credit at the 3xxx level. Proficiency in French may be demonstrated by French language examinations conducted by the Department, or by successful completion of French Immersion in high school or possession of a Bilingual Diploma or Certificate. For other languages, the onus is on the student to provide suitable documentary evidence of proficiency to the Department. Students should note that they will be required to use one or more of their elective credits if they choose to satisfy the language requirement through approved language credits.

Courses in Global Politics

PSCI2101, PSCI2102, PSCI 2300, PSCI2500, PSCI3100, PSCI3101, PSCI3102, PSCI3103, PSCI3105, PSCI3107, PSCI3108, PSCI3200, PSCI3201, PSCI3203, PSCI3204, PSCI3205, PSCI3206, PSCI3207, PSCI3208, PSCI3209, PSCI3302, PSCI3307, PSCI3404, PSCI3405,

PSCI 3407, PSCI3409, PSCI3500, PSCI3502, PSCI3600, PSCI3601, PSCI3603, PSCI3605, PSCI3606, PSCI3607, PSCI3700, PSCI3701, PSCI3702, PSCI3703, PSCI3704, PSCI3705, PSCI3801, PSCI3802, PSCI3805, PSCI4005, PSCI4008, PSCI4103, PSCI4104, PSCI4105, PSCI4200, PSCI4201, PSCI4203, PSCI 4204, PSCI4206, PSCI4207, PSCI4208, PSCI 4303, PSCI 4305, PSCI 4306, PSCI 4307, PSCI4400, PSCI4402, PSCI 4407, PSCI4409, PSCI4500, PSCI4501, PSCI 4502,

PSCI 4503, PSCI4505, PSCI4601, PSCI4602, PSCI4603, PSCI4604, PSCI4605, PSCI4606, PSCI4607, PSCI4608, PSCI4609, PSCI 4700, PSCI4800, PSCI4801, PSCI4802, PSCI4803, PSCI4804, PSCI4805, PSCI4806, PSCI4807, PSCI 1004 GPOL 1000 (the 1st year seminar),

PSCI 3609GPOL 3000 (the 3rd year seminar), PSCI 4908X GPOL 4908 (honours essay course for the program students). In addition to the courses offered by the Department of Political Science, the Institute for European Studies offers numerous areas studies courses that are included in the GPOL list:

EURR 4002 - Post-Soviet States and Societies
EURR 4003 - Social and Political Perspectives in Europe
EURR 4005 - Environmental Problems and Politics in East/Central Europe and Eurasia
EURR 4006 - European Integration and the Business Environment in East/Central Europe
EURR 4007 - Social and Political Discourse in Russia
EURR 4008 - Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Eastern and Central Europe
EURR 4100 - Nation-Building in Central and Eastern Europe
EURR 4101 - The Balkans
EURR 4104 - European Integration and European Security
EURR 4106 - Selected Topics in European Integration Studies
EURR 4107 - Russia and the New World Order, 1992 to the Present
EURR 4201 - Special Topics in European Studies
EURR 4202 - Special Topics in Russian and Eurasian Studies
EURR 4203 - Imperial and Soviet Russia
EURR 4204 - Central Europe, Past and Present

Program Requirements

B.A. Honours Global Politics (20.0 credits)

A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA

(10.5 credits):/

1. 1.0 credit in PSCI 1004 GPOL1000;

2. 2.0 credits in PSCI 2101, 2102, 2701, 2702;

3. 0.5 credit in PSCI 3609 GPOL 3000;

4. 2.5 credits in the internship [GPOL 3100], or 2.5 credits from the GP list if the internship is not taken;

5. 2.0 credits at the 4000-level which may be satisfied by either:

2.0 credits in 4000-level PSCI seminars from the GP list, or
GPOL4908 [1.0] and 1.0 credit from 4000-level PSCI seminars from the GP list ;

6. 2.5 credits from the GP list other than those listed in items 1-5.

B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA

(9.5 credits).

7. 4.0 5.0 credits in electives not in GPOL, FYSM courses taught by Pol.Science, and PSCI;

8. 5.54.5 credits in free electives.

C. Additional Requirements:

9. Global Politics language requirement must be met.

B.A. Combined Honours, Global Politics (20.0 credits)

Combined Honours programs in Global Politics program may be taken by students in which Global Politics is combined with any other department or academic unit at Carleton that allows for it. Combined Honours with Political Science, however, is not allowed. Details of the specific requirements for those programs may be obtained from the Department concerned. The Global Politics requirements for Combined Honours are as listed below. Details of the specific requirements for the other discipline may be obtained from the Department concerned.

A. Credits Included in the Global Politics Major CGPA

(9.5 credits):

1. 1.0 credit in GPOL 1000;

2. 3.0 2.0 credits in PSCI 2101, 2102, 2701, 2702;

3. 0.5 credit in GPOL 3000;

4. 2.5 credits in the internship [GPOL 3100], or 2.5 credits from the GP list if the internship is not taken;

5. 2.0 credits at the 4000-level which may be satisfied by either:

credits in 4000-level PSCI seminars from the GP list, or
GPOL 4908 [1.0] and 1.0 credit at 4000-level PSCI seminars from the GP list;

6. 1.5 credits from the GP list other than those listed in items 1-5.

B. Credits Included in the other department’s Major CGPA

7. The requirements as stated for Combined Honours in the other discipline must be met.

C. Additional Requirements:

8. Sufficient free elective credits to make a total of 20.0 credits for the program.

9. Global Politics language requirement must be met.

B.A. Hons. Global Politics with a Minor in another discipline.

Sudents may declare a minor in another discipline (other than Political Science). To graduate with a B.A. Hons. G.P.with a minor in another discipline,the student must satisfy the requirements of the other discipline as well as complete all requirements of the B.A. Hons. G.P.

2.3. New Course Proposals

GPOL 1000 [1.0 credit]

GLOBAL POLITICS

Theories, concepts and issues in global politics and global political economy. Topics: conflict and intervention, peace and security, international institutions, human rights, gender, culture, globalization, multinational corporations, foreign policy, environmental issues, international development and relations between rich and poor countries.

Precludes additional credit for PSCI 2601 and PSCI 2602.
Normally restricted to students entering the first year of the B.A.Hons.G.P. program.
Seminar three hours a week.

Rationale: This seminar is the entry level course for all students in the B.A.Hons.G.P. It combines the subject matter of PSCI 2601 and PSCI 2602, courses that are normally taken at the 2nd year level. More information about this course is noted in the 2.5

Summary of Program Features.

GPOL 3000 [0.5 credit]

THEMES IN GLOBAL AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS

The seminar focuses on a broad theme or issue that includes a global and comparative focus. Student research papers will be on a topic that relates to their particular interest. Possible themes or topics include environmental degradation; nuclear proliferation; and the impact of 9/11.

Normally restricted to students entering the third year of the B.A.Hons.G.P. program.
Seminar three hours a week.

Rationale: Students would gain in-depth knowledge of the global and regional/ comparative dynamics of interest to a tenured faculty member with special teaching and research interests in the theme of the course. This course provides an opportunity for students in the B.A. Hons. G.P. program to have another common course. More information about this course is noted in the 2.5 Summary of Program Features.

GPOL 3100 [2.5 credits]

INTERNSHIP IN GLOBAL POLITICS

The internship provides students with the opportunity to work with and study an organization whose institutional focus is on some international or regional aspect. Students will write a research paper on a topic related either to the organization or to the focus of the organization. These papers will be graded by a faculty member related to the B.A. Hons.G.P. program.

Normally restricted to students entering the 2nd half of the third year of the program.

Rationale: The internship will provide students with a hands-on experience with some aspect of global politics. The requirement for a research paper will give students the opportunity to integrate their internship experience with their academic studies. More information about this course is noted in the 2.5 Summary of Program Features.

GPOL 4908 [1.0 credit]

HONOURS GRADUATION ESSAY

The Honours essay is supervised under the direction of a faculty member who is either selected by the candidate or assigned early in the year. The Honours essay is evaluated by both the supervisor and an appointed reader. Students intending to proceed to post-graduate studies are strongly encouraged to complete an Honours essay.
Prerequisite: fourth-year Honours standing in Global Politics with a Global Politics Science CGPA of 9.00 or better, or permission of the Director of the Program.

Rationale: The Honours Essay is an opportunity for students to write a long paper on a subject related to their interest in Global Politics. More information about this course is noted in the 2.5 Summary of Program Features.

2.4 Program Language Requirement

If students take PSCI 2300 (Political Theory), the Department requires students in the program to demonstrate proficiency in one language other than English. If students do not take PSCI 2300, proficiency must be demonstrated in two languages other than English or in one additional language at an advanced level. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in each language normally through the completion of any first-year course for each language (or its approved equivalent) in languages offered at Carleton. For students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in a single language at an advanced level, 2.0 credits are required in the language. For students who consider that they already have proficiency in a second (or third) language, the Department conducts a French language examination twice a year, in November and February. For other languages, the onus is on the student to provide suitable documentary evidence of proficiency to the Department. Students should note that they will be required to use one or more of their elective credits if they choose to satisfy the language requirement through approved language credits. See Program Language Requirement under item 2.2.

2.5 Summary of Program Features

The new elements are the first year seminar, a new course put on in the first semester of the third year on ‘Themes in Global and Comparative Politics’, the internship in the second semester of the third year, and the honours seminar in the fourth year. Each of these new elements will be open only to participation by students in the program, and will help to develop the esprit de corps that will be one of the hallmarks of this flagship program.

The first year seminar will bring these students together for the first time, and introduce them to the theories, concepts and issues in global politics. Topics will include conflict and intervention, peace and security, international institutions, norms and ethics, human rights, gender, culture, and globalization. The second term is an introduction to the global political economy. Topics will include contemporary changes in the global political economy, multinational corporations, foreign economic policy, global and regional economic institutions, environmental issues, international development and relations between rich and poor countries. The first year seminar will contain the content of the existing second year lecture courses, PSCI 2601 (International Relations: Global Politics) and PSCI 2602 (International Relations: Global Political Economy). The pedagogy of the seminar will parallel that of the university’s first year seminar program: 1. The seminar will be interactive, and will provide frequent and early evaluation. 2. The instructor will provide extensive consultation, advising and mentoring. 3. The seminar will focus on close analysis of texts. 4. The seminar will help students learn to work in groups/as teams in and out of class, and to benefit from peer interaction in a ‘social and intellectual home'.5. The seminar will help students integrate their learning via a culminating project/essay with careful guidance through the phases of development..

The third year seminar on ‘Themes in Global and Comparative Politics’ will focus on a broad theme or issue that includes a global and comparative focus. Students would gain in-depth knowledge of the global and regional/comparative dynamics of interest to a tenured faculty member with special teaching and research interests in the theme of the course. In the seminar students would write a research paper related to the theme of the course, on a topic that relates to their particular interest, whether it is security, gender, global political economy, etc. This paper could focus on a global or comparative perspective, or combine the two.

Also in the third year is the internship program, a key part of the new B.A. Hons.G.P. The semester-long internship program for students is scheduled for the second half of students’ third year.

The internship in the third year will be a key attraction to students on this program, and ideally it should be offered among a select number of international or regional, governmental or non-governmental organizations. These may include organizations such as the World Bank (political economy), NATO or OSCE (security), UNDP (development), WHO (health), UNHCR (human rights), IAEA (nuclear proliferation), a suitable regional organization such as the OAS, or a select non-governmental organization in Canada or abroad that deals with a topic, issue or problem that is international, regional or comparative in nature. Internship in a Canadian government department with an international decision-making mandate is also a possibility (e.g. DFAIT, CIDA, etc). The internship will be unpaid.