Political Science Department

Welcome to the Political Science Department!

Politics is part of our life, whether we like it or not. From defence spending to pothole filling, every decision about a collective effort involves politics. Our interests in the Department of Political Science are broad, running from peaceful elections to contentious social movements to violent war. We explore core concepts in our research, including representation, justice, order, and development. We aim to bring knowledge and passion for the subject matter to each course we teach.

Our department offers learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Youngwon Cho works closely with the Model UN Society, which competes regularly in both Canada and the United States. Dr. Rebecca Wallace heads up the Gender and Politics Research Lab, incorporating students as researchers exploring women’s representation. Dr. Jamie Levin conducts full-credit Field Schools examining war and conflict, most recently in Israel-Palestine. For students with a keen interest in law and justice, Dr. Igor Shoikhedbrod teaches extensively in the Ethics, Politics, and Law course concentration, while Dr. Lavinia Stan is an internationally renowned expert on Transitional Justice. Dr. Jim Bickerton, the editor of one of the most popular Canadian politics textbooks, brings decades of experience to the department. Dr. Hailey Murphy integrates engaging parliamentary simulations into her Canadian politics courses. When not teaching research methodology and comparative politics courses, I am often working with students building datasets about voting rights.

Whether you take one course with us, or complete a full honours program, we aim to spark interest in the subject, providing you with analytical and methodological tools for understanding the political world.

Nathan Allen, Chair