Political Science (Thesis): European Studies (M.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Political Science (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The European Studies Option (ESO) is an option offered within existing M.A. programs in the Departments of Political Science, History, and Sociology, as well as in the Faculty of Law. This option is open to students whose work is focused on Europe, in particular on issues relating to European integration, broadly understood. Students take an interdisciplinary capstone seminar and two other courses on European themes and issues as part of their M.A. program. They write an M.A. thesis on a topic relating to European Studies, approved by the ESO Coordinating Committee
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Thesis Courses (24 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 697 | M.A. Thesis Proposal. | 12 |
M.A. Thesis Proposal. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparatory work towards the Master's research project. | ||
| POLI 698 | Master's Thesis Submission. | 12 |
Master's Thesis Submission. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A thesis to demonstrate proficiency in research. The thesis is normally about 100 pages long, and is subject to evaluation by one examiner internal to the Department and one examiner external to the Department. | ||
Required Courses (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 659 | The European Union and Europe . | 3 |
The European Union and Europe . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Political developments in European states as well as the European Union (EU) from a comparative politics perspective. Exploration of political institutions, political economy, state building, identity and nationalism, civil society and social movements, party politics, EU enlargement, and EU-level political processes. | ||
| POLI 694 | Research Preparation 1. | 3 |
Research Preparation 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparatory work towards the Master's research project, or the Master's thesis. | ||
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
6-9 credits at the 500, 600, or 700 level in courses in political science. A course list is available from the Department.
3-6 credits, either of the following 3-credit options, or preferably both:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 612 | Research Methods in Political Science. | 3 |
Research Methods in Political Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This seminar offers an overview of the fundamental principles of political science research. Emphasis is placed on acquainting students with the methods and techniques most commonly used by political scientists. Topics include research project design, procedures for carrying out research, as well as both qualitatively- and quantitatively-oriented methods of data collection, processing, and analysis. | ||
or a more suitable more advanced 500- or 600-level course.
or one of the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 561 | Seminar: Political Theory. | 3 |
Seminar: Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A topic in political philosophy such as democracy, liberty, property or nationalism, or a political philosopher, is studied to enable students to research a topic in depth, to present their papers to the seminar, and to engage in and profit from discussion and debate. | ||
| POLI 613 | Selected Themes: Political Theory. | 3 |
Selected Themes: Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A seminar on a theme in contemporary political theory or in the history of political theory. | ||
| POLI 614 | Proseminar in Political Theory. | 3 |
Proseminar in Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A broad survey of major works in the history of political thought, mostly or entirely drawn from the reading list for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam in political theory. | ||
| POLI 616 | Modern Political Analysis. | 3 |
Modern Political Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the concepts underlying modern approaches to the study of politics. The scope of the discipline will be delineated and the foundations of empirical research, including the philosophy and methodology of science especially as these apply to social science, will be considered. Various alternatives and critiques will be presented and evaluated. | ||
| POLI 617 | Problems in Political Theory. | 3 |
Problems in Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to central normative issues in the study of politics. The seminar consists of lectures, oral presentations, discussion and research papers. | ||
3-6 credits from the following group of courses on European politics:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 619 | Race, Ethnicity, and Politics . | 3 |
Race, Ethnicity, and Politics . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A consideration of the different dimensions of politics associated with race, ethnicity, diversity, and inequality, emphasizing the Canadian case in comparative perspective. | ||
| POLI 628 | Comparative Politics. | 3 |
Comparative Politics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction for graduate students to the sub-discipline of comparative politics. The logic of comparative analysis as well as a number of alternative paradigms for analyzing and comparing political systems and processes. | ||
| POLI 629 | Politics of Eurasia. | 3 |
Politics of Eurasia. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Political developments in the Russian Federation, Belarus, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Exploration of formal and informal political institutions, political economy, identity and nationalism, civil society and social movements, conflict and cooperation, and geopolitical relationships across the region in comparative perspective. | ||
| POLI 630 | Topics in European Politics. | 3 |
Topics in European Politics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examination of recent trends and current debates in the electoral politics, political economy and political sociology of Europe. The course will focus on developments at two levels: that of national political systems and that of the region as a whole, particularly as embodied in the European Union. | ||
| POLI 639 | Themes in Comparative Politics 1. | 3 |
Themes in Comparative Politics 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A specific problem area in comparative politics. | ||
| POLI 680 | Social Change/Advanced Industrialized Democracies. | 3 |
Social Change/Advanced Industrialized Democracies. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the theories, concepts and empirical work on advanced democracies with a focus on issues of social change. Theories of the welfare states, social capital, postmaterialism, political participation, social movements and issues of diversity are studied from a variety of methodological perspectives. | ||
Of the 15 credits of complementary courses, up to 3 credits at the 500 level or higher may be taken outside the Department.
Candidates for the M.A. degree follow an individual program approved by the Department.