FAQ
REQUIREMENTS
What do I need to get a major in Political Science?
Students intending to major in Political Science are required to complete:
Effective: September 2013
7.5 units of Political Science courses at the 100 and 200 levels, including at least one of POLI 101 and 201, with a grade of at least C+ in each course. It is strongly recommended that these courses be taken during the first two years of a student’s program. Students should take a broad range of courses, including at least one on Canadian politics, one on comparative politics, one on international politics, and one in political theory. Some courses on offer will incorporate material from more than one of these fields.
15 units of Political Science courses at the 300 or 400 level, including at least one of POLI 300A, 300B, or 300C, one course from each of the Groups II-V, and one 400-level course. A course on methods of political analysis (POLI 321, 338, 339, or 351) is strongly recommended. SOSC 300 is accepted in lieu of 1.5 units of upper-level POLI coursework.
Students should consult the Departmental website for more detailed advice about program planning. In general, students should complete the 200 level course in a particular field before attempting any 300 level courses in that field.
All 400-level courses in Political Science are seminar courses. They are open only to students registered as Political Science Majors or Honours, or to non-Majors having Permission of the Department, which will depend on advice from the instructor offering the course.
Students must also meet the general requirements for B.A degrees established by the University and the Faculty of Social Sciences, as described in the University Calendar.
What do I need to get a minor in Political Science?
Students intending to minor in Political Science are required to complete:
- 6 units of courses numbered at the 100- or 200-level
- 9 units of courses numbered at the 300- or 400-level
How do I declare my major in Political Science?
Students are eligible to declare their major once they have attained second-year standing and are strongly urged to do so as soon as they have attained third-year standing. The sooner that your program is declared the better equipped you will be to ensure that your program requirements are met prior to the date you expect to graduate.
To declare your program you must file a Record of Degree Program (RDP) with the Academic Advising Centre (Room A205, University Centre). Students who have not satisfied the University English Requirement must do so before they declare their program. Students can change their program at any time by consulting with the Academic Advising Centre. Students should be aware that limitations may apply to certain proposed program combinations.
What is the European Studies minor concentration?
The European Studies minor is a specialization in European Studies designed for Major and Honours students in Political Science who wish to graduate with a concentration in European Politics. More information is available on the European Studies website.
What is the Social Justice Studies minor concentration?
The Social Justice Studies minor concentration is meant to offer students a thorough understanding of the complexity of social justice issues in our world. For more information please visit the Social Justice website.
What is the Honours Program?
The Honours Program requires specialization in one or more disciplines in the last two or three years of a degree program and is intended for students of higher academic achievement. In their fourth year honours students will research, write and present an Honours Essay, which provides an opportunity to investigate in depth a topic of the student's own choosing under the supervision of a regular faculty member. Many students choose to pursue an honours degree to get a taste for the kind of scholarship that they would encounter in graduate school. An honours degree is traditionally considered excellent preparation for graduate school even though for many graduate schools it is not a requirement.
How do I get into the Honours Program?
In order to be admitted into the Honours Program, students must have a minimum GPA of 6.0 in at least 6 units of Political Science courses numbered at the 100 or 200 level. Students will be admitted to the Honours Program in Political Science, at the discretion of the Department, at the beginning of their third year. If interested, students must contact the Political Science Honours Advisor, Dr. Feng Xu, in writing no later than May 31 preceding the year in which they wish to be admitted to third-year honours and to take Poli 338 and 339. More information about the Honours Program is available here.
What is Co-op?
Co-operative Education is an integrated approach to higher education which enables students to alternate academic terms on campus with relevant, paid, full time work experience. The Political Science Co-operative Education option provides students with an opportunity to combine their academic studies with 4-month periods of paid employment in Political Science-related positions in the public, private or non-profit sectors. For more information please view the Political Science Co-op section of the UVic Calendar or contact Helen Kobrc, Co-op Coordinator, at hkobrc@uvic.ca.
What are the admission requirements for Political Science Co-op (undergrad)?
- Completion of at least 1 year of study with at least 22.5 units to go
- 5.0 GPA (B average) in Political Science courses and overall
- Completion of POLI 351 with a B or better (or a plan to take it)
- Full-time student status taking a minimum 12 units for the year
How do I apply for Co-op?
Students interested in Co-op need to submit the application form which is available from the Social Sciences Co-op office (SSM A204), and supporting documents (i.e. your resume, letter of interest, and unofficial transcripts). The deadline is typically September 15 or January 15. Application forms are available one month before the deadline.
What type of jobs can I get with a Political Science degree?
We have former students working for the government, in law, education, business, journalism, as well as many other fields.
What is Moodle?
Moodle is an on-line learning platform. It is most commonly used to send e-mails, post messages, view powerpoints, create discussion forums, and upload assignments and quizzes. It has several other uses as well.
What is reserve?
The McPherson Library has a reserve area, where students can find course materials that are put on "reserve" for class purposes. You can also look for reserve items by your instructor's name.
What is e-reserve?
The McPherson Library also has some material available on electronic reserve. Your instructor has contacted the library and placed readings or other material on e-reserve. Online materials can be accessed through the reserve-reading list for each specific course.
I need help with my writing, does the department offer assistance?
The Writing Centre is a free resource on campus. You also should check with your instructor or teaching assistant, as many are willing to meet with you and discuss your paper topics. Some instructors may also be willing to review an outline or even a draft, though this may not be possible (especially in lecture classes).
I have a learning disability and need more time for my examinations, who do I see?
The Resource Centre for Students with a Disability.
If I have been in an accident, become ill or suffered from a family affliction and I need extensions, who do I contact?
Students can request, directly from the course instructor, deferral or substitution of a mid-term test/examination or of other work which is due during the term. Arrangements to complete such missed or late work must be made between the student and the instructor. If the request for deferral or substitution of term work is denied, the student may appeal as described under Appeals. If the due date for the deferred work is beyond the end of the term, the student must submit a Request for Academic Concession to Undergraduate Records. It is extremely important that students submit a Request for Academic Concession immediately if they have not submitted all their work by the end of term, or if they miss their final exam.
By submitting a Request for Academic Concession, students are applying for Deferred Status. A student must apply for Deferred (DEF) status by completing a Request for Academic Concession at Undergraduate Records normally within ten working days of the end of the examination period. Supporting documentation must accompany the request. Undergraduate Records will ask the instructor concerned to consider the request. If deferred status is not granted, the instructor will submit a final grade. In cases where the instructor does not give a deferred examination but assigns a final grade based on an assessment of the student's performance on the course work, the grade will appear on the student's record with the notation AEG. If deferred status is granted, any required course work (including exams) must be completed by the end of the following term.
- Courses ending in December must be completed by April.
- Courses ending in April must be completed by August.
- Summer Studies courses must be completed by December.
Deferred status may be extended beyond the above deadlines only in exceptional circumstances and only with the written permission of the Dean (or designate) of the student's faculty. To learn more about Deferred Status please view the details on the UVic Calendar.
I think I have the flu and have an exam tomorrow, what should I do?
Students who become ill should immediately contact their instructor by e-mail. Students can request, directly from the course instructor, deferral or substitution of a mid-term test/examination or of other work which is due during the term. Arrangements to complete such missed or late work must be made between the student and the instructor.
REGISTRATION
How do I register?
Students register for Political Science courses through the normal UVic registration system.
Step-by-step tutorials for registration are available here.
Students with questions can call 250-721-8142 or 8143 for personal assistance or email reghelp@uvic.ca. Further assistance to students will be available at all computer lab facilities and the computer help desk at 250-721-7687 or helpdesk@uvic.ca.
Please note: If there is no box to tick, you can also register by going to the Add/Drop Classes tab in Usource and adding the CRN under the Add Classes Worksheet located at the bottom of the page.When can I register?
Registration is organized by year standing. All eligible new and returning students will be sent an email advising them to check their registration date and time through uSource. Your registration date and time can be found by logging into MYPAGE and clicking on the following: Students > Student > Class Registration > Check Registration Status. If you do not have an active email account, you will need to access NetLink to apply for both a UVic email and NetLink ID. Since classes fill up fast, it is important to register for both terms as soon as possible on or right after the date and time shown.
How many courses can I register for?
Students are permitted to take 9 units per term. There are 3 terms per session (May-August, September-December and January-April.) To get permission to take more units than permitted, students must visit the Dean of their Faculty or the Advising Centre.
How do I decide what to take?
There are several ways of obtaining information regarding what courses you might want to take while studying at UVic. If you are unsure as to what the requirements are for a major or minor in political science, they are listed in the Calendar as well as in this FAQ section. If you are interested in doing a major in Political Science and would like more information, an appointment can be set up with an undergraduate advisor. More information about POLI undergraduate advising is available here. For more general information or advice regarding programs, courses or university and faculty regulations, students should consult the Academic Advising Centre 250-721-7567 or advising@uvic.ca.
Where do I find out what courses are being offered?
There are three ways to find out what courses are being offered:
To help plan your timetable, timetable sheet is available.
What does the section (A01, A02, T04) mean?
Courses offered at UVic are assigned section numbers. They start with a letter which identifies the type of section. Lecture sections start with an 'A,' lab sections start with a 'B,' and tutorial sections start with a 'T.' They are followed by a two digit sequence number. Often a course may be offered more than once during a semester. The two digit sequence number helps differentiate between these courses offerings.
What is the difference between lecture and seminar courses?
The main difference between a lecture and seminar course is the class size. Lower level lecture courses may have up to 240 students in the class and include a mandatory tutorial section. Upper level lecture courses have a maximum of 50 students in each class. Seminar courses have a much smaller class size and often combine an undergraduate and graduate section. Generally there are 20-25 undergrad students and 5 graduate students in a seminar course and it is offered once a week for 3 hours.
What is a tutorial?
A tutorial is a mandatory requirement for lower level Political Science courses. Tutorials offer students a chance to discuss course material in a small group setting. Tutorials are taught by teaching assistants and are generally held once a week.
Please note: It is important that you ensure you are registered in the right tutorial section at the beginning of the semester.
Do I have to go to the tutorials?
Yes, students should attend tutorials. Tutorials are meant to help facilitate student learning and are usually worth part of the course grade.
How do I get on the waitlist?
If the course is full and has an active waitlist, you can choose to go on the Waitlist.
Choose Waitlisted from the Action pull-down list, then click on Submit Changes. You will then have to confirm that you want to waitlist by clicking again. Go to the Waitlisting menu option to monitor your position, confirm your place, drop from the waitlist and register in the class.
What are the chances of getting in the class if I am on the waitlist?
This depends on how many students drop the course -or are dropped from the course- for which you are waitlisted. As a variety of factors influence this, it is difficult to estimate your chances of getting into a waitlisted course. Your best option is to attend the first three hours of the course in question, in the hopes that a seat will become available.
What happens when I am on the waitlist?
Many instructors allow Banner to manage the waitlist itself. In these courses, when a student drops the class, Banner will send an email to the first-ranked student on the waitlist, giving that student 24 hours in which to register himself or herself in the course. It is the responsibility of wait-listed students to check their USource-preferred email address regularly: once that 24-hour period has passed, your registration offer will expire and you will be kicked off the waitlist completely.
Other instructors manage waitlists more intensively. In these cases, the instructor will take attendance to see if any registered students are not attending class and to verify that wait-listed students are attending class. Wait-listed students should plan to attend the first three hours of the course. After the first three hours, the instructor will drop from the class those students who have not attended, and will arrange for Banner to issue offers of registration to selected students on the wait list. It is up to the instructors to decide whom to admit from the wait list – some go strictly by wait-list order, while others may give preference to particular groups of students (e.g. Political Science Majors) or students with particular needs. Once again, it is important for students to check their email regularly, as once a registration offer is sent, the student has 24 hours to accept it before they will be kicked off the waitlist completely.
What do I do if there is a prerequisite restriction?
Students should attempt to meet the prerequisite(s). Students who do not meet a course prerequisite but who believe they have other background that makes them qualified to take the course should contact the instructor to seek his or her permission. If the instructor grants permission it is up to the student to forward this information to the political science receptionist at polirecp@uvic.ca. Once the receptionist has proof that the instructor has granted permission, he/she can do an override which will then allow the student to register for the course.
What do I do if there are major restrictions?
The major restrictions are courses for Political Science students. Speak to Academic Advising about declaring your major or minor in Political Science.
What do I do if there is a level restriction?
Students should attempt to meet the requirements in order to enroll in a class and be fully prepared. If you think that the restriction should be waived, see the course instructor or undergraduate advisor. If the instructor or advisor grants permission it is up to the student to forward this information to the political science receptionist at polirecp@uvic.ca. Once the receptionist has proof that the instructor has granted permission, he/she can do an override which will then allow the student to register for the course.
I cannot get into an English/History class, what do I do?
Contact the English/History department. If you are trying to get into a Political Science class, you contact the Political Science department.
What should I take my first year at UVIC?
First year students should enroll in Poli 101 and 103 and take other 100 level courses that fulfill the requirements for their prospective majors/minors. For the Faculty of Social Sciences you find the requirements noted here.
We encourage students to try out a variety of areas of study, to help them decide which areas best suit their interests and needs.
Upcoming Political Science Events
- View all events on the UVic Political Science calendar