Political Studies (BA) in Canada at VIU Canada




University Vancouver Island University (VIU Canada)
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Type Public
Program Type Coursework
Language English
Program Duration 4 years
Students 16,175
Learn more about Political Studies (BA) in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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Detailed Information of Political Studies (BA) in Canada at Vancouver Island University

Program Overview for Political Studies (BA) in Canada:

The political science course is for you if you are a dedicated citizen, fascinated by the political world and how power is distributed, used, and abused. In VIU's political science degree program, students will discuss political theory, Canadian and global political affairs, forms of government, and the relationship between politics and culture. Students learn to critique, evaluate, and interpret political structures upon graduation in the political studies course. 

These skills will continue in future careers in law, government, advocacy, journalism, public relations, and nonprofit organizations. VIU offers political science majors or minor political science courses for students seeking a bachelor of arts degree. 

Politics can be understood as community deliberations on basic justice and injustice, freedom, human rights, democracy, legislation, dispute resolution, governance, and citizenship. Policy research solves some key questions, such as: who gets what, when, and how? Who can do who? What is the focus or objective of the political action or inaction? Studying these and other topics enables political science students to master political problems and their solutions at the national and international levels. 

The civic and political life of Canadians is becoming increasingly diverse and global. However, eternal political problems also lurk beneath the ever-changing surface. Knowledge of what may or even be desirable in the future depends on familiarity with the history of political thought. New opportunities are open to those capable of meeting the challenges of a changing Canada and a changing world.

Political studies help students be a part of these new opportunities by providing them with the intellectual tools necessary to understand and analyze real-world problems, conduct research, and become more informed citizens.

Political studies prepare students to work in valuable career fields, such as public services in local, provincial, or federal governments; international matters; international organizations or non-governmental organizations; teaching; journalism; social studies; and consulting. VIU's Bachelor of Political Studies prepares students for political science (MA), international and global studies (MA), public policy and management (MPA), business (MBA), interdisciplinary studies, or a graduate degree in law (Bachelor in the right). ).

These are the international student eligibility for the Political Studies (BA) in Canada

  • Graduation from high school or equivalent.
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • International students who are BC high school graduates must have a minimum “C” in English 12 for direct entry into an academic program.
  • Official transcript of grades from high school (and post-secondary institutions where applicable).
  • A minimum "C+" grade in one of Principles of Mathematics 11, Applications of Mathematics 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-calculus 11, or equivalent. A mathematics assessment and placement examination is available for applicants without this admission requirement.

N.B: Most universities have specific international admission requirements based on different education systems.

These are the domestic student eligibility for the Political Studies (BA)

Canadian citizens and those with permanent residence status in Canada are eligible for admission to University Academic programs if they meet one of the following conditions:

  • graduation from a B.C. secondary school, or equivalent, with a minimum “C” grade in either English 12 or English 12 First Peoples;
  • visiting student from a college or university (a “Letter of Permission” from the home institution is required);
  • a transfer student from a college or university (at least 24 transferable university-level credits completed);
  • English 12 with a minimum "C+" grade or equivalent.
  • A minimum "C+" grade in one of Principles of Mathematics 11, Applications of Mathematics 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-calculus 11, or equivalent. A mathematics assessment and placement examination is available for applicants without this admission requirement.

These are the test eligibilities for the Political Studies (BA) to qualify.

The English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for Political Studies (BA) in Canada: are:

  • TOEFL(ibt): 88
  • IELTS(academic): 6.5
N.B: ELP is not mandatory for all international students. You could apply without ELP if your previous degree's medium of instruction were in English. Students of Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, for example, are not required to take the ELP test.

The international student tuition fees and costs for Political Studies (BA) in Canada.

Items Costs
Application Fees CA$41.72
Living Cost CA$12,000.00/year
(CA$1,000.00/month)
Student Earning CA$18,688.00/year
You will earn CA$18,688.00/year by working (20h * 4 weeks * 8 months * CAD 14.50/h) + (40h * 4 weeks * 4 months * CAD 14.50/h) at minimum wage of CA$14.60/hour.

The domestic student tuition fees and costs for Political Studies (BA) in Canada.

Items Costs
Application Fees CA$41.72
Living Cost CA$12,000.00/year
(CA$1,000.00/month)
Student Earning CA$18,688.00/year
This is just an estimate. You don't have any work hour limit. You will earn CA$18,688.00/year by working (20h * 4 weeks * 8 months * CAD 14.50/h) + (40h * 4 weeks * 4 months * CAD 14.50/h) at minimum wage of CA$14.60/hour.

VIU offers college students the option of majoring in political studies or majoring in political studies in the 4-year Bachelor of Arts program. The Bachelor of Political Studies Minor and Major are designed around four fields of political research, which together represent the core domain of the discipline: International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and Canadian Politics.

Students will be exposed to this basic representative range when choosing lower-level courses, but will then have the opportunity to choose more freely in their choice of higher-level courses.

Political Studies Minor and Major courses also provide students the opportunity to supplement political studies degrees with selected courses in other disciplines. This interdisciplinary element of a bachelor's degree. The Bachelor of Political Studies enriches political studies and allows students to choose to complete minor or joint majors in related fields of research.

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