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About the University of Calgary
 Graduate Studies Calendar 2014-2015 Courses of Instruction Course Descriptions P Political Science POLI
Political Science POLI
POLI 605 615 617 619 621 623 631 633 641 643 651 653 671 673 675 681 683 684 685 687 689 691 693 699 715 721 723 725 741 755 781 791
 

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts.

Department Head – B. O'Neill
 
Graduate Courses

Courses numbered 600-799 are offered either as special reading courses or as seminars, as required. Students should consult the Department regarding enrolment in these courses.
 
Political Science 605       Advanced Introduction to Sexual Ethics
An advanced introduction to theorizing human sexuality using works of historical and contemporary political philosophy. Topics may include: the nature of love and friendship, the good of marriage, limits of sexuality, and the place of justice, equality, and shame.
Course Hours: H(3S-0)
Antirequisite(s): Credit for both Political Science 605 and 505 will not be allowed.
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Political Science 615       Advanced History of Political Thought
An intensive study of selected major political thinkers within the history of political thought.
Course Hours: H(3S-0)
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Political Science 617       Advanced Political Theory
Discussion of contemporary topics in political thought. Emphasis on analysis of problems rather than history of ideas.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 619       War and Interpretation
An examination of the philosophical justifications offered to defend the use of military force, based particularly on the analysis of texts in the history of Western political philosophy.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 621       Canadian Political Institutions
Examination of the structure and operation of the central institutions of the Canadian state, including the constitution, federalism, parliamentary government, and political parties.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 623       Canadian Political Process
Examination of Canadian political behaviour within its institutional context, including political parties, interest groups, voting and socialization. Computer use is optional.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 631       Parties, Elections and Representation
An examination of political parties and elections in both established and emerging democracies as a means of understanding the nature of political representation in modern representative democracies.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 633       U.S. Security Policy
An examination of U.S. security policy, with an emphasis both on how U.S. security policy is made and on the main contemporary security issues the U.S. faces today.
Course Hours: H(3S-0)
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Political Science 641       Selected Topics in Public Law
Examination of the political, philosophical, and institutional dimensions of selected public law issues, with particular reference to judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals as policy-making institutions. Consult the Department for information on choice of topics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 643       Law and Armed Conflict
An examination of key texts and topics concerning the evolution, conceptualization, codification, and practical application of the laws of armed conflict. Topics may include the historical and philosophical development of the customary and codified laws of armed conflict, military law and military training and education, and the use of law to punish and deter war crimes.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 651       Policy Studies
Critical review of major themes, issues, and approaches in the study and evaluation of public policy.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 653       Gender and Public Policy
Explores the gendered impact of a range of public policies and also explores the influence of gender norms and ideas on the formulation of public policy. Topics covered include gender-based policy analysis, gender and the welfare state, family and child-care policies, policies to address gender inequalities in the labour market and workplace, and reproductive rights policies.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 671       Advanced Comparative Politics: Political Development
Analysis of comparative methods and paradigms of political development.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 673       Advanced Comparative Politics: Institutions and Systems
Comparative analysis of political institutions and systems.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 675       Selected Topics in Advanced Comparative Politics
Selected regions and topics in Comparative Politics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 681       Advanced Analysis of International Relations
Selected issues and approaches in the analysis of world politics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 683       Advanced Studies in Foreign Policy
Selected themes in the formation and implementation of foreign policies.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 684       Human Rights and Humanitarianism
An advanced introduction to the principal contemporary debates in the field of human rights and humanitarian politics.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Antirequisite(s): Credit for both Political Science 684 and 571 will not be allowed.
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Political Science 685       Strategic Studies
Advanced seminar in major topics in strategic studies, such as arms control, deterrence, and other military doctrines.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 687       Advanced Studies in Canadian Arctic Security  
The Canadian Arctic is an emerging area of concern due to changes scarcely imaginable even a few years ago. Examines the nature of some of these changes—e.g., climate change and the northern seas’ dramatically changing ice conditions, growing recognition of the regions’ resource wealth, and evolving international relations in the circumpolar region—and what they mean for Canadian Arctic security.
Course Hours: H(3S-0)
Antirequisite(s): Credit for both Political Science 687 and 523 will not be allowed.
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Political Science 689       Unconventional Warfare
Analysis of warfare conducted by, or against, sub-state groups. This may include in-depth studies of guerrilla warfare, asymmetric conflict, or terrorism.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
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Political Science 691       Quantitative Analysis in Political Science
Examination of empirical research methods and techniques of quantitative analysis in the study of political phenomena. Computer use is required.
Course Hours: H(3-1)
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Political Science 693       Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Political Science
Examination of empirical research methods and techniques of multivariate quantitative analysis in the study of political phenomena.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 691 or consent of the Department.
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Political Science 699       Qualitative Analysis in Political Science
An introduction to qualitative research methods in Political Science. Topics may include qualitative methodology, elite interviewing, focus groups, content analysis, case studies and qualitative data analysis.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Political Science 691 or consent of the Department.
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Political Science 715       Special Topics in Political Theory

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 721       Special Topics in Canadian Politics

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 723       Special Topics in Political Science

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 725       Special Topics in Public Administration

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 741       Special Topics in Public Law

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 755       Special Topics in Public Policy

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 781       Special Topics in International Relations

Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Political Science 791       Scope and Methods in Political Science
Advanced seminar covering various approaches, topics, methods and theories employed in the discipline of political science.
Course Hours: H(3-0)
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Each year, depending on the needs of students, a number of 600- and 700-level graduate courses are offered from the foregoing list. In addition to the numbered and titled courses shown above, the Department offers a selection of advanced level graduate courses specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals or small groups of students. These courses are numbered in the series 800.01 to 899.99. Such offerings are, however, contingent upon the availability of staff resources.