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Department of Political Science
6072 Academic Quadrangle, 778.782.5487 Tel, 778.782.5364 Fax, , polgrad@sfu.ca
Chair
(to be announced)
Graduate Program Chair
(to be announced)
Faculty and Areas of Research
See “Department of Political Science” on page 128 for a complete list of faculty.
A.J. Ayers – global political economy, comparative development
J. Busumtwi-Sam – international organization and law, conflict management, political economy
M. Griffen Cohen – public policy, women’s studies, economics
K. Chenard – public policy, political economics, quantitative methods
L. Dobuzinskis – public policy/administration, political philosophy and political economy (rational choice)
G. Fuji Johnson – political philosophy, democratic theory, public policy
J.F. Godbout – American political institutions, elections, political behavior
A. Heard – Canadian judicial and constitutional issues, comparative human rights
E. Hershberg – comparative politics of Latin America and politics of development, social sector reforms in the Andean region, conflicts over accountability for human rights abuses under military regimes in the Latin America’s Southern Cone
A. Hira – international political economy, Latin American studies
M. Howlett – public administration and policy, Canadian government and politics
T. Kawasaki – Japanese politics and foreign policy, international relations theory, and international relations in the Asia-Pacific region
D. Laycock – political philosophy and public administration/policy, Canadian government
S.J. MacLean – comparative development; political economy; African political economy
S. McBride – political economy, Canadian politics, globalization
A. Moens – international relations, comparative politics, US politics
A. Perl – urban studies, public policy
M. Pickup – quantitative methods, comparative and Canadian politics, political behavior
D.A. Ross – international security and conflict studies, Canadian foreign and defence policies
P.J. Smith – public policy/administration, Canadian and comparative local government, Canadian government and politics, federalism
P.V. Warwick – research methods, comparative government, Western Europe
S. Weldon – institutional and social context of political attitudes and behavior
The major fields of study are
Canadian government and politics
comparative government and politics
international relations
Within these three major fields of study there are three distinct thematic emphases: public policy, political economy and governance. However, the department may offer advanced study in other political science fields, subject to the availability of faculty research expertise.
For general requirements see “1.3 Admission” on page 219. In addition, the department requires written statements of the student’s current interests and proposed areas of research. Applications for graduate work will be considered with reference to the manner in which the proposed area of the candidate’s research coincides with faculty teaching and research interests. See the list of faculty for general research interests. Should additional course work be deemed necessary, the graduate studies committee will indicate the same as a prerequisite.
A written statement of current research interests, three reference letters from qualified referees, and a sample of written work are also required.
The program may be completed through an essay or project option, a thesis option, or a field exam option. Students are admitted to the essay or project option and require approval of the graduate program chair to transfer to another stream. Except in extenuating circumstances, students may only transfer once.
In accordance with Graduate General Regulation 1.6.4, each student will be assigned a supervisory committee.
The essay or project option requires completion of either extended essays in two department fields of study or one research project. Students in the essay or project option complete five courses: POL 801 or 802 plus four additional courses from at least two of the department’s three fields of study. A research project, to a maximum of 12,500 words (plus bibliography), must have substantial original content. Each extended essay will elaborate upon course work research and is not to exceed 12,500 words (plus bibliography). Extended essays and research projects are defended in an oral defence.
To be admitted to the thesis stream, students must submit to the thesis supervisory committee a thesis proposal outlining a brief topic summary, its relevance, the methodology to be followed, a chapter-by-chapter outline, thesis completion timetable and a bibliography. The proposal must be approved by the thesis supervisory committee.
Students in the thesis stream complete four courses: POL 801 or 802 plus three additional courses from at least two of the three fields of study offered by the department. Students also must write a thesis, normally 18,750 to 25,000 words in length (plus bibliography) and defend it in an oral defence.
For field exam stream admission, students must submit, first to the supervisory committee and then to the appropriate department field committee, a field exam proposal outlining major and minor fields of study and a timetable for field exam completion. The field exam proposal is be approved by the supervisory committee. To fulfil the requirements, students complete POL 801 or 802 plus five additional courses from at least two of the three fields of study. Students also pass two written field exams: one in their major and one in their minor field of study. The supervisory committee serves as the nucleus of the field examination committee. With the student’s consultation, the supervisory committee will be expanded to include additional examiners if necessary. Students who fail one field examination, and one only, may retake the failed field examination.
The department offers specialized research resources in Canadian government and politics, comparative politics, and international relations with a thematic focus on issues of political economy, public policy and governance.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum admission requirements (“1.3.3 Admission to a Master’s Program” on page 219 of the Graduate General Regulations), a completed political science MA is required, normally with a minimum 3.67 GPA. How well the applicant’s proposed research coincides with the department’s focus on political economy, public policy and governance is an important consideration. Background deficiencies must be met by completing appropriate courses in addition to normal PhD work.
Admission applications are reviewed once a year by the department graduate studies committee. The program starts in September.
Supervisory Committee
In accordance with Graduate General Regulation 1.6.4, upon program admission, the departmental graduate studies committee assigns a senior supervisor.
Program Requirements
At least five graduate courses beyond the MA requirements plus a second language requirement, two comprehensive exams and a thesis are required.
Course Work
Students must successfully complete a minimum of six graduate courses. All courses are approved by the supervisory committee and reflect areas of specialization within the fields of political economy, public policy and governance as identified in the student’s letter of intent. Students complete POL 801 or 802 or equivalent.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate a reading ability in a language other than English that is acceptable to the supervisory committee. Those studying subjects related to Canadian politics must demonstrate an ability to read French, determined by successful completion of a time limited exam consisting of a dictionary aided translation of a political science literature passage written in the language selected.
Comprehensive Examinations
Prior to thesis research, students must successfully pass two comprehensive exams that are administered by the Department of Political Science.
Thesis
Candidates successfully completing both comprehensive exams will complete POL 890 which culminates with the presentation as a seminar to the department outlining his/her draft research proposal.
After the seminar, and in consultation with the supervisory committee, the candidate prepares a final proposal for graduate studies committee approval prior to being forwarded to the graduate studies committee. The research proposal will state the thesis title, topic, general intent, methodology and bibliography and will be accompanied by a detailed research plan and completion timetable of each thesis chapter. The proposal should not exceed 2000 words in length, excluding bibliographic references.
The thesis should not be more than 300 pages and must represent an original contribution to the development of the discipline. The completed thesis must be successfully defended at an oral defence established in accordance with the Graduate General Regulations. See “1.9 Preparation for Examinations” on page 224) and “1.10 Examinations” on page 225).
Performance Evaluation
In accordance with the Graduate General Regulations (see “1.8 Progress, Withdrawal and Leave” on page 223), the student’s progress is reviewed periodically by the graduate studies committee. At least once a year, the supervisory committee submits a written report on the student’s progress to the graduate studies committee to aid its deliberations. Students judged to have maintained unsatisfactory progress may be asked to withdraw.
Time Limits
Although Graduate General Regulation 1.12 (see “1.12 Maximum Time for Completion of the Requirements for the Degree” on page 225) establishes an eight year time limit for PhD completion, the department expects the PhD program will be completed within four to five years.
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