Associate of Arts - Political Science

Program Description

Political Science studies power in all its forms. Since power is in a sense everywhere – from the workplace to the family, from communications media to the classroom, and beyond – practically everything can be grist for political analysis. Most often, however, political scientists focus upon power as exercised by governments and states, and in the international arena, between governments and states - as well as non-governmental organizations, businesses, social movements, and armed groups - that seek to influence all of these. Thus, Political Science explores the forces that shape our lives through public rule.

Political Science at KPU is particularly strong in the following areas:

• North American studies with a special focus on Canadian politics, including Canada's Charter of Rights and constitution, multiculturalism, BC and local politics, and foreign policy; as  well as continental and cross-border politics, and American politics and government;
• International studies , including international organizations (such as the UN), human rights  issues, international political economy, trans-national issues, human security, and international  law.
• Exciting "applied" and "experiential" courses that give you the chance to develop hands- on skills in oratory, public debating, diplomacy, and real-world policy work.

The Associate Degree is designed to provide an education experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and an enriched life as an educated person, and to lay a solid foundation for further study in the field of Political Science. Political Science instills a range of highly transferable skills that are marketable in many fields and several career paths which place a premium upon training in Political Science.