Courses in political science focus on a broad spectrum of domestic and international social issues whose resolution has political implications.
Courses cover a range of issues from the following fields of study:
• Canadian politics; • International relations; • Comparative politics; • Political theory;
• Public administration and policy; • Geography
Students will complete the following fields of study: The study of Canadian politics examines the structure, the institutions and the decision-making process of the Canadian polity in the context of the roles and goals of the citizens in the polity. Political parties, interest groups, elections, the Constitution, the Charter of Rights, the Judiciary and the rule of law are closely scrutinized. While POE328A and POE330B provide an overview of all aspects of Canadian politics, POE416A concentrates on defence and foreign affairs.
In POE316A students are introduced to the theory and practice of international relations, while in POE317B contemporary strategic studies are covered. This is followed by POE412 which focus on contemporary foreign and defence policies of the United States. POE460/POE462 deals with international conflict analysis from the political, economic, social and military perspectives. All aspects of terrorism are discussed in POE458, while POE413 analysis the nuclear issues.
Each country in the world has adopted a somewhat different system of government that reflects its particular history, development, culture, values and resources. The study of comparative politics examines the diversity of political systems and approaches. In POE320A and POE322B students are introduced to theories of comparative politics and their application. POE424A focuses on the theories of modernization and political development in the Third World, while POE426B involves case studies of selected countries.
Political theory studies the methods of inquiry of political analysis and considers the tenants of the political
philosophers over the centuries. Every course in politics is founded on political theory, especially POE106, 312A, 314B, 328A, and POE418A and POE420B which deals with political "isms" (i.e. socialism, liberalism, capitalism, etc). Modern governments are large organizations or
bureaucracies faced with problems of leadership and authority, communication and accountability, policy formulation and delivery, and many others. How
governments organize themselves to solve these problems is the study of public administration. In POE332A students study organization theory and its application to the practice of public administration in Canada. POE334B studies theories of public policy-making and their application in the federal government of Canada. Geography courses survey the evolution of regions, geopolitical patterns and processes including
disintegration of empires, geostrategic theories, spacial patterns, migration, demographics, and the ecological consequences of resource exploitation. In GOE202, students study basic concepts of political geography. Four major regions of the world are studied in GOE305A and GOE307B while GOE418B analyses different approaches to cultural and historical geography. Seminar courses address urban-economic and cultural geography of North America, geopolitical aspects of international law and maritime boundaries. The - Distinguished Speakers Series in Political Geography- addresses contemporary
Royal Military College of Canada | Politics and Economics 121
Economics
Economics is a social science in that it studies social problems of choice from the scientific viewpoint, which means that it is built on a systematic explanation of problems of choice where resources to satisfy unlimited human wants are scarce. This systematic explanation involves both the formation of theories and the
examination of data. Unlike the approach generally used by political scientists, economists commonly construct models of the economy using varying degrees of mathematical sophistication to depict particular features of the economy with which they are concerned. Students are introduced to economics in the First Year course, ECE102- Introduction to Economics. This course which familiarizes students to the methods of economics is divided into microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics studies the behaviour of individual decision makers such as firms and households. It deals with determination of prices and quantities in individual markets and with the relationship among markets. In contrast, macroeconomics looks at the behaviour of the economy as a whole, in particular the behaviour of such aggregate measures as overall rates of unemployment, inflation, economic growth and the balance of trade. Separate courses taken by all students, ECE206A, ECE308B, ECE224A and ECE326B, concentrate on macroeconomics and microeconomics, respectively, in much greater depth with respect to both theory and policy issues.
In addition to the above courses in economics all student are required to take a one-term course in Statistical Analysis for Social Scientists. To complete the number of courses in economics required in the two senior years, students may select the appropriate number from the following courses:
• ECE300B - Money, Financial Institutions and Markets
• ECE312B - The Development of Economic Ideas • ECE316A - Canadian Economic History
• ECE318B - International Economic Problems • ECE320A - Industrial Organization
• ECE342B - Introduction to Econometrics • ECE411A/B - Public Finance
• ECE417A/B - International Economics • ECE424B - Economics of Defence
• ECE428B - Economics of National Security • ECE442A - Economics of the Environment • ECE448B - Cost Benefit Analysis
• ECE450A - Topics in Microeconomics • ECE452B - Topics in Macroeconomics • ECE492B - Directed Readings in Economics
Seminar
Students who contemplate later on pursuing postgraduate degrees in economics are strongly urged to include the two courses in quantitative analysis in their undergraduate studies. They also are encouraged to take as many courses in economics as are allowed in the economics degree programme at the College.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Students successfully completing their First Year in Arts are eligible for entry into the programme leading to an Honours or Major Degree in Political Science. The First Year political science courses are part of the core compulsory courses and will count toward the degree requirements noted below. In consultation with the Department Head, students will select courses each year which fulfil the degree requirements which are best suited to student interest.
Programme Outline Tables
The tables listed below outline the Arts Programme, by year.
First Year Table A1
Second Year Table A2
Third Year Table A3
Fourth Year Table A4
Science Requirements for Arts Table A8
Honours
To earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree within a discipline, a student must successfully complete the required courses set out in the applicable Honours Programme of Study, with at least 20 credits within the discipline, must maintain a minimum B average in the Honours courses in all 300 and 400 level courses in their Honours Programme of Study, and must attain at least a B- average in the 400 level courses.
Minimum of 42 credits, 17 of them being mandatory Minimum of 20 credits in Politics
Mandatory Courses:
• POE106: Canadian Civics and Society
• GOE202A/B: Introduction to Political Geography • POE312A: Classical Political Philosophy
• POE314B: Modern Political Philosophy
• POE316A: Introduction to International Relations • POE317B: Introduction to Contemporary
Strategic Studies
• POE320A: Comparative Politics I (Theory and Method)
• POE322B: Comparative Politics II (Country Case Studies)
122 Politics and Economics | Royal Military College of Canada • POE328A: The Canadian Constitution, Federalism
and Regionalism
• POE332A: Public Administration in Canada • POE416A/B: Contemporary Canadian External
Relations and Defence Policy
At least 8 other Politics credits of which 4 at the 400 level (in addition to POE416A/B).
Optional Courses
To take at least 5 credits amongst the following: • POE330B: Canadian Political Parties and Public
Opinion
• POE334B: Canadian Public Policy Making • POE412B: Contemporary American Foreign &
Defence Policy
• POE413: Nuclear Weapons & International Relations
• POE418A: Major Political Ideologies
• POE420B: Contemporary Political Ideologies • POE422: International Conflict Analysis • POE423A: Middle Eastern Issues
• POE424A: Theories of Modernization and Political Development
• POE426B: Selected Case Studies of Third World Countries
• POF428A: Théorie politique contemporaine • POF430A/B: Théorie politique avancée • POE450B: Space Policy
• POE458A: Post-Cold War Terrorism
• POE460A: Contemporary Analysis of International Conflicts
• POE462B: Current Strategic Issues • POE488A/B: The Law of Armed Conflict • Canadian Geography
• GOE305A: World Regional Geography: Europe and /or the Americas
• GOE307B: World Regional Geography: Asia and /or Africa
• GOE404B: Issues in Contemporary Geopolitics • GOE418A/B: Approaches to Cultural and
Historical Geography
• GOF420A/B: Fondements géopolitiques du droit international (french only)
• GOF422A/B: Géographie politique du Canada (french only
• GOE490: Directed Readings in Geography
Optional Cross-listed Courses
Maximum of 2 credits selected from amongst the following:
• ECE206A: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy I • ECE208B: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy II • ECE224A: Microeconomic Theory and Policy I • ECE226B: Microeconomic Theory and Policy II • ECE270A: Statistical Analysis for Social Science I • ECE272B: Statistical Analysis for Social Science II • ECE312B: The Development of Economic Ideas • ECE316A: Canadian Economic History
• ECE411A/B: Public Finances
• PSE301A: Organisational Behaviour and
Leadership (mandatory for all 3rd year students) • BAE330A: Organizational Theory (optional
because of PSE301A)
• HIE380: Peacekeeping & Peacemaking • HIE406A: Canadian External Relations • HIE408B: Canadian Defence Policy • HIE417: US Foreign Policy
• HIF432: Histoire diplomatique et militaire de l'Amérique latine (french only)
Major
Requires 40 credits.
16 credits in Politics, the following of which are mandatory courses:
Mandatory Courses
• POE106: Canadian Civics and Society
• GOE202A/B: Introduction to Political Geography • POE312A: Classical Political Philosophy
• POE314B: Modern Political Philosophy
• POE316A: Introduction to International Relations • POE320A: Comparative Politics I
• POE328A: The Canadian Constitution, Federalism and Regionalism
• POE416A/B: Contemporary Canadian External Relations and Defence Policy
Optional Courses
Minimum of 8 other Politics credits of which 4 should be at the 400 level.
• POE317B: Introduction to Contemporary Strategic Studies
• POE322B: Comparative Politics II (Country Case Studies)
• POE330B: Canadian Political Parties and Public Opinion
• POE332A: Public Administration in Canada • POE334B: Canadian Public Policy Making, Theory
and Practice
• POE412B: Contemporary American Foreign and Defence Policy
POE413A: Nuclear Weapons and International Relations • POE418A: Major Political Ideologies
• POE420B: Contemporary Political Ideologies • POE423A: Middle Eastern Issues/Problèmes du
Moyen-Orient
• POE424A: Theories of Modernization and Political Development
• POE426B: Selected Case Studies of Third World Countries
• POF428A: Théorie politique contemporaine (french only)
Royal Military College of Canada | Politics and Economics 123
• POF430B: Théorie politique avancée (french only) • POE450B: Space Policy
• POE458A: Post-Cold War Terrorism
• POF460A: Analysis of Contemporary Strategy and Conflict (french only)
• POF462B: Actualité stratégique (french only) • POE488A/B: The Law of Armed Conflict • POE490: Directed Readings
Minor
All students may take a Minor in Political Science. The requirements for the Minor are 8 credits in the discipline. The First Year course in Political Science POE106 can count toward the Minor.
Students choosing to minor in Political Science must maintain a minimum of a B- average in their three best courses of the Minor.
ECONOMICS PROGRAMME
REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Students successfully completing their First Year in Arts are eligible for entry into the programme leading to an Honours or Major Degree in Economics. The First Year economics courses are part of the core compulsory courses and will count toward the degree requirements noted below. In consultation with the Department Head, students will select courses each year which fulfil the degree requirements which are best suited to student interest.
Programme Outline Tables
The tables listed below outline the Arts Programme, by year.
First Year Table A1
Second Year Table A2
Third Year Table A3
Fourth Year Table A4
Science Requirements for Arts Table A8
Honours
To earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree within a discipline, a student must successfully complete the required courses set out in the applicable Honours Programme of Study, with at least 20 credits within the
discipline, must maintain a minimum B average in the Honours courses in all 300 and 400 level courses in their Honours Programme of Study, and must attain at least a B- average in the 400 level courses.
Requires 42 credits
Minimum of 20 credits in Economics:
Mandatory Courses
• MAE108B: Elements of Differential Calculus • MAE208A: Elements of Integral Calculus (Linear
Algebra)
• ECE102: Elements of Economics
• ECE206A: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy I • ECE224A: Microeconomics I
• ECE270A: Statistical analysis for Social Scientists I
• ECE308B: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy II • ECE326B: Microeconomics II
• ECE342B: Introduction to Econometrics • ECE424B: The Economics of Defence One of the following two:
• ECE454A/B: Topics in Microeconomic Analysis • ECE456A/B: Topics in Macroeconomic Analysis
Optional Courses
A minimum of 6 credits, from the following:
• ECE300A/B: Money, Financial Institutions and Markets
• ECE312A/B: The Development of Economic Ideas • ECE316A/B: Canadian Economic History
• ECE318B: International Economic Problems • ECE320A/B: Industrial Organization • ECE411: Public Finances
• ECE417: International Economics
• ECE428A/B: Economics of National Security • ECE444A: Economics of the Environment • ECE448B: Cost Benefit Analysis
• ECE490: Direct Reading in Economics / Études dirigées en économie
A maximum of 1 credit chosen from the following: • BAE300B: Finance
• BAE342A: Quantitative Methods II
• BAE430B: Labour Relations and Topics in Human Resources Management
• POE332A/B: Public Administration in Canada. Any other course approved by the Department
124 Politics and Economics | Royal Military College of Canada