Course Information

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Undergraduate programs offered by Western Political Science are intended to provide a solid grounding in the study of Political Science. Each level of courses represents another step in the progression toward graduation.

Information About Undergraduate Course Levels

Course Level

Course Level Description

1000 Level Courses

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The first year course, Politics 1020E, provides an overview of the discipline and introduces students to important skills, such as essay writing.

2100 Level Courses

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Courses at the 2100 level are intended for students in our Minors module and students not enrolled in the Major or Honours Specialization programs. These courses are topical and do not have essay designations.

2200 Level Courses

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Courses at the 2200 level are intended to be surveys of specific subfields in Political Science. Material covered in these courses is more detailed than in Political Science 1020E. Expectations and assignments are more rigorous; essay writing and oral communication skills are expected to develop beyond the introductory level, where appropriate.

3000 Level Courses

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Courses at the 3000 level build upon what has been learned in Political Science courses at lower levels. These courses provide students with an opportunity to delve deeper into more specific topics. The assignments and readings are more demanding than at the 2200 level, with an emphasis on developing higher-level writing and argumentation skills.

4000 Level Courses

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Courses at the 4000 level are intended to be capstones for the Honours Specialization program. These courses are unique, small seminars that are focused on intriguing topics. Student participation is emphasized and students are given the opportunity to synthesize and more thoroughly develop their knowledge and skills in their course work.

For additional course information, please refer to Western University's Academic Calendar.

 

Political Science 4490E Thesis Guidelines

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Eligibility

Only fourth-year Honours Specialization students are eligible, provided there is a faculty member willing to supervise the student's work. A student seeking to register in 4490E will be required to have at least an 80% average in all Political Science courses taken.


Enrollment

During the academic term before the student is to register in 4490E, the student is responsible for obtaining the agreement of a faculty member in his/her field of interest to supervise his/her thesis. For further instructions please contact the Undergraduate Advisor.


Procedural Requirements

A firm guideline of what is expected of the students should be established, indicating the objectives and the timetable for submission of work. This guideline will be agreed upon within the first month of the fall term by both the faculty member and student, and a copy will be placed on file with the Undergraduate Advisor.


Thesis Requirements

The thesis usually consists of between 50-75 pages. The thesis is to be submitted by April 15 of the Winter term.


Thesis Evaluation

The thesis will be read by the thesis supervisor and a second reader. The final grade will be determined by averaging the grades assigned by both readers.


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