Doctor of Philosophy in Political Studies - Canadian Politics

Queen's University

The Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University has long been known for its graduate programs. We are small enough to provide our students with a highly personalized graduate experience, and our faculty are strong, diverse, and well recognized for their research so that we can provide a well-rounded education that gives our graduates a strong basis for a wide range of careers. The department is particularly well known for its strength in the study of ethnically divided and diverse societies. Our M.A. program will help you refine your crucial analytical skills, while our Ph.D. program will help you prepare for a rewarding career in university research and teaching as well as leadership roles in other sectors related to political studies. Most of our students are offered teaching assistantship positions. We encourage our students to present papers at academic conferences, and we provide partial support for conference travel. Many of our faculty offer Research Assistantship opportunities. We also encourage and support our students in their field research, and our faculty help students with networking in Canadian and global academic and policy fields.A number of profound transformations have marked Canadian politics in recent years: public policy challenges from climate change to globalization continuing changes in the party system formal and informal developments in the politics of federalism and national unity new conceptions of Canada’s place in the international system increasing tension over the meaning and extension of important civil and social rights and many others. Collectively, these developments have re-configured the political landscape, forcing new and compelling questions on to the agenda of political actors and observers alike. The study of Canadian politics has long been a central preoccupation in the Department of Political Studies. This history is alive in the research and teaching of several members of the current faculty. The Department offers graduate instruction and supervision concerning all of the traditional foci of students of Canadian politics: central institutions, the constitution, public policy, national unity and federalism, political parties and elections, and political economy. At the same time, the Department boasts unique strengths in numerous areas, including the law and politics of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, public opinion and voting behaviour, the politics of the welfare state, gender and politics, and political communication. Graduate students in the Department of Political Studies also benefit from close affiliations with the School of Policy Studies, and the Departments of Women’s Studies and Philosophy.