The Political Economy program at Athabasca University is designed for both beginning students and professionals to understand and engage with Canadian and global political and economic issues. The course selection provides students the opportunity to develop a greater appreciation and understanding of diverse polities, economies, cultures, and regions of the world. Additionally, it offers to professionals the retooling skills and the academic credential necessary for successful employment in an era of globalization.
Students may focus their studies in either Global Political Economy or Canadian Political Economy. For more information visit the website.
Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating. Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time
of their enrolment.
Requirements within the 120 credits required for the four-year BA with major.
1.
60 Political Economy major credits outlined
below including a minimum of 36 senior (300 or 400) level credits from
major courses (a minimum of 12, 400-level credits):
2.
15 credits in required core courses.
3.
21 credits in one of the two Political Economy
areas: Global Political Economy or Canadian Political Economy.
4.
12 credits from the designated elective
Political Economy major courses.
5.
12 credits from the Political Economy designated
elective program courses in Communications, History, Labour Studies/Industrial
Relations, and Women's Studies/Indigenous Studies. Students
may transfer in a maximum of 30 credits of courses applicable to the
requirements of the major.
Of the 21 credits required in the area of
focus, students must take at least one course from each of the following
areas: Economics, Political Economy, and Political Science. Select
courses from only one area of focus.
Students who may pursue graduate
work in political economy or
international affairs are strongly
recommended to include POEC 499
Directed Studies in Political Economy,
among their electives.
2.
Language proficiency: Students in Canadian studies areas who may
pursue employment in the federal civil service or foreign affairs,
are strongly recommended to take French as an elective or option.
Students interested in North American integration should take Spanish.
Students interested in the economic integration of Europe should consider taking German. Students interested in governance capacity-building for First Nations
communities should take Indigenous language courses.
“Language proficiency” generally refers to one of the
following:
•
the ability to read French, Spanish, or German at a level consistent with
the usual requirements of a junior French language course. This
ability may be proven by one of the following: either by completing
six junior language credits in French (for example FREN 200
and 201)
or by passing a reading proficiency examination in French, Spanish, or German;
•
speak fluently one of
Canada's Indigenous languages
(for example, Cree or Inuktitut);
or
•
read one of Canada's
Indigenous languages (for example, Cree or Inuktitut), at a level consistent
with the usual requirements of a second-year university language
course.