Political Economy Major
Regulations effective September 1, 2011.
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.
Did you know? Athabasca University also offers:
- three-year Political Economy Concentration
- Minor in Political Economy (optional)
For specific degree requirements view each program page.
Requirements in addition to the general program requirements for the 4-year BA with Major:
- 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).
- 15 credits in required core courses.
- 21 credits in one of the two Political Economy areas: Global Political Economy or Canadian Political Economy.
- 12 credits from the designated elective Political Economy major courses.
- 12 credits from the Political Economy designated elective program courses in Communications, History, Labour Studies/Industrial Relations, and Women’s and Gender Studies/Indigenous Studies.
- Students may transfer in a maximum of 30 credits of courses applicable to the requirements of the major.
Required Core Courses (15 credits)
ECON 247 | Microeconomics | (3) |
ECON 248 | Macroeconomics | (3) |
MATH 215 | Introduction to Statistics or |
(3) |
MGSC 301 | Statistics for Business and Economics I | |
POEC/GLST 230 | Globalization and World Politics | (3) |
POEC 302 | Introduction to Political Economy | (3) |
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.
Area of Focus 1: Global Political Economy
ECON 401 | The Changing Global Economy* *Students who have taken ECON 301 may not take ECON 401 |
(3) |
ECON 366 | Economic Development | (3) |
ECON 475 | International Trade | (3) |
ECON 476 | International Finance | (3) |
ENVS/GSLT 243 | Environmental Change in a Global Context | (3) |
ENVS 435 | Case Studies in Environmental Protection:
Popular Education,
Community Sustainability, and Global Connections |
(3) |
FNCE 370 | Overview of Corporate Finance | (3) |
GLST/HIST 307 | The Pacific Century | (3) |
GLST 308 | Americas: An Introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean | (3) |
GLST/HIST 381 | Modern China | (3) |
HIST 486 | The Industrial Revolution | (3) |
MKTG 414 | International Marketing and Exporting | (3) |
POLI 330 | International and Global Politics | (3) |
POLI 342 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | (3) |
POLI 480 | The Politics of Cyberspace | (3) |
POEC/GLST 395 | Global Development Strategies | (3) |
POEC/GLST 483 | International Political Economy:
The Politics of Globalization |
(3) |
SOCI 435 | Theories of Social Change | (3) |
or
Area of Focus 2: Canadian Political Economy
CMNS 380 | Corporate Communication | (3) |
CMNS 401 | Cultural Policy in Canada | (3) |
ECON 385 | Money, Banking and Canadian Financial Institutions | (3) |
FNCE 322 | Personal Finance | (3) |
GEOG 310 | Canadian Urban Development | (3) |
GOVN 390/POLI 392 | Public Policy and Administrative Governance | (3) |
HIST 326 | Contemporary Canada: Canada after 1945 | (3) |
IDRL 307 | Public Sector Labour Relations | (3) |
IDRL 320 | Labour Law in Canada | (3) |
LBST/SOCI/WGST 332 | Women and Unions | (3) |
LGST 310 | The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations |
(3) |
POEC 393 | Canada and the Global Political Economy | (3) |
POLI 309 | Canadian Government and Politics | (3) |
POLI 311 | Aboriginal Politics and Governments | (3) |
POLI 325 | Canadian Environmental Policy and Politics | (3) |
POLI 383 | Canadian Political Economy in a Global Era | (3) |
SOCI 321 | Sociology of Work and Industry | (3) |
SOCI 445 | Selected Topics in Canadian Society | (3) |
TAXX 301 | Taxation I | (3) |
Electives (select 12 credits from the following)
Communication Studies (CMNS) | (3) |
History (HIST) | (3) |
Labour Studies (LBST) and/or Industrial Relations (IDRL) | (3) |
Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) and/or Indigenous Studies (INST) | (3) |
Recommendations
- Students who may pursue graduate work in political economy or international affairs are strongly recommended to include POEC 499 among their electives.
- 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 (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.
- Writing proficiency: Students for whom English is a second language are strongly encouraged to take ENGL 177 and ENGL 189.
Information effective Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2012.
Updated July 06, 2012
Related Links
- General Bachelor of Arts (4-year) Regulations
- Program Website
- Transfer Credit Services
- Archived Program Regulations