Political Science (POLI) 309

Overview

POLI 309 provides an introduction to the basic structures and processes of government and politics in Canada and will help the student describe, explain, analyze, and assess contemporary issues and events in Canada.

Outline

Part 1: Introduction

• Unit 1: Studying Canadian Government and Politics
• Unit 2: Setting the Context: Governing in a Global World

Part 2: The Societal Context

• Unit 3: Political Culture, Political Socialization, and Canadian Political Identity
• Unit 4: Regional, Economic, and Class Cleavages
• Unit 5: Indigenous Peoples
• Unit 6: French Canada and the Quebec Question
• Unit 7: Gender, Multiculturalism, and Representation

Part 3: Governing

• Unit 8: The Constitutional Context
• Unit 9: The Parliamentary System
• Unit 10: The Executive
• Unit 11: The Bureaucracy
• Unit 12: The Judiciary

Part 4: Linking People to Government

• Unit 13: Civil Society: Interest Groups, Social Movements, and the Voluntary Sector
• Unit 14: Political Parties
• Unit 15: Elections and the Electoral System

Evaluation

To receive credit for POLI 309, you must complete the following assignments and the final exam. You must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of D (50 percent) or better on the final examination. The weighting of the assignments is as follows:

The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Cochrane, C., Blidook, K., & Dyck, R. (2020). Canadian politics: Critical approaches (9th ed.). Top Hat Monocle.

Physical course materials

The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:

Bickerton, J., & Gagnon, A-G. (Eds.). (2019). Canadian politics (7th ed.). University of Toronto Press.

Other Materials

All other materials are available online.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive creditfor the POLI 309 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent)on the examination.

Important links

• Academic advising
• Program planning
• Request assistance
• Support services