Graduate Application Deadline: January 31, 2012 *
* The Graduate Admissions Committee reserves the right to consider late applications if justified.
Graduate Studies Handbook for 2012 - 2013 can be downloaded as a PDF file.
Graduate Course List for 2011-12.
The Department of Political Science at Dalhousie University invites applications from qualified students for its MA and PhD programs. MA applicants must have a BA Honours degree in political science, and must have a 3.7 GPA to be considered for scholarship funding. An Honours degree entails something in the order of 10 full-year classes in political science, in addition to another 10 full-year credits in other disciplines. Ph.D. applicants must have BA and MA degrees with an average 3.7 GPA or above.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements, but who have superior academic qualifications, may be considered for admission to the MA or PhD program, but may be required to satisfy additional requirements within the program. This includes applicants without the Honours BA, who may apply for admission to a the MA program, and applicants for the PhD who hold a Master's degree other than the MA in Political Science.
Admission decisions are based on:
All of the above supporting documents must be sent by regular post to the Department of Political Science mailing address.
The Department of Political Scienceoffers a high quality graduate program in a collegial, relatively small department. There is extensive contact between professors and students in all phases of the program. There is also a congenial social environment, enhanced by the excellent entertainment and recreational amenities of the City of Halifax.
The Department is organized into four subfields:
Each field (with the exception of political theory) offers a core graduate-only seminar. Other classes are cross-listed at the undergraduate / graduate level.
The Centre for Foreign Policy Studies is an important part of the Department. The Centre is active in research, publishing, policy advising, and teaching on various aspects of foreign policy, defence and security studies, and international relations. All of these projects provide opportunities for students to take a “hands-on” role in research, conferences, and publishing. Each year, approximately half of our new graduate students come to Dalhousie because they want to be involved with the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies.
Students are eligible to receive some combination of scholarships and teaching assistanceships. Many also work as research assistants for faculty members, who generate a significant number of major research grants each year. We also encourage applicants to seek support from external sources. For student working in the field of International Relations, the best source of funding is the Security and Defence Forum. This is especially the case for Ph.D. students who are expected to seek support from agencies like Social Sciences and Humanities Research council of Canada (SSHRC) or IDRC. Scholarship programs are also managed by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
International Students should check out the international fellowships and exchanges listed at the DFAIT site. They can also consider such sources as Commonwealth Scholarships. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 600, or the equivalent score on a comparable test.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Faculty of Graduate Studies' web page.
For additional information, contact:
Frank Harvey, Graduate Coordinator
Department of Political Science
Dalhousie University
Halifax, N.S., B3H 4R2
(902) 494-6605
FAX: (902) 494-3825
The MA is a one-year (12 month) program consisting of three full-credit classes (or the equivalent in half-credit classes) and a thesis. Classes include at least two of the core graduate seminars and not more than one credit of classes cross-listed as undergraduate / graduate (3000/5000). Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 600, or the equivalent score on a comparable test.
The PhD program requires two years of full-time residency, and can be completed in three to four years. The principal requirements consist of one year of coursework; comprehensive examinations in a major field, a minor field, a bibliographic essay; and an original thesis. Course work will be required as appropriate to prepare students for their comprehensive examinations. These examinations will include both written and oral components. Before proceeding to the thesis, a student must present and defend a thesis proposal. Also, reading competence in a second language, usually French, must be demonstrated before the student begins work on the thesis. The thesis is written under the direction of a committee comprising the supervisor and two other members, and may include qualified faculty members from other departments or universities. The completed thesis is subject to a public, oral defence.
Students admitted to the political science program are eligible for the following prizes, awards, and scholarships.
For a PhD candidate who specializes in Canadian foreign policy, defence and security policy, development assistance policy, or another area addressing Canada's role in international affairs.
On January 15, 2006, senior Canadian diplomat Glyn R. Berry was tragically killed in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. At that time, he was Political Director for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). Mr. Berry was a principled humanitarian; passionately devoted to improving conditions for ordinary people in desperate circumstances.
Mr. Berry graduated with a PhD (Political Science) from Dalhousie University in 1981. In his honour, Dalhousie, in partnership with DFAIT, created the Glyn R. Berry Memorial Scholarship in International Policy Studies.
To be awarded to the best essay written by a graduate student in the area of international relations. Amount: approximately $350.
Doris Boyle served for many years as Administrative Secretary of the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies, from its creation in 1971 until her retirement. The prize was created by faculty and research staff of the Centre to honour her contributions to the activities of the Centre.
For a student entering the MA program in the field of international relations. Amount: approximately $3000.
Dr. Meagher was a Haligonian and Dalhousie alumnus. She had a long and distinguished career with the Department of External Affairs. She was among the first group of women admitted to the Foreign Service and was the first Canadian woman to serve as an Ambassador. During her years with the Department, positions she held included Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Austria, and Sweden, Canadian High Commissioner to Cyprus, Kenya, and Uganda as well as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
For a student entering the MA program who has demonstrated a keen interest in international relations, Canadian foreign policy, or defence and security studies. Amount: approximately $1000.
Reid Morden graduated from Dalhousie University with a BA in Political Science in 1963. A career public servant, he has held a number of senior positions, including Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President and CEO of /Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Following these appointments, Dr. Morden spent time in the private sector, mostly dealing with business intelligence. Mr. Morden is a Member of the Order of Canada, a Grand Officer of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil) and a holder of the Ian L. MacRae Award from the nuclear industry.
Margaret (Keens) Morden graduate from Dalhousie University with a BA in History. She then obtained a Library of Science degree from the University of Toronto and began her professional career with the Ottawa Public Library. For eleven years, Margaret was the Acquisitions Librarian at the Bank of Canada. More recently, Margaret has done volunteer work for the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, and is on the executive of the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts.