Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science/ Pre-Law

at Lakehead University - Orillia Campus Canada

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Business Administration has one of the finest undergraduate business programs in Canada, producing exceptional business leaders through innovative programming that includes mentorship, consulting opportunities, and participation in national and international business competitions.

All students gain a comprehensive understanding of core business disciplines early in the program before digging deeper into fields of study that offer a range of advanced courses.

Our Faculty of Business Administration’s Thunder Bay campus has joined the ranks of elite business schools by earning our Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) certification. Fewer than 5% of business programs worldwide have been accredited with the AACSB certification. This globally-recognized hallmark of excellence guarantees you will experience a challenging and relevant curriculum delivered by the most highly-qualified faculty.  

We are also accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Ontario, with all Accounting majors meeting the requirements of the CPA Prerequisite Education Program (PREP) upon graduation.

Human Resources Management majors graduate with the required courses for use toward one of the Certified Human Resources designations (CHRP, CHRL, CHRE) as approved by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

Minors are available for Honours Bachelor of Commerce students in their third or fourth years in either Accounting, Business Finance, Human Resources/Industrial Relations, Information Systems or Marketing.

The Faculty of Education at Lakehead University offers a Master of Education program designed to meet your professional and academic goals and interests. Our Master of Education (MEd) program provides you with a unique learning opportunity, which addresses the current landscape of both education and research. Our program consists of two distinct fields of study, Educational Studies and Education for Change.

Our Educational Studies field offers you the opportunity to earn your Master's of Education while studying educational research, theory, and practice in a variety of educational contexts, as well as the chance to specialize in Gerontology or Women's Studies.

All class sizes are small, giving you the opportunity to interact with classmates, instructors, and other faculty members. Our Faculty members have expertise in a wide variety of areas; for more information about our faculty and their research areas, please see the Faculty and Staff page.

We are also the home of two Canada Research Chairs (in Environmental Education, Arts Integrated Research), the Centre for Place and Sustainability Studies, the Multi-Data Convergence Laboratory, and the Canadian Journal of Environmental Education.

Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.

Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, you will study: 

• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Law and Politics
• Public Administration and Policy
• Indigenous Governance
• Comparative Politics

Anthropology is the broad, multi-disciplinary study and documentation of humans, past and present. As an Anthropology student you will have the opportunity to study everything from stone artifacts and skeletal remains, to a community's economic structure and unique dialect. Our Department of Anthropology has four distinct sub-disciplines with many different topics to explore in each:

• Archaeology
• Bioanthropology
• Linguistics
• Socio-Cultural Anthropology

Our courses blend in-class lecture with seminars, labs and field work to provide you with a well-rounded background in both the theoretical and practical applications of your area of interest. You will have access to world-class laboratories and anthropological collections which have contributed to groundbreaking findings and been utilized by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

Lakehead Advantage
We are one of the only universities in Canada to offer a Bachelor of Science (Anthropology) and an Honours Bachelor of Science (Anthropology) in addition to the Arts stream. The Science stream is focused on more field and lab-based work with an emphasis on core science courses including Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as Math and Geography. This unique and thorough curriculum will allow you to pursue a career in Anthropology or the sciences depending on your interests.

Our Department of Anthropology is widely recognized as a leader in undergraduate research and for producing world-class Anthropologists. Our faculty members are leaders in their respective field of study and regularly work with undergraduate students on special topics courses and projects. Our students have published papers and presented their findings at national archaeological conventions across Canada, with most of them winning a place on the podium for their innovation.

A student may enter, proceed in and graduate from the Honours BSc program in accordance with stipulations of the University Regulations section and Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies Faculty Regulations section of the Calendar. All course choices in fourth year must be approved by the department. For more information Click On

We have a range of laboratories housing world-class equipment, integral to research across the region. You will have access to these resources including:

• Environmental Archaeology & Paleoecology Laboratory
• LU GIS Laboratory
• LU Instrumentation Laboratory
• LU Map Library
• LU Paleo-DNA Laboratory
• Physical Anthropology Laboratory
• Zooarchaeology Laboratory

Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.

Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.

If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, you will study:

• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Law and Politics
• Public Administration and Policy
• Indigenous Governance
• Comparative Politics

The Lakehead Advantage
Our diverse course content, combined with an intimate learning environment, provides a comprehensive education in classic and contemporary government, law, and politics, as well as highly developed writing, research and analytical skills.

If you are thinking about applying to law school in the future, consider taking our specialized Pre-Law Program. It is designed to introduce you to the study of law by emphasizing subject matter related to the legal process, in addition to politics. Graduates from this program are regularly accepted to excellent law schools.

Contrary to popular belief, the study of English is not simply about books. English is a wide-ranging field of study that uses textual analysis to dig deeper into our society and the world around us.

At Lakehead University, the flexibility of our English program encourages you to follow your own interests within the discipline. You’ll learn about the historical development of English language literature - from the Medieval to the contemporary period - as well as different theoretical approaches to the study of literary and cultural texts.

We offer a broad range of courses including:

• Poetry
• Film
• Popular Culture
• Creative, Academic, and Professional Writing
• Gender Studies
• Children’s Literature
• Fiction
• And much more

The Lakehead Advantage

Our small class sizes facilitate an intimate and interactive learning environment from first year all the way to the graduate level. Our professors are always available if you need clarification or extra support throughout the year. 

While research and writing is very important to our professors, teaching excellence is our number one priority. Many of our professors have won the Distinguished Instructor Award - Lakehead University’s most prestigious teaching honour.

Our outstanding faculty ensure you graduate from the English program with advanced:

• Creative and critical thinking skills
• Written and verbal communication strategies
• Textual and argumentation analysis capabilities
• Understanding of diverse cultural and historical contexts
• Genre conventions knowledge
• Research methods skills

Our exceptional learning environment sets the stage for academic, professional, and personal success by emphasizing the development of strong analytical and creative abilities.

Our Faculty of Education prepares prospective teachers for a dynamic and rewarding career through unique and innovative programming. By emphasizing critical thinking skills and collaborative learning, we give you the flexibility to explore the teaching methods, concepts, and values that are meaningful to you. 

We are leading the way in teacher education. Our program emphasizes practical, experiential learning to ensure you are fully prepared to enter into the workforce post-graduation. Our programs are continually adapted to encompass a variety of educational settings and training opportunities in two divisions:

• Primary-Junior (P/J): JK – Grade 6
• Intermediate-Senior (I/S): Grades 7-12 

Unlike our Concurrent Education program, which is completed along with an undergraduate degree in another discipline, our Consecutive Education program is a two-year program open to those who have already completed a three- or four-year undergraduate degree.

Explore the modern applications of bio-molecular research in anthropology, chemistry, biology, and physics as a student of Applied Life Sciences. This interdisciplinary program focuses on the study of living organisms at the bio-molecular or cellular level, and the human manipulation of molecular biological processes, with hands-on learning through laboratory courses, research opportunities, and internships.

You will acquire skills in cutting-edge molecular biology, biotechnology, and diagnostic methods in our world-renowned labs including the Paleo DNA Laboratory.

The Applied Life Sciences major can include a concentration in Biomedical Sciences, as well as specializations in Biotechnology or Experimental Life Sciences. A combined degree-diploma program offered in partnership with Georgian College is another option that will allow you to graduate with both an Honours Bachelor of Science in Applied Life Science degree and a Biotechnology-Health diploma.

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Education is one of Canada’s most diverse and innovative centres of learning. We’re leading the way in teacher education through our commitment to the very best in multidisciplinary, collaborative, and experiential instruction.

Concurrent Education allows you to start your teaching career faster and earn two degrees at the same time. Study the program of your choice, while also taking classes within the Faculty of Education, before spending two years exclusively with the Faculty of Education in order to qualify for certification by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

Our program emphasizes practical learning through placements, practicums, community engagement, and international opportunities to ensure you are fully prepared to enter into the workforce post-graduation.

With programs in two campus locations - Thunder Bay and Orillia - our Education program will provide you with the expertise you need to develop as an educator, and prepare you for the dynamic and rewarding profession of teaching today.

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Business Administration has one of the finest undergraduate business programs in Canada, producing exceptional business leaders through innovative programming that includes mentorship, consulting opportunities, and participation in national and international business competitions.
All students gain a comprehensive understanding of core business disciplines early in the program before digging deeper into fields of study that offer a range of advanced courses.

In first year you will take the following core courses, plus electives:-

• Business 1011 – Introduction to Management
• Business 1012 – Financial Accounting
• Business 1013 – Business Computing
• Business 1031 – Business Writing I
• Business 1066 – Quantitative Analysis in Management
• Economics 1100 – Principles of Economics