Bachelor of Social Science (Joint Honours) in Public Administration and Political Science

at University of Ottawa Canada

Students will acquire knowledge and have opportunities to apply what they learn in various types of organizations and contexts related to sport, leisure and physical activity. They will gain theoretical and practical training in governance and management principles, related to planning, policy making, marketing, entrepreneurship, and communications. Students will critically examine the impacts of organizations, sport events and festivals, and learn to evaluate the influence of policy relating to sport, leisure and physical activity, on individuals and society.

Students will acquire the management skills needed to understand the Canadian sport system, its organizations and people. For example, they will gain an enriched understanding of governmental, for-profit, and non-profit organizations in sport and leisure, ranging from local to international organizations in professional sport, municipal recreation departments, sport events, and the commercial sector. Students will receive training informed by social sciences (e.g., management, sociocultural, leisure studies, psychology). Management courses will give students opportunities to gain competencies in the planning, organizing, marketing, leadership, and evaluation of sport, leisure and recreation organizations and events. Students will acquire cutting-edge knowledge and skills related to the latest developments in branding and marketing a sport, leisure or recreation organization, and managing volunteers in a sport event or festival. Sociocultural courses will enable students to learn about historical and contemporary issues affecting how people interact in organizations and in society. Students will have opportunities to understand the reasons behind current situations and gain skills in critical inquiry they can use to facilitate change in organizations.

Graduates will have developed management skills allowing them to better integrate into the workplace upon graduation and contribute to their organization and society. They will have acquired skills to provide advocacy and recommendations to policy and decision-makers at all levels of the sport system, from the municipality to Sport Canada, and international sport organizations. Our graduates will also have gained interpersonal, networking, and critical thinking skills, which will benefit their job marketability. They can pursue career-paths in various segments of the sport, leisure and recreation industries (government, non-profit or for-profit) at the local, regional, national and international levels. The emphasis of our program on both foundational knowledge but also how knowledge translates into action enables our graduates to pursue different occupational roles. For example, our graduates can take on leadership, management, and governance roles in local and national amateur sport organizations (e.g., sport clubs, university athletics department, Olympic sport organizations), event organizations (e.g., FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015), professional sport teams and government departments (e.g., Sport Canada, provincial and municipal recreation departments). Our graduates can also pursue research-based or professional-based graduate degrees.

This multi-disciplinary program introduces students to the study of international issues, trans-border phenomena and intercultural relations of all kinds. It leads to an in-depth understanding of the complex connections and interactions among local, national, regional and global processes. It exposes students to a wide range of disciplinary viewpoints — including economics, geography, history and world religions — while simultaneously providing a solid and rigorous foundation in political science. 

As a complement to its focus on international studies, the program offers advanced foreign-language training. Students acquire proficiency in Canada's two official languages and in at least one additional modern language, thus preparing them for the demands of an internationally-oriented career. The program also develops fundamental skills in critical-thinking, analysis and synthesis, and teaches students a variety of research methods. Students benefit from extensive international opportunities, including study abroad, international field-research courses, a Model UN course, and international internships. 

In addition to their second official language, students can choose to study one of the following modern languages: Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

Recent discoveries and new technologies are revolutionizing the biological sciences, placing increasing emphasis on integrating knowledge across all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems.  Our programs give students both the intellectual tools and the hands-on experience they need to pursue careers in fields as diverse as conservation and endangered species; land-use management; ecotoxicology; academic, industry or government research; or health care.  Learning takes place through traditional classroom instruction, innovative laboratory projects with state-of-the-art technologies, field-based courses around the world, and a strong research program in which undergraduate students of all years are intensively mentored in a research lab.

The honours program in biology allows for in-depth study in one or more biological disciplines. Students can concentrate on a particular area by choosing one of three options: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology, or Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. This route includes a compulsory independent research project to equip students with advanced research, analysis and communication skills applicable to diverse careers.  Alternatively, they can pursue diverse interests by selecting a general course of study that includes a number of advanced courses, and they can gain work experience while studying through the Co-Operative Education Programs.

The study of public administration seeks to advance our understanding of how governments work and of their role in contemporary societies. It examines public management principles from various perspectives (administration, financial management, human resources, ethics, administrative reforms, governance, etc.) and the processes involved in designing public policies (policy cycle, roles of various stakeholders, ideologies, contextual factors, etc.). The program offers a high-quality education to students seeking a career in the public or para-public sectors, as well as those who seek to work in the private or non-profit sectors, or in government relations.

We offer what we believe are the finest graduate programs in Economics in Canada. Our programs prepare students for both applied and theoretical research, and, especially in the case of the M.A. program, for nonacademic careers in both the private and public sectors. Both programs involve a core of courses in economic theory and quantitative methods, together with a range of specialized electives chosen according to each student’s interest.

Unlock the secrets of the Greek and Roman civilization and the origins of the Western world. Benefit not only from small classes and a close-knit student community but also from the department's library and even its on-campus museum. Take advantage of volunteer opportunities in the museum to gain first-hand experience working with artifacts from the Classical world.

Environmental studies delve into some of the most significant issues of our day, such as anthropogenic climate change, urban pollution and possible threats to human health. You learn how to use applied research tools and management principles that can be applied in a variety of areas, such as conducting environmental impact assessments and resource management.

The School of Music offers the Master of Music (MMus) with concentration in Composition, the Master of Music (MMus) with concentration in Performance and the Master of Arts (MA) in Music. Performance studies are offered in piano, collaborative piano, voice, orchestral instruments, guitar, and conducting.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.), coursework option, is a course-based program designed to deepen your knowledge of education, improve your professional practice and expand your career choices.

The Department of English offers the degrees of Master of Arts (with coursework, major research paper, or thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy in English. Both programs equip students to pursue advanced studies in British, Canadian, or American literature informed by a broad knowledge of literary history and by recent developments in literary criticism and cultural theory. The department is well known for its annual Canadian Literature Symposium, and its faculty is distinguished and well-published. The Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) has consistently awarded the department the council's highest rating.