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

at University of Ottawa Canada

Mathematics
Mathematics and statistics are not only powerful problem-solving tools, but also highly creative fields of studies that combine imagination with logic, and precision with intuition. 

Mathematics is much more than numbers! Its basic goal is to reveal and model general patterns to help explain our world, whether they be found in electrical impulses in the human nervous system, the evolution of animal populations in their habitats, fluctuations in stock-market prices, or electronic communications. Mathematics reaches far beyond science and engineering into medicine, business and the social sciences. 

Advances in mathematics and statistics lie behind many discoveries that are now part of our daily lives, such as MRI scanners, digital compression of music and video, secure electronic communications, data mining, genomic algorithms, futures pricing, and many other innovations. 

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers Honours, majors and minors both in mathematics and in statistics. Our Honours program in statistics is accredited by the Statistical Society of Canada, allowing graduates to earn the A.Stat. professional designation. Moreover, the Department offers a joint honours program in mathematics and economics, a joint honours program in mathematics and computer science, as well as a multidisciplinary program in financial mathematics and economics. All our honours programs also include the co-operative education option.

Economics
Ever wonder why some countries are richer than others? Ever question why income inequality has been growing? Ever wonder why Canadian politicians worry when other countries may be going bankrupt? Economics can answer all these questions. 

Economics examines how individuals and society make choices in a world where resources are limited. It focuses on the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Two important themes are efficiency (the absence of waste in the use of resources) and fairness. Since making choices is central to all human activities, studying economics often helps explain why people and governments behave in certain ways.

The School of Music at the University of Ottawa is the only school of its kind in Canada to offer a music and cognition program that focuses on special music education. Its partnership with the Lotus Centre for Special Music Education, which provides adapted music education for the special needs community, makes for a complete learning experience combining theory and practice. You can choose to complete a 90-hour practicum and gain experience in special music education classes and camps. Interested? Enrol in the school’s microprogram, an intensive eighteen-hour workshop for which you will be credited if you start the MA program.

Established in 1983, the Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Physics (OCIP) combines the research strengths of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The Institute offers graduate programs leading to master’s (MSc) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Physics.

Research facilities are shared between the two campuses. Students have access to the professors, courses and facilities at both universities; however, they must enroll at the “home university” of the thesis supervisor.

Philosophy
Since it deals mainly with issues that have no simple solutions, philosophy emphasizes the exchange of ideas and debate, and thus cultivates an appetite for deep and serious reflection. By reading and discussing the works of the world's great thinkers on fundamental topics like truth, justice, morality and existence, you sharpen your own ability to think clearly, critically and independently. The Department's curriculum has a twin approach, historical and analytical, and covers political and social philosophy, ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind and logic. 

Political Science
Politics is omnipresent in our lives. Political science seeks to describe, analyze, understand and assess the principles and power relations that govern social life. It revolves as much around the structures and institutions that define these relations and principles as around the ideas and practices that drive them. It studies everything that influences political life and institutions (ideologies, groups, social movements, etc.) on a local, regional, national and international scale.

Our programs offer in-depth training in political science and encourage critical reflection on pivotal issues like citizenship, identity, political participation, globalization and development, governance and the state, and ethics and democracy. A discipline open to many theoretical and methodological approaches, political science constantly exchanges and shares with other fields. At the University of Ottawa's School of Political Studies, you build your knowledge in four subfields of political science: political thought, Canadian and Quebec politics, comparative politics, and international relations and global politics.

Public Administration
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.

Political Science
Politics is omnipresent in our lives. Political science seeks to describe, analyze, understand and assess the principles and power relations that govern social life. It revolves as much around the structures and institutions that define these relations and principles as around the ideas and practices that drive them. It studies everything that influences political life and institutions (ideologies, groups, social movements, etc.) on a local, regional, national and international scale.

Our programs offer in-depth training in political science and encourage critical reflection on pivotal issues like citizenship, identity, political participation, globalization and development, governance and the state, and ethics and democracy. A discipline open to many theoretical and methodological approaches, political science constantly exchanges and shares with other fields. At the University of Ottawa's School of Political Studies, you build your knowledge in four subfields of political science: political thought, Canadian and Quebec politics, comparative politics, and international relations and global politics.

Biomedical Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the fundamentals of human structure and function, as well as those of other animals. The first two years provide a background in human anatomy and psychology, in addition to more in-depth knowledge in basic sciences like biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics. At the end of second year, in addition to courses in biology and biochemistry, students may choose from an array of optional courses and obtain a minor in one of many programs offered, OR they can choose an option within the biomedical sciences (Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bioanalytical Science, Medicinal Chemistry or Biostatistics).  On graduation, they will be ready for more advanced research training or for admission to a professional program in human health.

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.

Healthcare systems are undergoing unprecedented transformation fuelled by the digitization of services and investments in health information technologies. Our option in Healthcare Analytics is a field built on the crucial role that data, systems engineering, management, and organizational innovation play in improving the quality and timeliness of service delivery in a high performing healthcare system. This field answers a need to develop expertise to create the research and training capabilities required for transforming healthcare into a system that adheres to the principles of patient-centered care and participatory medicine.

In recent years, organizations have increasingly begun to appreciate the strategic importance of adopting a systematic approach to human resource management (HRM). The purpose of this program is to provide an in-depth knowledge of the three HRM functions that have become most critical in organizations: personnel management, industrial relations and organizational behaviour. This program emphasizes both practical and conceptual skills, to enable students to work in all areas of HRM in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. 

Graduates of this program are well-positioned to succeed in the competitive HR labour market, as the majority of our courses have been accredited by the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO). Thus, students who successfully complete the HRM program not only receive a BCom with specialized training in HRM, but also fulfill the academic requirements for Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. 

The goal of the master's program is to educate enrolled nurses for an advanced practice role and/or doctoral studies. Graduates of the program are prepared to assume leadership roles in improving the quality of nursing care in various health care settings. The program provides rigorous academic preparation based on theory and research to address health-related phenomena experienced by individuals, families, groups, aggregates and communities. This Master of Science in Nursing program is only available as an on campus program with no option for students to enroll in courses at a distance.

Francophones from minority communities on the Canadian west and east coasts and in the Territories benefit from additional privileges thanks to the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS). CNFS is a nationally-represented organization that comprises ten university- and college-level academic institutions offering French-language education in various health-related fields.