The Political Science and International Relations department explores the big questions about issues of power and authority that go to the heart of how people are governed. Our world is being reshaped in fascinating and critical ways. Security considerations, geopolitics, divisions born of wealth and poverty, and global development challenges have all become unavoidable realities. Our award-winning faculty offer courses across each of the major subfields in political science, including Canadian politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and administration.

Political science is the study of power and governance. You will have the opportunity to learn from award-winning teachers and leading international researchers who will challenge you to think broadly about power and the responsibilities of engaged citizenship. Through innovative teaching methods, such as participating in simulations and student-driven research projects, you will gain the necessary knowledge to apply to social problems in Canada and around the world. Courses include democracy, citizenship, and law; municipal, provincial, and federal (Canadian) politics; politics of gender and health; and international politics.

The program incorporates aspects of ethics, political science, and policy studies to create a well-rounded and practical foundation for future leaders and decision-makers. The knowledge and skills gained in this program can be applied to a number of current issues. For example, encouraging ethical media practices, guiding ethical principles in emerging technologies, and developing policies that benefit people and the environment.

Human Rights are predicated upon the belief that every human being deserves to be treated with equal dignity and that every person has inherent value. Even though we say that everyone is entitled to these basic rights and freedoms, many individuals and groups in Canada and around the world still are systematically deprived of these rights, often by powerful actors like governments and industry.

Campus Saint-Jean, the only French-speaking post-secondary institution in Western Canada, offers its students the ideal setting for learning and community involvement thanks to its small classes, its scholarships rewarding academic excellence, and its research opportunities.

The University of Manitoba’s Global Political Economy (GPE) program is unique among Canadian undergraduate universities. The GPE program is an interdisciplinary approach for the study of international political, social, environmental, and economic issues. It brings together faculty and course offerings across five disciplines to give you a superb education in global political and economic relations, and their effects on local communities.

The B.A. in Conflict Studies is designed to prepare you to analyze and manage various disputes in a professional manner by demonstrating both objectivity and empathy. No matter what the conflict situation, whether it is local, national, or international, you will be equipped to resolve disputes.