phd political science guelph

Graduate Information Session - Political Science

Date and time.

In person - MacKinnon 019  Virtual - Teams

Considering applying to a graduate program within Political Science?

Join us for an info session where we’ll break down the graduate school application, explain the process, and outline key application elements as well as share tips on strengthening your application for Political Science  grad programs .  

Learn about our MA and PhD Programs with advice from faculty members. Join us for a fun and informal information session focusing on funding, fields of study, potential advisors, applications, and more!

Access the webinar via Microsoft Teams .

Interested in other areas of Social and Applied Human Sciences? Join us for other information session by visiting csahs.uoguelph.ca/grad-info  

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Programs to Consider

University of guelph - office of graduate studies, political science, description:, prerequisites:.

* The entrance grade may change from year to year. Please contact the school for further information. * We make every attempt to provide accurate information on prerequisites, programs, and tuition. However, this information is subject to change without notice and we highly recommend that you contact the school to confirm important information before applying.

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I am a Ph.D candidate in the department of Political Science at the University of Guelph. I research Canadian politics, administrative law and public policy.

• –present Ph.D Candidate, University of Guelph
• 2015  McMaster University, Master of Arts - Political Science
• 2013  McMaster University, Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
• Toronto, Canada
• Article Feed
• Joined August 17, 2018

College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

Sociology PhD

Join graduate students of the highest caliber from across the country and around the world as you delve into the workings of society with a focus on how to improve life. In our program, you'll apply your knowledge, skills and values to examine and engage with current social issues through our four available specializations in environment, food and communities; work and organization; crime and social control; and identities and social inclusion. In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study.

As a self-motivated and talented sociology PhD scholar, you'll find a rewarding array of intellectual and professional challenges through course work, seminars, qualifying examinations, teaching and research assistantships, conference presentations and dissertation writing.

You'll also gain valuable leadership experience and professional development as you build the skills you need to succeed inside and outside of academia, such as advanced theoretical and methodological competence, an ability to conduct research independently at the cutting edge of your chosen field, and the expertise to communicate with precision and confidence while working with world-renowned faculty.

Program Brochure    Meet Our Graduates

Fields of Specialization

Our sociology MA provides the opportunity to specialize in one of four fields where our faculty is well-recognized for its expertise, including:

Environment, Food, and Communities

The field of Environment, Food, and Communities reflects sociological interests in understanding societal-ecological interactions more broadly. The specific focus may include environmental/natural resources/food systems and environmental justice/community sustainability.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to draw on established methodologies in the field, including the comparative and historical approach. Attention will be given to the ways in which structure/power/culture and class/gender/race and ethnicity play out in at least one of the substantive topics comprising this field.

Work and Organization

The field of Work and Organization reflects sociological interests in changing patterns of work and employment in comparative contexts, labour markets, gender and work, industrial and organizational change, economic restructuring and work, organizations and protest, education for work, and the regulation of work. These trends are located in the broader processes of globalization, economic restructuring and fundamental shifts in public policy.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to focus on the dialectical relationship between the configurations of gender, class, race and ethnicity, and the transformation and re-organization of work.

Crime and Social Control

The field of Crime and Social Control reflects sociological interests in how crime is defined, measured, explained and reacted to by society.

Within this field students will be exposed to scholarly material on a broad range of topics including: cyberbullying, victimization, legal responses to homelessness, intimate partner violence, drug policy, school violence, feminist criminology, critical criminology, restorative justice, sociology of risk, policing, the social construction of crime, inmate re-integration, youth justice, wrongful convictions, and life course criminology.

Identities and Social Inclusion

The field of Identities and Social Inclusion reflects sociological interests in the study of intergroup relations, with special emphasis on struggles over influence and power. Students specializing in this field will acquire a deeper understanding of the complex intersection as well as the overlap of forms of identity and group mobilization based on ethnic, linguistic, regional, class, gender, racial and other forms of social division.

The field also provides students with the opportunity to study Indigenous issues and policies related to multiculturalism, equity and local or regional autonomy.

Collaborative Specialization in International Development Studies

Students can choose to combine their PhD in Sociology with an International Development Studies specialization. The collaborative IDS specialization offers an interdisciplinary framework for the study of international development that combines training in a selected academic discipline with exposure to a broad range of social science perspectives.

More about the IDS specialization

Program Completion Requirements

A minimum of five semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the doctoral program. Normally, the dissertation will be formally submitted within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration.

The PhD program is not offered on a part-time basis. All students are required to register in the program full time.

PhD students are required to successfully complete a minimum of four graduate courses, normally during their first two semesters in the program:

• PhD professional seminar (SOC*6750). This is a two-semester course that consists of a combination of several required and elective components and is expected to be completed within the first year of the program. Some elective sessions may be offered in subsequent years of the program.
• Advanced Topics in Sociological Theory (SOC*6800). This core PhD course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the fall semester of the first year of study.
• Advanced Issues in Mixed Research Methodologies (SOC*6200). This core PhD Course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the winter semester of the first year of study.
• One required graduate course in one of the four departmental fields of specialization, as determined by the student's area of specialization. Students advancing to the PhD program from the MA program in sociology at the University of Guelph who have successfully completed the existing graduate course in their field of specialization are required to take an elective graduate course offered by the department or a graduate course offered in another department at the University of Guelph (selected in consultation with the student's advisor).

Qualifying Examination

In addition to coursework, students are required to successfully complete one qualifying examination. The qualifying examination has a written and an oral component and covers sociological theory, the student's substantive field of specialization and student's research area.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to assess a student's knowledge of the relevant subject matter and their ability to critically analyze, integrate and evaluate theoretical, methodological and substantive knowledge, and to assess their preparedness to undertake research for the PhD dissertation and to develop an analysis of their research findings.

As such, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the foundations of sociological theories and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the broad literature in the field as well as theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to that specific field.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal should be formulated early and presented to the PhD advisory committee.

The dissertation proposal must be formally approved by the advisory committee before the dissertation research can begin. The dissertation proposal provides a framework for the actual research.

Dissertation

Each doctoral candidate is required to submit and orally defend a dissertation, written by the candidate, on research carried out by the candidate on a topic approved by the advisory committee. The dissertation is expected to be a significant contribution to knowledge in its field and the candidate must indicate in what ways it is a contribution.

The dissertation must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate, and it must indicate an ability to express oneself in a satisfactory literary style. Approval of the dissertation is taken to imply that it is judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable scholarly media in the field.

Graduate Calendar    Course Descriptions

In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study. If you are interested in working with world-renowned faculty on cutting edge topics, please reach out to a faculty member directly through our faculty profiles.

Meet the Faculty

Admission Requirements

Normally, only applicants with a recognized MA degree in sociology and with high academic standing (80% or higher) in their graduate-level studies will be admitted into the program.

Students are expected to have successfully completed master's-level courses in sociological theory as well as master's-level qualitative and quantitative methodology courses in sociology. Normally, students will have taken courses across the breadth of sociology.

Financial Support

The University of Guelph offers many resources to financially support graduate students. Explore your options on the Graduate Studies website .

Help fund your graduate studies by taking advantage of Entrance Awards .

Cost of Tuition and Living

Take the Next Step

Start the application process and explore options for funding your education.

How to Apply

Awards & Scholarships

College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

Dennis Baker

Ryan Briggs

Dalal Daoud

Mark S. Harding

Carmen Jacqueline Ho

Candace Johnson

Craig Johnson

Adam Kochanski

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Applying to Guelph

Thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph. The following information will guide you through the application process and assist you with the online application.

Step 1: Investigate Program Options

• Review our  list of graduate programs  and select a program of interest to you. Once selecting a program from the list, program-specific information will be available. 
• Program-specific questions can be directed to the program's Graduate Program Assistant, who's contact information is available on the Program’s page
• If you are interested in working with a specific advisor, contact the advisor to discuss potential research opportunities. Faculty members are often listed on the Department’s website.
• Some programs are offered as Part-Time. Find out more about applying or switching to part-time . 

Step 2: Review Admission Requirements & Deadlines

• Visit the University of Guelph's  general admission requirements  page.
• Additional requirements vary by program. Review the program-specific admission requirements by selecting the program from the list of Academic Programs , and then opening the Program Brochure. 
• Calculate your admissions average
• View application on the program one pagers found on each program page .
• Please note that International applicants must apply 9-12 months before their program begins. Please visit our  International Applicants  page for important information.

Step 3: Prepare Application Documents

• Applicants are required to list a minimum of two (2) academic references on their application. We recommend you contact your referees prior to submitting your application to confirm their availability and contact information.  Some departments require three (3) referees.  Ensure you read the department's application requirements closely. Please note, a ll information that is submitted by the referee in the assessment is confidential and will not be released to the applicant.
• Applicants upload application documents such as transcripts, statement of research, CV/resume  after receiving WebAdvisor login credentials.  This will be up to 5 business days after submission and payment of the OUAC application.  However, we recommend gathering application documents and having them ready in advance. 
• We do not require official documents during the application process.
• Additional documents: Gather any additional requirements specified by the department for admission purposes. Some departments will require hard copy documents (test scores) and/or portfolios to be sent directly to the Graduate Program Assistant.

Step 4: Apply Online

Please Note: The University of Guelph has contracted with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) to provide application processing services. When you begin the application process, you will be transferred to the OUAC website where you will complete and submit your application. You will be required to create an OUAC Account (if you do not already have one). You may have only one OUAC Account. Direct any technical application questions to the OUAC at [email protected] .

• Students applying to a graduate program at the University of Guelph are required to apply online.  We do not accept hard copy applications. Be sure to check the Planned Scheduled Maintenance  dates, as this may impact your ability to apply.
• The application fee for most graduate programs is $120 (The MBA , MA (Leadership) application fee is $150) This fee is non refundable and is payable to OUAC.  Our office only receives applications from OUAC once payment has been processed. 
• You may request official Ontario University transcripts to be sent directly to our office through OUAC.  You cannot upload documents to the OUAC application.
• You may apply to multiple programs using the same OUAC application (normal application fees apply). Please see instructions once you enter the application.
• If you wish to apply to another program after submission of a previous application, you will be unable to edit personal information, academic background or references.  You will only be able to select the new program and start term.  If you need to change your referees, please refer to our FAQ page.  You will need to submit and pay the application fee once more before we receive your application in our office.

For the best experience with the OUAC applications and website, we recommend visiting their Supported Browsers and Devices page.

Step 5: Upload Documents

• If it has been 5 business days and you have not received your login information, please check your Junk and Spam folders.
• Please note that the WebAdvisor account information nor the referee request can not be expedited.
• Please plan the submission of your application in accordance with admission deadlines.
• If you have previously applied or attended UofG, please contact the  CCS Help Desk  to have your password reset if needed.
• If you have requested an official transcript through the OUAC application portal, please  do not  upload an electronic version of it on WebAdvisor (this will block the official version from coming in). Therefore, please ignore the upload option for that transcript on WebAdvisor - this will be removed once we receive it.
• References: The referees identified on your application will be sent a request to complete a Referee Assessment email on your behalf. They will receive this request around the same time you receive your WebAdvisor information. Once they submit the reference the WebAdvisor status on your checklist will change to 'received'.  If they do not receive the request to their inbox, kindly request they check their junk/spam folder prior to submitting a resend request.  Please note,  All information that is submitted in the referee assessment is confidential and will not be released to you.
• Please note: All communication post-application will be done through your newly created  UofG email account .

Step 6: Admissions Decisions

• Monitor your status  on WebAdvisor
• If you would like an application status update and your status on WebAdvisor is "All Documents Received", please reach out to the program for information.
• Once a decision is made, you will receive email notification to your UofG email account
• Review your offer of admission and guaranteed funding form.  Please print or save your Offer of Admission as it will be unavailable on Webadvisor within 5 minutes of you making a decision. 
• Scroll and select a response, prior to the response deadline. 
• Our office only issues one Offer of Admission letter.  If you are required to apply for a study permit/visa, please use this letter in your application.

OUAC Application Support

[email protected] 519-823-1063

WebAdvisor Support

Login Troubles:  [email protected]

Uploading & Offer Troubles:  [email protected]

The University of Guelph strives to provide equal opportunity for academically qualified  students with disabilities.

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College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

Dennis Baker

Anika Tahsin Binte Amjad

Roberto borrelli.

Ryan Briggs

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Anthony Chita

Tuba Choudhry

Asa coleman.