Graduate Calendar Archives: 2001 / 2002

Political Economy

The Institute

The Institute of Political Economy, established in 1989, developed out of the Graduate Summer School of Political Economy, which was formed in 1983. The summer school was built on the strong tradition of interdisciplinary studies at Carleton, and on the interests of numerous faculty at Carleton involved in political economy. Distinguished international scholars have been attracted to teach in the summer school. Through the Institute, these distinguished visitors will now be in residence during the normal academic year, in addition to the summer program.

The Institute offers a program of study and research leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Political Economy, the only program of its kind in Canada. Its interdisciplinary program is designed to offer students both an exposure to the core concepts of political economy and an opportunity to develop individual areas of research concentration.

The program focuses on investigating the relationship between the economy and politics as they affect the social and cultural life of societies, and secondly, focuses on the historical processes whereby social change is located in the interaction of the economic, political, cultural, and ideological moments of social life.

Carleton University has developed a strong tradition in political economy. Faculty members from most of the social sciences and history participate regularly in the Institute. The program's curriculum includes courses with a political economy orientation that are offered by other departments, schools, and institutes. The Master of Arts in Political Economy is an opportunity for students to study political economy from the perspective of different disciplines within a single program.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who have a general (3 year) bachelor's degree in one of the disciplines represented in the program may be admitted to a qualifying-year program designed to raise their status to that of honours graduates. Students are expected to achieve at least high honours in qualifying-year courses in order to be considered for admission to the master's program. To be eligible for admission to a qualifying year, normally a student must previously have successfully completed at least four courses in one of the social sciences.

Refer to the General Regulations section of the Calendar for details of the regulations governing qualifying year.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is B.A.(Honours), with at least high honours standing, in one of the disciplines represented in the Institute. Prospective applicants without such qualifications may be considered for admission if they have both a strong academic record and relevant work experience. Such students normally are asked to complete a qualifying year of study with at least high honours standing before proceeding to the master's program.

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Political Economy is a 5.0 credit program, one of which may be at the 400- (honours undergraduate) level. Each candidate, in consultation with the Institute, must select and follow one of two optional patterns:

* 3.0 credits, a thesis equivalent to 2.0 credits, and an oral examination of the thesis

* 4.0 credits, a research essay equivalent to 1.0 credit, and an oral examination of the research essay

Whichever pattern is selected, all students in the Institute are required to take Political Economy 44.500 and 44.501, two 0.5 credit seminars offered by the Institute.

As well, students must select at least one course from the areas of International, Comparative or Canadian Political Economy, such as Sociology 53.525, Political Science 47.509, 47.557, 47.559, 47.588 or International Affairs 46.588, or approved equivalents of these courses. Registration in these courses is contingent upon the completion of all prerequisites or, in exceptional cases, obtaining the permission of the relevant department or school.

Academic Standing

All master's candidates must maintain B standing or better (GPA of 8.0). A candidate may, with the recommendation of the Institute and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 2001-2002, please consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet published in the summer.

F,W,S indicates term of offering. Courses offered in the fall and winter are followed by T. The number following the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit, etc.

The Institute's courses will not normally be open to undergraduate students.

Political Economy 44.500F1,W1,S1

Theories of Political Economy

A survey of the core concepts and ideas proposed by both the founders and modern practitioners of political economy. Particular attention will be paid to contemporary theorists as well as classical theorists such as Smith, Ricardo, Marx, Mill, Schumpeter, Keynes, Veblen, and Innis.

Political Economy 44.501F1,W1,S1

The Methodology of Political Economy

An examination of the methods, procedures, and rules for developing theory and guiding inquiry in political economy research, including topics such as logic of inquiry, conceptualization, research design, dialectics, level of analysis, comparison, evidence and statistics.

Political Economy 44.551F1,W1,S1

Selected Problems in Political Economy I

(Also listed as Sociology 53.554 and Political Science 47.551)

Political Economy 44.552F1,W1,S1

Selected Problems in Political Economy II

(Also listed as Sociology 53.555 and Political Science 47.552)

Political Economy 44.590F1,W1,S1

Tutorial in Political Economy

A course of directed readings on selected aspects of political economy, involving preparation of papers as the basis for discussion with the tutor. Offered when no regular course offering meets a candidate's specific needs.

Prerequisite: Permission of the Director.

Political Economy 44.598F2,W2,S2

Research Essay

Directly linked to the student's course work, the research essay must be interdisciplinary in approach.

Political Economy 44.599F4,W4,S4

M.A. Thesis

The thesis is an alternative to the research essay. It must also be interdisciplinary in approach, and requires greater substance and originality than the Research Essay. Normally, a student's thesis committee will be composed of members from more than one discipline.

Selection of Courses

In addition to the graduate courses offered by, or associated with, the Institute, the courses listed below are of relevance to students of political economy and would, with the prior approval of the Institute, be used to design a coherent and internally complementary set of courses to fulfill degree requirements. The list is not exclusive and is subject to change. Moreover, students may select 1.0 credit in political economy that is offered at the 400-level.

Note: Students should be aware that the number of spaces in graduate courses offered by other departments may be limited, and that registration may be conditional upon obtaining the prior approval of the department concerned. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that permission is obtained from the appropriate department prior to registering in any of the following courses.

The Institute expects to attract high quality graduate students who will be likely to continue to a second post-graduate degree. Given that a Ph.D. program in political economy does not exist, master's students will be directed to consult with the department where they might wish to pursue doctoral studies so that they may select courses that will prepare them for this next stage.

Business

42.530, 42.531

Canadian Studies

12.510, 12.520, 12.530

Economics

43.511, 43.521, 43.533, 43.538, 43.541, 43.542, 43.543, 43.544, 43.550, 43.554, 43.555, 43.586, 43.587

Geography

45.427 Urban Development and Analysis

45.520, 45.540, 45.541, 45.544

History

24.421 Science and Technology in the Canadian Experience

24.422 The Maritimes in Transition, 1870s to 1920s

24.431 Canada from Confederation to the Great War

24.433 Selected Problems in Canadian Business History 1850-1980

24.437 Canada from War to War

24.439 Modern Canada since 1939

24.459 Selected Problems in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century British Social History

24.459 Selected Problems in the History of Women and the Family: from the Industrial Revolution

24.471 Selected Problems in International Economic History

24.525, 24.530, 24.532, 24.534, 24.536, 24.537, 24.558, 24.559

International Affairs

46.561, 46.564, 46.567, 46.580, 46.582

Law

51.401 Law, Family and Gender

51.402 Feminist Theories of Law

51.403 Historical Perspectives on Law, Economy and Society

51.502, 51.503, 51.504, 51.505, 51.506, 51.507, 51.520, 51.532

Political Science

47.400 Topics in Canadian Government and Politics

47.409 Quebec Politics

47.412 Politics of Western Liberal Democ- racies

47.413 The State in Advanced Capitalist Societies

47.414 Theory and Practice in Third World Development

47.415 Selected Problems in Third World Development

47.431 Marxist Thought

47.432 Contemporary Marxism

47.441 Business-Government Relations in Canada

47.463 Analysis of International Political Economy

47.464 Selected Problems in International Political Economy

47.503, 47.508, 47.511, 47.517, 47.522, 47.551, 47.552, 47.557, 47.559

Public Administration

50.502, 50.517, 50.519, 50.520, 50.536, 50.537, 50.562, 50.567, 50.568, 50.570, 50.572, 50.573

Sociology and Anthropology

53.500, 53.502, 53.507, 53.509, 53.511, 53.519, 53.522, 53.525, 53.527, 53.529, 53.530, 53.531, 53.532, 53.538, 53.540, 53.544, 53.545, 53.554, 53.555, 53.567, 53.568, 53.584