Political Science department becomes Politics and International Relations
January 6, 2023
The King’s Political Science department has undertaken an exciting rebranding to become the Department of Politics and International Relations (PIR).
The decision for the new focus grew out of a joint faculty and student vision for the department. “Politics and International Relations is where the action is. Inside and outside the classroom, from the international to the local, students learn how societies work and why politics is the ultimate tool for change,” says Dr. John Grant, Department Chair and Associate Professor for the PIR department.
The new name was soft-tested at the November 2022 Open House and was well received by the future students, current students, alumni and supporters in attendance. “Politics and International Relations teaches you a lot of skills. It teaches you how to look at the world around you, to analyze different institutions, and understand governance better. It teaches you not only theory, but interpersonal skills, practical communication skills, and team-building,” says Kaygen Dache, 2nd year BA Honours Politics & International Relations and Economics student.
While the name is new, the character of the program remains the same. “We provide students with an essential education in international relations, Canadian politics, political theory, comparative and developing politics, plus law and public policy,” Dr. Grant explains. “We remain committed to real student engagement with small class sizes where professors know students’ names and what they’re about. Our faculty are award-winning teachers and researchers whose first job is student success.”
Politics and International Relations faculty members continue to provide their specialized knowledge and expertise in the following core disciplines.
Canadian Politics
International Relations
Comparative Politics/Politics of Development
Political Theory
Law and Public Policy
Students currently enrolled in Political Science will graduate with a Political Science degree at the Spring 2023 Convocation. The degree name will change with the Fall 2023 Convocation.
Political Science alumni, such as Ange Fangeat, ’18 are excited about the new focus. “The things that I learned in the program helped me to understand how government works from the top to the bottom, and why certain policies are the way they are. The skills that I gained are very practical and applicable to my daily life and work (as an investigator for Services Canada),” says Fangeat, ’18.
PIR will continue to provide students with local and international experiential learning opportunities such as Women In Civic Leadership, Campaign School and the Ghana Field Course. King’s PIR students will also have access to networks of graduates who work inside and outside of politics, helping students to become the next generation of leaders in their communities.
“Once you’ve learned how to think critically and flexibly, solve problems and communicate persuasively, you can study and work anywhere. Many of our students go onto graduate school or law school, or they pursue post-graduate diplomas or certificates in a variety of fields,” says Dr. Grant.
Current and future students are encouraged to follow King’s Politics and International Relations on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.