Politics

A message from the Chair:

Welcome to the Department of Politics at the University of Winnipeg.

I am delighted to learn that you have some interest in our Politics program. When you choose to study politics in our Department, you are in the right place. Let me tell you why.

First, our faculty are award-winning and prolific scholars who enjoy teaching and doing research on exciting, new topics, and who are committed to helping students. I encourage you to check out their interests, publications, and activities (see our Faculty page). They are committed to the kind of education which promotes dialogue and debate. Since no-one has all the answers to the myriad political problems we face daily, ideas and perspectives discussed in class are taken seriously and critically.

Second, the Department provides you with a wide range of career preparations. You can pursue one or more of the following: 3-year, 4-year, and Honours degrees, and we will soon offer a Minor in Politics. You should also consider taking advantage of our Certificates of Public Policy and Administration. Our department and the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba also offer a joint graduate program in Public Administration (Master of Public Administration - MPA), one of the most successful programs at the University of Winnipeg. (During the 2011-12 Academic Year, for instance, we received more than 90 applications for this program.) The two departments have also developed a Joint Program in Global Governance. Each year, a leading scholar in this field is invited to serve as Manitoba Chair of Global Governance Studies. We will launch our first annual international conference on global governance in 2013. One of our missions will be to help students think critically, creatively, and globally.

Third, the Department engages in practical learning. It organizes public seminars/lectures and study tours. International, national, provincial and local leaders are invited to speak on topics relevant to contemporary politics. As well, our professors often invite professionals in different fields to give lectures in their classes. Some of our courses also include practicums, which enable students to put what they've learned in class into practice in community groups throughout the city. Thus, our students learn not only in the classroom, but also by their work in the community.

Fourth, our Politics students have developed a vibrant learning community. Each year the Politics Department offers six awards to outstanding students in different areas of political study. Be sure to check them out on our website. We also have a very dedicated Politics' Student Society. This group provides a great way to meet and interact with like-minded students. Participating in this group will also get you involved in various activities, ranging from organizing talks and other events on campus to leading delegations to conferences outside the province. The Society is also establishing a committee that will review and select the most outstanding student papers in Politics, the best of which will be given a prize, and published in the students' forthcoming online journal. I encourage you to play an active role within the Society.

I invite you to explore all the options available in our Politics program so that you are better equipped to plan and pursue your goals. I am more than happy to sit down with you to discuss your plans or answer any questions you may have.

Sorpong Peou, Ph D.
Professor & Chair of Politics
Office: 6L08
Phone: 786-9387
E-mail: s.peou@uwinnipeg.ca