Academic faculty/school: Faculty of Arts, Department of Political Science. This four-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Honors program in Political Science offers an enhanced and more specialized curriculum for high-achieving students. It provides a deeper dive into the core areas of political science: Canadian Politics, Indigenous Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Distinct from the regular BA, the Honors program features extra academic opportunities, including mentorship on real-life challenges and intensive research. Key requirements include specific 200-level courses from various subfields, a Third-Year Honors Seminar (POL S 399), and a compulsory Fourth-Year Honors Essay (POL S 499), an original research project supervised by a faculty member. Students must maintain higher academic standards (e.g., minimum GPA requirements for promotion and graduation). Through the Faculty of Arts Work Experience (AWE) program, undergraduate students can also gain full-time, paid work experience, applying classroom skills in professional settings. This program is an excellent preparation for graduate studies due to its rigorous academic and research demands.

Career options for graduates with an Honors degree are significantly enhanced, particularly for roles requiring advanced analytical, research, and critical thinking skills. Graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for public service (federal, provincial, municipal), law, international organizations, policy analysis, research positions in think tanks or academia, and advanced graduate studies (MA, PhD). The rigorous training, particularly the Honors Essay and research experience, makes graduates highly competitive for highly sought-after positions in government, diplomacy, non-profits, and consulting. The Arts Work Experience (AWE) program further provides invaluable professional experience, making graduates highly competitive in the job market, often leading to full-time employment after graduation.

The University of Alberta, North Campus, is a Top 100 university in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025) and ranked #6 in the world for global impact (Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024), highlighting its academic excellence and societal contribution. Its North campus is the University's largest and most historic campus, located near the heart of the vibrant city of Edmonton, offering a dynamic student experience. The Faculty of Arts is known for its diverse curriculum and its commitment to integrating academic learning with practical work experience through programs like AWE. The Honors program specifically fosters a tight-knit community of academic-minded students and provides specialized support and mentorship, recognizing and promoting high academic performance.