The Certificate in Political Science is a 30-unit program from the University of Ottawa, offered in both English and French, intended for students who want to deepen their knowledge of political science outside a full degree program. It is aimed at groups such as recent secondary school or college graduates, experienced volunteers, community workers, and civil servants who want a structured introduction to the discipline. Courses cover core areas of political science, and to make the program accessible to working adults, some are scheduled in the late afternoon or evening. The certificate functions as a standalone credential rather than a component of a bachelor's degree, suited to learners seeking focused study of political institutions, processes, and ideas without committing to a full undergraduate program.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: These stand-alone certificates are not part of the OUAC undergraduate application; applicants apply directly to the University of Ottawa through the general Application for Undergraduate Admissions form rather than through a specific OUAC discipline code. The published academic line mirrors the general Faculty of Arts/Social Sciences baseline: English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U) as the language prerequisite, with a minimum admission average of 75% where a figure is published (confirmed for the Political Science certificate; other certificates in this family publish the same prerequisite without repeating the average). Certificates offered only in French (Rédaction professionnelle et édition, Études des francophonies) or only in English (Creative Writing, Professional Writing) still list the same bilingual language-course prerequisite. The online English-French translation certificate is expected to add a language-proficiency check beyond this baseline, but that detail is not published on the standard admission tool.
