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Minors

TMU's Politics and Governance program gives you a good grasp of how important decisions are made in today’s society — at the international, national, provincial and local level – by both governmental and non-governmental organizations. You’ll learn how social, environmental, economic, political and justice issues are accommodated in Canada and on a global scale. You’ll discuss the value of ‘good governance’ — what it means, and how social justice, democracy, citizenship and human rights fit — or not — into the equation. Learn about how issues of social welfare, immigration, social and criminal justice have made the tasks of governance more complex. And, explore how governments have increasingly turned to the private and non-profit/voluntary sectors to deliver services formerly undertaken by governments directly.

As a Politics & Governance student at TMU, you are required to take a number of Open Electives (OE) courses, which provides you with considerable choice. You are also required to select a total of six (6) Liberal Studies (LS) electives. If you choose carefully, you can earn a Minor while also satisfying some of the elective requirements (OE and/or LS) of your Politics & Governance degree. Here’s how.

Review the Minors (opens in new window)  available.

  • Identify any Minors you find interesting and review the requirements of the Minor.  Identify, from that list, the courses that you would like to take to satisfy the requirements of the Minor.  Identify more than six, as courses are not all offered every semester.
  • Compare the Minor requirements with your program requirements as shown in:
  1. Table 1
  2. Lower Level Liberal Studies requirements as shown on Table A and Upper Level Liberal Studies Table B, and
  3. Open Electives
  • Make a list of courses that fulfills the requirements with the Open Elective (OE) requirements of your program,
  • Remember:
  • a) that you can take a maximum of two (2) Lower Level Liberal Studies electives; and
    b) to check the Liberal Studies Restrictions (these appear in the calendar at the end of both Table A (Lower Level Restrictions) and Table B (Upper Level Restrictions).
  • If you are not able to come up with a list of courses (ideally more than six) that will satisfy the requirements of the Minor and your program, you should consult with your Program Administrator and/or the Undergraduate Program Director.  It may be possible to “direct” courses to satisfy the LS requirements of your program

Students may also complete the (CE) Certificate in Food Security (opens in new window) .

Students may also complete the (CE) Certificate in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management (opens in new window)  but may NOT complete both a Minor and the Certificate.

Effective public sector management depends upon the knowledge, expertise, and skills of professionals who have a sophisticated understanding of public policy and administration. TMUs Department of Politics and Public Administration provides you with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of organizations and operations in the public sector, as well as specialized knowledge and skills necessary for career development. The program is designed for managers, administrative officers, front-line service providers, policy analysts and those preparing for employment and advancement in federal, provincial or municipal government; social service agencies and other public or non-profit organizations.

As a Public Administration & Governance student at TMU, you are required to select a number of Open Electives (OE) courses from a Table that provides you with considerable choice. You are also required to select a total of six (6) Liberal Studies (LS) electives.  If you choose carefully, you can earn a Minor while also satisfying some of the elective requirements (OE and/or LS) for your Public Administration & Governance degree. Here’s how.

Review the Minors (opens in new window)  available.

  • Identify any Minors you find interesting and review the requirements of the Minor.  Identify, from that list, the courses that you would like to take to satisfy the requirements of the Minor.  Identify more than six, as courses are not all offered every semester.
  • Compare the Minor requirements with the Open Elective requirements of your program as shown in Table I (opens in new window) , and with the Liberal Studies requirements as shown on Table A (opens in new window)  (Lower Level) and Table B (opens in new window)  (Upper Level).
  • Make a list of courses that
    a) you would like to take; and
    b) appear on one of the Open Electives Table, Table A (LLLS), or Table B (ULLS).
  • If enough of the courses required to meet the requirements of the Minor appear as OE or LS electives in your program, you need simply ensure that you take the courses that are part of the Minor and are either OE or LS electives in your program.  Remember:
    a) that you can take no more than three (3) Lower Level Liberal Studies electives; and
    b) to check the Liberal Studies Restrictions, which are listed in the calendar immediately following Table A (lower level) and Table B (upper level)
  • If you are not able to come up with a list of courses (ideally more than six) that will
    a) satisfy the requirements of the Minor, and
    b) satisfy either the OE or LS requirements of your program,
    you should consult with your Program Administrator and/or the Undergraduate Program Director.  It may be possible to “direct” courses to satisfy the OE requirements of your program

Students may also complete the (CE) Certificate in Food Security (opens in new window) .

Students may also complete the (CE) Certificate in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management (opens in new window)  but may NOT complete both a Minor and the Certificate

*For course availability, consult MyServiceHub. Courses available in the evening may only be available through Continuing Education. Such courses have a “C” prefix (i.e. “ACC100” becomes “CACC100”).

Minors for Students of Other Programs

The Minor in Global Politics and Development aims to provide students with a critical examination of understanding of conflict and power in the international system, and development issues in the global South.  It critically reflects on the evolution and character of relations between governments, between governments and international institutions, and between governments and societies and social movements.

The Minor in Global Politics and Development provides students with a critical examination of understanding of conflict and power in the international system, and development issues in the global South.  It critically reflects on the evolution and character of relations between governments, between governments and international institutions, and between governments and societies and social movements. Offered under the "Minor" (Article 7.4) provisions of Senate Policy 2 ( (PDF file) Undergraduate Curriculum Structure) of Toronto Metropolitan University, it is comprised of several courses covering a range of subjects that will foster critical understanding of, and awareness about, international politics, inequality, and conflict, and will help students apply this knowledge to their own disciplines.

The Minor also reflects an interdisciplinary impulse, with courses drawn from several programs at TMU.

This Minor is NOT available to students in the Politics and Governance program or to students in the Public Administration and Governance program.

To receive the Minor, a student must complete six one-term courses (or equivalent) in the configuration shown in the Calendar listing of the Global Politics and Development Minor (opens in new window) .

Courses that form part of the Global Politics and Development Minor may also satisfy the Open Elective or Liberal Studies requirements of your degree. Consult the Open Elective requirements of your Program of Study and the Liberal Studies tables (Table A (opens in new window)  for Lower Level; Table B (opens in new window)  for Upper Level).  

If you wish to take a particular course in the Minor that is NOT on one of the tables of your Program of Study, it may be possible to have it “count” as such through the use of a “Directive” form. Consult with your Undergraduate Program Director, Department Chair, or School Director for advice.

The Minor in Politics provides students with understanding of the political world. It is comprised of several courses drawn from each of the sub-fields represented in the Politics and Governance program: Canadian, Comparative, Global, Policy and Theory. Students may select a configuration of courses that provides depth in one sub-field or a cross-section of several.

The Minor in Politics provides students with understanding of the political world. Offered under the "Minor" (Article 7.4) provisions of Senate Policy 2 ( (PDF file) Undergraduate Curriculum Structure) of Toronto Metropolitan University, it is comprised of several courses drawn from each of the sub-fields represented in the Politics and Governance program: Canadian, Comparative, Global, Policy and Theory. Students may select a configuration of courses that provides depth in one sub-field or a cross-section of several. Most upper-level courses have prerequisites, but those are also part of the Minor. Consult the course descriptions to determine the sub-field and prerequisite(s) of each course.

The Politics Minor is not available to students in either the Politics and Governance program or the Public Administration and Governance program.

To receive the Minor, a student must complete six one-term courses (or equivalent) in the configuration shown in the current Calendar listing of the Politics Minor (opens in new window) .

Courses that form part of the Politics Minor may also satisfy the Open Elective,  or the Liberal Studies (LS) requirements of your degree program. Consult the Open Elective requirements of your Program of Study, as well as the Liberal Studies tables (Table A (opens in new window)  (opens in new window)  for Lower Level; Table B (opens in new window)  for Upper Level).  If you wish to take a particular course in the Minor that is NOT on any of the tables of your Program of Study, it may be possible to have it “count” as such through the use of a “Directive” form.  Consult with your Undergraduate Program Director, Department Chair, or School Director for advice.

Finally, you may count a maximum of two (2) Liberal Studies electives toward the Minor.  Politics Liberal Studies courses that may be used to satisfy Minor requirements are shown in the current calendar listing of the Minor, marked with an asterisk (*).

For course availability, consult MyServiceHub. Courses available in the evening may only be available through Continuing Education. Such courses have a "C" prefix (i.e. "ACC100" becomes "CACC100"

The Minor in Public Administration provides the student with a comprehensive overview of Canadian public administration and policy. Offered under the "Minor" (Article 7.4) provisions of Senate Policy 2 ( (PDF file) Undergraduate Curriculum Structure) of Toronto Metropolitan University, it is comprised of three types of courses: 

  1. courses in government which provide the students with insights into the nature of modern politics; 
  2. policy courses which emphasize the various terrains on which government and organized interests interact; and 
  3. courses in administration which provide practical skills used in the everyday world of public administration.

The Public Administration Minor is not available to students in the Public Administration and Governance program or the Politics and Governance program.

To receive the Minor, a student must complete six one-term courses (or equivalent) in the configuration shown in the current Calendar listing of the Public Administration Minor. Courses in the Public Administration Minor may also satisfy the Open Elective requirements of your degree. If you wish to take a particular course in the Minor that is NOT on any of the tables of your Program of Study, it may be possible to have it “count” as such through the use of a “Directive” form.  Consult with your Undergraduate Program Director, Department Chair, or School Director for advice.

Note that there are no Liberal Studies electives among the requirements of this Minor.