Bachelor of Arts, Political Economy Major - Why study Political Economy?

Although the study of political economy has a long and proud history, its importance has grown over the past several decades. Recent developments such as the dramatic changes in the price of oil and other minerals, currency value fluctuations, the impact of regional and international trade agreements (such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)), as well as the shifting dynamics within major international groups such as the G-8 and the G-20, have initiated some of the most profound changes in Canadian political and economic governance since Confederation.

At the global level, the impact of the financial crisis of 2008, growth slow-downs in all major industrialized countries of the world, the economic rise of China and India, and the challenges of regulating international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology, have fuelled an increasing interest in international political economy. The consequences and challenges posed by the subsequent restructuring will have to be researched and studied for years to come. The Political Economy degree program offers students these opportunities by introducing you to this fascinating field.

Additionally, transformations wrought by globalization as well as the new information and communications technologies (ICTs) make it vitally important that students understand both local political and economic relations and their connections to global change. Thus, the Athabasca University degree program in Political Economy is designed to provide students the knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet the profound challenges of the 21st century.

Follow the links below and to the left to find out more information about the study of Political Economy and the Bachelor of Arts degrees available through Athabasca University.

In addition to the high standards of the University, students of Political Economy @Athabasca University will benefit from the intellectual and practical experiences structured into the program. Students completing the program will acquire or further develop their knowledge base and skills.

  • Students will be encouraged to develop both depth and breadth of knowledge in the area of Political Economy, as well as overall critical thinking skills.
  • Students will acquire generalist and specialist knowledge of the theories of Political Economy.
  • They will be able to critically access challenges that are transforming the public and corporate sector as well as civil society and the local and global levels.
  • They will develop a working knowledge of local and global political and economic ideas, practices, policies, processes and institutions.
  • They will come to understand the dynamics and needs of a globalized and increasingly knowledge-based society and economy.
  • Successful graduates will be able to compete successfully and confidently in world class organizations.
  • Graduates will develop effective skills for leadership in government, the private sector or non-profit and voluntary sector.

For more information on job opportunities in Political Economy and related fields, please consult the following.

We live in a world that is shaped by lifelong learning, one that promotes learning organizations and knowledge workers. In such a world students need to be open to diverse learning and adaptable to change both in educational expectations and employment opportunities.

This program will be of interest to students who want an applied liberal arts degree that will give them flexible educational and employment options in the future. The degree prepares Canadian and international students for employment in diverse fields but, more important, it prepares them with the recognition that workers can expect frequent changes in employment over their years of employment.

Thus, the program will be of interest to students from, or interested in going into, a variety of backgrounds, including the following:

  • Students seeking a liberal arts degree with applied public policy relevance.
  • Public sector and private sector professionals whose careers require retooling with an understanding of the interplay of politics, society and economics on Canadian public policies within the context of the new global political economy.
  • Private sector professionals interested in understanding globalization and the implication for Canadian small businesses and corporate sector.
  • International students and Canadian private sector professionals interested in pursuing business initiatives in the global marketplace.
  • Students seeking employment in the public sector or non-governmental (NGOs) sectors.
  • Students seeking employment in foreign affairs, international governmental organizations (IGOs) and international businesses.
  • Post-diploma students who want additional professional credentials.
  • Students who hold an AU Certificate in Administrative Studies, Labour Studies, Labour Relations, Environmental Studies, Native Studies, Accounting or other areas.

Political Economy students at Athabasca University are encouraged to participate in professional organizations both to enrich their academic knowledge and to hone their professional skills. These organizations and professional associations also provide useful links to job and other professional opportunities.

For students interested in continuing their graduate studies by distance education, Athabasca University offers a number of options. Students interested in continuing their studies in Political Economy might want to check out Athabasca University's innovative Master of Arts—Integrated Studies (MA-IS) program offered through the Centre for Integrated Studies.

A flexible and accessible degree, the MAIS recognizes an emerging need among university students to have the freedom to design their own learning program and to integrate studies across disciplinary boundaries in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It explores interdisciplinary approaches to global studies; community development; cultural studies; work, organization and leadership; information studies; Canadian studies; historical studies (all in development); and adult education or educational studies (now open).

Depending on their undergraduate preparation, students may design a wholly independent learning path or pursue areas of specialization. A final project course allows students to examine theoretical and conceptual questions in an integrated manner, and link their learning to the workplace and community.

For more information on the MAIS, please contact the program's administrator.

Program Administrator
Master of Arts—Integrated Studies
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Email: mais@athabascau.ca

Phone: 1-800-788-9041 ext. 6792 (Canada and U.S.) or 780-675-6792
Fax: 780-675-6186
Program Home Page

Information on other graduate programs at Athabasca University

For more information on Political Economy as an academic area of study, please contact:

  • Meenal Shrivastava
    Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator
    E-mail: meenals@athabascau.ca
    Toll free: 1-866-500-2924 (Canada/U.S.) or 780-244-6017
    Fax: 780-497-3416

Updated May 05, 2026 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)