Program overview
Political economy is concerned with the interplay between politics, society, and economics. It explains the crucial role of political factors in determining economic outcomes.
Athabasca University’s political economy program provides the knowledge and skills that students and employers need to meet the challenges of the 21st century. You will develop your knowledge of
- global political and economic issues
- the dynamics and needs of a global, knowledge-based society and marketplace
- local and global political and economic practices, policies, and institutions
You can focus your studies in either global political economy or Canadian political economy.
This program is North America's first distance education undergraduate degree program in political economy.
Why take the Bachelor of Arts?
The Bachelor of Arts strengthens critical and creative thinking through a broad range of social, political, and cultural studies. The program is designed to
- broaden your perspective on local and global affairs
- encourage community and social involvement
- prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity
Routes and options
The Bachelor of Arts, Political Economy Major is an online, 4-year degree program. There are no set start dates – you can enrol at any time and register for courses right away.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Economy Major (4-year online degree)
- A 4-year degree fully prepares students for most graduate programs.
- The 4-year BA program allows you to pursue either a double major or a minor.
- Double majors must meet the requirements for both majors, which may restrict course selection or require additional credits above the 120 required for the BA.
- You should talk to an academic advisor about your program and courses if you’re considering a double major.
- To earn a minor you must complete 30 credits in that subject area.
- List of minors
- Anthropology
- Canadian Studies
- English
- French
- Global Studies
- History
- Humanities
- Inclusive Education
- Labour Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Women's and Gender Studies
- AU does not offer an Honours BA.
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 4 years of full-time study, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Admission requirements
There are no formal admission requirements for the 4-year program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.
How to apply
You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.
Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.
Transfer and advanced credit
If you have previous post-secondary education or significant life and work experience that relates to this program, you may be eligible for transfer credit or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). This could mean fewer courses to get your AU degree. If you transfer credit, you must complete a minimum of 30 credits at AU.
Program requirements
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, plus those specific to your major or minor.
Our program plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.
Required courses
Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following links:
Tuition and fees
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
As a result of completing this program, students should be able to
- Advance the knowledge of global political and economic issues from a variety of perspectives.
- Analyze the dynamics and needs of a globalized society in an increasingly knowledge-based economy with persistent structural inequality.
- Debate the evolving theoretical and conceptual debates in the dynamic field of political economy.
- Critically evaluate existing theory, policy, and practices in the era of economic globalization and global climate change.
- Apply the theoretical knowledge to research on specific problems/issue areas.
- Determine local and global linkages within political and economic practices, policies, and institutions to extend knowledge in the interdisciplinary area of political economy.
- Create connections with political and economic policy communities in the academic, government, non-governmental, and the private sectors.
Possible career options
- Research Specialist
- Analyst in foreign trade, business, the market or public finance
- Business Advisor
- Policy Co-ordinator
- Benefit Administrator
- Manager of not-for-profit organization
- Writer
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher
Continuing education
At Athabasca University:
At other educational institutions*
- graduate studies in political economy, political science, economics or other related/unrelated disciplines
- education: bachelor/master
- law
- police studies
- social work
- journalism
- teaching English as a second language (TESL)
* Some universities will not accept a 3-year degree for admittance into a graduate program. An additional year of study may be required. Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.