What is the Undergraduate Certificate in Data & Models?
The Undergraduate Certificate in Data and Models in Political Science teaches students to use theoretical models from institutional and behavioural political science and economics to understand choice and conflict in domestic and international politics. This substantive focus is complemented by methodological training that equips students with the technical skills needed to conduct behavioural research in political science. These skills will be valuable in work in government, consulting, non-profits, and business.
The certificate is intended primarily for Political Science majors and was designed to serve students in the Faculty of Arts. Students from other Faculties are welcome to enroll in the certificate if they meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
Students who complete the certificate will:
- Possess an advanced comprehension of collective choice (e.g., democratic elections, legislative bargaining, market trade) and political conflict (e.g., between social classes, political parties, ethnic groups, or states);
- Demonstrate competence in the application of deductive modelling techniques in economics and behavioural political science; and
- Develop capacities in empirical data analysis, the evaluation of modelling assumptions and limitations, and the ethics of data modelling research and practice.
The certificate prepares students for employment in policy analysis, the private and not-for-profit sectors, political consulting, polling and survey design, and data science. It also prepares students for postgraduate study in behavioural methods in political science and related social sciences.
Admission
As of September 2026, students who meet our program entry requirements will be able to self-enroll in the Undergraduate Certificate in Data & Models.
Program Entry Requirements
- Completed POLI_V 110 with a grade of 75% (B+) or higher; and
- Have third-year standing or above.
Directions for how to self-enroll in the certificate will be uploaded to this page by September 1, 2026.
Requirements
Starting in September 2026, students within the Undergraduate Certificate in Data & Models must complete the following courses:
| Course | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| POLI_V 110 | 3 | To self-enroll in the certificate, students must achieve at least 75% in POLI_V 110. |
| POLI_V 310 | 3 | Students may substitute ECON_V 221 or ECON_V 421 for POLI_V 310. |
| POLI_V 380 | 3 | Students may substitute ECON_V 325 for POLI_V 380. |
| POLI_V 381 | 3 | |
| POLI_V 482 | 3 | Students must achieve a grade of 75% or higher in all three of POLI_V 310, POLI_V 380, and POLI_V 381 to be admitted to POLI_V 482. |
| Total | 15 |
Students admitted to the certificate prior to September 2026 must complete 15 credit hours in addition to POLI_V 110 and POLI_V 220B. Nine (9) credit hours must be from:
- POLI 380 (3): Quantitative Methods in Political Science
- ECON_V 325 may substitute for POLI_V 380
- POLI 381 (3): Managing Quantitative Data in Political Science
- POLI 482 (3): Data and Models Capstone Seminar
- Prerequisites: POLI_V 380 and 381
And 6 credits from any of the following courses:
- POLI 310 (3): The Strategy of Politics
- POLI 320A (3): Introduction to US Politics
- POLI 328 (3): Topics in Comparative Politics
- POLI 333 (3): Issues in Comparative Politics
- POLI 360 (3): Security Studies
- POLI 385 (3): Public Opinion and Elections
- ECON 485 (3): Political Economy
If you have completed a course that feels relevant to the learning outcomes of the certificate program but is not featured on the above list, please send our Undergraduate Advising Team (poli.ugrad@ubc.ca) the course's syllabus and a request for assessment. If our Advising Team determines that the course is a good fit for the certificate, they will apply the course's credits to your Data & Models requirements on your Academic Progress Report and adjust the above list.
Completing POLI_V 482 in 2026W
Students who were admitted to the Certificate Program in 2024 or 2025 and who already have the Data & Models Certificate program of study on their Workday profiles will be able to self-enroll in POLI_V 482 when 2026W registration begins.
If you were admitted to the Certificate Program in 2024 or 2025 and do not yet have the Data & Models Certificate program of study on your Workday profile, please contact poli.ugrad@ubc.ca.
Enrolling in POLI_V 482 in 2026W
Please complete this form to bring your case to the attention of our Advising Team if you:
- Intend to intend to self-enroll in the Data & Models Certificate when the self-declare functionality goes live in September 2026;
- Have achieved a grade of 75% or higher in all three of POLI_V 310, POLI_V 380, and POLI_V 381 (or the substitutions listed in the table above); and
- Plan to take POLI_V 482 in 2026W.
Please note: completing this form does not guarantee you a seat in one of our 2026W sections of POLI_V 482. Our Advising Team will review your record and contact you if we have a seat to offer you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the Data & Models Certificate? Contact our Advising Team, at: poli.ugrad@ubc.ca.
The certificate is designed to prepare students for employment in areas of governmental or intergovernmental policy analysis, the private and not-for-profit sectors, political consulting, polling and survey design, and data science. The certificate also prepares students for postgraduate study in data-driven methods in Political Science or cognate social sciences. Finally, the certificate exposes students to a range of skills, knowledge, and practice in the application of various models, theories and concepts.
The certificate’s main objective is not to expose you to a second discipline like a minor does. Instead, the certificate focuses on the giving you the in-depth knowledge and specialized skills that you need to model and analyze Political Science data.
No. There are no double counting limitations with certificate programs – courses can count freely (without limit) between certificate programs and the B.A.
Yes! Please visit the ‘Creating Your Degree Plan in Six Steps’ page of our Undergraduate Info Hub to access a Data & Models Certificate course plan template. This template maps out how one can complete the requirements of the Certificate within the requirements of our Major, Combined Major, Honours, and Minor programs.