There are two Combined Major programs within our undergraduate portfolio.
Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science
For frequently asked questions about our Combined Majors, please see our 2025W Prospective Majors FAQ.
Requirements
Students within the Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science (PHIPO) must complete the following Political Science courses:
| Course | Credits | Year Typically Taken | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLI_V 100 | 3 | 1st | |
| POLI_V 101 | 3 | 1st | |
| POLI_V 110 | 3 | 1st / 2nd | |
| POLI_V 240 | 3 | 2nd | |
| POLI_V 380 | 3 | 3rd | Prerequisite: POLI_V 110 |
| POLI 34* | 3 | 3rd | 300-Level Political Theory Course (POLI 340-349) |
| Four 300- or 400-level POLI courses | 12 | 3rd & 4th | |
| Total | 30 |
To access a course plan template for the PHIPO Program, please enroll in our Undergraduate Info Hub and, once you have done so, visit our ‘Creating Your Degree Plan in Six Steps’ page.
Please note: PHIPO Combined Majors are permitted to take a maximum of two 400-level POLI seminars during their time at UBC. Members of our Undergraduate Advising Team regularly check seminar enrolments to ensure that students do not exceed this seminar registration limit. If you have exceeded this limit, a member of our advising team will get in touch with you to better understand why you have structured your schedule in this way and confirm which of your extra seminars can be dropped from your schedule. If you are not responsive to our first or follow-up attempts to reach you, we may reduce the number of seminars on your schedule without your input.
Admission
Students who meet our program entry requirements can self-declare a Combined Major in Philosophy & Political Science without having to submit an application to our Department.
Program Entry Requirements
- Enrolled in UBC-V’s Bachelor of Arts program; and
- Have second-year standing or above.
Please follow these steps to join the Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science:
- If you have yet to declare a specialization or wish to change your current specialization to the Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science, please follow the steps outlined in this Workday tutorial: Declaring or changing your primary major, honours, or specialization.
- Select: B.A., Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science (Vancouver).
- If you wish to add the Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science to your existing specialization (e.g., a student who wishes to complete the Combined Major alongside their existing Sociology Major), please follow the steps outlined in this Workday tutorial: Adding a program of study (second major or minor).
- Select: Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science (Vancouver).
- Complete our Department’s short Program Entry Survey.
- Self-enroll in the Department’s Undergraduate Info Hub, a Canvas course from which we send our monthly undergraduate newsletter, share important program information, and post our advising team’s drop-in advising days/times.
Combined Major in Economics and Political Science
Requirements
Students within the Combined Major in Economics and Political Science (ECPO) must complete the following Political Science courses:
| Course | Credits | Year Typically Taken |
|---|---|---|
| POLI_V 100 | 3 | 1st |
| POLI_V 101 | 3 | 1st |
| POLI_V 240 | 3 | 2nd |
| One of POLI_V 220 or 260 | 3 | 2nd |
| One of POLI_V 350 or 352 | 3 | 3rd |
| Five 300- and 400-level POLI_V courses | 15 | 3rd & 4th |
| Total | 30 |
Please note: ECPO Combined Majors are not required to complete POLI_V 110 or POLI_V 380 (core requirements for our other undergraduate programs), because quantitative methods are taught within the ECON requirements of the Combined Major. While an ECPO Combined Major is welcome to complete POLI_V 110, it is not required. This contradicts the information that is listed in the Calendar for “Students Entering [ECPO] After 2025.” Prospective 2026W ECPO Majors should use the guidance listed on our website and in our Admissions FAQ–not in the Calendar–when developing their POLI course plan.
Additionally, ECPO Combined Majors are permitted to take a maximum of two 400-level POLI seminars during their time at UBC. Members of our Undergraduate Advising Team regularly check seminar enrolments to ensure that students do not exceed this seminar registration limit. If you have exceeded this limit, a member of our advising team will get in touch with you to better understand why you have structured your schedule in this way and confirm which of your extra seminars can be dropped from your schedule. If you are not responsive to our first or follow-up attempts to reach you, we may reduce the number of seminars on your schedule without your input.
Admission
In order to be considered for admission into Combined Major in Economics and Political Science, a student must meet the admission requirements for the Major in Economics. Additionally, we would like ECPO applicants to have completed at least nine credits of our 12-credit lower-level POLI requirement (POLI_V 100/101/ 240/3 credits chosen from POLI_V 220 or POLI_V 260), ideally by May 2025.
If you will not complete at least nine credits of ECPO’s 12-credit lower-level POLI requirement by May 2025, you are still welcome and encouraged to apply for this program.
2025W Application Process
During this admissions cycle, students who are applying for the ECPO Program will only submit one application via the ECON application portal (which opens in March). ECPO applicants will not submit an application to POLI directly.