Department of Politics

Offered through Acadia’s Department of Politics in collaboration with Open Acadia, this flexible 15 credit-hour certificate can be completed:

• Fully on campus
• Fully online (as of 2027)
• Or through a blend of both

You can complete the certificate on its own or apply the credits toward a degree program -- making it ideal for both current students and professionals looking to expand their skills, wherever you live, at your own pace.

What You’ll Gain
By enrolling in the Certificate in Democratic Leadership, you’ll build:

• Knowledge of how political systems work, including real-world decision-making at the highest levels of politics and government
• Leadership insights grounded in ethics, public trust, and democratic values
• Exposure to diverse voices and new ideas through experiential learning opportunities
• Preparation to run for office or support others seeking elected roles
• A competitive edge for careers in politics, public service, NGOs, or community leadership

Program Highlights

• A flagship introduction course developed by the national network of Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership
• Flexible delivery: fully asynchronous online options available year-round
• Unique experiential non-credit course (POLS 2000 Politics Passport) to document your involvement with political issues, people, and organizations
• Learn the foundations of good governance, democratic engagement, and leadership under pressure
• Option to apply eligible course credit to both the Certificate and a degree program
• Option to transfer eligible courses between similar programs at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trent University, University of Lethbridge or Vancouver Island University

Career Pathways
Graduates of the Certificate in Democratic Leadership will be well-positioned to:

• Seek elected office at the federal, provincial, municipal, or Indigenous level
• Work in political offices or on election campaigns
• Advance in leadership roles in public administration or the nonprofit sector
• Enhance careers in policy, advocacy, education, or community development

Who Should Enroll?
This program is a great fit for:

• Professionals and lifelong learners interested in politics and leadership
• Undergraduate students looking to broaden their academic and career options
• Anyone considering a future in public service or elected office

Current Students: Interested in registering? Just reach out to the Head of the Department of Politics for permission. Once approved, the Head will send confirmation to the Registrar’s Office so you can get started.

New Students: Thinking of applying? The admission requirements are the same as for the Bachelor of Arts in Politics. We welcome applications from mature students and working professionals. You may be asked to complete COMM 1213 or an equivalent course with a minimum grade of 60% as part of the admission process.

To earn the Certificate in Democratic Leadership, you’ll need to complete POLS 2000 Politics Passport and a total of 15 credit hours from eligible courses, as follows.

Required Courses

• POLS 2023 Introduction to Democratic Leadership (must be completed by all students)
• POLS 2223 Introduction to Canadian Politics
• One of the following:
• POLS 1303 Law, Politics & Government or
• POLS 2003 Introduction to Public Policy and the Public Good

Choose at least two of these advanced courses:

• POLS 3133 Leaders and Cabinets in Canada
• POLS 3203 Political Leadership in Atlantic Canada
• POLS 3253 Political Ethics
• POLS 4023 Getting Elected in Canada

You can complete the program in as little as one year, either online, on campus, or through a combination of both.

If you’d like to take a different Canadian politics course instead of POLS 2223, you may be able to substitute it. Just reach out to the Program Coordinator first, and then get approval from the Head of the Politics Department. Make sure to get written permission before registering.

For Honours students: If your Honours essay closely relates to the themes of the certificate, you may be eligible to count up to 3 credit hours toward the 15 required; just be sure to get written approval from the Program Coordinator. Please note that POLS 2023 is mandatory for all students and cannot be substituted.

Extra-Curricular Learning
Politics Passport is a fun, hands-on non-credit course that gets you out of the classroom and into the real world of politics by attending events, exploring new ideas, and connecting what you learn to your studies. You’ll collect stamps by participating in 10 different activities and earn your LEVEL UP! stamp once you've completed all the categories, from community to culture to national politics.

If you’ve taken part in relevant activities outside the classroom, you may already meet the criteria for the experiential learning component. The program coordinator will review your co-curricular record to determine eligibility. You can find the full criteria on the Politics Passport webpage at https://polisci.acadiau.ca/politics-passport.html.

Completed Courses at Another University?
You can transfer up to 6 credit hours from another university if the courses are a good fit and approved by the Department. To earn the certificate, though, you’ll need to complete at least three of the certificate courses at Acadia University.

Fall 2025! This certificate program has received approval from the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC), and will officially launch September 2025.

Many of the courses are already available on campus. And starting in 2027, you’ll have the option to complete the entire program fully online (asynchronous), or combine it with in-person courses – whatever works best for you.

Work is underway to create student bursaries to provide financial support for qualified students. Stay tuned for more information.

Program Coordinator: Alex Marland, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, Department of Politics

Open Acadia: Jessica Saunders, Programs Coordinator. Email: jessica.saunders@acadiau.ca

Current students: Seek written permission from Dr. Can Mutlu, Head, Department of Politics

New students: Apply via the university’s Undergraduate Application Portal.