Academic Calendar - 2024

Western University Academic Calendar. - 2024

Western Main Campus

Combined Degree Program HBA/HONOURS SPECIALIZATION IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Richard Ivey School Of Business - HBA Combined Programs



The combined degree programs are administered on behalf of the Richard Ivey School of Business and the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Social Science. The combined program is a five-year program leading to a BA in Honours Business Administration (HBA) and a BA Honours Specialization in Political Science. In Years 1 and 2, students are registered in the Department of Political Science and follow the normal curriculum for the Honours Specialization module. In Year 3, students are registered in the HBA program. Students are registered in the combined program in Years 4 and 5. Admission requirements for the combined program are outlined below.

Admission Requirements


To be eligible for consideration for admission to the combined program, in the first two years students must complete a minimum of 10.0 courses including Business Administration 2257. In Year 1, they must complete the admission requirements as specified in the current Academic Calendar for entry into an Honours Specialization module offered by the Department of Political Science.

In Year 2, students must enrol in an Honours Specialization in the Department of Political Science and satisfy the minimum progression requirements for the second year of that Honours Specialization. Under certain conditions, students who in Year 2 enrol in a Major in Political Science as part of an Honours Double Major may be eligible for admission to the combined degree program, but they will have to transfer into an Honours Specialization module in the Department of Political Science if they are accepted into the combined degree program. Such a transfer is possible only if they have taken the requisite courses and received the marks needed to transfer into an Honours Specialization module and are able to complete all the requirements of the combined degree program for that module.

In the first two years, students must attain a minimum weighted average of 78%, a minimum mark of 70% in Business Administration 2257, and no mark less than 60%. In addition, students must attain a minimum weighted average of 78% in the first year of the HBA.

Students apply for the combined degree program during the HBA 1 year, typically their third year of University. Applications to the combined program must be made in writing to the Undergraduate Program Advisor of the Department of Political Science and to the HBA Program Office by the deadlines published by the Richard Ivey School of Business. Entrance to the program may be limited.

Module/Program Information


Year 1
5.0 courses including Political Science 1020E. Completion of first-year requirements with no failures.Students must have an average of at least 70% in 3.0 principal courses, including Political Science 1020E, plus 2.0 additional courses, with no mark in these principal courses below 60%.

Note: It is strongly recommended that students include in their first-year course selection 1.0 course requirement from Category B and 1.0 course requirement from Category C in order to meet the breadth requirements of their degree.

Year 2

1.5 courses: Political Science 2511F/G, Political Science 2530F/G, Political Science 2537F/G.
0.5 course: Political Science 2531F/G.
0.5 course: Political Science 2545F/G.
0.5 course: Political Science 2325F/G.
1.0 course: Political Science designated essay course (E, F or G) 2200 level or above.
1.0 course: Business Administration 2257.


Year 3 (HBA1)

7.5 courses: Business Administration 3300K, Business Administration 3301K, Business Administration 3302K, Business Administration 3303K, Business Administration 3304K, Business Administration 3311K, Business Administration 3316K, Business Administration 3321K, Business Administration 3322K, Business Administration 3323K.


Years 4 and 5 (HBA requirements can be taken over Year 4 or 5 - except Business Administration 4569 which must be taken in Year 4)

0.5 course: (International Perspective Requirement) Business Administration 4505A/B.
0.5 course: (Corporations and Society Perspectives Requirement): one 0.5 course from Business Administration - Corporations and Society offered during the academic year.  
0.5 course: (Managerial Accounting Requirement): Business Administration 4624A/B.
1.0 course: (Applied Project Requirement) Business Administration 4569.
2.5 additional business elective courses*.


* These must be taken at the Richard Ivey School of Business and cannot be substituted with other Western courses. 0.5 course can be replaced by a 2000-level or above course outside Ivey that is career related and approved by the HBA Program Office.

Years 4 and 5

0.5 course: Political Science 3325F/G
1.0 Political Science designated essay courses (E, F or G) 2200 level or above.
2.5 Political Science designated essay courses (E, F or G) 3000 level or above.
1.0 Political Science designated essay courses (E, F or G) 4000 level.

Program Requirements

Students registered in the combined program are expected to abide by all guidelines associated with each of the individual programs.


Progression


Students in the combined program must meet the progression standards of each Faculty or School. Students enrolled in HBA1 (Year 3) must attain a minimum weighted average of at least 78%. In Years 4 and 5, students must attain a minimum weighted average of 75% in their 4000-level HBA courses. They also must attain a minimum weighted average of 75% in their Honours Specialization module and meet all other progression requirements of the Honours Specialization module in which they are enrolled.

Failure to Meet Progression Standards

A student who fails to meet the combined program progression standards in any year must withdraw from the combined program. However, a student who has met the progression standards of either the HBA or Political Science program will be allowed to proceed to the next year of that program. If the progression standards of both individual programs have been satisfied, the student may continue in either program and may petition the School or Faculty whose program was not selected for permission to complete that program at a later date. A student who is required to withdraw from the combined program and wishes to pursue either of the individual programs or both programs through a combined degree, must complete all the degree requirements of the individual program or combined programs in order to graduate from that/those program(s).

Dean's Honour List

At the Richard Ivey School of Business, students are considered for the Dean's Honour List during their first year of HBA. Students enrolled in Years 4 and 5 of the combined program are considered for the Dean's Honour List in Year 5 only. Only grades obtained in 4000-level Business courses will be used in calculating averages for the purpose of determining Dean's Honour List standing. Courses taken outside the Richard Ivey School of Business are excluded. Calculations for Ivey Scholar and Gold Medals are completed in the same way.

In Social Science, students will be considered for the Dean's Honour List in the usual way in Years 1 and 2, and at the end of Year 5, by considering all Social Science courses that have been taken in Years 4 and 5. Students who take at least 2.0 Social Science courses in Year 4 will be considered for the Dean's Honour List in that year on the basis of those courses.


Related Information


Graduation

Upon completion of this combined program, students will receive an Honours Specialization BA in Political Science and a BA in Honours Business Administration.

Graduation with Distinction

Eligibility to graduate “With Distinction” for each degree is determined by the Faculty or School.

International Exchange Programs

Students in the combined HBA/Political Science degree program may be eligible to participate in academic exchange programs. Interested students should discuss exchange options with the HBA Program Office and Political Science Undergraduate Program Advisor.

Fees

Students pay the prevailing fees as determined by the University policy on combined programs. Contact the Office of the Registrar for details.