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JD-BSocSc (Specialization in Political Science)

Updated

Please note that due to recent changes to our JD program, this course sequence has been reviewed for implementation as of September 2025.

In a multidisciplinary approach, legal studies and the practice of law can be structured with a view to developing and strengthening complementary ties with other related disciplines such as political science, economic and social sciences, international relations or new information technologies, just to name a few. Moreover, the combined JD-BSocSc Program provides lawyers and political scientists with a chance to analyze and understand issues from these two complementary disciplinary backgrounds. 

In a world profoundly affected by globalization, the practice of law can benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. Indeed, globalization affects not only the economic and communication sectors, but creates new social, political, strategic and cultural challenges that the law cannot afford to ignore. 

The Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa takes this challenge seriously and offers a wide range of combined programs. For example, the combined Juris Doctor (JD) and Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with Specialization in Political Science provides an opportunity for students who have been admitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences to complete all the requirements of both programs in a period of six (6) years, obtaining two separate degrees at the end of their studies. 

The Juris Doctor (JD) and Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with Specialization in Political Science combined program is offered only in French.

Program information

Students admitted to the program complete their first two years in Political Science with the Faculty of Social Sciences.  Upon completion of these two years in Political Science, students who have maintained the required average for the program and fulfilled the course requirements of the first two years of the course sequence of the program spend their third, fourth and fifth years in the French Common Law Program at the Faculty of Law and return to the Faculty of Social Sciences in the sixth year.

Admission

The admission process is the same as for all other programs of studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The required admission average is 85% for first-year eligible candidates regardless of the source. Students eligible for second-year admission are not eligible for this program. Admission to this program is only granted in the first year during the initial admission to the University of Ottawa. 

Transfer to the Faculty of Law’s French Common Law Program is guaranteed to students who maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 8.3 after their second year of study (60 credits from the first two years of the course sequence completed) in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

To apply for admission to the J.D./B.Sc.Soc. specialization in Political Science, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Immersion in French

At the Faculty of Social Sciences, the specialized program in Political Science is offered as part of the French immersion program.  The Common Law part of the program is offered in French only but is not available in French immersion. 

The combined program is reserved exclusively to the French Common Law Program. The first year of the Common Law component is offered in French only.  Thereafter, students can take up to 25% of their optional Common Law units in English.

Tuition fees

Students pay tuition related to the Faculty of Social Sciences for the first, second and sixth years, and tuition related to the Common Law Section for the third, fourth and fifth years. Students must maintain full-time registration for the fall and winter terms throughout the six years of the program.

Students in classroom

Program Requirements

Course sequences

(Available in French only)

J.D. (French) - B.Soc.Sc. for students entering as of September 2025

183 units including 93 CML units and 90 POL units (including FRA courses and elective courses)


YEAR 1 - B.Soc.Sc. (30 units) 

Students report to the Faculty of Social Sciences and must complete 30 units including:

  • FRA1710, FRA1720, POL1501
  • 3 mandatory POL units from POL2501, POL2503, POL2504, POL2507, POL2508, PO2556
  • 18 optional units


YEAR 2 - B.Soc.Sc. (30 units) 

Students report to the Faculty of Social Sciences and must complete 30 units including:

  • 15 mandatory POL units from POL2501, POL2503, POL2504, POL2507, POL2508, PO2556
  • 9 optional POL units
  • 6 optional units

POL courses at the 2000 level are prerequisite for POL courses at the 3000 and 4000 level.


YEAR 3 - J.D. (33 units)

Students report to the Faculty of Law and must complete 33 mandatory CML units :

  • CML1506 - Introduction à la résolution des différends (3 units)
  • CML1508 - Droits des biens (3 units)
  • CML1602 - Les contrats (6 units)
  • CML1607 - Délits civils (6 units)
  • CML1611 - Compétences et habiletés juridiques (6 units)
  • CML1613 - Droit constitutionnel I (3 units)
  • CML1704 - Législation (3 units)
  • CML1707 - Vérité, réconciliation et peuples autochtones (3 units)


YEAR 4 - J.D. (21 units) - B.Soc.Sc. (9 units) 

Students report to the Faculty of Law and must complete 21 CML units (including at least 6 mandatory course units) and 9 POL units: 

  • CML2704 - Droit pénal (3 units)
  • CML2713 - Droit constitutionnel II (3 units)
  • CML2702 - Droit des sociétés 6 (3 units)
  • CML2709 - Procédure civile I 6 (3 units)
  • CML2712 - Droit administratif 6 (3 units)
  • CML3776 - Responsabilité professionnelle 6 (3 units)
  • Optional CML courses (6-15 credits, depending on enrollment in upper-year compulsory courses)2
  • POL3502
  • 3 compulsory POL units from : POL3770, POL3771
  • 3 optional POL units 


YEAR 5 - J.D. (21 units) - B.Soc.Sc. (9 units) 

Students report to the Faculty of Law and must complete and must complete 21 CML units and 9 POL units: 

  • CML2702 - Droit des sociétés 6 (3 units)
  • CML2709 - Procédure civile I 6 (3 units)
  • CML2712 - Droit administratif 6 (3 units)
  • CML3776 - Responsabilité professionnelle 6 (3 units)
  • 3 units from : POL3559, POL3571, POL3572, POL3574, POL4534, POL4550, POL4554, POL4562, POL4565, POL4566
  • 3 units from : POL3514, POL3515, POL3544, POL3545, POL3562, POL3564, POL3580, POL4541, POL4584, POL4778
  • 3 optional POL units


YEAR 6 - J.D. (18 units) - B.Soc.Sc. (12 units) 

Students report to the Faculty of Social Sciences and must complete 18 CML units and 12 POL units including:

  • CML2702 - Droit des sociétés 6 (3 units)
  • CML2709 - Procédure civile I 6 (3 units)
  • CML2712 - Droit administratif 6 (3 units)
  • CML3776 - Responsabilité professionnelle 6 (3 units)
  • 3 compulsory POL course units from :  POL 3513, POL 3523, POL 3524, POL 3576, POL 3577, POL 3579, POL 4526, POL 4527, POL 4573, POL 4588
  • 3 compulsory POL course units from: POL4710, POL 4720, POL 4730, POL4750, POL4930
  • 6 optional POL course units at the 4000 level

  
Notes

  1. A cumulative grade point average of 8.3 or higher is required after the second year (minimum of 60 credits, maximum of 66 credits) to continue in the integrated program. Students must have met the requirements of the first two years of the course sequence.
  2. All required Political Science (POL) courses, as well as any POL electives from a list, must be completed in French.
  3. Student registered in the French Immersion Stream for the B.Soc.Sc. portion of the program are strongly encouraged to complete FSL3500 (mandatory for immersion stream) at the end of their fourth term. FLS3500 must be taken in addition to the program requirements and does not count towards the 90 POL credits.
  4. CML 1506 is offered in January only, as an intensive three-week course.
  5. Courses 2704 and CML2713 must be completed by the end of the 4th year of the program.
  6. CML 2702, CML 2709, CML 2712, and CML 3776 can be completed during the 4th, 5th or 6th year of the program.
  7. Students must fulfill the Oral Advocacy requirement during the 4th, 5th or 6th year of the program by successfully completing one of the approved courses.
  8. Students must fulfill the Major Paper requirement in their 4th, 5th or 6th year.
  9. The academic regulations for the French Common Law program apply to the integrated program. All required CML courses and program requirements for the Common Law part of the combined program must be completed in French. A maximum of 25% of the CML optional units may be taken in English.