Undergraduate Embedded Certificate in Politics and Democracy
Work with leading experts and students across the university to navigate complex issues, build solutions to real-world problems and facilitate meaningful dialogue.
The Certificate in Politics and Democracy is an embedded undergraduate certificate developed to equip students from all disciplines with the knowledge and skills to understand democratic systems and build their capacity for active, informed civic engagement.
By completing the certificate, students will be able to:
- Understand how democratic systems function in Canadian and global contexts
- Analyze complex political and legal challenges
- Navigate disagreement and pluralism with confidence and respect
- Engage in meaningful dialogue across diverse perspectives
- Develop collaborative solutions to real-world policy problems
Interdisciplinary by design, the certificate brings together perspectives from:
- Political Science
- Law
- Native Studies
- Interdisciplinary studies
Certificate Requirements
Open to all undergraduate students in any discipline who are interested in civic engagement, leadership, policy, law or community work, this embedded certificate is completed alongside your degree. It is noted on your transcript at graduation. Students also receive a digital parchment recognizing their achievement.
All courses in this certificate are offered online, making it accessible to students across all faculties and schedules.
Required Courses
INT D 227 – Engaging Division
In this course, students develop practical skills to understand and respond to political division. Students will study different ways to approach division - from finding common ground to embracing opposition - and learn how to apply these lessons in their own lives and communities.
INT D 427 – Politics and Democracy Capstone
The certificate culminates in a capstone course unlike any other. Working in teams, students partner with community members, stakeholders, and experts to tackle a real policy challenge. Their solutions will be presented in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a panel of distinguished judges. This approach ensures students gain practical skills while fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary learning.
Students must also complete two of the following three courses:
INT D 328 – Navigating Democracy
Provides an exploration of democratic principles, practices, and challenges in Canadian and comparative contexts. Examines key concepts such as representation, participation, pluralism, inclusion and the common good, and encourages critical engagement with different understandings of democracy and its evolving challenges.
LAW 227 – Navigating Canadian Law
Learn to examine aspects of Canadian law, including constitutional, administrative, and regulatory law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the role of the state in social and economic regulation at various levels of government. Students will learn to discuss these topics in groups to appreciate civic engagement and inclusive decision-making.
NS 202 – Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Development
This course is designed to equip learners to engage in successful and respectful collaborations with Indigenous communities, nations, and organizations. It provides comprehensive instruction in approaches to relationship building, Indigenous research methodologies, Indigenous governance, and historical relationships.
At least one of these elective courses must be at the 300-level
Program Contact
Moin Yahya
Full Professor, Law
myahya@ualberta.ca
Jared Wesley
PhD, Associate Dean and Full Professor
jwesley@ualberta.ca