Teaching

I teach a suite of courses on Canadian politics and public policy at Mount Allison University. Courses are typically offered on a rotational basis every two years.

In addition, I supervise Hons. theses, Independent Study courses (3 and 6 CR), as well as undergraduate summer Independent Study Research Grants (ISRGs).

Please scroll down for course details and contact me if you have any specific questions about course topics.

Mario Levesque standing at the front of a classroom teaching.

Mario Levesque at the front of a room teaching.

Mario Levesque in conversation with students while seated with them.

Mario Levesque at a table at the front of a classroom teaching.

POLS 1001 - Foundations of Politics

This course is an introduction to the foundations of politics through the medium of political theory, Canadian politics, comparative politics, or international politics. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: POLS 1000)

POLS 2101 - Canadian Government & Politics

Prereq: POLS 1001; or permission of the Department

This course is a study of the political process in Canada. It presents an overview of the constitution, institutions, and political actors that represent the essential components of Canada's political culture and government. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

POLS 3101 - Political Leadership in Canada

Prereq: 6 credits from POLS at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department

This course studies the various public offices in Canada and the individuals who fill them, including the Prime Minister, Provincial premiers, members of parliament, mayors and judges. It emphasizes the opportunities and challenges that each faces in providing political leadership in Canada. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

POLS 3111 - Canadian Federalism & Intergovernmental Relations

Prereq: 6 credits from POLS at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department

This course is an examination of the evolution and operation of the Canadian federal system. Its topics may include the concept and meaning of federalism, constitutional reform, fiscal federalism and intergovernmental relations. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: Any version of POLS 3111 previously offered with a different title)

POLS 3141 - Canadian Public Policy

Prereq: 6 credits from POLS at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department

This course introduces students to theories of public policy-making and the policy-making process in Canada. It emphasizes decision-making, policy change, and implementation in exploring connections among actors, ideas, and institutions in various public policy fields including environmental, health, and social policy to reveal patterns of policy change. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

POLS 3151 - Political Parties & Elections in Canada

Prereq: 6 credits from POLS at the 2000 level; or permission of the Department

This course examines how the structure of the Canadian electoral system conditions the role, organization, and development of political parties in Canada as vehicles for political representation. It includes an examination of the voting calculus and the role of the media in elections. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours)

POLS 4111 - Advanced Public Policy Analysis in Canada

Prereq: POLS 3141; or permission of the Department

This course provides a critical overview of how public policies arise and are enacted in Canada. It critically assesses theories of public policy analysis and evaluation and the role of actors in the process, including legislators, political parties, interest groups, think tanks, administrators, and the media. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

POLS 4121 - Environmental Conflicts in Canada

Prereq: 3 credits from POLS 3101, 3111, 3141, 3151; or permission of the Department

This course examines transboundary environmental conflicts in Canada. It investigates conceptual and regulatory issues such as the scale and heterogeneity of conflicts, communities affected, collaboration and coordination, privatization, and government management. Topics may include: water scarcity and pollution, invasive species, climate change, wildlife management, energy development, and waste management. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

POLS 4141 - Interest Groups & Social Movements in Canada

Prereq: 3 credits from POLS 3101, 3111, 3141, 3151; or permission of the Department

This course examines interest groups and social movements primarily from a Canadian perspective. It studies the development and role of interest groups and social movements both in the past and present. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours)

POLS 4161 - Disability Politics & Policy in Canada

Prereq: 3 credits from POLS 3101, 3111, 3141, 3151; or permission of the Department

This course examines the evolution of disability politics and policy in Canada. It emphasizes conceptualizations of disability, political participation, advocacy, and rights-based approaches to changes in public policy. (Format: Seminar 3 Hours) (Exclusion: POLS 3991 Disability Politics & Policy)

POLS 4950 (6CR)- Independent Study in Political Science

This course permits senior students, under the direction of faculty members, to pursue their interest in areas not covered, or not covered in depth, by other courses through a program of independent study. [Note 1: Permission of the Department/Program Advisor. Students must obtain consent of an instructor who is willing to be a supervisor and must register for the course prior to the last day for change of registration in the term during which the course is being taken. Note 2: A program on Independent Study cannot duplicate subject matter covered through regular course offerings. Note 3: Students may register for POLS 4950/51 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Independent Study)

A sample of topics I have supervised:

4. 2024-25 Politics of Social Media (Grace Waldron)

3. 2018-19 Comparative Constitutionalism (Noah Fry)

2. 2017-18 Disaster Planning and Disability (Tierra Stokes)

1. 2015-16 Administrative Reform in New Brunswick (Briana Cowie)

POLS 4951 (3CR)- Independent Study in Political Science

This course permits senior students, under the direction of faculty members, to pursue their interest in areas not covered, or not covered in depth, by other courses through a program of independent study. [Note 1: Permission of the Department/Program Advisor. Students must obtain consent of an instructor who is willing to be a supervisor and must register for the course prior to the last day for change of registration in the term during which the course is being taken. Note 2: A program on Independent Study cannot duplicate subject matter covered through regular course offerings. Note 3: Students may register for POLS 4950/51 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.] (Format: Independent Study)

A sample of topics I have supervised:

26. 2025W Defence Procurement Policy (Oliver Batchilder)

25. 2024F Canadian Housing Policy (Tara Scott)

24. 2024W Legislative Politics (HarleyAnn Siddall)

23. 2023W The Marshall Decisions (Alexander Dool, Aidan Tomalty)

22. 2023W Political Communication (Alec Brooks, Maria Luiza De Barros Guiguer, Hope Edmond, Nana Ofori-Amanfo)

21. 2023W Digital Politics (Mattigan MacLean, Oliver Batchilder)

20. 2023W Law & Indigeneity (Anna Hamilton, Will Lint)

19. 2022W Disability Education Policy (Celina Aalders)

18. 2022W Fiscal Federalism (Michael Nolan)

17. 2021W Disability Policy in New Brunswick (Michael Cormier, Michael Nolan, Maggie Washington)

16. 2021W NB Legislative Internship (Ian Richardson)

15. 2021W Comparative Health Policy (Natasha Gosselin)

14. 2020F Wildlife Management Policy (Michael Nolan)

13. 2020F Health Care in PEI (Michael Cormier)

12. 2020W Africville & Antiracism in Nova Scotia (Meghan MacAskill)

11. 2018W Environmental Rights and the Charter (Caitlin Gallant)

10. 2017W Inclusive Education (Dylan Wooley-Berry)

9. 2017W Disability Rights in Nova Scotia (Kyle Horsman)

8. 2016F Indigenous Language Education in Canada (Lily Falk)

7. 2016W Quebec - Newfoundland Relations (Andrew Klain)

6. 2015W Comparative Health Policy (Helen Walsh)

5. 2015W Comparative Federalism (Lexia Simmons)

4. 2015W Education Policy in Canada (Charlotte Henderson)

3. 2014W Disability and the United Nations (Brynne Langford)

2. 2014W Ethics and Government (Véronique Donelle)

1. 2013F Youth Political Engagement (Julia Duncan)

Undergraduate Summer Independent Study Research Grants (ISRGs)

Mount Allison's ISRG program provides students entering their final year with an intensive research or creative activity experience for a 14 week period from May to August. Students receive a research grant (valued at $9,000) to conduct their own, independent research or creative activity projects under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may be completed on campus, in various communities, or overseas, depending on the nature of the approved project.

A sample of topics I have supervised:

14. 2024 Assessing Levels of Food Insecurity in Rural Communities of Prince Edward Island (Oliver Batchilder)

13. 2024 Political Ideology’s Influence on Housing Prioritization in New Brunswick (Tara Scott)

12. 2023 Barriers in the New Brunswick Beef Cattle Industry (HarleyAnn Siddall)

11. 2022 Assessing Cultural Accessibility in the Maritimes (Anna Hamilton)

10. 2021 Indigenous Fishing Rights in Atlantic Canada Post-Marshall (Michael Nolan)

9. 2020 Understanding Patient Experiences Seeking Health Care for Lyme Disease (Marilyn Cox)

8. 2020 Wildlife Management and the Prevention of Tick-Vectored Infections (Michael Nolan)

7. 2020 Lyme Disease Policy at the Subnational Level: Lessons for Nova Scotia from Maine, USA (Natasha Gosselin)

6. 2020 The Politics of Rural Health Care in the Maritimes (Michael Cormier)

5. 2019 Characterizing Media Accounts of Lyme Disease in the Maritimes Post-2000 (Margaret Cameron)

4. 2018 Connecting the Streams: The Politics of Lyme Disease (Matthew Klohn)

3. 2018 Equity, Inclusion and Respect: Understanding and Preventing Personal Harassment in Post-Secondary Institutions (Noah Fry)

2. 2015 The Role of High School Curriculum in the Development of Canadian Citizenship: A Look at the Alberta Social Studies 20-1 and Nova Scotia

Canadian History 11 Curricula (Charlotte Henderson) (co-supervised with Dr. F. Antonelli, Sociology)

1. 2014 The Symbolic Relevance of Politicians with Disabilities in British Columbia (Brynne Langford)

POLS 4990 - Honours Thesis

The honours thesis involves independent research and study under the direction of a supervisor approved by the Department. [Note 1: Permission of the Program Advisor and written confirmation from a thesis supervisor submitted to the Program Advisor before March 31 of the year before the thesis is to be undertaken.] (Format: Independent Study/Thesis)

A sample of topics I have supervised:

2. 2018-2019 Canadian Federalism, a stumbling block to Indigenous environmental justice (Matthew Klohn)

1. 2015-2016 A Comparative Analysis of Policy Responses to Ageing Demographics in Canada, Japan and Sweden (Brynne Langford)