PL SC 299/499: North American Politics in Toronto, Canada
May and June 2024
Spend a month in Toronto—and get credit for it!
The North American Politics course, held at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University*), is open to students at all Penn State campuses.
This course can fulfill:
- Requirements for the Political Science major or minor at any Penn State campus.
- Requirements for the International Politics major at University Park (PL SC 499 only).
- Requirements in some majors with an Education Abroad component, including the International Business major at Penn State Behrend.
The course also may meet requirements in other majors and minors.
This course is co-taught by Penn State Behrend Associate Professor Dr. Robert Speel and Toronto Metropolitan Professor Greg Inwood in downtown Toronto. Both Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan students will be enrolled and will take the same exams. Penn State students will be graded by Dr. Speel. For questions about the course and program, email Dr. Speel.
Course Content
The course focuses on the comparative politics of the U.S. and Canada and their international relationship. Topics include comparisons of the development of their political cultures, government institutions, election systems, federalism, regionalism, and policy approaches toward the economy, health care, gun control, language, free speech, legal marijuana, abortion, medically assisted suicide, and the role of religion in education. Other issues include trade, border security, pandemic border closures, and control of the Arctic.
- The grade for PL SC 299 will be determined by exams and class participation. An additional research paper, due at the end of June, will be assigned for students who enroll in PL SC 499.
- Class meets Monday–Thursday for three hours.
- Class excursions (costs included) will visit the Ontario Parliament Buildings and Fort York, site of an important battle in the War of 1812.
About Toronto
This multicultural city of nearly three million is home to the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, the CN Tower. It also boasts the second largest zoo in North America. Other attractions include Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Hockey Hall of Fame. In addition, the Harbourfront Centre on the shore of Lake Ontario offers cultural attractions, restaurants, boat cruises, and pedestrian walkways. Donations from Penn State Behrend Political Science Alumna Barbara Welton will cover student costs to visit several of Toronto's cultural attractions.
The Toronto Metropolitan University Residence and Location
Students will be housed in Toronto Metropolitan's International Living Learning Centre residence located just two blocks from Yonge Street, the Eaton Centre (a large shopping mall), and Yonge-Dundas Square. Yonge Street contains miles of restaurants and retail shops. Yonge-Dundas Square, patterned after New York City's Times Square, offers frequent free live performances by musicians and buskers and is surrounded by restaurants, stores, food courts, a movie theater, and large electronic billboards. Subway and streetcar lines are just a short walk from the residence.
Amenities include single rooms with air conditioning, internet access, and private bathrooms. Each floor has a kitchenette, laundry machines, and a TV lounge. A supermarket and 24-hour grocery store are conveniently located next door.
Weekends are free for students to explore Toronto on their own.
Applications and Costs
The application and costs can be found on the Penn State Global website: Toronto, Canada: North American Politics (Summer). A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.
- Americans do need a passport or an acceptable alternative, such as a passport card or New York enhanced driver's license to travel to Canada.
- Students are responsible for food and personal items. Students must provide their own transportation to Toronto, which is about a 3-1/2 hour drive from Erie.
- There is an additional fee for parking.
Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships (Applicants must have a FAFSA on file to be eligible for scholarships.)
- Penn State Global offers scholarships to all Penn State students; application forms for these scholarships are embedded in the online application for the program.
- Students with Pell Grants may be eligible for automatic $1,000 scholarships in Penn State study abroad programs.
- Behrend Study Abroad Scholarships are available for students in Behrend majors.
Grants (A FAFSA is not required for grants.)
- Schreyer Scholars Ambassador Travel Grant (Must be a Schreyer Scholar – see Schreyer Website)
- Student Engagement Network Grants assist with transportation and program fee costs.
NOTE: Most students in the Toronto program have received grants and scholarships to assist with tuition costs in past years.
You may contact Ruth Pflueger of the Learning Resource Center (on the second floor of Lilley Library) to obtain more information about scholarships.
If you have any questions about the course or residence, please email Dr. Robert Speel.
*Ryerson University was renamed Toronto Metropolitan University in April 2022.
Photos from Previous Trips
Photos from Summer 2022
Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan Students with a Fort York cannon.
Students with the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square.
Students at Canoe Landing.
Students at Berczy Park dog fountain.
Demonstration of the ceremonial mace at Queen’s Park, the Ontario Legislative Assembly building.
Students on a boat tour of Toronto harbour.
Students in Graffiti Alley.
Photos from Summer 2018
Penn State students at the Toronto sign in front of Toronto's City Hall.
Penn State students at the CN Tower.
Penn State students at Queen's Park, the Ontario Legislative Assembly building.
Photos from Summer 2016
This course, which focused on the comparative politics of the United States and Canada and on international relations between the two countries, took place on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus in downtown Toronto.
(left) Penn State Behrend and Toronto Metropolitan University students with a cannon at Fort York, Toronto, site of a War of 1812 battle.
(right) Penn State Behrend and Toronto Metropolitan University students at Queen's Park with Deborah Deller, the Clerk of the Ontario Legislative Assembly.
(left) Penn State Behrend and Toronto Metropolitan University students before a game at the Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays beat the Yankees.
(right) Penn State Behrend and Toronto Metropolitan University students inside the CN Tower's Sky Pod, 1465 feet above the city of Toronto.
(left) Penn State Behrend and Toronto Metropolitan University students with the Courtyard Cows in the Toronto Financial District Pasture.
(right) Penn State Behrend students at Harbourfront, Lake Ontario.
(left) Penn State Behrend students in front of the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square.
(right) Penn State Behrend students at night in Toronto with CN Tower in the background.
Photos from Summer 2014
This course, which focused on the comparative politics of the United States and Canada and on international relations between the two countries, took place on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus in downtown Toronto.
(left) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan University students at the entrance to the CN Tower
(right) Lying on the CN Tower glass floor, 1122 feet above the ground
(left) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan University students at the entrance to Mackenzie House, home of the first mayor of Toronto
(right) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan students at the entrance to Queen's Park, home of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
(left) Entrance of the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto
(right) Flamingo exhibit at Toronto Zoo
(left) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan University students watch the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins at the Rogers Centre
(right) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan students guard a cannon at Fort York, site of a famous War of 1812 battle between Americans and the British and Canadians
Photos from Summer 2012
(left) Penn State students relax on the glass floor at the CN Tower, 1,100 feet above ground level.
(right) Dinner at Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant.
(left) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan students guard a cannon at Fort York, site of a War of 1812 battle.
(right) Penn State students in front of Mackenzie House, home of the first mayor of Toronto.
(left) Penn State and Toronto Metropolitan students at Queen's Park, site of the Ontario Parliament.
(right) Penn State students meet Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper while watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Real Sports Bar in downtown Toronto.