Director’s Welcome

Whether you’re a current Carleton student, a prospective student, or an interested party reading this from off campus, I want to welcome you to the landing page of one of Canada’s most innovative and interdisciplinary graduate programs. The Institute of Political Economy offers a series of core courses in political economic theory and methods as well as work and labour studies, and we partner with more than a dozen departments across two faculties at Carleton (Public and Global Affairs & the Arts and Social Sciences) for the delivery of elective courses. Our strength is built on the calibre of our faculty—our own cross-appointed faculty and our visiting professors—and the outstanding scholarship and rigour of our students.

In addition to our long-standing flagship MA program and collaborative PhD, we are proud to also offer a Graduate Diploma in Work and Labour — the only one of its kind in Canada. Both graduate students and practitioners at all stages of their careers can earn a Diploma through this 2.5-credit program, which is more relevant today than ever. The graduate diploma can even be earned remotely!

I am very excited about the incoming cohorts for the MA, Graduate Diploma, and collaborative PhD programs in the 2025-26 academic year. I would also like to welcome our 2025-26 Visiting Professor,  Dr. Beatriz Bustos Gallardo (Universidad de Chile), who will be joining us to teach two seminars in the Winter term.

I invite you to peruse the website to learn more about our programs and faculty, and to contact the Institute Administrator or myself with any enquiries or questions.

Dr. Justin Paulson (he/him)
Director,  Institute of Political Economy
Dunton Tower 1502
Carleton University

Unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Omàmiwininìwag (Algonquin Anishinàbeg)