Canadian Public Policy

Public policy has long been defined as whatever governments choose to do or not to do in response to a problem. It involves conscious choices made in the public interest and shaped by current ideas, the institutional context, policy actors and economics. The Canadian Public Policy program incorporates these elements by focusing on government decision making. This involves understanding the public policy process, policy analysis, intergovernmental relations, economic forces and political considerations. Throughout the process students engage with contemporary and historical issues to critically assess the inclusiveness, fairness and effectiveness of public policy making given time and resource constraints. The Canadian Public Policy program is inter and multi-disciplinary with students completing a common core set of courses anchored in political science and economics. To develop and deepen their interest, students then select optional streams drawn from the disciplines of Canadian studies, commerce, economics, geography and environment, history, French, political science, sociology or statistics. The Canadian Public Policy program prepares students for potential careers in the public service (local, provincial, federal) and non-governmental organizations working as policy analysts and program managers or in the private sector working as policy consultants, research analysts and knowledge brokers. Key skills learned include critical thinking (policy analysis, policy process knowledge, public service norms), writing (policy analysis reports, policy briefs, cabinet memos) and communication (written, oral, online).

Interdisciplinary B.A. Programs

MINOR in Canadian Public Policy is 24 credits earned as follows:

9	from POLS 1001, 2101, 3141
6	from ECON 1001, 1011
3	from ECON 2301, 2311
6	from 3/4000 level courses in one of the streams listed under the Major in Canadian Public Policy

MAJOR in Canadian Public Policy is 60 credits earned as follows:

6	from POLS 1001, 2101
3	from POLS 2001, 2211, 2221
9	from POLS 3031, 3101, 3111, 3141, 3211
6	from ECON 1001, 1011
12	from ECON 2301, 2311, 3101, 3111, 3201, 3211, 3601, 3801
24	from Optional Streams. Choose 12 credits from each of two of the following streams with at least 6 credits in each stream at the 3/4000 level

Canadian Studies:

CANA 2121, 2431, 3111, 3301, 3401, 3421, 3821, either 3831 or 3841, 4111, 4301

Commerce:

COMM 2101, 2121, 2131, 2301, 2311, 3161, 3321, 3391, 3501, 3611

Economics (choose 12 credits not counted in the Core):

ECON 2301, 2311, 3101, 3111, 3201, 3211, 3401, 3601, 3711, 3721, 3801, 3821, 4501

French:

FREN 2401, 2501, 2601, 3101, 3111, 3131

Geography and Environmental Studies:

GENV 2101, 3101, 3111, 3201, 3211, 3511, 4111, 4201, 4211

History:

HIST 3401, 3431, 3441, 3461, 3471, 3491, 3811, 4411, 4441, 4461

Political Science (choose 12 credits not counted in the Core):

POLS 3031, 3101, 3111, 3141, 3151, 3211, 3351, 4121, 4141, 4161

INLR 4201

Sociology:

SOCI 2111, 2121, 2401, 2611, 3511, 3551, 3701, 3711, 3781, 4201

Statistics:

ECON 1701, 2701, 3401, 4711, 4721

MATH 2311, 2321, 3151, 3311, 3321

Note: Students are responsible for ensuring that they have prerequisites for 3/4000 level courses in the optional streams

Note: The listing of a course in the Calendar is not a guarantee that the course is offered every year.

Note: Students must obtain a grade of at least C- in all courses used to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Otherwise, written permission of the appropriate Department Head or Program Co-ordinator must be obtained.