School of Policy Studies

School of Policy Studies
School of Policy Studies

Curriculum

The PMPA curriculum includes core courses in leadership, governance, economics, research methods, policy analysis and  management and quantitative methods. In elective courses and a final capstone group project, program participants apply their learning to the analysis and resolution of real-world policy and management issues. 

PMPA students complete 10 courses in all to earn their MPA degree.

Core Courses

The core curriculum consists of six (3-credit) courses and two new (1.5-credit) courses in leadership.

First-year core courses are foundational to the program.  They introduce students to concepts of leadership and strengthen their understanding of the role of government and the nature of policy-making. As well they enhance students analytical and research skills. 

Second-year core course build on the first-year curriculum and include courses in policy analysis and management.

A final “capstone” in the third-year fall term (only) is an integrative group project in which students apply their leadership and skills to the analysis, development and implementation of a policy response to a real-world problem with policy leaders.

1. Public Sector Leadership

  • MPA 823  Concepts of Leadership (Year 1) [PDF 331kb]
  • ​MPA 824  Leadership in Practice (Year 2) [PDF 331kb]

2. Analytical Tools

  • MPA 804 Principles of Economics (Year 1)[PDF 25kb]
  • MPA 806 Analytical Tools for Policy Research (Year 1) [PDF 113kb]
  • MPA 802  Approaches to Policy Analysis (Year 2) [PDF 386kb]

3. Governance and Management

  • MPA 800 Governing Institutions (Year 1) [PDF 375kb]
  • MPA 809 Management in the Public Sector (Year 2)

4. Integration

  • MPA 825 Team Leadership Project (Year 3)

Elective Courses

In addition, PMPA students complete three (3) elective courses, one in their first summer term and two in their second summer term, selected from a rotating list of courses in substance policy and management fields.

Sample List

MPA 827  Financial Management in Canada's Public Sector (Summer 2020) [PDF 278kb]

MPA 836  Health and Public Policy in Canada (Summer 2020) [PDF 142kb]

MPA 847 Environmental Policy 

MPA 851 Public Policy and the Third Sector 

MPA 852  Stakeholder Management 

MPA 853  Population Health & the Third Sector 

MPA 857  Public Policy in China (Fudan interchange)

MPA 858  Dynamics of Chinese Economy (Fudan interchange)

MPA 860  Reconciling Indigenous Policy (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 117kb]

MPA 861  Indigenous Governance 

MPA 864  Policy and Development in Africa (Ghana interchange)

MPA 866  Ethics, Law and Public Policy 

MPA 867 Canadian Cultural Policy 

MPA 868  Business, Government and Global Economy (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 264kb]

MPA 869 Law in the Public Sector (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 668kb]

MPA 870  Public Policy Issues in Africa (Ghana interchange)

MPA 871  Conflict Resolution 

MPA 875  Budget Planning 

MPA 877  Energy Policy (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 620 kb]

MPA 879  Planning & Project Management 

MPA 881  Government Communications (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 299kb]

MPA 883 - Science and Justice 

MPA 885 - Strategic Planning 

MPA 887  Public Sector Reform (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 81kb]

MPA 888  Program Evaluation (offered Summer 2020) [PDF 156kb]

Program Schedule

The PMPA class schedule allows participants to combine full-time professional responsibilities with part-time graduate studies. Classes are held on one Friday and Saturday each month from September to April and for one week—Monday to Friday—in each of May and June. Electronic technologies facilitate research as well as ongoing communication among faculty and students between on-campus sessions.

YEAR 1

MPA 823
MPA 800
MPA 804
MPA 806

 

Public Policy Leadership
Governing Institutions
Principles of Economics
Analytical Tools for Policy Research

One Elective Course

Fall, September (3 days)
Fall/Winter (October to March)
Fall/Winter (October to March)
Summer (April to June)

Summer (April to June)
YEAR 2

MPA 824
MPA 802
MPA 809

 

Policy Leadership in Practice
Approaches to Policy Analysis
Management in Public Sector

Two Elective Courses

Fall, September (3 days)
Fall/Winter (October to March)
Fall/Winter (October to March)

Summer (April to June)
YEAR 3 MPA 825 Team Leadership Project Fall Term (September to December)