COURSE CURRICULUM

The program in public administration offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with foundational skills and specialized knowledge relevant to public sector careers. The basic skills component includes courses in essay writing and literature composition, totaling six units, aimed at enhancing communication and analytical abilities. The compulsory courses, comprising 33 units, cover essential topics such as introduction to public administration, public policy analysis, public management, Canadian politics, social sciences research, and research methods specific to public administration. These courses also address sectoral issues in public policy, budgetary policy and public finance, theories of public organizations, advanced public policy analysis, and culminate in an integration seminar. Students are required to take optional courses totaling 27 units, which include selected units from political science such as law, politics, and the constitution in Canada, parliamentary government in Canada, and advanced-level public administration courses. This allows for academic flexibility and deeper specialization in areas of interest within public administration. Additionally, students must complete 54 elective units, which can either be taken entirely as electives or combined with a minor subject, providing further breadth to the educational experience. In total, the program requires 60 units, emphasizing a balanced approach between compulsory core knowledge, specialized optional courses, and a significant elective component. This structure is designed to ensure that graduates possess both theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary for careers in public administration, public policy, governance, and related fields across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. By blending foundational communication skills, core disciplinary knowledge, and opportunities for focused study, the program prepares students to engage effectively with the complexities of government operations, policy development, and administrative challenges in contemporary society.