Click here for the 2022-2023 course schedule. Updated on January 5, 2022.
Mandatory Classes
Fall 2022
PIA 6002 3.0: Economics and Public Policy (Offered in English)
Application of fundamental economic principles to the design and analysis of government programs and policies. The dilemma between equity/efficiency faced by governments in their interventions is addressed, as well as how economics devises optimal practical solutions to this problem.
PIA 6003 3.0 : Research Methods (Offered in French)
A range of qualitative and quantitative methods is examined to enable students to use, interpret and analyze qualitative and quantitative data as well as to appraise the analyses of others.
pia 6200 1.5 : Colloquium: Canada and its Place in the World (Offered in English and French)
Critical reflection on challenges facing Canada and the Canadian state, from both domestic and international perspectives. Sessions involve faculty members, visiting faculty, practitioners, members of School advisory committee, etc. Weekly sessions to be attended by all students in the program.
Winter 2023
PIA 6000 3.0 : Public Management (Offered in English)
This course examines the principles and processes of public management. It covers specific topics such as financial management, budget process, personnel management, political and administrative control. Analysis of proposals for public sector reform. Canadian and comparative experiences are studied.
PIA 6001 3.0 : The Policy Process (Offered in French)
Examination of the various stages of policy analysis: definition, design, implementation and evaluation. Exploration of various theories and models of the policy process. Canadian and comparative experiences will be examined.
pia 6100 3.0 : capstone seminar (Offered in English)
Students pursue individual projects, starting with policy briefs and culminating in Major Research Papers (MRPs) or a Policy Analysis Exercise. A Major Research Paper is an independent examination of an issue in public affairs. A Policy Analysis Exercise is developed in collaboration with a public sector organization, or client, exploring issues that confront the client and proposing recommendations. Drafts of texts are presented in the weekly seminars and the completed papers are presented in a year-end colloquium, attended by the full student body.
pia 6200 1.5 : Colloquium: Canada and its Place in the World (Offered in English and French)
Critical reflection on challenges facing Canada and the Canadian state, from both domestic and international perspectives. Sessions involve faculty members, visiting faculty, practitioners, members of School advisory committee, etc. Weekly sessions to be attended by all students in the program.
Summer 2023
pia 6400 6.0: Internship
A four-month full-time internship with an appropriate governmental or non-governmental unit. the program will assist students in locating appropriate internships. The internship will be remunerated and be an integral part of the overall student financial assistance package. In close collaboration with the coordinator, students will define objectives and prepare an analysis of their experience. Students no undertaking an internship will complete two additional half courses, during the summer session.
Elective Courses
Fall 2022
pia 6005 3.0 : International Context of Policy-making (Offered in french)
The course explores policy-makers’ attempts to improve domestic policies by the use of systematic comparisons of country performance. While not new, this ‘benchmarking exercise’ is increasingly carried out in collaboration with international organizations.
PIA 6310 3.0 : Health Policy in an International context (Offered in french)
A major challenge facing societies, health is at the heart of the concerns of governments and international organizations. There is a diversity of health systems (integrating, each in their own way, the curative, preventive, palliative and regenerative functions) which are available in a variety of health policies. The course borrows from an international and comparative perspective in a context of sustainable development.
PIA 6314 3.0 : The Environmental Crisis (Offered in english)
The environmental crisis is a multi-dimensional phenomenon in which climate change, pollution, resource depletion, food, energy, consumption, culture, social justice and demography interact. This course examines the ramifications of these interactions for international and national public policy questions.
pia 6345 3.0 : Politics and Public Policy in Europe (Offered in english)
Public policy traditionally focuses on domestic politics, but decades of integration have significantly altered the conduct of government and governance in Europe. This course analyses European politics and public policy in areas such as migration, citizenship, borders, economics, and law. This course starts with an introduction to EU institutions before examining the relationship between these institutions and national and subnational governance institutions. Case studies of particular policy areas illuminate the complexities of governance in a multilevel political system. This is an integrated course that is accessible to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (POLS) as a 4000-level course.
Winter 2023
pia 6300 3.0 : State and Society (Offered in English)
The nature of civil society and alternative theorizations of the relationship between civil society and the state. Continuing validity of the private-public division. Examination of new forms of governance that transcend the two spheres. Comparative examples will be examined.
pia 6303 3.0 : Global Immigration and Canadian Law and Policy (offered in french)
An overview of Canada’s legislation and policy relating to immigration and exploration of the challenges facing policymakers. Examination of current debates regarding international migration, related issues of state sovereignty, demographic trends, migration control and human rights obligations.
pia 6308 3.0 : International Law and International Organizations (offered in english)
This course deals with public international law and the law of international organizations. It explores principles and processes of the international legal order so that students will understand how international law affectspublic affairs and the work of international organizations.
pia 6339 3.0 : The Dynamics of International Development (Offered in english)
Since the end of the Second World War, the international community has dedicated trillions of dollars towards the modern enterprise of international development. At the same time, internal forces and historical legacies influence a country’s developmental trajectory. This course endeavours to understand the interplay of these dynamics through a social scientific lens. It explores the various conceptions of “development” and considers both internal and external determinants of development, specifically examining current debates in the field surrounding the roles of foreign aid, states and colonial legacies in shaping modern development.
pia 6343 3.0 : Governance and Digital Platforms (Offered in French)
Since the end of the Second World War, the international community has dedicated trillions of dollars towards the modern enterprise of international development. At the same time, internal forces and historical legacies influence a country’s developmental trajectory. This course endeavours to understand the interplay of these dynamics through a social scientific lens. It explores the various conceptions of “development” and considers both internal and external determinants of development, specifically examining current debates in the field surrounding the roles of foreign aid, states and colonial legacies in shaping modern development.
pia 6347 3.0 : Human Resources within the Public Sector
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of human resources management within the public sector. It will examine topics such as employee motivation, organizational efficiency, navigating unionized environments, health and well-being and human resource performance management. Throughout, the course will address the main differences between public and private organizations with regard to human resources management.