School of Public Administration

Faculty of Human and Social Development

Undergraduate Courses

*Courses offered online and by distance in Public Administration.

**Courses offered online and by distance in the MPA program.

Registration priority: students enrolled in a School of Public Administration Diploma, Professional Specialization Certificate or Minor will have registration priority until April 10, 2012. Other students may contact the School to register starting Wed., April 11.

ADMN 316*   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Written Communications in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors

Topics include how to: analyze a communication task; identify the topic, purpose and audience; write and edit professionally with a good command of standard written English and principles of plain language; gather, paraphrase, summarize, analyze or interpret complex information from print and electronic sources; describe complex policies and procedures; apply the principles of document structure and design; write proposals; and design and develop the types of documents required in the public and non-profit sectors.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 316, ENGL 302. Students should take this course early in their Diploma program.

- (This is an off-campus course.)

ADMN 477*   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Strategic Planning and Implementation

Examines strategic planning processes and how strategic goals can be implemented in public sector organizations. Strategic planning topics include stakeholder analysis; developing mission, value and vision statements; environmental scanning; transforming strategic plans into policies and programs; management tactics; and assessing organizational performance. Implementation topics include: deploying resources; quality control; strategic communication; budgeting; team building; problem solving; progress assessment; completion; and evaluation.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 477, 411, 412, 470 (if taken in the same topic), 577.

- (This is an off-campus course.)

ADMN 479*   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Also: ADMN 579

European Border Region Policies

Introduces students to the various complexities of European Union (EU) public policy making in an increasingly borderless world, comparing EU policy and policy-making with the Canada-US and US-Mexican borders. Examines effects of intergovernmental and international relations on production of policies.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 479 and 579 or 548 (if taken in the same topic).

- (This is an off-campus course.)

Graduate Courses

Registration in MPA courses is restricted to School of Public Administration students. Other students require permission of the School.

ADMN 502B   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Statistical Analysis

Policy analysis and management require an understanding of how statistical data analysis is performed and how to interpret the results. Building on knowledge acquired in 502A, further explores issues in statistical analysis as well as standard tools including: inferential statistics, parameter estimation issues in the context of public opinion polling and related survey research paradigms, statistical testing applied to data collected from survey research, correlational studies, and experimental and quasi-experimental research designs.

Note: (Both on- and off-campus sections.)

Prerequisites: 502A or permission of the department.

ADMN 507   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Public Sector Leadership: Teams, Self and Organization

An understanding of team dynamics and of personal capacity in a team environment are vital to public sector work. Introduces students to the internal and external challenges they may face in the work environment and equips them with the skills and strategies necessary to analyze, motivate and manage human resources in public sector organizations.

ADMN 512   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Financial Management, Accountability and Performance Measurement

Provides students with a financial management base, covering such topics as budgets, making financial decisions, understanding performance reports and reading financial statements. Students will also be introduced to the role and importance of non-financial accountability and performance measures, and their success in the evaluation of management, programs, and services, and to privatization and contracting out in the public sector.

ADMN 530**   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Increasing Organizational Effectiveness: Working with Consultants

An introduction to the challenges of improving the effectiveness of public sector programs. The dynamics of work and consulting teams are studied, and students will review literature and participate in exercises in how to introduce lasting changes in organizations, and the complementary roles of leadership and management in ensuring more effective organizations.

Note: (An on-line course)

Prerequisites: 504 and 507 recommended.

ADMN 548**   Units: 1.0-3.0, normally 1.5   Schedule

Special Topics in Public Policy

A study of selected special topics in Public Policy drawn from the current literature in Public Administration or related fields.

Note: May be taken more than once for credit in different topics.

ADMN 551**   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Formerly: 551A and 551B

Administrative Justice System in Canada

Examines constitutional and administrative law structures and principles that underlie Canada's administrative justice system. Students develop critical understanding of (1) characteristics of federal and provincial systems, (2) legal principles under which statutory decision making is done, (3) process and principles applied to development of administrative justice system legislation, (4) breadth and influence of tribunal decisions on activities of Canadians. Examples are drawn from federal and provincial levels; comparisons to US, UK and France as appropriate.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 551, 551A, 551B.

- (An on-line course)

ADMN 556   Units: 1.5   Schedule

The Public Policy Process

Examines the theory and practice of public policy, emphasizing the strategic aspects of problem identification, policy design, decision making, implementation and evaluation. Designed to give students the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of public policy and the dynamics of the policy process and to apply this knowledge to important policy issues. Policy development is examined within the context of a globalized political environment and addresses the involvement of key players such as the courts, media, and interest groups.

Prerequisites: 504 or permission of the department. 509 recommended.

ADMN 579**   Units: 1.5   Schedule

European Union Border Region Policies

Introduces students to the various complexities of European Union (EU) border policy making processes. Students compare EU policy and policy-making with the Canada-US and US-Mexico borders; studying specific issues including cross border trade flows, immigration, environmental issues, government activities including security, and the activities of local and regional communities spanning borderlands. Study and reflect upon complex policy making and multilevel governance mechanisms that are increasingly typical in the EU and Canada.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of ADMN 579, 479, 548 (if taken in the same topic).

- (An off-campus course)

ADMN 582**   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Topics in Program Evaluation, Performance Measurement, Performance Management and Knowledge Management

Designed to explore contemporary issues and problems in the field of evaluation and performance management. Topics will be selected for each offering of the course; examples of topics to be included are: contribution analysis; gaming of performance measurement; professionalizing evaluation; managing knowledge creation and its uses in complex organizations; understanding and influencing organization culture to increase and sustain knowledge utilization; audit and evaluation; comparative evaluation; and evaluation in developing countries.

Note: (An off-campus course)

ADMN 598   Units: 4.5   Schedule

Master's Project

Requires a substantial analysis of a management, policy or program problem for a client in the nonprofit or public sector. The Master's Project is completed in consultation with the client and an academic supervisor in the School of Public Administration and must be both practical and academically rigorous. A written project report is defended in an oral examination. For more information, please refer to the School of Public Administration website.

Note: (Both on-campus and on-line sections.)

Grading: INP, COM, N, F

ADMN 599   Units: 6.0   Schedule

Master's Thesis

Requires a substantial contribution to the knowledge in the field of Public Administration. An MPA Thesis will demonstrate a student's mastery of a substantive body of scholarly or practice literature as well as using appropriate and academically defensible methodologies to analyze research questions, test hypotheses or contribute new theoretical knowledge. Individual students will work with an academic supervisor in the School of Public Administration.

Note: (Both on- and off-campus sections.)

Grading: INP, COM, N, F

ADMN 600   Units: 0   Schedule

Doctoral Seminar

The doctoral seminar supports the advancement of research and writing skills. Students will develop competencies in preparing and publishing research. Students are asked to register in this course each term during their PhD program.

Grading: INC, COM, N, F.

ADMN 621   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Policy and Program Evaluation and Performance

Evaluates and compares different sources of information and methodologies that policy-makers and policy analysts use to inform policy debates and decisions, implementation and management strategies, accountabilities, and program reviews. Topics include meta-analysis, cost-benefit analysis, quasi-experiments, program evaluation, performance measurement, smart practices, and other quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Explores the challenges of securing reliable and valid data, the trade-off between high quality and timely information, and conveying complex findings. These approaches and challenges are explored through intensive assessments of existing studies, cases and projects.

ADMN 693   Units: 3.0   Schedule

PhD Candidacy Examination

Students enrol in ADMN 693 for the duration of their preparation for their candidacy examinations. This begins at the time a student first enrols in the PhD program and continues until candidacy requirements have been completed.

Grading: INP, COM, N, F

ADMN 699   Units: 30.0   Schedule

Dissertation

Note: (Both on- and off-campus sections.)

Prerequisites: 693

Grading: INP, COM, N, F.