Course Description and Objectives: Public Policy in Canadian Politics

Teaching Method

Course Description and Objectives: This course introduces students to the study of public policy from a Canadianist perspective. Students will learn foundational theories of the policy process and apply them to understand contemporary issues in Canadian politics. Topics covered in the course include: theoretical origins of policy analysis, models and theories of the policy process, contemporary issues in public administration and governance, and critical approaches focused on issues of class, race, gender and Indigeneity. 

• Theoretical perspectives of the policy process
• The relationship between different groups of political actors within the policy process
• Issues of democratic participation in policy-making
• The techniques of policy analysis

Teaching Method: This course is lecture-based. The instructor’s role is to deliver weekly lectures covering course concepts. Students are required to complete all of the assigned readings prior to lectures. They should also come prepared to discuss readings during weekly lectures and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different theories/concepts. 

Required Reading: Readings for the course are comprised of chapters from the textbook Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues by Paul Cairney (Palgrave Macmillan) in addition to supplementary journal articles.  

Sometimes students ask for accommodations, such as make-up assignments to compensate for missed assignments, extensions on papers, and individual rescheduling for an exam date. Requests for such accommodations should be made as early as possible. Please take a close look at the course schedule and contact the instructor if you notice a conflict with your own schedule.

If you are unable to meet due dates, please contact the course instructor as soon as possible. The late penalty for the missed assignments are 5% per day. Late assignments will not be accepted past 14 days beyond the original due date. Late submissions for quizzes and the takehome exam will not be accepted.

Students are expected to respect the principles of academic integrity in satisfying the requirements for this course. Students are obliged to complete all assignments individually, without collaborating with others or misappropriating someone else’s work. Any type of academic misconduct, regardless of intention, will be directly reported to the Associate Dean Academic. More information on the range of offences that are considered academic misconduct at this university and the possible penalties can be found at.

This course is being held in-person in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. While the University has implemented social distancing, masking and vaccination requirements for students, there may be developments that affect course delivery. As instructor, I reserve the right to alter the design of the course, including its mode of delivery in response to evolving public health challenges.

For students who unexpectedly miss classes during the semester due to COVID-related challenges, standard requests for academic consideration apply. Instructors assess the grounds for the absence and grant consideration on that basis. They are encouraged to use discretion when requesting documentation so as not to overburden health professionals