Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - PLCY 400 D100

Public Policy Capstone Seminar (4)

Class Number: 3894

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PLCY 300 and 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Provides experiential learning. Writing-intensive, project based, where students work in groups to examine a public policy issue that has been identified by an external policy practitioner. Students refine the policy issue, undertake a policy analysis of the issue, and prepare a policy brief for the course and delivered to the external entity along with a slide deck and verbal presentation. POL 457 will be accepted in lieu of this course.

COURSE DETAILS:

PLCY 400 connects teams of students with government and not-for-profit partners to produce policy advice based on real-world policy problems. By the end of the course you will have
acquired skills which will help you get hired into, or promoted within, the civil service – including the ability to produce high quality memos which define specific public policy
problems; explain why the problem is occurring; determine appropriate policy options; evaluate which policy options are best; and communicate your work to decisionmakers.

Grading

  • Assignment #1: TCPS2 (CORE) Tutorial 0%
  • Assignment #2: Individual Briefing Note 20%
  • Assignment #3: Team Memo Presentation #1 10%
  • Assignment #4: Team Memo Presentation #2 10%
  • Assignment #5a: Final Team Memo Presentation 25%
  • Assignment #5b: Final Written Request for Decision Memo 35%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

There is no text for this course. Readings are available on Canvas at the beginning of term.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.