Public Policy Courses

PLCY 200 - Introduction to Public Policy (3)

Government policies affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Covers basic methods for public policy to deepen student's understanding of what public policy is, why it is important, and the way in which public policy is made. Students examine competing perspectives for explaining the relationship between power, knowledge, advocacy, and policy making. POL 253 will be accepted in lieu of this course.

PLCY 300 - Applied Public Policy Analysis (4)

Introduces the basic principles and techniques of policy analysis and how to apply them to pressing policy issues and address gaps in policy. Builds on the theoretical and methodological foundations across the disciplines. Promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and communication of findings in ways appropriate for policy decision makers. Prerequisite: 45 units.

PLCY 400 - Public Policy Capstone Seminar (4)

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. Prerequisite: PLCY 300 and 60 units. POL 457 will be accepted in lieu of this course.

PLCY 800 - Introduction to Policy Issues and Analysis I (5)

An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of public policy analysis and examination of current policy issues.

PLCY 801 - Economic Foundations of Policy Analysis I (5)

An examination of the basic operation of a market economy and introduction to key economic concepts and techniques.

PLCY 802 - Economic Foundations of Policy Analysis II (5)

Application of economic concepts and techniques to a variety of public policy issues.

PLCY 803 - Political Foundations of Policy Analysis I (5)

Examines the political foundations of Canadian public policy. It will examine the institutional and societal landscape that sets the stage for the decisions Canadian governments make. Topics discussed include the machinery of government, federalism, and the Canadian economic and social context.

PLCY 805 - Research Techniques and Quantitative Methods I (5)

Surveys graphical, mathematical and statistical tools with applications to policy analysis. Covers graphical techniques; algebraic relationships, descriptive statistics, probability distributions, confidence intervals; definition and interpretation of regression results.

PLCY 806 - Research Techniques and Quantitative Methods II (5)

Develops key analytical and practical skills that include use of programs such as Excel and SPSS. Identifies and frames public policy problems and structure effective research questions and study designs. Introduces to methodologies for interviews, focus groups, case studies, surveys, and how to incorporate these data sources into policy research.

PLCY 807 - Introduction to Policy Analysis and Issues II (5)

Introduces the basic principles and techniques of policy analysis and examination of current public policy issues. A continuation of MPP 800. Prerequisite: PLCY 800 or MPP 800, or permission of the instructor.

PLCY 809 - Major Research Project (10)

Covers advanced policy analysis techniques that are applied by students to individual projects on current public policy issues. This course will constitute the Capstone project component of the program. Prerequisite: Open only to students enrolled in the MPP program.

PLCY 812 - Selected Topics in Public Policy (5)

Covers topics appropriate to the program but not covered extensively in the core courses.

PLCY 813 - Selected Topics in Public Policy II (5)

Specialized study in topics germane to the field of public policy.

PLCY 814 - Selected Topics in Public Policy III (5)

This course provides an opportunity to cover topics appropriate to the program but not covered extensively in the core courses.

PLCY 815 - Selected Topics in Public Policy IV (5)

This course provides an opportunity to cover topics appropriate to the program but not covered extensively in the core courses.

PLCY 816 - Selected Topics in Public Policy V (5)

This course provides an opportunity to cover topics appropriate to the program but not covered extensively in the core courses.

PLCY 817 - Advanced Qualitative Analysis for Public Policy (5)

Covers paradigms for methodological choices and the design of qualitative research for real world public policy applications; critical perspectives of qualitative methods including interviews, focus group discussions, diary methods, visual methods, experimental methods and discourse analysis.

PLCY 818 - Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysts (5)

Applies methodologies for causal relationships, covering the steps necessary to do empirical analysis. Introduces econometric methodology; model specification and hypothesis testing to relate quantitative results to policy design. Estimation methods are surveyed and practiced. Prerequisite: PLCY 806 or equivalent with instructor's permission.

PLCY 821 - Indigenous Policy (5)

Overview of aboriginal and First Nations policy issues and policy choices in BC and Canada. Examines demographic trends, social and economic data, and development issues. Rights and title, accommodation and infringement, treaty and self government issues and policies are a focus as well as socio-economic issues and problems, including those of urban people.

PLCY 823 - Health Policy (5)

Examines health policy in Canada from a range of perspectives with a focus on the rapidly changing and increasingly politicized health care environment in which efficiency, evidence, and social justice are important driving forces. Compares the Canadian system to the US and other international jurisdictions.

PLCY 824 - Analysis, Formulation, and Evaluation of Social Policy (5)

Analysis, formulation, and evaluation of social policies, covering income security benefit programs. A multi-disciplinary approach encompassing economic, political, and operational perspectives that covers social policy analysis as well as the more technical aspects of formulating and evaluating programs. Prerequisite: MPP 801 and MPP 802 or equivalent.

PLCY 825 - MPP Directed Readings I (5)

PLCY 826 - Directed Readings II (5)

PLCY 828 - Multiple Account Benefit-Cost Analysis (5)

Theoretical foundations and practical procedures for analysis of public sector projects, programs, and regulations using the tools of multiple accounts and benefit-cost analysis. Critical discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques. Application of the tools to current policy problems in Canada. Prerequisite: PLCY 801 and PLCY 802 or, MPP 801 and MPP 802, or equivalent.

PLCY 829 - Environmental Policy (5)

Analysis of policy instruments to address environmental problems. Economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services. The political economy of designing and implementing environmental policies and their application with a focus on developing countries. Prerequisite: PLCY 801 and PLCY 802 or, MPP 801 and MPP 802, or equivalent.

PLCY 830 - Law, Public Policy and Conflict Resolution (5)

A range of contemporary public policy issues in law and governance are examined in this course. Students will explore different methodologies employed in resolving major policy conflicts including: environmental, family and criminal justice, aboriginal land claims and treaties. Case studies and role plays are used extensively throughout the course.

PLCY 835 - Extended Policy Analysis (5)

The purpose is to enable students to undertake an extended policy analysis of a topic. While original research is not expected, the analysis will state a problem, review and analyze relevant literature and data, describe potential policy options and evaluate them with appropriate criteria. The policy research paper does not need to be submitted to the library. Prerequisite: PLCY 802, PLCY 804, PLCY 806, PLCY 807 and approval of the department.

PLCY 850 - Co-op

Students who do not have prior work experience in public policy are placed in a public or private organization connected to public policy. The work they undertake must be of sufficient depth and breadth to allow the student the opportunity to demonstrate his or her acquired knowledge and skills. Students will be required to produce a work report that will be an appraisal of the student's work experience. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.