Public Policy


Introduction

Solving real-world policy challenges requires the use of multi-disciplinary tools to analyze problems, determine the best means to deal with those problems, and decide on the best course of action. An undergraduate Major in Public Policy provides a unique opportunity for students in Social Science disciplines to think in an interdisciplinary way, by drawing on theories and approaches, as well as tool kits developed in the core disciplines of Economics and Political Science, and beyond. Students in this program develop theoretical and applied reasoning skills in policy analysis, as well as a solid grounding in quantitative methods and research.

 

Regarding Public Policy Programs

The Major program in Public Policy is offered jointly by the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the Department of Economics, and the Department of Political Science. Students may enrol after their first or second year of undergraduate studies, and must meet the prerequisite conditions for all second-year and higher courses.

The Program Director and Program Assistant are available for consultation. For inquiries or an appointment call the Program and Events Coordinator, Simone DeFacendis at 416-946-0326 or send an email to publicpolicyundergrad.munk@utoronto.ca.

Public Policy Programs

Major in Public Policy (Arts Program) - ASMAJ2660

The Major in Public Policy is offered jointly by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, the Department of Economics, and the Department of Political Science. Students enroll after first year, and must meet the prerequisite conditions for all second-year and higher courses.

Enrolment Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enrol.

Variable Minimum Grade
A minimum grade/minimum grade average in required courses is needed for entry, and this minimum changes each year depending on available spaces and the number of applicants. The following courses must be completed:

ECO101H1 & ECO102H1 (with an average final mark of at least 67%) or ECO105Y1 (with a final mark of at least 80%), and

One of the following four options (1.0 credit):

To ensure that students admitted to the program will be prepared, applicants with a final grade lower than the minimum grades stated above will not be considered for admission. Please note that obtaining this minimum final grade does not guarantee admission to the program.

Notes:

  • Students entering from Munk One/Trinity One/Vic One course options will be ineligible to take upper year POL courses until they have completed POL214Y1 or ( POL218H1, POL219H1)
  • Students expecting to choose ECO courses in their second year or higher must complete MAT133Y1 or the combination of MAT135H1 and MAT136H1 in their first year, to meet required prerequisites for ECO courses. If MAT133Y1 or ( MAT135H1, MAT136H1) is not taken, students will not be eligible to enrol in 200+-level ECO courses, and must take PPG200H1 to fulfil program requirements in lieu of ECO200Y1/​ ECO204Y1/​ ECO206Y1.

Completion Requirements:

(7.5 credits)

First Year:

  1. One of the following four options (1.0 credit):

  2. ECO101H1 & ECO102H1 (with a combined average of at least 67%) or ECO105Y1 (with a final mark of at least 80%).

  3. Students expecting to choose ECO courses in their second year or higher must complete MAT133Y1 or the combination of MAT135H1 and MAT136H1 in their first year, to meet required prerequisites for ECO courses. If MAT133Y1 or ( MAT135H1, MAT136H1) is not taken, students will not be eligible to enrol in 200+-level ECO courses, and must take PPG200H1 to fulfil program requirements in lieu of ECO200Y1/​ ECO204Y1/​ ECO206Y1.

Second Year:

  1. ECO200Y1/​ ECO204Y1/​ ECO206Y1/​ PPG200H1
  2. Students expecting to choose ECO courses in their second year or higher must complete MAT133Y1 or the combination of MAT135H1 and MAT136H1 in their first year, to meet required prerequisites for ECO courses. If MAT133Y1 or ( MAT135H1, MAT136H1) is not taken, students will not be eligible to enrol in 200+-level ECO courses, and must take PPG200H1 to fulfil program requirements in lieu of ECO200Y1/​ ECO204Y1/​ ECO206Y1.
  3. 1.0 credit from ECO220Y1, ( POL222H1+ POL232H1), SOC202H1, STA220H1, STA221H1, STA248H1, STA255H1, STA261H1
  4. One of the following three options (1.0 credit):

Third and Fourth Years:

  1. PPG301H1
  2. PPG401H1
  3. Remaining courses to reach the 7.5 credits will be drawn from 300+-level drawn from Economics, Political Science, Sociology, or related disciplines.

A non-exhaustive list of eligible courses includes:

Economics:
ECO313H1/​ ECO314H1/​ ECO320H1/​ ECO324Y1/​ ECO331H1/​ ECO333H1/​ ECO334H1/​ ECO336Y1/​ ECO339Y1/​ ECO349H1/​ ECO364H1/​ ECO365H1/​ ECO369H1/​ ECO402H1/​ ECO403H1/​ ECO407H1/​ ECO410H1/​ ECO414H1/​ ECO416H1/​ ECO425H1/​ ECO426H1/​ ECO434H1/​ ECO439H1

Political Science:
POL301H1/​ POL302H1/​ POL305H1/​ POL306H1/​ POL307H1/​ POL308H1/​ POL309H1/​ POL312Y1/​ POL312H1/​ POL313H1/​ POL314Y1/​ POL315H1/​ POL316Y1/​ POL316H1/​ POL317Y1/​ POL318H1/​ POL321H1/​ POL325H1/​ POL326H1/​ POL327H1/​ POL328H1/​ JPA331H1/​ POL332Y1/​ POL334H1/​ POL336H1/​ POL337Y1/​ POL337H1/​ POL340H1/​ POL341H1/​ POL344H1/​ POL347H1/​ POL351Y1/​ POL353H1/​ POL356Y1/​ POL357H1/​ POL358H1/​ POL359H1/​ JPR364H1/​ POL370H1/​ POL371H1/​ POL377H1/​ POL386H1/​ POL405H1/​ POL408H1/​ POL409H1/​ POL411H1/​ POL413H1/​ POL417H1/​ POL418H1/​ POL423H1/​ POL425Y1/​ POL431H1/​ POL439H1/​ POL447Y1/​ POL448H1/​ POL450H1/​ JPA453H1/​ JPF455Y1/​ JPF455H1/​ JPF456H1/​ POL456H1/​ JPR457H1/​ POL457Y1/​ POL458H1/​ POL459H1/​ POL463H1/​ POL474H1/​ POL475H1/​ POL480Y1/​ POL481Y1/​ POL482H1

With the approval of the program director, students can take public policy oriented courses outside this list.


Public Policy Courses

MUN195H1 - The Economics of Birth, Death and Everything in Between

Hours: 24L

Does welfare really encourage people to have more kids? How do contraception bans affect women’s work? Do new immigrants create competition that makes wages drop? Economic demography – applying economic analysis to the study of populations – can help us understand all these questions and more. Among other topics, this class will examine how pension systems, health care, immigration policy and economic growth, marriage and divorce laws and women’s labor force participation relate to public policy.

Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)
Course Experience: University-Based Experience

PPG200H1 - Microeconomics for Policy Analysis

Hours: 24L

The objectives are: (1) To provide students with a foundation in microeconomic analysis and; (2) To demonstrate how this foundation can be applied to design, predict the effects of and evaluate public policies.

Students will be equipped to understand the main issues on a range of policy topics such as taxation, social insurance, welfare and income support programs.

Prerequisite: ( ECO101H1, ECO102H1)/ ECO105Y1
Exclusion: ECO200Y1, ECO204Y1, ECO206Y1
Recommended Preparation: POL101Y1/ 1.0 credit from POL101H1, POL106H1, POL107H1 or POL109H1/ MUN105Y1/ ( MUN101H1, MUN102H1)/ TRN160Y1/ TRN161Y1/ 1.0 credit from VIC181H1, VIC183H1, VIC184H1 or VIC185H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

PPG301H1 - Introduction to Public Policy

Hours: 24L

The course introduces students to the study of public policy, the policy process and our policy institutions in Canada. The course examines how issues emerge, how important ideas are framed, priorities are established, and agendas are set and managed. It explores how institutions – formal and informal rules which enable and constrain actors – shape policy-making in Canada.

Prerequisite: (1) One of: ECO200Y1/ ECO204Y1/ ECO206Y1/ PPG200H1; (2) One of: ECO220Y1/ ( POL222H1, POL232H1)/ SOC202H1/ STA220H1/ STA221H1/ STA248H1/ STA255H1/ STA261H1; (3) One of: POL214Y1/ (1.0 credit from POL201H1, JPI201H1, POL214H1, POL223H1, POL224H1, of which at least 0.5 credit must be POL214H1 or POL224H1)/ ( POL218H1, POL219H1)
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

PPG310H1 - Special Topics in Public Policy

Hours: 24L

This course examines a selected topic in public policy, based on the research interests of an individual instructor. Both the topics and the instructor may change each time the course is offered.

Prerequisite: PPG200H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

PPG401H1 - The Role of Government

Hours: 30L

This course explores the government’s role in promoting efficiency and equity in both the financing and delivery of public policy goals. It explores the conditions when government involvement is important, the policy levers available to government in promoting social policy, market failures, and conditions for efficiency. It examines the role of government in many of the major areas of social policy such as health care, education, redistribution, the environment, financial regulations and other important issues.

Prerequisite: PPG301H1
Corequisite: PPG301H1
Recommended Preparation: ECO200Y1/ ECO204Y1/ ECO206Y1/ PPG200H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

PPG410H1 - Advanced Topics in Public Policy

Hours: 24L

This course examines a selected advanced topic in public policy, based on the research interests of an individual instructor. Both the topics and the instructor may change each time the course is offered.

Prerequisite: PPG200H1, PPG301H1
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

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