Pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy is an investment in the tools, mindset, and perspective needed to lead in today’s complex policy environment. Grounded in real-world relevance and delivered in the heart of one of Canada’s most dynamic cities, the program prepares students to confront challenges that demand clarity, strategy, and evidence-based thinking.
Here, policy is not just studied—it is practiced. Students learn to navigate uncertainty, assess competing interests, and design solutions that reflect the realities of governance. With a curriculum shaped by expert faculty and informed by pressing public issues, the MPP program fosters analytical strength, strategic insight, and professional confidence. This is a community where academic growth meets real-world impact—and where the next generation of policy leaders begins.
Program Structure
The Master of Public Policy is an intensive, integrated 12-month program, allowing students to enhance their existing academic background and professional experience with the knowledge and skills needed to further their careers in a condensed, cost- and time-efficient format. This cohort-based program commences each September with expected completion by August of the following year. The accelerated structure prepares students for policy roles across sectors in less than a year.
Offered at the downtown campus, MPP is a classroom-based program with a blend of morning, afternoon, and evening courses. Each course is offered once during the 12-month schedule, in either a four-month or condensed format depending on the term length or course structure. Students find this format provides the school-life balance they desire while pursuing a graduate degree.
Core Courses
The curriculum of the program encompasses a comprehensive array of subjects within the public policy sector, ensuring a thorough understanding of its various dimensions.
PPOL 600 provides a foundation in the principles and practices of policy analysis and writing, emphasizing critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making. Through lectures, discussions, and applied assignments, students will explore key frameworks in public policy, develop skills to craft clear and persuasive policy briefs, and use case studies to examine real-world policy challenges. By the end of the course, students leave equipped with essential tools to analyze, evaluate, and communicate policy effectively in professional settings.
PPOL 604 explores the role of communication and persuasion in shaping public policy, emphasizing the influence of evolving technologies on how policy is developed, conveyed, and received. The course integrates theoretical foundations with practical strategies, covering topics such as public opinion research, crisis communication, social media, and political messaging. Students will consider the importance of trust in effective communication and examine how persuasive techniques are applied in real-world policy scenarios. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on developing practical skills grounded in theory to support effective, strategic communication in policy environments.
PPOL 607 focuses on influence and tactics in the policy process, taught from a practitioner’s perspective. It equips students with the tools to identify, understand, and advise clients and decision-makers on both formal factors—such as legal frameworks, institutions, and processes—and informal influences, including power dynamics, interests, and personal relationships. The course examines how public policy issues emerge, evolve, and are shaped by political forces. Topics include the roles of NGOs, interest groups, media, political parties, and social movements, as well as the development of advocacy strategies, government relations, and persuasive policy communications.
PPOL 608 offers a foundational understanding of how economists analyze public policy using simplified, abstract models. These models—both graphical and mathematical—help structure complex ideas and promote analytical consistency across microeconomic and macroeconomic contexts. Students will examine how such models can clarify intricate policy issues by highlighting their core elements. The course explores both individual markets and the broader economy, providing the tools needed for informed policy discussions. By the end, students will have a strong grasp of economic reasoning to support more advanced analysis in subsequent coursework.
PPOL 609 introduces the principles and practices of decision analysis, with a focus on supporting evidence-based decision-making in complex scenarios faced by governments, organizations, and individuals. Students will develop proficiency in quantitative methods and structured frameworks that promote rigorous, consistent, and transparent evaluation of policy options. Emphasizing the use of data and evidence, the course prepares students to assess decisions involving trade-offs, preferences, costs, and risks—particularly in the context of uncertainty.
PPOL 615 explores the economics of the public sector, with a focus on the government's role in correcting market failures and promoting efficient, equitable resource allocation. Students will examine key areas of public expenditure, tax policy design, and the fiscal impacts of deficits and public debt. The course also provides an overview of government finances, highlighting the constraints of budgetary requirements. Topics include intergovernmental fiscal relations, revenue generation, and the design of expenditure policies within a multi-level governance system.
PPOL 617 examines the influence of legal institutions on the development and implementation of public policy in Canada. Students will explore the relationship between policy and various sources of law, including legislation, case law, tribunal rules, and international legal frameworks. The course also considers the roles of key legal institutions such as the judiciary, legislature, and administrative bodies. By the end, students will be able to distinguish between law and policy, interpret legislation and court decisions, understand how legal frameworks shape policy outcomes, and conduct basic legal research using electronic tools.
PPOL 619 explores the institutions and practices of governance that influence public policy development and implementation in Canada. Topics include the roles of the legislature, executive, judiciary, and bureaucracy, as well as federalism, multi-level governance, Indigenous governance, and board governance. Students will gain a foundational understanding of government structures and key governance concepts, apply them to real-world cases, and examine both the governance of and by Indigenous peoples.
PPOL 620 supports students in developing a comprehensive research proposal for their capstone project. Students learn to formulate a clear research question, select appropriate methodologies, and design a structured plan for their final project. By the end, they leave equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out a rigorous, well-organized, and professionally executed capstone.
PPOL 623 is the culminating experience of the Master of Public Policy program, where students apply their learning to a focused research project addressing a defined public policy issue. Working under the guidance of a faculty advisor and, when appropriate, drawing on input from public or private sector experts, students produce a well-researched and professionally presented final report. The capstone demonstrates the ability to integrate and apply knowledge from across the program, develop expertise in a specific policy area, and deliver work that reflects strong analytical and professional skills.
Elective Topics
Elective courses cover a range of topics, which may change annually. They allow students to tailor their learning to specific interests and align their studies with future career goals.
This course examines public policy interventions in market design and operation, with a focus on two key areas: competition law to prevent the acquisition of market power, and economic regulation to address its inefficient use. Students will develop a foundational understanding of the economic principles underlying competition policy and regulation, with emphasis on the Canadian context. The course provides an overview of key provisions in the Canadian Competition Act and explores the role of regulatory agencies through case studies from Canada and other jurisdictions.
This course explores the role of energy policy in sustainable energy development, including the rationale for policy, the policy-making process, principles of policy analysis, and the impact of energy policy on energy systems. The course provides a theoretical overview of energy policy tools, examples of their practical use, and a review of current energy policy issues both domestically and internationally.
This course introduces the field of foreign policy analysis as a distinct area within International Relations. Using a level-of-analysis framework, it examines theories and empirical findings that explain foreign policy decisions. The course includes a focused exploration of Canadian foreign policymaking, applying theoretical foundations to understand Canada’s actions on the international stage.
This course offers an overview and analysis of key topics in health policy and health care reform. It introduces students to core concepts and principles useful for analyzing and planning health policy, while developing skills in critical evaluation and evidence-based decision making. Delivered through a mix of lectures and seminar discussions, the course includes assignments focused on written analysis and presentation of health policy topics.
This course explores the history of Indigenous policy in Canada, focusing on how past policies enforced assimilation and "civilization" efforts that disadvantaged Indigenous Peoples. It examines the lasting impacts on Indigenous communities and provides a critical assessment of the social, economic, and political dimensions of Indigenous life. The course emphasizes the importance of inclusive policy development in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.
This course offers an overview of key policy considerations in contemporary international development. Students will explore the history of development, current global realities, and the diverse actors and institutions involved in the field. Through case studies, the course connects theoretical principles with practical challenges across varied contexts. Students will engage in major development debates and use class discussions to refine their own perspectives on critical issues. Designed for those interested in contributing to international development, foreign policy, or global governance, the course provides a strong foundation for understanding and addressing complex global challenges.
This course introduces program evaluation in empirical public policy, focusing on data types, measurement, and the distinction between descriptive and inferential analysis. Students will examine how governments, corporations, and non-profits monitor trends and evaluate policy outcomes. The course covers sources of information, methods of data collection and use, and how to assess credibility. Students will be introduced to key techniques for describing both qualitative and quantitative data, identifying relationships within data, and evaluating cause-and-effect claims in existing research.
This course focuses on the evaluation and understanding of social issues and their policy responses. It builds on theoretical concepts such as fairness and equity, with an emphasis on empirical measurement of challenges including poverty, income inequality, and homelessness. The course aims to prepare students for careers in the civil service or non-government sector by developing practical skills for addressing social policy problems.
This course explores the critical role of tax policy in legal and policy practice. It examines key objectives—efficiency, equity, and simplicity—and their application to legislation. Students will analyze various forms of taxation, including income, sales, and payroll taxes, along with tax rates and bases. The course provides an overview of tax policy principles within the Canadian tax system and prepares students to interpret and apply tax laws effectively.
Capstone Project Overview
The capstone project is a key component of the Master of Public Policy program, offering students the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to a real-world policy issue of their choosing. As the culminating element of the program, it challenges students to apply their full skill set through in-depth research, independent analysis, and evidence-based thinking. Guided by a faculty advisor and, in many cases, working in collaboration with government or industry partners, students address a clearly defined policy challenge while developing practical skills essential for success in the field.
The final deliverable is a professional-quality, academically rigorous paper demonstrating the ability to integrate theory with practice and communicate policy options clearly. A strong capstone can serve as a bridge to future opportunities, with many graduates drawing on this work in job interviews, policy competitions, or professional writing. To promote knowledge sharing and public engagement, completed projects are archived in the University of Calgary’s digital repository, PRISM – MPP Capstone Projects. This open-access platform expands the reach and impact of student work by making it available to academics, practitioners, and the public.
Students may also participate in a capstone symposium to present their findings to peers, faculty, and policy professionals. This event highlights the relevance of their work, encourages knowledge exchange, and supports career development through exposure and networking opportunities.