Policy Studies

With Western Canada’s only Bachelor of Arts with a major in Policy Studies, you will learn how to develop and implement policies within government, private organizations and non-profit agencies. With roots in political science, economics, and administration, policy studies is a growing field in its own right, and one that offers a wide variety of rewarding career experiences.

Get involved

As a Mount Royal policy studies student, you will have the opportunity to work with organizations such as the Institute for Public Administration in Canada (IPAC), the Economics Society of Calgary (ESC), the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA), as well as a number of think-tank and public interest institutions.

Internship

Get on-the-job experience with this unique and valuable opportunity to put classroom theory into practice in a workplace setting. A paid, one-semester internship gives you a hands-on experience in the world of policy-making.

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Honours stream

An honours stream in policy studies will give you an excellent foundation for graduate studies in economics, political science, policy or law school.

Career opportunities

A BA in policy studies is a proven winner. Graduates of Mount Royal’s Bachelor of Applied Policy Studies program have enjoyed a 100% employment rate in their field. In Alberta alone, there will be a considerable increase in demand for skilled policy professionals over the next five years.

Your job title could be:

• Economic analyst ― collect, interpret and evaluate economic data for the government, for private and not-for-profit organizations or for think-tanks.
• Public policy analyst ― study and help assess government policies, programs and laws. Address such issues as the environment, resource management, climate change, infrastructure, growth and health care.
• Political aide ― conduct research and work behind the scenes to keep politicians organized and informed.
• Policy advisor and consultant ― put your skills and expertise to work for not-for-profit and for-profit agencies and organizations.
• Management or communications professional ― interpret and evaluate policies, procedures and laws; prepare background material for managerial decisions.

Courses

Policy Studies offers a wide range of courses. For sample course outlines, please click here.

For program planning, course selection and academic advising, visit Academic Advising Services.