Policy Studies, BA

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The Policy Studies major in the Bachelor of Arts four year program is designed to provide students with a solid academic foundation in policy theory, political science, and economics, as well as a semester of work experience. With these two key components, this degree will prepare graduates to embark on further study and/or challenging policy careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

With the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Policy Studies, Mount Royal joins a small number of universities in Canada that offer policy studies at the undergraduate level. The Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies at Mount Royal encompasses the disciplines of economics and political science in addition to policy studies. Consequently, it was able to build an integrated curriculum with a much better balance between economics and political science than is usually found. Students who graduate from the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Policy Studies program will have the theoretical background and practical skills - quantitative, computer analysis, writing and presentation - to understand the evolving relationships between business, governments, non-governmental organizations and interest groups, (policy communities). Graduates will be able to apply their skills to research, develop and evaluate policy proposals and will be qualified for positions such as management and communications assistants, planning and co-ordination officers and policy and economic analysts in private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Students will have the opportunity to put theory into practice with a semester-long paid Internship, which is normally taken during the third year of the degree program. Given the increased demand for policy professionals in Alberta and indeed throughout Canada, Mount Royal’s innovative BA in Policy Studies makes an exceptionally relevant fit with today’s economic, social and political challenges. Graduates of this degree program not only are keenly aware of the challenges our economy and society face; they also possess the knowledge to help address these challenges.

The six principal Policy Studies degree outcomes are as follows:

Comprehending policy contexts,
Applying analytical and research skills,
Behaving professionally,
Utilizing policy expertise,
Communicating effectively, and
Applying theory.

Specific Graduation Requirements - Major in Policy Studies

All students must meet the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a Major, as indicated in the General Graduation Requirements - Bachelor of Arts with a Major section of this calendar. In addition, Policy Studies Major students must meet the following graduation requirements.

Curriculum

Program Structure - Policy Studies

Total number of three-credit courses (or equivalent)	40 courses minimum
Required courses in Policy Studies	24 courses
Additional required Policy Studies courses	1 course
Elective courses	5 courses
General Education Courses	10 courses
First-year course limit (1000 level)	16 courses maximum
Maximum number of courses outside of the Faculty of Arts, and/or the Faculty of Science and Technology, and/or designated as General Education courses	8 courses
Course limit in a single discipline	24 courses maximum
Grade Point Average (GPA) to graduate	2.00 minimum

Required Courses

All students must meet the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, in addition to the graduation requirements for the Policy Studies major.

Indigenization Requirement

Note

Policy Studies Major students must obtain a minimum grade of C (2.00) in all core courses.

Electives

Five elective courses.

Students are eligible to choose any 3-credit university-level course to complete an elective requirement, including Bachelor of Arts - Policy Studies courses that are not already fulfilling a major requirement. Students should be aware that no more than 24 courses within one discipline will be counted towards their degree (e.g., no more than 24 courses with the course prefix POST).

General Education Requirements

Ten courses must be completed to meet the General Education requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts - Policy Studies.

Four courses will be taken at the foundational level: one from each of the thematic clusters.
Three courses will be taken at the second tier: no more than one from each of the thematic clusters. One of these courses must be from the Numeracy and Scientific Literacy cluster.
Three courses must be taken at the third tier, selected from at least two of the thematic clusters.

Graduation Requirements

Eligibility To Graduate

To be eligible to graduate from a Mount Royal program, a student must have been officially admitted into the program and must normally complete at least 25% of the graduation requirements as a student within the program, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the faculty/centre/school.

Normally, 50% of the academic work completed toward the award of a Mount Royal parchment must be completed at the University, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the appropriate faculty/centre/school.

In addition, the internship component of the Policy Studies BA Major must normally be completed as a student of Mount Royal.

Application for Honours after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in the same discipline.

A student who has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts may not apply to enter Honours in the same discipline in which he or she has received the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Time Limitation

All graduation requirements for the BA degree program must be completed within eight years of initial admission to and enrolment in the program. The prior learning of all students entering baccalaureate programs will be fully assessed at the point of admission for possible advanced standing or transfer credit. Applicable credit for prior learning which is recognized at the point of entry into the program will remain valid for the same time limit (eight years) as is permitted to complete the program.