Public Administration (Formerly Public Service)
(Optional Co-op)

Description: This course focuses on career management skills needed to navigate the evolving workplace. Students will evaluate their skills, attitudes, and expectations within their chosen careers and explore emerging trends in the workplace. Students will refine their networking strategies and create marketing documents to position them for success. Mock interviews will provide the opportunity for practice, feedback, and reflection as students prepare for future interviews. Students will explore communication strategies that support workplace success and advancement. By the end of this course, students will have created a personalized career management plan.

• Hours: 28
• Credits: 2
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs:  The cost is included in the course fee. View the eText fee.

Description: This course will cover the practical aspects of public sector communication skills both in written and oral presentation forms. In the written form, students will practice letter writing, on-line communication procedures and etiquette, the preparation of briefing notes, reports to committees or councils, meeting minutes, media releases, Question and Answer documents for senior managers or political leaders, and grant applications.

• Hours: 70
• Credits: 5
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs:  The cost is included in the course fee. View the eText fee.

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.

• Hours: 1
• Credits: 0
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: ​No cost.

Description: This course will introduce the policy cycle by examining agenda-setting, policy formulation, government decision-making, policy implementation, and the evaluation of policies. These theoretical lessons will create an understanding of how the public policy process operates and, thereby, how to influence policy decisions. The complex relationships that exist both between politicians and public servants as well as between the public sector and the private sector will be discussed. Students will also practice consultation methods and develop policy recommendations.

• Hours: 70
• Credits: 5
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: ​No cost.

Description:

This course will explore Canadian democracy providing students with an understanding of the Canadian systems of government at the federal and provincial levels. Students will examine the distributions of powers and responsibilities in the Canadian federal structure, as well as the social, cultural and economic factors and related issues that influence federal-provincial-municipal relations. The course will also examine how the civil service, interest groups, the media, and political parties contribute to the overall functioning of governments.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: ​No cost.

Description:

This course will map the development of municipal government with a focus on Ontario. Students will explore ways in which local government has evolved in changing social and political contexts, how it has responded to opportunities and challenges, and how it relates to provincial and federal levels of government.

• Hours: 28
• Credits: 2
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: ​No cost.

Description:

By examining contemporary leadership models and existing organizational systems in the public service environment, students will learn about the theories and practices associated with facilitating and leading productive operational teams. Students will learn and practice conflict resolution management and negotiations skills, as well as dispute resolution approaches. With the objective of understanding what makes a high-performance team, existing or potential partnership and team-building processes will be evaluated.

• Hours: 28
• Credits: 2
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: Not available at this time.

Description: This course provides the practical knowledge to prepare for starting and completing a project successfully. It will cover the components and tasks related to complex projects that often involve multiple functional teams and departments. You will explore how the knowledge areas of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) are applied during each phase of a project's life cycle as well as the processes related to successful project management. An overview of status reporting and the use of MS Project will be covered. This knowledge will help establish priorities and effectively manage your projects. It will be of particular interest to those students who have a long-term goal of attaining the Project Management Professional (PMP)® designation certified by the Project Management Institute.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs:  The cost is included in the course fee. View the eText fee.

Description:

The capstone project is an experiential learning project during the second semester of the program that enables students to practice in a group setting their skills of research, analysis, communication, project management, and evaluation. Students will model and apply the skills learned throughout the Public Service program to a specific project for a government, non-profit, or social purpose organization. Students will enhance their writing and presentation skills as well as their analytical and team building skills.

• Hours: 56
• Credits: 4
• Pre-Requisites: COMM8085
• CoRequisites: MGMT8300
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: Not available at this time.

Description:

In this course, students will explore theories and methods of public administration to address public sector organizational challenges and systemic problems faced in particular by Canadian municipalities. Also, the influence of provincial and federal governments and Indigenous communities will be examined and how they interact with municipalities. The students will develop practical skills related to the administration of government including introduction of management concepts, strategic planning, and legislation. Students will also learn about how to be a 'reflective practitioner' in municipal operations such as human resources, asset management, records management, communications, and land use planning guided by knowledge of ethical principles discussed in the course.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: Not available at this time.

Description:

This course delineates the structure and organization of different levels of government with emphasis on the process of developing and implementing policy. It explores intergovernmental relationships and the impact of staff and other stakeholders.

• Hours: 28
• Credits: 2
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: Not available at this time.

Description:

This course analyzes financial management strategies in government, with a particular focus on the ethical use of funds, budgeting, and planning from the perspective of not-for-profit and public sector financial and personnel structures. The need for increased public accountability and public service or ministerial responsibility will be evaluated. Management tools such as balanced score card logic, management and planning models, performance indicators, budget proposal development and tracking systems, program audit processes and evaluations, and timely and appropriate goods and services procurement methods will also be introduced.

• Hours: 42
• Credits: 3
• Pre-Requisites:
• CoRequisites:
• Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs: Not available at this time.