Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

Questions about the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy can be directed to Tamela Friesen at StudyAtJSGS@uregina.ca.

Graduate Chair: Iryna Khovrenkov, PhD

Faculty Listing

Master of Health Administration (MHA) Program

Program Description

The Master of Health Administration is primarily an online, course-based degree offering students the opportunity to pursue personal and professional enhancement by obtaining a master's degree on their own schedule, without having to take time away from home or work to participate in traditional classroom learning.  Students will attend courses on a part-time basis while continuing their full-time employment and can finish the degree in as little as two years.  In addition to the coursework, students participate in two brief in-person residency periods.  These are held over a weekend and involve group exercises including case studies, management simulations, breakouts and presentations, creating important learning and networking opportunities for students.

Optional Major in Health Informatics and Information Management (MHA-HIIM)

To meet the growing demand for HIIM professionals, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) offers this major within the MHA program. HIIM encompasses a wide scope of practice that includes information management, information systems, information technology, and finance areas. The new major focuses on the capture, quality, and use of health information to support the Canadian health care system.  During the course of the program, students will develop graduate level skills in the information sciences and health administration.

Application deadlines here.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, with the following additions (where applicable):

1. Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years relevant health sector experience

MHA Mid-Career Option

For those who lack an undergraduate degree, but have considerable relevant health sector experience, there is an option to be admitted to the MHA program as mid-career.

Note: The Master's Certificate in Health Systems Management from the University of Regina ladders into the MHA program.  Students will be allowed to concurrently hold this Master's Certificate and the MHA degree, using the same courses for both credentials.  This means that a student could earn the Master's Certificate, apply for entry and be accepted into the MHA program, and then take the additional courses to earn the MHA degree.

Degree Requirements

Master of Health Administration (MHA) (course)

*The two in-person residency sessions can be taken in any semester and in any order.
**Approval by Graduate Chair required.

Master of Health Administration (MHA) in Health Informatics and Information Management (course)

*JSGS 812, JSGS 817, JSGS 823, JSGS 824, JSGS 826, JSGS 827, JSGS 829, JSGS 832, JSGS 833, JSGS 837, JSGS 841, JSGS 886**.
**Approval by Graduate Chair required.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, with the following additions (where applicable):

1. Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and additionally have an overall grade point average of 75%. In addition, JSGS requires three letters of reference.
2. The MPA programs are open to persons with a four-year undergraduate degree in any area.
3. Those students without a background in economics may be required to complete introductory courses in micro and macro economics.

Tuition Deposit

If you are offered admission into this program, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CAD is required to save your seat. If you enroll in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to your first terms tuition.

Degree Requirements
Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public Administration (course)

 *Subject to approval by graduate chair.

Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research general admission requirements and may enter the program from a wide variety of disciplines with the following additions (where applicable):

1. Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and additionally have an overall grade point average of 75%. In addition, JSGS requires three letters of reference.

Degree Requirements

Master of Public Policy (MPP) in Public Policy (thesis)

*Restricted electives are subject to change.
**Students must register in JSGS 990AB each semester and attend at least 25 seminars during their program.

PhD in Public Policy Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, with the following additions (as applicable):

1. Applicants must have completed a Master of Public Policy (MPP) or Public Administration (MPA), or a Master's degree in a cognate discipline such as economics, political science, sociology, or educational administration from an accredited university and will be expected to have achieved an average of 75 percent or better in their Master's program. In addition, JSGS requires three letters of reference.
2. Applicants seeking admission after completing a course-based Master's degree may be required to complete an examination as a condition of the program, which will be identified in the admission letter. This examination will typically consist of a written examination in the students' major area and this is to be completed in the first year of studies. A student who fails the written examination will be permitted to retake the examination only once.
3. Applicants are required to prepare and submit a research program outlining the research that they would like to pursue in the area of public policy. The research program outline is to contain a well-defined problem statement, a review of the appropriate literature, and an initial methodology.
4. An interview with the applicant is required and will be scheduled by the School upon receipt of all application materials in the FGSR. The PhD steering committee of the School reviews the file and makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Exceptional students may be considered for transfer from the MPP (or MPA) to the PhD. A transfer will only be considered after a student has completed all 15 credit hours of the course work required for the MPP (Note: students in the MPA would also have to complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work to be considered for transfer). Before students will be transferred to the PhD program, they must also successfully complete an examination (see above). The graduate committee in the School will also require three letters of recommendation (typically from faculty members in the School) in support of the transfer.

Degree Requirements

Students with a Master's degree (thesis route) in Public Policy from an accredited university will be required to take a minimum of nine (9) credit hours of the core course work.  Students without this background will be required to acquire the relevant background before taking the formal PhD core courses.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy (after Master's)

*Students must register in JSGS 990AB each semester and attend at least 25 seminars during their program.

Students who have taken one or more of these courses previously (i.e., in a master's program) will be required to substitute an additional course or courses. Students may take additional courses in a particular subject area if they wish, subject to the approval of their advisory committee and the FGSR.

Students must write and successfully defend a thesis to complete the program. Students are expected to complete the program in a timely manner; for example, within three years as a full-time student, but a maximum of six years is allowed under FGSR's regulations.

Comprehensive Exam:
Students will complete a comprehensive examination following completion of their prescribed course work (see above). The comprehensive exam would involve the preparation of a paper and an oral exam. The paper would be linked to the research program that the student has identified and that would serve as the starting point for a thesis proposal to be completed after the comprehensive exam is successfully completed.

Following successful completion of the comprehensive exam, students would move to the development of a proposal, and upon its approval, to the thesis research and writing stage.

Academic Performance Standards:
Satisfactory performance in research and course work is required and can be reviewed at any time as defined within the framework of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research regulations. The supervisory committee can meet to address any issues pertaining to the student's progress and could recommend termination of a student's program should progress be unsatisfactory. The Dean of FGSR or the FGSR PhD Committee may also initiate questions concerning a student's progress, as per FGSR regulations.

Master's Certificates in JSGS

Admission Requirements

• Completion of an undergraduate degree with a minimum overall GPA of 70%
• Test of English proficiency, if undergraduate instruction was not in English. In addition, JSGS requires three letters of reference.

There is also a mid-career option for admission, in which prospective students with at least five years of public sector or non-profit organization management experience may be admitted without an undergraduate degree.

For Fall, Winter or Spring/Summer admission:
Entry is possible in any term. Applications received eight weeks prior to the start of term will be considered for entry in the following term.

Tuition Deposit

If you are offered admission into a program with an asterisk (*), a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CAD is required to save your seat. If you enroll in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to your first terms tuition.

Program Requirements

Master's Certificate (MCert) in Economic Analysis for Public Policy *
This certificate is designed for those currently working, or wanting to work, directly in the area of policy analysis in the public. It will provide students with the basic skills and techniques for sound economic analysis of public policy along with an understanding of the advantages or disadvantages of various policy models.

Note: The Master's Certificate in Health Systems Management from the University of Regina ladders into the MHA program.  Students will be allowed to concurrently hold this Master's Certificate and the MHA degree, using the same courses for both credentials.  This means that a student could earn the Master's Certificate, apply for entry and be accepted into the MHA program, and then take the additional courses to earn the MHA degree.

Master's Certificate in Indigenous Nation-building
(effective 202230)

Note: Students cannot receive credit for JSGS 882 if they have completed JSGS 815 or 817.

Note: The Master's Certificate in Public Management from the University of Regina ladders into the MPA program. Students will be allowed to concurrently hold this Master's Certificate and the MPA degree, using the same courses for both credentials. This means that a student could earn the Master's Certificate, apply for entry and be accepted into the MPA program, and then take the additional courses to earn the MPA degree.

Master's Certificate (MCert) in Public Policy Analysis *
This certificate will be of interest to those directly involved in policy analysis development and to those involved in policy decisions who want to increase their understanding of the overall policy process. It will provide students with a basic foundation in public policy analysis, development, and evaluation. Students will develop analytic skills and gain a solid understanding of the basics of public policy implementation and development.

Note: The Master's Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Regina ladders into the MPA program.  Students will be allowed to concurrently hold this Master's Certificate and the MPA degree, using the same courses for both credentials.  This means that a student could earn the Master's Certificate, apply for entry and be accepted into the MPA program, and then take the additional courses to earn the MPA degree.

Master's Certificate (MCert) in Science and Innovation Policy *
(effective 202230)

Courses

JSGS 700 Pre-Internship Seminar Series (3)
This course is intended to prepare Interns for their upcoming placements. A series of seminars will address; workplace conduct, expectations, protocols and feedback mechanisms. Students will be expected to produce a research paper on the nature of internships in the public sector.

JSGS 801 Governance and Administration (3)
Analyzes governing institutions and the process of modern government as a means of enhancing student's understanding of policy formulation and implementation. It is intended to provide a basis for critically assessing political and administrative decision-making and policy outcomes.

JSGS 802 Public Finance (3)
Provides a survey of Canadian public finance. Examines rationales for government intervention in a market economy, the assessment of public policy, how government decisions are made and the impact of government expenditures and taxation on the economy and the well-being of Canadians, in terms of economic efficiency and interpersonal equity.

JSGS 803 Quantitative Methods (3)
Provides students with an understanding of the statistical concepts and techniques used in conducting research and critically evaluating empirical studies. Topics include statistical inference, sampling theory, and data and regression analysis as applied to problems in public policy.

JSGS 804 Seminar on Research and Writing (3)
Introduction to research and writing in public policy including research design, sourcing, evaluation, analysis and presentation. The course is built on the progressive evolution of a major research paper, and will provide critique on both research design and methodology.

JSGS 805 Economics for Public Policy Analysis (3)
Examination of concepts in microeconomics and macroeconomics, focusing on issues relevant to the public sector. Intended for students who have had limited exposure to economics. This is a prerequisite for students wishing to take JSGS 820 and 821 but who do not have 300 level macro- and micro-economic classes.

JSGS 806 Public Policy Analysis (3)
Analysis of the processes whereby public policies arise and are enacted in Canada. Compares theories and models of policy-making and decision-making to illustrate the special requirements of the Canadian environment; examines the roles of various participants in the policy process: legislators, political parties, interest groups, administrators and administrative structures, citizens and the judiciary.

JSGS 807 Statistics for Public Managers (3)
Administrative decision-making and policy development often require the analysis of quantitative data.  This course will introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics often used in policy environments so that they will be effective data users and interpreters.  Students will be taught how to use and present descriptive statistics.

JSGS 808 Ethical Leadership and Democracy in Public Service (3)
There is a growing interest in leadership, ethics and democracy within the profession of public administration. This course examines these three key concepts in the making of a professional public servant and connects them to the environment in which decisions are made in government.

JSGS 809 Introduction to Law in Public Administration and Policy (3)
Introduction to Law in Public Administration and Policy: Law and regulation as it affects public administration and policy, including the methods and procedures followed in Canada as a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, the nature of the law-making process, choice of legal instruments including administrative tribunals, and the legal methods by which administrative instruments are controlled.

JSGS 810 Co-operatives and Nonprofit Governance and Leadership (3)
This course will introduce students to strategic leadership issues in board-run organizations such as co-operatives and non-profits. The course will focus on governance, executive leadership, interactions with external stakeholders, and the board of directors' roles in strategy formation and implementation.

JSGS 811 Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (3)
JSGS 811 provides a descriptive and analytical overview of the Canadian voluntary sector.  This graduate course focuses on the structure of the voluntary sector, its history and relationship with government. This course challenges students to assess criteria, which determine the enabling policy environment for non-profit organizations.

JSGS 812 Indigenous Health Policy (3)
This course will address key health policy issues facing Indigenous populations.  It will reflect on both historical and contemporary contexts and will take a broad and interdisciplinary approach.

JSGS 813 Managing Change (3) (Equivalent to GBUS 860)
This course seeks to bring about an awareness and understanding of how organizations are managing change. The course will provide perspectives of the change strategists, the change implementers, and the change recipients. The objective of the course is to develop sensitive and effective change-agent skills in management ranks.

JSGS 814 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
This course offers an introduction to statistical concepts and methods essential for understanding evidence generated by quantitative studies and for the practical application for basic statistical principles.  The focus is on developing foundational knowledge on statistical approaches and on the application of appropriate tools and methods.

JSGS 815 Strategic Human Resource Management: Legal and Policy Issues (3) (Equivalent to GBUS 843)
Examination of human resources functions in public and private organizations from a strategic and institutional perspective. The topics include human resource planning, recruitment and selection, performance measurement and assessment, training and development, and the design of reward systems.

JSGS 816 Tax Policy and Fiscal Federalism (3)
Examination of objectives of tax policy and basic principles of taxation, with special reference to Canada. Various types of Canadian taxes - federal, provincial, municipal - will be analyzed and evaluated, including those on personal income, corporation income, manufacturers' sales, resource property and other taxes. Emphasis on evaluation of specific taxes and current issues in tax policies in Canada.

JSGS 817 (PSCI 844) Health Policy (3)
The course will review the historical development of the Canadian health care system and its supporting principles, governance structures and fiscal arrangements; and examine contemporary structures and relationships. Issues such as benefit coverage, health human resources, user fees, pharmaceuticals, regional health boards, and health reform in a comparative context will be examined.

JSGS 818 Program Evaluation (3)
Through extensive use of examples from various fields, students will be exposed to the art and science of applying evaluation methodologies and techniques to programs in both the public and nonprofit sectors.
Prerequisite: JSGS 806 or permission.

JSGS 819 Gender and Public Policy (3)
The course will compare neo-classical and feminist approaches to the analysis of public policy. Students will examine the labour market and gender-based inequality; the family, with a particular focus on intrahousehold resource allocation; and will consider macro-economic issues and provide gender-based analysis in relation to public policy in Canada.

JSGS 820 Micro-Economics for Policy Analysis (3)
The microeconomic tools needed for public policy analysis. Introduces students to an economic approach to the study of human behaviour, with special emphasis on the study of the circumstances under which markets achieve, or fail to achieve, an efficient allocation of the economy’s resources.
Prerequisite: JSGS 805 or permission.

JSGS 821 Macro-Economics for Policy Analysis (3)
An introduction to the major policy questions of macroeconomics, presenting macroeconomic models to assist policy development. An emphasis is placed on current policy issues including monetary policy, fiscal policy, currency regimes, productivity and growth, demographics patterns and fiscal sustainability.
Prerequisites: JSGS 805 or permission.

JSGS 822 Comparative Public Policy (3)
Using a comparative perspective, students will analyze how public policy is formulated, how it changes, and why. The role of formal and informal institutions, actors, structures and networks is examined, providing an increased understanding of theories of public policy, and the ability to critically analyze and compare public policy.

JSGS 823 Health Promotion (3)
This course is designed to provide an introduction to population health and instill the concepts and principles of population health promotion.  Based on the Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion, this course will provide students with an opportunity to develop targeted health promotion strategies in vulnerable populations.

JSGS 824 Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3)
This course is designed to provide the key principles of health program planning and evaluation.  The areas of focus for this course include program planning models; design of evaluation plans; program theory; mixed-methods data collection; indicators and measures of program outcomes; policy evaluation and evaluation reporting.

JSGS 825 Saskatchewan in Canadian Federalism (3)
Examines Canadian federalism from the perspective of Saskatchewan's postwar role in shaping national policy. The province's impact on the federation is analyzed through a series of topics.

JSGS 826 Human Resource Management in Healthcare (3)
This course will address health human resource management.  Its scope will include the knowledge and skills necessary to working with self-regulating professions and in a highly unionized environment.  Essential aspects of collective bargaining, negotiation and professional organization will be covered, as will working with the public/private divide in healthcare.

JSGS 827 Health Care Organization and Administration (3)
This course will provide students with an understanding of issues involved in the management and organization of health services. Students will examine issues related to managing health in terms of regional health authorities, health ministries and individual health organizations.

JSGS 828 Project Management (3) (Equivalent to GBUS 865)
An introduction to the many phases of a project’s life cycle. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of Project Management principles and learn how to manage them effectively using Project Management techniques by monitoring and maintaining control of scope, time and costs within a project.

JSGS 829 Decision Making and Leadership in Healthcare Organizations (3)
This course will cover leadership theory and practice, with a focus on effective leadership in the public sector and ethical decision-making.  It will address decision-making models relevant to the health sector, including emerging philosophies (e.g. LEAN).

JSGS 830AA-ZZ Residency (1.5)
Master of Health Administration students only. Each in-person residency will be an intensive three to five day session focusing largely on group exercises including case studies, management simulations, breakouts and presentations. Each residency will have different guiding themes including strategic planning, coaching and communication skills and managing and evaluating quality improvement initiatives.

JSGS 831 Performance Management (3)
The course examines the principles underlying the application of selected aspects of public management and examines ways in which governments apply the principles. The course compares approaches of different governments and examines some specific applications and strives to develop in students the competencies required of public servants.

JSGS 832 Population Based Health Program Management (3)
This course will apply the techniques of epidemiology and biostatistics to evaluate population-based health programs. In addition, students will become familiar with principles of public health, prevention, and health care quality management.

JSGS 833 Performance Measurement in Health Care Organizations (3)
Focusing on the health care imperative of accountability to the community, this course deals with the measurement of performance in health care organizations. Management control focuses on the implementation of business strategies and the attainment of organizational goals.

JSGS 834 Financial Management of Health Care Organizations (3)
This course covers the financial management function in health care organizations including operating and capital budgeting processes along with budgetary and financial controls. There will be extensive use of financial analysis tools for the health care organization and skills needed to develop basic finance and accounting foundations will be reviewed.

JSGS 835AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Public Policy (3)
Examination of one or more selected policy area(s) related to the interests of the instructors and students. An analytical assessment in terms of the economic, political, social, legal, quantitative, and administrative factors.

JSGS 836AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Public Administration (3)
Examination of one or more selected problems in public sector management relative to the interests of the instructor and students. A multidisciplinary application of knowledge, concepts and analytical tools to contemporary issues challenging government executives.

JSGS 837 Health Economics (3)
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to economic concepts and analysis relevant to health, health care and health care systems. Students will examine economic aspects of various elements of the health-care sector, identify relevant policy questions and apply economic concepts and techniques to analyze them.

JSGS 838 Public Sector Financial Management (3)
This course gives an overview of how to budget in the public and non-profit sector. Topics covered will include the budget cycle, from conceptual creation to development of practical options; rules and regulations regarding transfers between programs; issues associated with the audit process; and oversight of third-party budgets.

JSGS 839 Classic and Contemporary Readings in Policy Theory (3)
This course surveys classic and contemporary theories in public policy and public administration. It is intended to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation in decision-making processes, policy learning, policy change, institutionalism and the intellectual developments associated with the policy process.

JSGS 840 Public Policy and Public Opinion (3)
Public opinion in its many forms has become increasingly important for government decision-making and accountability processes. This course examines the underlying assumptions and research methodology used in assessing public opinion as well as government’s use of public opinion and its impact on decision-making and accountability practices.

JSGS 841 Health Law and Policy (3)
This course will provide an overview of issues at the intersection of health law and policy. It will include a basic introduction to the foundations of health law followed by examination of topical issues in this domain.

JSGS 842 American Foreign Policy in a New Era (3)
Foreign policy decisions are the product of an historical context (individual and cultural), a complex bureaucratic process, and an intertwined domestic and international political and economic environment. In order to criticize, evaluate, and understand those decisions, this course will examine all these components in relation to emerging doctrines of U.S. foreign policy.

JSGS 843 Data Science for Health Analytics and Decision Support (3)
This course covers the key data literacy and data analysis skills required to investigate complex data sets to answer pressing health care questions and effectively communicate results to peers. Taking a broad-but-shallow approach, the course follows the stages of the cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) data life cycle; students will learn to import and filter data using databases, how to prepare data for analysis, to choose appropriate data visualizations, to perform exploratory data analysis to understand the properties of data, to use modern machine learning techniques to analyze data, and how best to present your findings and use them to inform evidence-based decision making.

JSGS 849 Foundations in Social Economy and Public Policy (3)
Focus on how non-profit, community-based organizations, and co-operatives interplay with the public policies of different levels of government. Using case studies, students will examine administrative public policy, funding, evaluation and accountability. The course also includes a field trip and researcher and practitioner guest lecturers.

JSGS 850AA-ZZ - Selected Executive Internships (0)
This internship is for students who have completed at least 50% of their program, including the core program courses, and have little or no experience in the public sector. Students will be exposed to the skills used by manager at senior levels in the public sector and will perform a variety of tasks.

JSGS 851 Qualitative Methods (3)
This class provides students with advanced skills in qualitative research methods used for policy analysis and programme evaluation. The course surveys validity and reliability measurements, the methodological branches of qualitative research, and a range of applications. Topics include: case studies, interviewing, consultation, focus groups, documentary analysis, Web-research, and content analysis.

JSGS 852 Inside Government - Practice and Procedures (3)
Examines the principles underlying aspects of public management with an emphasis on the machinery of government and the ways in which governments apply public administration principles and use various instruments. Students will practice some of the competencies expected of public servants through lectures, student presentations, in-class exercises and field trips.

JSGS 853 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (3)
This course addresses Negotiations & Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the workplace, including theoretical models and applications relevant to managing conflict in employment settings. Students will gain a firm understanding of how to resolve workplace conflict in both unionized and non-unionized environments.

JSGS 854 Higher Education Policy (3)
This course examines the broad context in which higher education policy is made and evaluate a variety of policy initiatives launched by governments around the world. The purpose is to acquaint students with the principal objectives of government in the higher education sector and the major policy challenges they confront.

JSGS 855AA-ZZ Advanced Standing for Professional Programs (3-9)
Advanced standing of up to 9 credit hours in the MPA program for prior completion of approved professional programs. Students who receive advance standing for approved programs may be excluded from taking up to 3 electives.

JSGS 856 Health Information Privacy Policy (3)
This course covers legislation, regulation and standards governing access, use, and disclosure of health information, the ethics of information privacy, privacy program management, and privacy by design. Students will examine privacy, compliance, and risk policies and procedures, as well as emergent issues such as medical identity theft and fraud, genomic privacy, and social media health platform privacy.

JSGS 858 Enterprise Information Management (3)
An in-depth analysis of health information functions critical to health care operations; enterprise information governance with a focus on information as a strategic asset; and the role of health information professionals in quality improvement, care coordination, and performance and utilization management. Implementing strategic and organizational change and integrating best practices in project management will also be covered.

JSGS 859 Innovation Policy (3)
This course is designed as a special topic course in the theory and practice of innovation policy. Students will investigate the theory, methodology and applications of innovation policy through primary readings, discourse and writing.

JSGS 860 Health Systems Research Methods (3)
This course in research methods as applied to the analysis of health systems will develop students’ knowledge and skills in health systems research including the criteria for formulating health system research problems and hypotheses, selecting the appropriate research design, conducting a systematic literature review, methods of data collection and use.

JSGS 861 Health, Post-Secondary Ed & Social Programs: Funding, Structure & Reform (3)
Establish the foundations for the current funding of health-care, post-secondary education and Canadian social programs, considering the main elements of a budget. Students will work together to compile a provincial budget and determine how to fund the increasing costs of health-care while maintaining the quality of other programs and services.

JSGS 862 Political Economy (3)
Focuses on the politics of aggregating individual decisions into collective action, revealing the difficulty of formulating and implementing public policy broadly construed. The course readings emphasize formal approaches to this subject, while the assignments and discussion emphasize their application to real problems.

JSGS 863 Indigenous Peoples and Public Policy (3)
Begins with the historic framework for contemporary public policy established by treaties, reserves and legislation. Then it examines contemporary developments, including constitutional negotiations, influential court case, urbanization, comprehensive claims and self-government.

JSGS 864 Social Policy: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (3)
An interdisciplinary course that offers a comparative and historical perspective on social policy development, in Canada and in other advanced industrial countries.

JSGS 865 Decision Making in Organizations (3)
Examines the manner in which decisions are made in organizations, with a particular focus on policy decisions. The course uses a wide variety of behavioral theories to look at phenomena such as policy traps, framing, unwarranted optimism, and group think.

JSGS 866 Public Leadership: Theory and Practice (3)
This course covers key leadership/management skills such as clarifying personal vision, coaching, goal setting, conflict management, stress management, emotional intelligence, crisis management, process & system design and communication skills. Major competency models of leadership and management are covered to familiarize students with the research and practice of leadership development.

JSGS 867 Advanced Policy Analysis (3)
This course will introduce students to applied policy analysis and key policy research methods including interviews, focus groups and surveys. As an applied project class students will work with faculty and representatives from the Saskatchewan Government to conduct a policy analytic review for a provincial ministry.

JSGS 868 Resource and Environmental Policy (3)
An examination of recent trends in resource and environmental policy. The course will focus on policy processes in the context of the growing integration of resource and environmental policies, multi-level governance and civil society engagement.

JSGS 869 Ideas in Public Policy (3)
The objective of this course is to review and discuss major theoretical perspectives that contribute to our understanding of public policy. Featuring extensive class discussions, the course focuses on three related factors: ideas, institutions, and power, and will help research students grasp major theoretical debates in policy analysis, with a special emphasis on sociological, political science, and interdisciplinary perspectives.

JSGS 870 Water Policy in an Age of Uncertainty (3)
Do contemporary water systems embody principles that will allow them to adapt and function in a changing climate, a rapidly evolving economy, a changing settlement system, and new lifestyles? Students will develop a collaborative, interdisciplinary framework for evaluating sustainable water governance.

JSGS 871 Research Methods in International Trade Policy (3)
Is designed to provide the analytical skills required to make sense of the vast literature on international trade, much of which presents data in sophisticated ways, reports the results of the use of often quite sophisticated statistical techniques, and may even be the result of mathematical modeling.

JSGS 872 International Trade and Commercial Policy (3)
Economic analysis of international trade policy. Economic implications of border measures, subsidies, technical standards as barriers to trade, unfair trade practices, sanctions. Dispute settlement and economic penalties. Assessment of international trade institutions and agreements.

JSGS 873 International Trade Theory (3)
Reviews the economic rationale and evidence used to evaluate the effects of freer trade on national economics. We will explore classical theories of trade as well as new models of trade that stress increasing returns and market structure. We will use original data sources to explore essential features of international trade.

JSGS 874 International Monetary Economics (3)
Reviews the factors that determine exchange rates, the benefits and costs of alternative exchange rate regimes, the efficacy of fiscal and monetary policy under different regimes, and the causes and consequences of a currency crisis. We will use original data sources to explore essential features of international monetary flows.

JSGS 875 Politics of International Trade (3)
Will explore the political context of international trade by examining the literature on globalization and by focusing on trade policy decision making in major trading nations as well as in regional and international organizations.

JSGS 876 International Trade Law (3)
Examines international trade laws in goods and services, focusing principally on the World Trade Organization, the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade, and the North American Free Trade Agreement. This international law specialization includes negotiation and dispute settlement processes and types of rules restraining national restrictions on trade.

JSGS 877 International Sales and Finance Law (International Commercial Transactions) (3)
Introduction to legal concepts and operational principles relevant to transnational commercial transactions. The nature and roles of the various types of private international conventions (law treaties) and the role of national courts in enforcement are outlined.

JSGS 878 International Business Environment (3)
Looks at international trade from the perspective of the private sector practitioner, manager or consultant. Topics include FDI, international cultural, physical, economic, socioeconomic, political, legal and financial environmental forces, competitive intelligence, international marketing challenges, and international financial and human resources management.

JSGS 879 The Management of Technology (3)
To assist students to develop a framework for understanding and analyzing the strategic management of the research, development and commercialization of biotechnology-based products. Students will also learn the role and importance of government (domestic and international regulations), intellectual property regulations and public perception in the business strategy decision making process of firms.

JSGS 880 Advanced Governance Analysis (3)Governance refers to “who gets to decide what” in political systems, sectors of the economy, the use of technology, and organizations. This course examines the development of governance systems in response to authority no longer being confined entirely to government, and examines arrangements leading to both desirable and undesirable outcomes.

JSGS 881 Constitutional Law and Public Policy (3)
Students will develop the critical skills necessary to examine Canada’s constitutional framework, including the judicial system the division of powers, the treatment and rights of Aboriginal Peoples, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

JSGS 882 Strategic Management in the Public Sector (3)
The course focuses on developing practical knowledge and skills public sector managers require to effectively “get things done” through others. Management skills developed include self-assessment/reflection, goal-setting, teamwork/collaboration, verbal/written communication, influence/persuasion, conflict resolution, stress management, and creative thinking.

JSGS 883 Essentials for Public Policy and Administration (1.5)
This residency pass/fail course will provide students with an introduction to the six MPA competency fields and the JSGS research clusters. It will also provide several refresher sessions on Canadian institutions, public sector processes, basic math skills, and introduce the final MPA portfolio project.

JSGS 884 Professional Planning (1.5)
This course requires the submission and presentation of a professional portfolio at the end of the MPA program where students demonstrate evidence that an acceptable level of proficiency in each of the six MPA competency fields has been acquired.   Pre-Requisitie of JSGS 883

JSGS 886 MHA Placement (3)
This course is an experiential learning opportunity. Students spend one month embedded within a partner organization such as the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health, during which time they work on a designated policy project under the supervision of a mentor within the organization, and the course instructor.

JSGS 887 Clinical Terminologies and Classification Systems (3)
This course introduces the principles of taxonomy and purposes of controlled terminologies and classification systems used in Canada and internationally. It addresses the importance of standards conformance, design of semantically interoperable info structures, and the processes, policies and procedures used in the collection, coding, and mapping of health data. Labs require working with health data sets and data tools.

JSGS 888 Health Informatics and Health Information Technology (3)
An integrative course on information technology used for tactical and strategic decision making in all facets of health care. Focuses on defining information needs, interpreting the capabilities of health information systems, setting forth feasible alternatives, adhering to international and national standards, and guiding the diffusion of information technology.

JSGS 896 Indigenous Nation Building in Canada (3)
This course will explore critical nation-building issues confronting Indigenous peoples in Canada.  The course will examine multi-dimensional settings that confront Indigenous peoples in the pursuit of social, cultural, political, educational, and economic development.  It will provide in-depth, hands-on exposure to issues related to nation-building.

JSGS 890AA-ZZ Directed Readings (3-6)
Directed readings for individual students or groups of students on selected topics. Prerequisite: Permission of Department Head.

JSGS 891 Public Policy Professionalism (3)
This course introduces the three MPA competency fields, and the overarching areas of knowledge required of policy professionals. It also provides several introductory classes on Canadian institutions, public sector processes, basic policy making skills, public servants’ roles and responsibilities.

JSGS 892 Capstone (3)
This course requires the development, submission, presentation and validation of a capstone report at the end of the MPA program.

JSGS 893 Foundations of Indigenous Governance (3)
Indigenous peoples’ governance frameworks, while diverse, are intrinsically informed by Indigenous worldviews. This course explores settler-colonial Canada’s attempts to eradicate Indigenous nationhood and Indigenous peoples’ resistance through the continued practice of governance. In particular, Indigenous worldviews will be presupposed to transform colonial inequity in contemporary Indigenous/Canadian governing relationships.

JSGS 894 Indigenous Nation Building in Practice (3)
This course develops a structure by which the connection between the traditional and contemporary forms of governance can decolonize and mitigate colonial inequity in settler-colonial Canada. Among the questions considered are: How is decision making informed by traditional approaches to Indigenous governance? What impact does settler colonialism have on political, social, and economic institutions and developments in Indigenous communities? What role can governance have on economic performance? How can Indigenous self-governance transform settler-colonial inequity?

JSGS 895 Community Residency (0)
The purpose of this course is to provide a framework for community economic development and community enhancement in Indigenous communities. Students will be matched with a community governance project before course commencement.

JSGS 896 Indigenous Nation Building in Canada (3)
This course will explore critical nation-building issues confronting Indigenous peoples in Canada.  The course will examine multi-dimensional settings that confront Indigenous peoples in the pursuit of social, cultural, political, educational, and economic development.  It will provide in-depth, hands-on exposure to issues related to nation-building.

JSGS 900 Research Project (3 or 6)
Under the guidance of a supervisory committee, a student analyzes a significant organizational problem with a view to recommending a feasible solution. Problems may be either specific or general, requiring either a particular disciplinary background or a multidisciplinary approach. Students are required to register in a minimum of 6 credit hours of project research. The course will be graded in a credit/nocredit (C/N) basis.

JSGS 901 Research (3-15)
Thesis research.

JSGS 906 PhD Seminar (3)
This is a seminar class in which PhD candidates will participate with faculty and associate faculty. Their research to date will be critiqued at a number of seminars. Candidates will also be required to review and critique research work being presented by other PhD students and GSPP faculty members participating in the seminar.

JSGS 990AA-ZZ Seminar Series (0)
Students are required to attend a series of seminars featuring events and discussion on current research and policy issues, as well as skill-building sessions. JSGS students may be required to register in a selected seminar in the JSGS 990AA-ZZ series every term. Credit is based on attendance at up to 25 seminars/events.

NORD 847 Circumpolar Innovation and Entrepreneurship (4)
This course examines the manner in which scientific and technological innovation, or the commercialization of technology-based products and services, is shaping the circumpolar world.  Nations around the world have identified innovation as being the cornerstone of economic competitiveness and critical to everything from job creation to environmental sustainability.