Public Policy & Management Specialization
Leadership roles with government, boards and agencies, commissions, and not-for-profit enterprises require a unique set of analytical skills. The Alberta MBA Public Policy & Management Specialization provides you with the knowledge you need to push your career forward.
Overview
Study Areas
Career Opportunities
Program
Admissions
Scholarships
Credits Against Electives
Executive Education
Why should you enter the Alberta MBA Public Policy & Management Specialization? We know the practice of public management:
- Leading and managing in the complex and ambiguous world of public service presents a unique challenge. Ideas meet practice in the Public Policy & Management Specialization.
- Outstanding faculty lead discussions, with students and practitioners, about research-based public management concepts and actual practice.
- You will learn to think strategically and to develop the analytical skills, problem-solving strategies, and consensus-building techniques critical for success in the public sector.
- To sharpen insight and interest, speakers in seminars and workshops offered in the MBA program will frequently address public sector issues.
- How can organizations reconcile the complexity and ambiguity of public goals in order to plan effectively for the future? Does this ambiguity preclude the effective measurement of performance?
- How are policy decisions made in the Canadian context? How is consensus developed around public goals and strategies? Do special interest groups steer the public agenda? Why and how does business influence public policy?
- What strategies can be used to close the gap between policy objectives and results? How do public sector managers design and implement change strategies?
- How is public enterprise effectively organized in order to deliver service excellence? How can alternative forms of service delivery be managed? Is there a role for private-public partnerships?
- How can the public sector attract and retain people with the requisite skills and knowledge? How can compensation plans be used to motivate successful achievement of government goals?
Alberta MBA graduates who completed the Public Policy & Management Specialization will have the skills to work in leadership positions in the public sector. You will have developed attributes key to advancing your career to senior managerial and executive levels within federal, provincial or local government, a health authority or a non-profit agency, or to making a career change from the private to public sector. Alternatively, if you choose a career in the private sector you will have acquired knowledge of the public sector and public policy processes that will enable you to be an effective advocate for your company or social interests.
Students acquire the fundamentals of management through a comprehensive set of core business management courses. Building on this foundation, strength in public sector management is developed through specifically designed electives. In these courses, you analyze key issues in policy development, implementation and management. You learn to think creatively and make decisions in the complex and ambiguous environment of public sector. Other electives in relevant and challenging disciplines further develop leadership and management skills.
In a featured project course, theory is applied to a current issue. Under the guidance of faculty, students in this project course will work with a public or non-profit sector organization to understand, analyze and influence the resolution of a current problem in public policy development, implementation or management.
General MBA admission requirements, application deadlines and course requirements apply. Prospective students interested in the Public Policy & Management specialization are requested to indicate this interest in their letter of intent at the time of application to the MBA Program.
Entering students who are employed in the public sector will automatically be considered for the Jim Dixon Public Management Scholarship. The award is for $3,000 which will be paid out over 3 years. The award will be made to the student who offers the greatest potential to succeed in the program and be leader in public service management. This will be evidence by the student's academic achievement and career progress.
Graduates of management development programs offered by Executive Education at the Alberta School of Business may be eligible for credits against elective requirements.
Subject to the approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, students may receive credit against elective requirements for customized management development programs for the public sector offered by Executive Education, as specified below.
- Up to six credits may be awarded against elective requirements for prior completion of the Senior and Executive Managers’ Development Program offered to Government of Alberta employees by Executive Education.
- Up to three credits may be awarded against elective requirements for prior completion of the Management Development Certificate Program for Municipal Managers.
Students can apply for these credits in writing to the Associate Dean, MBA subsequent to receipt of admission. Please include in your application your date of graduation as well of a list of the modules completed. Credit will not be awarded if completion of these programs was considered in the student’s application for admission to the MBA.
For further information on the programs offered by Executive Education, click here.