Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management - Communication and Policy Studies - Strategic Public Opinion (Optional Co-op)

The influence of public policy is pervasive in society. It affects the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. It affects prosperity and the extent of poverty, as well as access to education and medical care. It shapes the impact and pace of technological change. It determines the duties and powers of officials at home and overseas. It influences the pace of technological change, the reach and practical meaning of one's rights, and the extent of poverty. Students in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management program (BPAPM) will examine a wide variety of issues facing society today, as well as institutional challenges, and develop the necessary skills and knowledge to address them.

The BPAPM does this through a curriculum that combines interdisciplinary study of civic institutions and processes with rigorous study of public policy. A selection of courses in political science, economics, law, communications, and history is combined with exclusive courses in public policy. Together, these courses will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of what government, civil and business organizations do, why they do it, and how they might do it better.

The BPAPM program is located in the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, which provides an academic home for students who come from across Canada and abroad. The university college is ancient in conception, characteristic of universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, and following this model Carleton's students belong to a select scholarly community. They have exclusive and direct access to academic advising, dedicated student meeting space and an electronic resource centre.

This specialization in communication policies, in collaboration with Carleton’s School of Journalism and Communication, enables students to pursue a policy concentration in Communication Technologies and Regulation or Strategic Public Opinion. Broadcasting, telecommunications, internet, information systems, publishing, the impact of digital and other technological transformations, and regulatory regimes and rights are examined in the Communication Technologies and Regulation concentration. Studies in the Strategic Public Opinion concentration enable students to make a difference by learning about effective policy advocacy and persuasion, strategic communication, polling and opinion research, political campaigns and market intelligence.