Solving real-world policy challenges—whether related to climate change, inequality, economic growth, democratic governance, or technological change—requires more than a single disciplinary lens. It requires the ability to analyze complex problems, weigh trade-offs, use evidence carefully, and design policies that work in practice.
The Public Policy (PPG) program at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate education that trains students to think analytically and strategically about how public decisions are made and how institutions shape outcomes. PPG provides a unique opportunity for students in the social sciences to engage deeply with public policy by drawing on theories, approaches, and toolkits from economics, political science, and related fields.
Through the program, students develop strong theoretical and applied reasoning skills in policy analysis, along with a solid grounding in quantitative methods, research design, and data-driven decision-making. Emphasis is placed on clear and effective communication, ensuring students can translate complex analysis into policy-relevant insights.
PPG prepares students for a wide range of pathways, including careers in government, international organizations, think tanks, consulting, NGOs, and the private sector, as well as for advanced graduate and professional study in public policy, economics, law, and related disciplines. Just as importantly, students learn to apply theory to practice through experiential learning opportunities, applied projects, and engagement with policy practitioners.
PPG students join a dynamic and highly motivated community of peers who are interested in understanding how public policy works—and how better governance and evidence-based decision-making can improve public outcomes.
A message from the PCJ Director
At PPG, you will be trained to approach policy problems with analytical rigor and intellectual openness. Drawing on economics, political science, and the broader social sciences, the program equips students with strong foundations in policy analysis, quantitative and qualitative methods, and clear, effective communication
About the program
The Major in Public Policy (PPG) provides students with the analytical tools and practical insights needed to understand and shape policymaking locally, across Canada, and globally. Solving real-world policy challenges requires the use of multi-disciplinary tools to identify problems, assess different approaches to analyze them, and decide on the best course of action to address those problems. PPG provides a unique opportunity for students in social science disciplines to focus on problem solving in a multidisciplinary way, by drawing on theories, skills and methods from the core disciplines of economics, political science, law, and public administration. Students in this program develop theoretical and applied reasoning skills in policy analysis, gain a solid grounding in quantitative methods and research, and benefit from experiential education opportunities to address real-world policy challenges. Students enter the program after first year and, by meeting the required prerequisites, build a strong foundation for advanced training in policy analysis and governance.
Firmly embedded in the Munk School’s global policy environment, PPG combines rigorous theoretical training with applied, real-world relevance. At its core, the PPG program is organized around three central pillars:
- understanding how public institutions and governance systems operate at local, national, and global levels;
- analyzing the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy across key sectors and issue areas;
- developing strong analytical, quantitative, and research skills for evidence-based policy analysis and decision-making.
The PPG curriculum is both rigorous and flexible. Students gain training in policy-relevant theory, data analysis, and applied research methods, while also tailoring their program of study to reflect their interests—whether in economic and social policy, governance and institutions, global development, sustainability, or innovation and security. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to think critically about trade-offs, constraints, and real-world policy challenges, and to engage thoughtfully and responsibly with complex public problems.