MA in Public and International Affairs

The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs offers a rigorous multidisciplinary curriculum, which combines the study of international affairs and domestic policy-making. Benefiting from its prime location in the heart of Canada’s National Capital, a stone’s throw away from Parliament Hill, foreign embassies and government departments, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs offers students an exceptional learning environment, where the benefits of talented teachers and cutting-edge academic research are complemented by the opportunity to engage experienced professionals about today’s challenges in public and international affairs.

Essential information for the Public and International Affairs program

General information and program requirements - Master of Arts Public and International Affairs

Graduate studies FAQ

Options:

• MA in Public and International Affairs with Major Research Paper option

• Specialization in Science, Society and Policy

Data analysis for public policy

Provide students with an introduction to the analytical tools required to draw insights from data in order to help inform public policy.

9 credits

• API 5136 Research Methods in Public Policy (3 credits) (Winter)
  Introduction to the various methods used in policy research and to the use of multivariate quantitative methods to conduct a research project. Research design, data sources and analysis. The qualitative methods examined include the use of focus groups and interviews; quantitative methods include simple and multiple regression, logistic regression, and factor analysis.
  
  This course is offered in the winter term and has multiple sections. Regular professors are Prof. Maral Kichian and Prof. Ravi Pendakur.

• API 6321 Quantitative Research Methods Policy (3 credits) (Fall)
  This course provides students with skills in data science and causal inference required to take a project from conception to completion. This course is usually offered in the fall term. Regular professors are Prof. Ravi Pendakur and Prof. Nicholas Rivers.

• API 6322 Doing Data-based Projects (3 credits) (Spring)
  This course introduces students to the art, practice, and excitement of searching, visualizing, and manipulating data to analyze economic, social, and policy issues. It has a set of empirical projects based on publicly available and carefully curated data. It gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with real-word data in areas of pressing importance to contemporary societies (e.g., inequality, well-being, public goods and the 'tragedy of the commons', climate change, public health issues -e.g., diabetes, or pandemics, measuring the cost of unemployment, comparing banking systems or management practices around the world, etc.). Each project takes students on a step-by-step journey of investigation using easily-available software. Two tracks are available - using a spreadsheet application (e.g., Excel, Google sheets) or a (freely available) programming language (e.g., R and/or Python) depending on the student's level and interest. 
  
  The course will be taught by professor Patrick Georges.