BPAPM Program Updates: More Choice, More Flexibility, More Opportunities

The Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (BPAPM) program is evolving to provide students with greater flexibility, clearer academic pathways, and more opportunities to tailor their degree to their interests and career goals.

The updated program builds on BPAPM’s strong interdisciplinary foundation while giving students more freedom to explore different areas of public policy, international affairs, development, and communication.

What’s New?

The updated BPAPM program will include three concentrations:

• Development and Human Rights
• International Policy
• Public Policy and Administration

Students will also have the opportunity to deepen their expertise through optional streams that align with their concentration.

Concentration and Stream Options

Development and Human Rights

• Global Economic Relations

Public Policy and Administration

• Social Policy
• Economic Policy

International Policy

• Security, Defence and Intelligence
• Global Economic Relations

This structure allows students to focus their studies while maintaining the flexibility to pursue their individual interests.

More Flexibility Throughout Your Degree

Students will have more elective space than before, creating additional opportunities to:

• Explore subjects outside their concentration
• Pursue a minor or certificate
• Study additional languages
• Take courses that support their career goals
• Build a more personalized academic experience

Whether students are interested in policy analysis, international affairs, economics, communications, or social issues, the updated program provides more room to shape their degree around their aspirations.

New Combined Honours Option: Public Policy and Communication

A major addition to the program is a new Combined Honours degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management and Communication and Media Studies.

This pathway is designed for students who want to understand both how public policy is developed and how ideas, policies, and information are communicated to the public.

The combination of policy and communication expertise prepares graduates for careers that require strong analytical and communication skills in government, non-profit organizations, public affairs, advocacy, media relations, and related fields.

Looking Ahead

These changes will give students more choice and flexibility.

The updated program will offer new concentrations, more elective options and a new Combined Honours degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management and Communication and Media Studies.

Students will continue to develop the skills they need to understand public issues, create policy solutions and communicate ideas clearly.

Are you a current Public Affairs and Policy Management student? Learn how these changes may affect your degree by following this link.

The draft of the new Year-by-year guide will be available on the website soon.