The Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto is excited to host this unique certificate for students in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE). The certificate provides an overview of key aspects of public policy to engineering students, better preparing them for professional practice.
Engineering is a fundamentally public endeavour. Many foundational engineering projects – from bridges to waterworks to recent climate mitigation efforts - are undertaken with government partners. Private projects are similarly shaped by public regulations.
Public policy training will enable engineers to build effective and informed collaborations with these public actors, from governments to regulatory agencies. This proficiency will also help engineers knowledgeably participate in policy making. Technological expertise is essential to public decision-making, and familiarity with public institutions and processes will facilitate engineers’ contributions to the many issues facing an urbanizing, changing planet.
For more information on this certificate, check out the links below:
Public Policy and Engineering — Course and Career Connections Event
Have you thought about how engineering can influence policy decisions? Wondering how government regulations might impact your future work? An understanding of the connections between public policy and engineering can help. In this informal chat, you can learn about the Public Policy and Engineering Certificate from Professor Posen, Civil Engineering and Professor Rahr, Munk School of Global Affairs, and hear about career possibilities in this area from Laura Lambert and Navan Chawla from the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario.
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Time: 4 to 5 p.m.
Location: Myhal Centre Room 350 (MY350)
Requirements
The requirements for the Certificate are the successful completion of the following courses:
PPG201H1F: Microeconomics for Engineers (CS)
An introduction to microeconomics, for application in public policy analysis. Designed specifically for students with training in calculus and linear algebra, and who are pursuing a certificate in public policy, the course will explore preference and choice, classical demand theory and the utility maximization problem as well as expenditure minimization problem, welfare evaluation of economic changes, regression analysis and ordinary least squares.
PPG302H1F: Institutions and Public Policy for Engineers (HSS)
Knowledge of how governmental and non-governmental institutions work is essential to the study and development of public policy. This course will examine the formation, consequences and dynamics of institutions – from legislatures and courts to militaries and interest groups – in both democratic and authoritarian societies. We will also consider how institutions inform the relationship between individuals and the state, and how these social structures are instruments of policy implementation.
PPG402H1S: Public Policy Analysis for Engineers (HSS)
This course introduces students to the field of public policy - the means by which governments respond to social issues – and considers both why and how governments respond in these ways. To that end, we’ll examine the policy cycle, including how policy is proposed, made and reformed, as well as the role of regulation. And we’ll explore both theories of public policy and case studies of policy-making in action.