Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Professional Arts
Governance, Law and Management Major
     
Regulations amended, effective September 1, 2009
   
   

The Bachelor of Professional Arts Governance, Law and Management major (BPA GLM) is offered by the Centre for State and Legal Studies. The program is designed to prepare innovative managers and professionals for leadership success with public sector organizations in the knowledge-based society and economy. This leading-edge program provides education that promotes vision, creativity, and strategic thinking, as requisite skills for administrators in an era of globalization.

The recent reforms in organizations have led to a shift from “command-and-control” management structures and practices to an organizational context characterized by flexibility, innovation, and lifelong learning. The BPA GLM provides the requisite knowledge and practical know-how needed by professionals for good governance and the successful management of organizational change, particularly the increasing shift to e-governance.

Enrolment Requirements

The Governance, Law and Management major is available to:

  • graduates of an approved two-year administrative or management-related diploma (e.g., management, legal studies, policing, security, recreation administration, environmental studies, library and information studies);
  • graduates of a previous undergraduate university degree in an unrelated discipline, or a minimum of two years of university coursework (with at least one year of professional practice relevant to the Governance, Law and Management major); or,
  • students with a minimum of two years of university-level coursework (with at least one year of professional practice relevant to the Governance, Law and Management major).

Coursework and credentials must have been obtained from a college, university or institute of technology approved by Athabasca University. Individuals who have questions about the eligibility of their previous education for admission are strongly encouraged to contact the program coordinator.

Sixty credits beyond the AU-approved two-year college diploma, are required for degree completion.

The program provides students with two years of Arts and Administrative Studies courses along with specialized senior-level courses in governance.

Common Core

The common core courses may be taken at any time; however, students are encouraged to complete the common core courses early in their program. The common core addresses skills and knowledge that will help students succeed with the remaining degree requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating. For more information regarding this major, contact the program coordinator.
     
     
  Governance, Law, and Management Major Requirements  
  Common core 12
  Major courses 15
  Focus area courses* 27
  Options   6
  Residency requirement
A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University
30
  Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. 24
  Maximum Prior Learning and Assessment Credits 30 to 60
 


* Note: In the course of their BPA:GLM program, students must take 15 GOVN credits.

 

 
1. 
Complete the BPA common core.
     
2. 
Select a minimum of five courses (15 credits) from among five of the following six groups of required major courses:


Group 1
   
ACCT 250 Accounting for Managers
or
(3)
ACCT 245 Accounting for Managers of Not-for-Profit Organizations
or
(3)
ADMN 232 Administrative Principles (3) 

Group 2
   
ECON 401 The Changing Global Economy*
or
(3)
  *Students who have taken ECON 301 may not take ECON 401.
 
POEC/GLST 393 Canada and the Global Political Economy
or
(3)
POEC/GLST 483 International Political Economy: The Politics of Globalization (3)


Group 3
   
GOVN/POLI 301 Governance, the Public Sector, and Corporate Power

(3)


Group 4
   
GOVN/POLI 400 Governance and Leadership
or

(3)
GOVN/POLI 405 Innovative Public Management (3) 


Group 5
   
GOVN/GLST/POLI 440

Global Governance and Law

or

(3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3) 


Group 6
   
CMNS 308 Understanding Statistical Evidence

(3)

 

   
     
 
There are three focus areas within the BPA: GLM program. The three focus areas are reflected in both the name and structure of the program; students select nine credits from each focus area.

Courses within the Politics of Governance focus area provide students with an understanding of the social forces and environment that shape modern governance. Courses within the Law, Justice, and Policing focus area illuminate both legal institutions and the differences in power amongst groups within society. The Management and Administrative Studies focus area allows students to acquire the skills they need to assume leadership roles within public sector organizations.

     
     
 

1. The Politics of Governance

Nine credits selected from the following. A maximum of six credits in any one of the following disciplines: ENVS, HADM, INST, POEC, POLI, WMST. All CINP courses are taken online from Ryerson Polytechnic University.

     
ANTH 362 Aboriginal Cultures of North America (3)
CINP 900 Introduction to the Nonprofit/ Voluntary Sector (3)
CINP 901 Developing Effective Nonprofit Organizations (3)
CINP 911 Advocacy and Governmental Relations (3)
CINP 916 Challenge, Crisis and Change: Public Policy (3)
CINP 920 Critical Issues in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3)
CMNS 401 Cultural Policy in Canada (3)
ECON/HADM 321 Health Care Economics (3)
ECON 385 Money, Banking, and Canadian Financial Institutions (3)
ENVS All courses  
GEOG 302 The Canadian North (3)
GEOG 310 Canadian Urban Development (3)
GLST/POEC 395 Global Development Strategies (3)
GLST/POEC 483 International Political Economy: The Politics of Globalization (3)
GOVN 301 Governance, Public Sector and Corporate Power (3)
GOVN 380 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Governance (3)
GOVN 390 Public Policy and Administrative Governance (3)
GOVN/GLST 403 Public Policy in a Global Era (3)
HADM All courses  
HIST 328 History of Canadian Social Policy (3)
HIST 329 The Social History of Canada (3)
HSRV 311 Practice and Policy in the Human Services (3)
HSRV 322 Policies in the Human Services (3)
IDRL 201 Labour Unions (3)
IDRL 312 Conflict and Accommodation (3)
INST All courses at the 300/400 level  
LBST 200 Introduction to Labour Studies (3)
LBST 413 What Do Unions Do? (3)
LGST 390 Women, Equality and the Law (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
POEC All courses  
POLI All courses  
PSYC 340 Introduction to Applied Social Psychology (3)
SOCI 321 The Sociology of Work and Industry (3)
SOCI 345 Women and Work in Canada (3)
WMST All courses *  
  *WMST/HSRV 421 and CINP 911 are equivalent courses. Credit will not be given for both. (3)  
     
     
  2. Law, Justice, and Policing

Nine credits selected from the following. A maximum of six credits in any one of the following disciplines: CRJS and IDRL. All CINP courses are taken online from Ryerson Polytechnic University.
     
CINP 911 Advocacy and Governmental Relations (3)
CMNS 311 Mass Media and the Law (3)
CRJS All courses  
GOVN/GLST/POLI 440 Global Governance and Law (3)
HIST 336 History of Canadian Labour (6)
HRMT 322 Employment Law in Canada (3)
IDRL All courses  
INST 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
LGST All courses  
PHIL 335 Biomedical Ethics (3)
PHIL 371 Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment (3)
PHIL 375 Philosophy of the Environment  
PSYC 395 Psychology and Law  
PSYC 435 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOCI 305 Sociology and Crime  
SOCI 365 Sociology of Deviance (3)
SOCI 381 The Sociology of Power and Inequality (3)
WMST 422 Women, Violence, and Social Change (3)
     
     
  3. Management and Administrative Studies

Nine credits selected from the following. A maximum of six credits in any one of the following disciplines: ADMN, CMIS, ECON, HADM, HRMT, MGSC, MKTG, ORGB. All CINP courses are taken online from Ryerson Polytechnic University.
     
ADMN All courses  
CINP 902

Program Evaluation (for Nonprofit Organizations)

(3)
CINP 910 Strategic Planning (in Nonprofit Organizations) (3)
CINP 912 Marketing and Fundraising in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3)
CINP 913 Leading Nonprofit Organizations Through Change (3)
CINP 914 Diversity and Team Building and Conflict Resolution (3)
CINP 915 Financial Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3)
CMIS All courses  
CMNS 380 Corporate Communication (3)
COMM 243 Interpersonal Communications in Management (3)
COMM 277 Group Communication (3)
ECON All courses  
ENVS 305 Environmental Impact Assessment (3)
ENTP 212 Introduction to Small Business Management (3)
GOVN 390/
POLI 392
Public Policy and Administrative Governance (3)
GOVN/POLI 400 Governance and Leadership (3)
GOVN/POLI 405 Innovative Public Management (3)
GOVN/GLST 450 Public Budgeting and Financial Management in a Globalized World (3)
HADM All courses  
HRMT All courses (3)
MGSC All courses (3)
MKTG All courses (3)
ORGB All courses (3)
PSYC 405 Creating a Working Alliance (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life (3)
SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3)
     
  Options (6 credits)  
 

6 credits from any discipline at the senior (300/400) level.

(6)
 


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 • Information effective Sept. 1, 2009 to Aug. 31, 2010.
 • Links: Web Unit, Privacy & Conditions. © Athabasca University.
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