PSCI 334Public Policy
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Political Science
- Cross-listed
- SOC 334
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Students will gain an understanding of the dynamics of public policy development in Canada. They will learn to identify key actors, interests, and institutions involved in policy development and articulate diverse perspectives on policy problems. Using sources such as peer-reviewed publications, government reports, and think tank analyses, students will complete research-based writing assignments to analyze the social context of public problems and identify, compare, and recommend potential solutions.
Prerequisites
- Students must be in level 2A or higher
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3337 | 0 / 35 | MW 13:00–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1256 | 34 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it75% easy50% useful
From 3 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The material was super easy and the course was reasonably designed. However, after finishing the course I don't think I have a deeper understanding of public policy. I certainly have a lot more knowledge about the terminology and concepts that political scientists talk about public policy with, but the ideas themselves are incredibly obvious (e.g "policies are decided upon, implemented, then evaluated"). I don't think I'm a better policy analyst now than when I started. A good enjoyable bird course for fulfilling a PSCI requirement, but not useful unless you're going in to political science research.
Sep 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
4 posts and comments in 4 threads mention PSCI 334, July 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
People who already graduated but still visit this site—-any profs you remember fondly? 64 points, 65 comments
u/TheZarosian: “… Mostly teaches public administration and public policy (PSCI 331, PSCI 334). Not only an excellent professor who makes their courses very insightful and interesting, but was a mentor for me as I completed my degree and guided me to where my career is at now. …”
Fall 2020
Best professor you have had? 29 points, 62 comments
“Who is your best professor so far and why? My favourite prof is Barbara Moffatt because she didn't make me memorize content but instead made me think.”
u/TheZarosian: “… Mainly PSCI 331 and 334. His courses are one of the few courses that taught me some real applicable stuff for working in the government. He's light on the theory, and makes sure students are well-equipped to do stuff like briefing notes, presentations, summaries etc. …”
Fall 2019
PSCI 4th Year Courses Recommendations 3 points, 2 comments
“Hey guys, &x200B; Any PSCI students in 4th year have some advice on what (easy/interesting/fun) 4th courses and profs I should take. Open to any and all recommendations. …”
u/TheZarosian: “… PSCI 334 - Not a fourth year course, but I'll plug this one in because it's super interesting and will help you a lot if you're ever interested in a policy analysis career. Henstra is also a really great professor PSCI 423 - If you like theory, this is the course for you. …”
Spring 2016
Political Science courses selection 1 point, 3 comments
u/darwinbitch: “Has anyone taken PSCI 231, 257, 283, 334 or any other PSCI course. I'm a bio student with minimal knowledge in political science, I got interested in political science and was wondering if any of the listed courses are considered bird or (interesting at least!).”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them