Graduate Certificate in Policy Leadership

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Learn to lead and shape meaningful policy. Immediately applicable skills. 100% online.

Aimed at professionals working in policy environments across Canada, this graduate certificate builds practical leadership, communication and analytical skills. Designed for complex organizational and cross-sector contexts, it prepares participants to navigate today’s policy landscape with confidence. The program offers applied, real-world training that strengthens collaboration and workforce readiness.

By completing the certificate, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate political acumen by interpreting and navigating formal and informal systems of power, influence and governance
  • Liaise strategically with diverse audiences across sectors, using appropriate tools, messaging and modes of engagement
  • Analyze complex policy and leadership challenges using interdisciplinary frameworks and apply problem-solving strategies in diverse contexts
  • Reflect critically on personal values, identity and leadership style, and integrate this self-awareness into professional practice and civic engagement

Certificate Requirements

Offered fully online to maximize accessibility, this intensive, graduate-level certificate program features 7-week courses delivered through a bichronous format that combines self-paced asynchronous content with scheduled, recorded synchronous sessions. Students should expect a workload averaging 15 to 20 hours per week, with group work completed at times mutually agreed upon by team members.

Learners must complete 12 credits (4 courses) to earn the certificate. This includes 2 required courses and a choice of 2 electives.

Required Courses

INT D 527: Political Acumen

Provides students with the essential skills to navigate formal and informal political environments with confidence and integrity. Through case studies, simulations, and expert-led discussions, students will explore the principles of pluralism, political acuity, and ethical leadership.

INT D 599: Politics and Democracy Capstone

Challenges students to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world policy issue, bridging theory and practice in a high-stakes environment. Working in teams, students will engage with policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders to analyze political and policy challenges, develop evidence-based recommendations, and propose actionable solutions.

Elective courses

INT D 528: Policy Leadership in Canada

Equips current and aspiring policy professionals with the knowledge and skills to navigate Canada's complex governance landscape. Students examine how political institutions, legal frameworks, and actors shape policy outcomes. Students leave prepared to lead and influence public policy across government, non-profit, and private sectors.

SEM 678: Managing Business-Government Relations in Canada

Managing Business-Government Relations in Canada This course examines how to navigate the intricate web of relationships between business and government with a focus on the areas of economic development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

NS 595: Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Development

A graduate course designed to equip learners to engage in successful and respectful collaborations with Indigenous communities, nations, and organizations. It provides comprehensive instruction in approaches to relationship building, Indigenous research methodologies, Indigenous governance, and historical relationships.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

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