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Course Description

This online course is 18 learning hours over six weeks. It is recommended that students spend a minimum of 3 hours each week on course work. Students may choose to complete more hours of work on the course in order to explore the content in more depth. 


The Municipal Administration Essentials course provides a review of municipal management, covering concepts and practical applications.  Learners are offered a comprehensive examination of municipal government management, including an introduction to budgeting, decision-making, challenges and opportunities, and business case development. 

Course Outline

  • Module 1: Introduction to Municipal Governance
  • Module 2: The Corporate Structure within Local Government
  • Module 3: Decision-Making Processes
  • Module 4: Business Case Development
  • Module 5: Leadership Skills in Local Government
  • Module 6: Practical Application of a Business Case for Municipal Government

What You Will Learn

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • grasp the corporate and hierarchical framework of local government administration;
  • comprehend the governance and senior leadership levels' decision-making, implementation, and financing processes;
  • understand the pivotal roles and responsibilities of corporate officers, directors, managers, and supervisors within the local government context; and
  • identify both opportunities and challenges within the corporate local government environment.

Microcredential

This course provides learners with the opportunity to earn a microcredential. A microcredential is evidence of a skill or competency that is employment related.  Dalhousie microcredentials are developed in collaboration with employers, industries, and/or organizations that relate to the content. A microcredential can be displayed on social media pages, digital resumes, personal webpages, and in email signatures. To earn the microcredential in this course, learners will need to successfully complete a competency-based assessment.

Learn more about this microcredential here.

Notes

The Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development recommends an intermediate level of English language proficiency for the most effective learning and participation in our online and face-to-face courses. A list of minimum recommended scores on some common English tests can be found on our website. If you have questions about your English language proficiency and ability to succeed in this course, please contact openlearning@dal.ca.

Recommended For

Those currently in or aspiring to leadership positions in municipal government.
 

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enrol Now - Select a section to enrol in
Section Title
Municipal Administration Essentials
Type
Online - Self-Paced
Dates
Apr 10, 2026 to May 22, 2026
Type
Online - Scheduled
Days
Wednesday
Time
7:00PM to 8:30PM
Dates
Apr 22, 2026 to May 20, 2026
Schedule and Location
Total Learning Hours
18.0
Location
  • Online Campus - Atlantic Time
Instruction Delivery Method(s)
Course Fee(s)
Fee non-credit $625.00
Instructors
Required Software
A webcam and microphone/headset will be required for the live sessions. This course requires the use of the NetID login. Students must claim / activate their NetIDs and login using their NetID in order to use Dalhousie resources such as Microsoft Teams.
Reading List / Textbook
There are no required textbooks for this course. All readings will be within the course platform.
Section Notes

This course has scheduled written assignments and discussions within the term time frame. There will also be three facilitated online sessions - click on View Details for dates. *Please note: live session dates and times may change, and will be finalized six weeks prior to course start date.* 

The course site will be open at 4:00 PM Atlantic Time on the course start date.

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