Public Policy and Public Administration (MA)

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Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science

Faculty

Faculty of Arts & Science

Program type

Course-based

Primary campus

Sir George Williams (SGW)

Duration

2 years

Credits

45 credits

Start term

Fall, Winter

Experiential learning

Internship

Program overview

The MA in Public Policy and Public Administration gives you the training needed to succeed in public sector organizations, including the public service and non-governmental organizations. You will apply your research to issues of democratic governance, analyzing complex political situations in order to provide expert strategic advice. Coursework and events provide occasions to connect with political leaders and pundits, senior-level bureaucrats and academics. Students enrolled in the internship option benefit from a four-month job placement in the public or private sector during the final semester of their studies. The majority of our graduates secure paid internships with government agencies in Ottawa and Montreal, with some finding opportunities further afield in major centres such as Geneva and Washington. Around 95 per cent of our internship students accept full- or part-time positions immediately following their placement.

Program structure

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Political Science Courses page for course descriptions.

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA (45 credits)

credits of Public Policy and Public Administration MA Core Courses

credits chosen from:

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA Option A (Courses Only)

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA Option B (Internship)

credits chosen from Public Policy and Administration MA Concentration Courses‌

credits of elective courses which can be chosen from courses offered under the subfields of Canadian and Quebec Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory; or

• POLI 601 Research Design (3.00)

‌; or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines.

Note: For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved.

credits:

• POLI 686 Internship Preparation (3.00)

‌

• POLI 688 Internship (9.00)

‌

• POLI 689 Internship Report (9.00)

‌

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA Option A (Courses Only)

credits chosen from the Public Policy and Administration MA Concentration Courses‌

credits of approved Elective and Cognate Courses chosen from subfields of Canadian and Quebec Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory, or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines, or from the following course:

• POLI 601 Research Design (3.00)

‌

Note: For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved.

credits:

• POLI 675 Research Essay Proposal (3.00)

‌

• POLI 676 Extended Research Essay (9.00)

‌

Public Policy and Public Administration MA Core Courses (9 credits)

credits of required courses:

• POLI 636 Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration (3.00)

• POLI 644 Research Methods (3.00)

credits chosen from:

• POLI 600 Public Policy and the Governmental Process in Canada (3.00)

• POLI 604 Comparative Public Policy (3.00)

• POLI 618 Canadian Public Administration (3.00)

• POLI 622 Comparative Public Administration (3.00)

• POLI 624 Public Administration of Intergovernmental Affairs (3.00)

Public Policy and Administration MA Concentration Courses

• POLI 600 Public Policy and the Governmental Process in Canada (3.00)

• POLI 604 Comparative Public Policy (3.00)

• POLI 605 Environmental Policy and Governance (3.00)

• POLI 607 Ageing and Public Policy (3.00)

• POLI 610 Economic Policy After Keynes (3.00)

• POLI 612 Public Policy and Business Cycles (3.00)

• POLI 617 Knowledge in International Relations (3.00)

• POLI 618 Canadian Public Administration (3.00)

• POLI 622 Comparative Public Administration (3.00)

• POLI 624 Public Administration of Intergovernmental Affairs (3.00)

• POLI 628 Ethics and Values in Public Policy Making (3.00)

• POLI 630 0rganization Theory (3.00)

• POLI 634 Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3.00)

• POLI 635 Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Policy (3.00)

• POLI 645 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3.00)

• POLI 648 Feminist Critiques of Public Policy (3.00)

• POLI 652 Science, Technology and Power (3.00)

• POLI 683 Special Topics in Public Policy and Administration (3.00)

• POLI 695 Directed Studies (3.00)

Consult the Graduate Calendar for the complete list of courses

Admission requirements

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Political Science or a related discipline.
Undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.30 or equivalent is normally required. If applying with a previous master's degree, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is normally required.
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Application process

Review these four steps before applying

Application deadlines

FALL

February 1

WINTER

October 1

SUMMER

n/a

Priority will be given to complete applications submitted by the deadline. In some cases, programs may continue to accept applications as long as there is space available.

International students: Considering the waiting period involved in meeting the entry requirements to Canada and Quebec, we strongly encourage international applicants to apply early and submit supporting documents prior to the deadline.

Tuition & funding

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees of the program may depend on your student status, among other key factors. Estimate these costs based on the most common situations.

Use the tuition & fee estimator

Awards and funding

Funding packages are generally available for students in thesis-based programs. Course-based students may be eligible for a number of donor awards, and may consult with their department for program-specific opportunities.

Consult awards and funding opportunities

Out-of-province students

Get $3,000 in special funding for non-thesis master's programs. Learn more

Public Policy and Public Administration (MA)

Program overview