About the Program
The M.A. Public Administration provides an advanced understanding of public policy development, public management and policy implementation. The program offers a choice of four areas of concentration: Policy Analysis; Public Management; Innovation, Science and Environment; and International and Development.
Academic Regulations
- See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
- A grade of B- or higher must normally be obtained in each course credited towards the M.A. degree. A candidate may, with the recommendation of the M.A. Supervisor and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, be allowed a grade of C+ in courses totaling 1.0 credit.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent). Normally, an average of B+ or higher is required for admission. The level of academic performance and potential demonstrated within the degree is more important than the discipline. Indeed, students enter the program from a wide variety of academic backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, sciences and engineering. The School also considers mid-career applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree, but who have demonstrated professional excellence over a number of years of work in the public sector.
- All applicants must have completed a 1.0-credit university course covering micro- and macroeconomic theory (ECON 1000 or the equivalent) and a 0.5-credit university political science course at the 2000-level or higher, dealing with institutions and processes by which governments legitimize and exercise power, ideally in a Canadian setting (PSCI 2003 or equivalent). A working knowledge of algebra is also expected.
- In some cases, applicants may be admitted to the program despite not having completed one of these pre-requisite courses in economics or political science, on the condition that the course be completed (with a grade of B- or higher) in the first year of the program. Nevertheless it is strongly recommended that students complete the prerequisites before starting the program, to ensure that their progress through the core courses is unimpeded.
- Students whose first language is not English, or who have not completed a previous degree at an English speaking university, must demonstrate an adequate command of English by attaining, at least, a TOEFL score of 580 written, or 237 CBT (computer-based test) or 86 IBT (internet-based test) with a minimum score in each component ( 22 in writing, 22 in speaking, 20 in reading, and 20 in listening), or a CAEL score of 70, or an IELTS score of 7.0.
- Advanced Standing - upon admission, students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit for up to 2.5 credits. Advanced standing will be considered only for core courses. Advanced standing will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with the M.A. Supervisor and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and pursuant to Section 6.1 of the General Regulations section of this Calendar. In general, a grade of B+ or higher is necessary in the equivalent courses in order to receive advanced standing.
- Note that, because of the number of applications received, possession of these admission requirements does not, in itself, guarantee admission to the program.
Program Requirements
The M.A. in Public Administration is a 7.5- credit program. Students must complete:
- 3.5 credits of core courses (see A, below);
- 2.0 credits from courses in one of the four Concentrations offered by the School (see B, below); and
- 2.0 other approved credits.
Full-time students are normally expected to complete the core courses during their first two semesters of study. Part-time students are normally expected to complete the core courses before proceeding to the remainder of the program.
With respect to the remaining 2.0 approved credits, students may select:
- additional courses in their chosen concentration; and/or
- electives listed under other concentrations; and/or
- (with the approval of the M.A. Supervisor) graduate courses in other units.
- Credits may also be earned by completion of a research essay (1.0 credit), a thesis (2.0 credits), or by taking courses from the School's Ph.D. program (with approval of the M.A. Supervisor).
All students will graduate with at least one area of concentration, but students may structure their program to satisfy the requirements (at least 2.0 credits) for a second concentration. In this case, each course may count towards only one concentration.
French Language Proficiency - while there is no formal second language requirement, students planning careers in or with governments in Canada are strongly encouraged to develop facility with French. The School provides access to courses in French for the Public Service on a non-credit basis (these courses do not count towards the degree).
A. Core Courses
PADM 5111 Microeconomics for Policy Analysis
PADM 5112 Macroeconomics for Policy Analysis
PADM 5113 Research Methods and Design I
PADM 5114 Research Methods and Design II
PADM 5115 Introduction to State and Society
PADM 5116 Policy Analysis and Contemporary Governance
PADM 5117 Public Management
B. Concentrations
To complete a concentration, students must complete at least four of the courses (2.0 credits) listed as electives for that concentration. A course cross-listed between concentrations qualifies for either concentration but may count toward only one of them.
Policy Analysis Concentration
The Policy Analysis Concentration includes courses that focus on the theory, methods, or practice of policy analysis as well as courses that focus on specific policy fields. The courses are grouped into these two categories to give students guidance about the goals of the courses.
Students are required to take 2.0 credits selected from:
Theory, Methods and Policy Processes
PADM 5211 Intergovernmental Relations
PADM 5212 Civil Society and Public Policy
PADM 5213 Gender and Public Policy
PADM 5214 Budgetary Policy in the Public Sector
PADM 5215 Benefit-Cost Analysis
PADM 5216 Economic Models of Politics and Public Policy
PADM 5217 Applied Microeconomic Policy Analysis
PADM 5218 Analysis of Socio-economic Data
PADM 5219 Advanced Statistical Policy Analysis
PADM 5420 Policy and Program Evaluation
Field Courses
PADM 5220 Regulation and Public Policy
PADM 5221 Health Policy in Canada
PADM 5222 Economics and Health Policy
PADM 5223 Canadian Economic Policy
PADM 5224 Aboriginal Policy
PADM 5225 Trade Policy
PADM 5226 Tax Policy
PADM 5227 Education Policy
PADM 5228 Social Policy
PADM 5229 The Health of Populations
PADM 5272 Policy Seminar (Policy Analysis Concentration)
PADM 5291 Directed Studies (Policy Analysis Concentration)
PADM 5616 Environmental Policy
Other courses as approved by the M.A. Supervisor.
Public Management Concentration
Students are required to take 2.0 credits from:
PADM 5411 Organization Theory
PADM 5412 Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector
PADM 5413 Law of Public Authorities I
PADM 5414 Law of Public Authorities II
PADM 5415 Strategic Management in the Public Sector
PADM 5416 Budgetary Management for the Public Sector
PADM 5417 Principles of Finance
PADM 5418 Human Resources Management
PADM 5419 Industrial Relations and Public Sector Collective Bargaining
PADM 5420 Policy and Program Evaluation
PADM 5421 Globalizing Public Management
PADM 5422 Urban and Local Government
PADM 5423 Third Sector Governance and Management
PADM 5424 Evaluation Cases and Applications
PADM 5472 Policy Seminar (Public Management Concentration)
PADM 5491 Directed Studies (Public Management Concentration)
PADM 5211 Intergovernmental Relations
PADM 5215 Benefit-Cost Analysis
PADM 5814 Program and Project Management
Other courses as approved by the M.A. Supervisor
Innovation, Science and Environment Concentration
Students are required to take 2.0 credits from:
PADM 5611 Science and Technology Policies
PADM 5612 Industrial Policy, Innovation and Sustainable Production
PADM 5613 Science, Risk and Evaluation
PADM 5614 Natural Resource Management
PADM 5615 Sustainable Energy Policy
PADM 5616 Environmental Policy
PADM 5617 Implementing Sustainable Development in Industrialized Countries
PADM 5618 Environmental and Ecological Economics
PADM 5619 Urban Sustainability
PADM 5620 The Science, Politics and Economics of Global Climate Change
PADM 5672 Policy Seminar (Innovation, Science and Environment Concentration)
PADM 5691 Directed Studies (Innovation, Science and Environment Concentration)
PADM 5220 Regulation and Public Policy
Other courses as approved by the M.A. Supervisor.
International and Development Concentration
Students are required to take 2.0 credits from:
PADM 5811 The International Policy Framework
PADM 5812 Governance in Developing Countries
PADM 5813 The Evolution of World Bank/IMF Policy Conditionality
PADM 5814 Program and Project Management
PADM 5815 Civil Society Organizations and Development
PADM 5816 Program Evaluation in Developing Countries
PADM 5817 Health Policy in Developing Countries
PADM 5872 Policy Seminar (International and Development Concentration)
PADM 5891 Directed Studies (International and Development Concentration)
PADM 5213 Gender and Public Policy
PADM 5225 Trade Policy
PADM 5421 Globalizing Public Management
INAF 5007 Theories of Development and Underdevelopment
INAF 5008 Economic Development Policy and Planning
Other courses as approved by the M.A. Supervisor.
