MA/MS in Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is a joint program delivered by the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba together with the University of Winnipeg, with graduates receiving a joint-institution parchment. It is a professional, course-based degree requiring 36 credit hours of study, made up of 24 credit hours of required courses and 12 credit hours of optional courses, mostly at the 7000 level. There is no thesis or comprehensive examination; instead students complete two mandatory co-op placements and a Capstone Seminar culminating in a major research paper, though students with relevant public-sector work experience may request a waiver of the co-op requirement. The program prepares graduates for careers in public service, non-profit management, and policy analysis. Applicants are normally expected to hold a four-year undergraduate degree from a Canadian institution or a recognized international university; prior coursework in public administration, political science, or economics is preferred but not required. Full-time students can expect to complete the degree in two years.