Program Overview

Master of Public Administration Program

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is a joint offering by the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg. For nearly 50 years, students have been earning Masters in Public Administration degrees through this innovative program. Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of Canadian public administration through both core and elective courses and experiential learning.

Program Overview

Graduates go on to careers in public service, providing expert non-partisan support to government, as well as private and not-for-profit sectors. The program welcomes students with a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds into its competitive program.

Quick Facts About the Program

• Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Degree: Masters of Public Administration
• Expected Duration: 2 years of full-time study, part-time up to 6 years
• Co-operative Work Placements: The MPA program includes two paid co-operative work placements, often taking place in the summer months, with a faculty member overseeing the co-op placement process
• Eligibility: Minimum four-year undergraduate degree (field open), minimum GPA of 3.5 (B+), no GRE/GMAT requirement
• English Language Requirement: Must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Tuition: Learn about tuition and fee requirements for graduate studies at UM
• Funding: MPA students are eligible to apply for external funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarship, and may qualify for internal funding, including the UM Graduate Fellowship (UMGF), the Arts Graduate Award, or other awards
• Application Deadline: December 15 for a September start date

Curriculum

• In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, students must complete:
  • 36 credit hours of study, including 24 credit hours of required/core courses and 12 credit hours of optional courses
  • Two mandatory co-op placements
• There is no thesis or comprehensive examination; however, students are required to complete a major paper as part of the capstone seminar

Core Course Offerings

• POLS 7130: Theories and Issues in Public Administration (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7132: Public Policy Process and Issues (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7134: Qualitative Methods and Communications in the Public Sector (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7136: Governance and Administration (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7138: Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7140: Principles of Public Finance for Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7980: Professional Development Workshops (3 credit hours)
• POLS 7990: Capstone Seminar (3 credit hours)

Faculty

The program boasts a diverse and experienced faculty, including:

• Dr. Malcolm Bird, University of Winnipeg
• Dr. Linda DeRiviere, University of Winnipeg
• Dr. Karine Levasseur, University of Manitoba
• Dr. Andrea Rounce, University of Manitoba
• Sessionals: Aynslie Hinds, Ardith McGeown Plant

Students

The program attracts a wide range of students, including:

• Darian Ahronson
• Hesham Aly
• Jennifer Block
• Delaney Boehm
• Paul Carruthers
• Andrew Dvorak
• Ijeoma Frederick
• Maggie Gehman
• Alex Goodman
• Kathleen Isaac
• Konrad Krahn
• Marvin Marcial
• Faosiyat Olajide-Adedamola
• Katie Shantz
• Justin Tsang
• Ahrben Tumambing

Recent Alumni

The program has a strong track record of producing successful alumni, including:

• Maryam Abdullah
• Christian Balagus
• Edel Barrera
• Tabitha Clavecillas
• Delaney Coelho
• Aliana Dayrit
• Roman Ellis
• Alina Hart
• Keeley Johnson
• Albert Kandie
• Beth Ladyka
• Priscilla Marfo
• Matthew McConnell
• Alex McLean
• Brea McMahon
• Kirandeep Pandher
• Sandra Tombo
• Inge Zeldenrust

The Profession of Public Administration

Public administration has a broad and evolving scope of practice, including policy analysis, financial management, program evaluation, and legal and regulatory compliance and oversight. The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA) are key organizations in the field.