The Joint Master's Program in Public Administration is supervised by the Joint Discipline Committee (JDC) consisting of members of the faculty of the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.

The regulations governing the Joint Master's Program in Public Administration are the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. All students are responsible for understanding the policies, regulations and guidelines of the University of Manitoba, the Faculty of Graduate Studies, as well as, their Department/Program of study.

The program is designed to meet the needs of two types of students, individuals who are presently employed and wish to add to their formal educational status; and individuals interested in a career in either public administration or public policy and who are proceeding from undergraduate to graduate studies.The objective is to provide students with a sound knowledge in Public Administration. The orientation is interdisciplinary, although the majority of courses are in politics and government. The core courses expose all students to a common set of ideas designed to encourage both innovative and integrative perspectives. Optional courses allow pursuit of individual career interests. The intent is to allow students to obtain a knowledge of both the theory and the practice of government organizations, including an awareness of the political, economic, and social contexts in which they operate. The program offers significant opportunities or specialization in a range of policy areas such as health care, human resource management, social welfare, aboriginal government, and organizational change.

Admission to the MPA Program is limited to twenty full-time equivalent students per year. The required GPA for admission is 3.0 (B), but candidates with a GPA of 3.5 (B+), or with a combination of career experiences and a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 would normally expect to be competitive. Students who are accepted into the program for full-time study are eligible to apply to the co-operative education option. Individuals who do not hold an undergraduate degree will be considered for admission, provided they have attained positions of marked responsibility in public or private sector management and have a demonstrated record of outstanding performance in their career. Such applicants are normally expected to have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of undergraduate university-based course work prior to applying. Admissions to this category is limited to one to two candidates per academic year.

JANUARY 15th - International and Canadian applications for September registration. September is the only admission date and there is no admission in January.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Public Administration program, students should forward the following to the Faculty of Graduate Studies:

      - the Faculty of Graduate Studies Application for Admission form and all documents and fees that it requires, (University of Manitoba students may request a history instead of a transcript);

      - one copy of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions that the student has attended. These transcripts must be received by the department in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution. Where academic records are produced in a language other than English, the applicant must arrange for the submission of official literal English translations of all records;

      - two letters of reference. These letters must be received by the department in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing referees;

      - a brief letter of intent. The letter is an opportunity for you to tell the committee how the MPA program fits for you and how you fit the MPA program. This should include why the MPA is the relevant degree for your career plans, and what experiences you bring to the program that would make you a good contributor to the seminar discussions.

     - a sample of written work, preferably a recently completed essay in a Political Studies' course.

Program Requirements

Students will enter the program in either a two-year (48 credit hour) program or a one-year (24 credit hour) program.

Students admitted with a general Bachelor's degree, or those who do not hold a Bachelor's degree, are required to complete an academic program consisting of a minimum of 48 credit hours – 27 credit hours must be taken from among core courses and a further 21 hours of credit from among the approved options. All students must complete up to 18 credit hours at the 700/7000 level. A student may elect with permission to write a Master's thesis in lieu of 12 hours of 700/7000 level credits.

Students who are admitted as graduates of an Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) are required to complete an academic program consisting of a minimum of 24 credit hours. Student who, prior to admission, have not completed 24 credit hours in courses equivalent to those designated at 400/4000 level core or option courses will normally be required to complete the appropriate courses(s) in addition to the 24 credit hour program minimum. In this context, POLS 3950 counts as a 400 level course. All students must complete, depending on the credits at which they are admitted into the program, up to 18 credit hours at the 700/7000 level, including the core courses.

In the program, student may select the comprehensive route, which consists of course work, a written comprehensive examination in three areas, and an oral examination at the end of the program or the thesis route consists of course work, a Master's thesis and a Master's thesis oral defence. The Master's thesis substitutes for 12 credit hours of 700/7000 level option credits.

Students must attain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the whole program in order to graduate. Students are required to attain a grade point average of 3.0 in the core courses. Students who fail to attain this grade point average will normally be required to withdraw from the program.

The minimum passing grade in any course in the MPA program is a C+. Students who fail to attain this grade may repeat the course (with permission of the JDC) or take an equivalent substitute course. Students who fail to attain a grade of C+ in more than 6 credit hours of courses (or equivalent) on more than one occasion are normally required to withdraw from the program.

The maximum time length to complete the MPA Program is six years.

Students who register for the program on a full-time basis are eligible to apply for the optional co-operative education program. This option requires the satisfactory completion of one academic year of full-time studies prior to consideration for work-term placements. A student accepted for co-op must satisfactorily complete two 13 week work-terms of full-time employment in a co-op placement approved by the program. The two co-op work-terms carry 3 hours of course credit for which registration and appropriate fee payments are required. Co-op students must maintain full-time status throughout the program.

For further information contact:
Val Myers
Graduate Program Assistant
532 Fletcher Argue Building
(204) 474-9733
political_studies@umanitoba.ca