Political Studies
Acting Head: Dr. Steven Lecce
Chair: Dr. Susan Prentice
Associate Chair & Co-op Placement: Dr. Malcolm Bird (m.bird@uwinnipeg.ca)
Campus Address/General Office: 532 Fletcher Argue
Telephone: 204-474-9733
Email Address: political.studies@umanitoba.ca
Website: https://umanitoba.ca/arts/political-studies/master-public-administration-program
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Political Studies website for staff information. 

Public Administration Program Information

This Master of Public Administration program is offered jointly by the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba and the Department of Political Science at the University of Winnipeg. Unless otherwise specified by particular agreements attached to its own creation, it is governed by the general procedures and regulations devised by the two universities for joint master’s programs.

Joint Master's Program

The University of Manitoba and The University of Winnipeg together offer the Joint Master's program, with courses and thesis direction (if applicable) offered at both institutions. Students of a JMP are admitted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba. Graduates of Joint Master’s programs receive a joint-institution parchment. Students in the JMP may elect to attend the convocation of either of the two participating universities. The programs are governed by the Joint Discipline Committee (JDC) at the department/unit level, consisting of faculty members of both institutions.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

M.P.A. Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the program must normally be graduates of four-year undergraduate degree programs (or equivalent) from:

• Canadian institutions empowered by law to grant degrees; or
• Colleges and universities outside Canada, which are officially recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

It is preferred, but not required, that applicants have some formal course background in public administration, political science or economics. Students from other disciplines are also encouraged to apply.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the M.P.A. program of study page.

Degree Requirements

All students must complete 36 credit hours of study, including 24 credit hours of required courses and 12 credit hours of optional courses, all of which would be at the 7000-level (normally), and 2 mandatory co-op placements (POLS 7800 & POLS 7810). Students with demonstrated professional-work experience with a public sector organization in the area of health or public administration, may request a waiver of the requirement for two co-op placements.
 
There is no thesis option or comprehensive examination. Students are required, however, to complete a major research paper as part of the Capstone Seminar.

Expected Time to Graduate: 2 years

Progression Chart

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

All new and returning students will meet with the MPA Chair or designate. During their meeting, courses will be discussed and approved. Students will complete the Departmental Graduate Student Registration Form. The form will be submitted to the MPA Department Administrator, and the registration will be completed on the student’s behalf. Registration revisions (addition and /or deletion of courses) must be approved in the same manner. 

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

• GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
• GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

• maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

The following list is courses offered by the Department of Political Studies, some of which are applicable to the MPA program.

Political Studies