Shaping the Future

Wherever your interests in public affairs lie, the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University provides graduate programs that can challenge, engage and inspire. Several thousand of our alumni now hold leading positions in government, the private and non-profit sectors, and academia.

The school offers three academic programs:

• Master of Arts in Public Administration;
• PhD in Public Policy;
• Graduate Diplomas in Public Policy and Public Administration.

If you are a prospective student, this table will help you determine which program is most relevant to your background, professional experience, goals, and desired career path. More details for each are offered via the links provided above.

	MA	PhD	Diplomas
What is your academic preparation?	Successful applicants require an undergraduate degree with an average of B+ or better	Successful applicants require a Master’s degree with an  average of A- or better	Successful applicants require an undergraduate degree with an average of B+ or better
What professional experience do you have?	Successful applicants do not require  work experience in public policy or administration.	Successful applicants often (but not always) have career experience in public policy	Successful applicants often (but not always) have career experience in public policy
What are your goals?	Applicants seek a broad and balanced academic program in the theory and practice of public policy and administration	Applicants pursue research integrating political science and economics in the assessment of contemporary policy problems	Applicants seek training that will help them to advance in their career
What is your expected career path?	Applicants seek a preparation for careers working in or with government, spanning  the public service, consulting firms, or the non-profit sector.	Graduates work in academia, consulting, the public service, and in the non-profit sector.	Graduates work in consulting, the public service, and in the non-profit sector.
Want more information?