Spotlight on Students and Alumni

2 MA students publish op-ed piece on the NHL lockout	MAPA Grads in the Ontario Public Service	Jennifer McKee explains why she chose SPPA	Laurel Carlton won 1st place in IPAC-NCR Student Essay Contest

Generating Leaders

Academically rigorous and professionally relevant, the School’s MA program prepares students for diverse careers working in or with government, or for further graduate study in areas relevant to public policy and administration.

Admission Requirements

The students who have entered and excelled within the MA have come from a wide range of academic backgrounds in  the  sciences, social sciences, engineering, and humanities.  What they share is their academic strength and versatility, as represented by a bachelor’s degree with no less than a B+ average (a GPA of 9 on Carleton’s 12 point scale), and the completion of the prerequisite courses tied to the core curriculum of the MA.  See the Graduate Calendar for details.

Program Design

The MA program is multidisciplinary, and can be completed in four terms of full-time study.  It provides students with a blend of analytical and professional skills that will prepare  them  for a career in the public sector, or for further graduate study.  See the Graduate program for details.

During the first year of the program, students focus on the core courses that address the central political, economic, organizational and normative aspects of public policy issues.  In that first year, students typically take seven core courses which provide the basic skills and knowledge that are essential for a career in the public and non-profit sectors, and which also prepare students for the elective courses that they will take in the second year of the program.  During the second year, students customize the program according to their personal or professional interests by selecting elective courses from four concentrations.

• The Policy Analysis Concentration covers the theory, methods and practice of policy analysis, as well as the specific issues and challenges of certain policy fields.
• The Public Management Concentration focuses on the institutions and practices of modern states, including the theoretical and technical approaches to accountability, leadership, evaluation, fiscal control, ethics, and organizational development.
• The Innovation, Science and Environment Concentration considers  the problems  that confront governments, firms and society in making and implementing innovation, science and environment policies.
• The International and Development Concentration examines the economic and social problems confronting citizens, national administrative systems and policy makers in different jurisdictions throughout our increasingly integrated and competitive world.

Students have the opportunity to conduct independent research by including a directed study, research essay or thesis among their electives.  What is more, they are able to gain professional experience during the degree by participating in the Co-operative Education Program. Most of the co-op positions are with the federal public service, but positions are also available with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as the private and non-profit sectors.

Funding

Domestic students who maintain full-time status are automatically considered for university funding in the form of either scholarships or teaching and research assistantships.  The funding continues for the four academic terms required to complete the program.  Although the amounts vary according to relative academic merit as demonstrated in previous university study, applicants with an A- average (GPA of 10 on Carleton’s 12 point scale) can anticipate generous financial assistance.  See the Graduate Student funding for details.

Beyond the Classroom

Academic work is of course central to the MA experience. But there is more.  Throughout the year, various speaker series bring to the School a range of academics and practitioners, expert in current aspects of public policy and administration.  Non-credit workshops allow students to develop professional skills in such areas as chairing effective meetings, networking, lobbying strategies, or the writing of briefing notes.  An annual study tour to Washington D.C. enables students to learn first-hand about the operations and priorities of American and multilateral organizations.

The School comprises a uniquely congenial community, fostered to a large extent by the student-led SPPA Society.  In addition to numerous social and outreach activities, the SPPA Society organizes and hosts an annual banquet near the end of each academic year.  Student groups affiliated with MA concentrations organize academic and social events of particular interest to the students in those concentrations: for example,  SIGNALS engages students, faculty and alumni drawn primarily from the Innovation, Science and Environment Concentration; and COMPASS Public Management Network does the same for those from the Public Management Concentration.

Graduating from SPPA

Graduating with a MA in Public Administration from Carleton gives you an education tailored to suit your needs. Through the academically grounded course work, co-op opportunities, professional skills development workshops, and a diverse professional networking opportunities, the MA experience is designed to produce graduates who are analytic thinkers and highly effective communicators who can navigate the increasingly inter-disciplinary and complicated policy challenges of our time.