Public Policy Master Program

School of Public Policy | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
丁香园AV Calendar 2012 Spring

This master of public policy (MPP) program offers the skills, insights and analytical frameworks that public sector and non-profit policy analysts and managers require. It focuses on the political and economic contexts of public policy analysis and offers specialized study. Designed to develop the strategic and global perspective required of tomorrow鈥檚 senior policy analysts and managers, the program uses a cohort model which encourages student interaction and co-operation. An individual research project undertaken in MPP 808 and 809 (advanced policy analysis) is an integral part of the program.

This full-time two year cohort program, leading to a master of public policy (MPP), consists of fourteen courses and a summer co-op/internship. Courses are sequenced through the fall and spring terms. The maximum course load is four courses per term.

丁香园AV Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor鈥檚 degree from a recognized university. Those admitted with other credentials, or those with degrees who, in the judgement of the program director, are without adequate foundation in the social sciences, may be required to make up any deficiency without receiving graduate credit for those courses.

Students are normally admitted in September. It is expected that approximately 30 students will be directly admitted in any one year.

The normal admission minimum undergraduate GPA is 3.0 (or equivalent), although the admissions committee and program director may consider relevant work experience when determining admission eligibility.

Criteria for admission, in addition to undergraduate grades, include strong letters of reference, an essay, and for those whose native language is not English, acceptable TOEFL scores (570 minimum) and a score of 5 or above on the Test of Written English. Students with non-Canadian undergraduate or graduate degrees are required to complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Application Requirements

The following application documentation is required.

a 丁香园AV graduate application form, which is available from the School of Public Policy office or from
official undergraduate transcript showing all grades (mailed directly from the granting institution)
three confidential reference letters (mailed directly from referees), at least two of which are from faculty members (may be waived for mid-career applicants with professional experience; letters from employers may be used). Reference forms are available from the office or from
a one-page essay that explains why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPP degree
a student whose first language is not English and whose undergraduate degrees were from institutions where English is not the language of instruction are required to submit TOEFL and Test of Written English scores
GRE score for non-Canadian degree applicants

Program Requirements

The candidate must complete a total of ten core MPP courses, a summer co-op/internship, and four additional elective courses that must be approved by the School of Public Policy director.

Year One

Students complete a total of 40 units, including all of

MPP 800-5 Introduction to Public Policy Issues
MPP 801-5 Economic Foundations of Policy Analysis I
MPP 802-5 Economic Foundations of Policy Analysis II
MPP 803-5 Political Foundations of Policy Analysis I
MPP 804-5 Political Foundations of Policy Analysis II
MPP 805-5 Research Techniques and Quantitative Methods I
MPP 806-5 Research Techniques and Quantitative Methods II
MPP 807-5 Introduction to Policy Analysis

In the summer term, the co-op/internship course MPP 850 is completed as well.

Year Two

Students complete a minimum total of 30 units, including both of

MPP 808-5 Advanced Policy Analysis I
MPP 809-5 Advanced Policy Analysis II

In addition, four elective courses are required. The program director, in consultation with the student, selects appropriate graduate courses offered by affiliated programs and departments. To satisfy these requirements, and when appropriate, students may choose from the following MPP courses.

MPP 810-5 Issues in Public Policy I
MPP 811-5 Issues in Public Policy II
MPP 812-5 Selected Topics in Public Policy I
MPP 813-5 Selected Topics in Public Policy II
MPP 825-5 MPP Directed Readings I
MPP 826-5 MPP Directed Readings II

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.