This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• Master of Public Policy and Administration
• Master of Public Policy and Administration with Collaborative Specialization in Data Science
• Master of Public Policy and Administration with Concentration in Indigenous Policy and Administration
• Master of Public Policy - Sustainable Energy and the Environment
• Master of Public Policy - Sustainable Energy and the Environment with Collaborative Specialization in Climate Change
• Ph.D. Public Policy
• Ph.D. Public Policy with Collaborative Specialization in Political Economy
• Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration
• Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation

Admission

Applicants must have an undergraduate or post-graduate degree (or equivalent), with an average of B+ or higher. The level of academic performance and potential demonstrated within the degree is more important than the discipline. Indeed, students enter the program from a wide variety of backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, sciences and engineering.

The School also considers mid-career applicants who do not satisfy this grade average requirement, but who have demonstrated professional excellence over at least five years. Such applicants may use their high achievement in several designated university courses as evidence of their academic potential. These university courses are determined on an individual basis in consultation with the M.P.P.A. Supervisor. Contact the School for details.

All applicants must have completed a 0.5 credit university course covering microeconomic theory (ECON 1001 or equivalent) and a 0.5 credit university course in macroeconomic theory (ECON 1002 or equivalent) with an average grade over the two theory courses of B+ or higher.  A working knowledge of algebra is also expected.

In some cases, applicants may be admitted to the program despite not having completed these prerequisites, on the condition that the course(s) be extra to the degree requirements and be completed (with the minimum required grade, as discussed above) in the first year of the program. Nevertheless it is strongly recommended that students complete the prerequisites before starting the program, to ensure that their progress through the core courses is unimpeded.

All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.  (See Section 3.6 of the General Regulations section of this Calendar for details.)

Advanced Completion Option

Applicants to the Master of Public Policy and Administration may be considered for admission to an Advanced Completion Option of the Master of Public Policy and Administration based on their demonstrated academic excellence in university courses deemed equivalent to the core courses of the program.  This option will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with the M.P.P.A. Supervisor and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and pursuant to Section 6.1 of the General Regulations section of this Calendar. Admission to the Master of Public Policy and Administration Advanced Completion Option may require courses in addition to the 5.0 credit program requirements.

Master of Public Policy and Administration Accelerated Pathway

The accelerated pathway in the Master of Public Policy and Administration is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study.  Students in their final year of the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management who have demonstrated academic excellence and an aptitude for research may qualify.  Students in their third year of study in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management should consult with both their undergraduate supervisor and the M.P.P.A Supervisor to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to confirm their selection of courses in their final year of undergraduate study.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

1. PADM 5000-level courses with a grade of B+ or higher;
2. Minimum overall CGPA of 10.4 in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management.

Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit of up to 1.0 credit which can reduce their time to completion.  

Admission

Admission will be judged primarily on the applicant's ability to conduct advanced research and to complete the program successfully. Applications should contain at least one essay or paper at the M.A. level written by the applicant, as well as a statement of research interests and potential thesis topics.

Admission requires completion of an M.A. degree in any of public administration, political science, economics, political economy, business administration, law, or similar degree with first class standing (A- average or higher in their M.A. work).

A working knowledge of basic calculus is required for completion of the program. Assistance in acquiring these skills is provided by the program. Students requiring additional assistance should consult the Ph.D. Supervisor.

Applicants must also successfully complete prerequisites in statistics, political science, and economics as described in detail below. These prerequisites may be satisfied by the completion of appropriate course work at the intermediate undergraduate level or higher in each of the subjects listed.

Prerequisites in political science, economics and statistics must be completed prior to entry. Completed courses in political science should be approximately equivalent to PADM 5120 or PADM 5121. With permission of the Ph.D. Supervisor, this requirement may be done, as a directed study in the summer, prior to registration in the program, under the supervision of faculty in the School. Completed courses in economics should be approximately equivalent to PADM 5127. Equivalent courses may be taken at most universities throughout the academic year. Completed course in statistics should be approximately equivalent to PADM 5126. Applicants should seek advice from the Supervisor of the Ph.D. program about whether particular courses are acceptable as prerequisites.

All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. (See Section 3.6 of the General Regulations section of this Calendar for details.)

Advanced standing will not normally be granted for any of the required courses described below. If granted, advanced standing will be limited to 1.0 credit.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

All candidates are required to obtain a grade of B- or higher in each course in the program.

The Diplomas are designed to be completed in two years while working full-time, although students may take the program on either a part-time or full-time basis.

The Graduate Diploma (Type 2) in Indigenous Policy and Administration may be taken concurrently with another graduate degree at Carleton University.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

A grade of B- or higher must normally be obtained in each course credited towards the M.P.P.A. A candidate may, with the recommendation of the M.P.P.A. Supervisor and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, be allowed a grade of C+ in courses totaling 1.0 credit.

Regularly Scheduled Break

For immigration purposes, the summer term (May to August) for the

• Master of Public Policy in  Sustainable Energy and the Environment (coursework pathway)
• Master of Public Policy in Sustainable Energy and the Environment with Collaborative Specialization in Climate Change (coursework pathway) 

is considered a regularly scheduled break approved by the University. Students should resume full-time studies in September.

Note: a Regularly Scheduled Break as described for immigration purposes does not supersede the requirement for continuous registration in Thesis, Research Essay, or Independent Research Project as described in Section 8.2 of the Graduate General Regulations.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Co-operative Education

For information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works, visit the Co-op website.

All graduate students participating in the Co-op program are governed by this Graduate Co-operative Education Policy.

Application Requirements

Graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Co-op Program during their first term of studies. Alternatively, students may delay their participation until later on, provided that they have mandatory credits remaining for degree completion.

Participation Requirements

Graduate students:

• must be registered as full-time before they begin their co-op job search and their co-op work term.
• will be registered in a Co-op Work Term course while at work. This course does not carry academic course credit, but is noted on academic transcripts.
• may register in a 0.5 credit during a work term, provided the course is offered during the evening or is offered asynchronously online.
• are not permitted to hold a Teaching Assistantship while on a co-op work term. Where eligible, Teaching Assistantships will be deferred to a later term.
• in receipt of internal or external scholarships should contact the Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Affairs to discuss the possible funding implications of being on a co-op work term
• must have mandatory courses left to complete following their final co-op work term. In cases where the graduate student has just a 0.5 credit left, he or she may request permission of the Co-op Office to complete this course during the work term.

Co-op Participation Agreement

All graduate students must adhere to the policies found within the Co-op Participation Agreement.

Communication with the Co-op Office

Graduate students must maintain regular contact with the Co-op Office during their job search and while on a work term. All email communication will be conducted via the student’s Carleton email account.

Graduation with the Co-op Designation

In order to graduate with the Co-op Designation, graduate students must satisfy all requirements of the degree program in addition to the successful completion of two work terms.  Students found in violation of the Co-op Participation Agreement may have the Co-op Designation withheld. 

Employment

Although every effort is made to ensure a sufficient number of job postings for all Co-op students, no guarantee of employment can be made. The Co-op job search process is competitive, and success is dependent upon factors such as current market conditions, academic performance, skills, motivation, and level of commitment to the job search. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for positions via the Co-op job board in addition to actively conducting a self-directed job search. Students who do not obtain a co-op work term are expected to continue with their academic studies. It should be noted that hiring priority for positions within the Federal Government of Canada is given to Canadian citizens.

Work Term Assessment and Evaluation

Work Term Evaluation

Employers are responsible for submitting to Carleton University final performance evaluations for their Co-op students at the end of their work terms.

Work Term Assessment

In order to successfully complete the co-op work term, graduate students must receive a Satisfactory (SAT) grade on their Co-op Work Term Report, which they must submit at the completion of each four-month work term.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students who are currently on a co-op work term or who have already committed to a co-op work term either verbally or in writing may not leave the position and/or withdraw from the co-op option until they have completed the requirements of the work term.

Involuntary or Required Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Graduate students may be removed from the Co-op Program for any of the following reasons:

1. Failure to attend all interviews for positions to which the student has applied;
2. Declining more than one job offer during the job search;
3. Reneging on a co-op position that the student has accepted either verbally or in writing;
4. Continuing a job search after accepting a co-op position;
5. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer;
6. Leaving a work term without approval from the Co-op Management Team;
7. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation;
8. Receiving a grade of UNS on the work term report;

International Students

All Graduate International Students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before they can begin working. The Co-operative Education Office will provide students  with a letter of support to accompany their Co-op Work Permit application. Students are advised to discuss the application process and application requirements with the International Student Services Office.

Co-op Fees

All participating Co-op students are required to pay Co-op fees. For full details, please see the Co-op website.

Co-operative Education Option
Master of Public Policy and Administration

Co-op option

Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Co-operative Education Program by the end of their first term of academic study.

To be eligible for admission to Co-op, students must:

1. be enrolled in the Master of Public Policyand Administration;
2. have completed the pre-requisites below by the end of the winter term;
3. have successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, a total of 3.0 credits in first-year core MPPA courses.  For students enrolled in ECON 1001 and/or ECON 1002, only 2.5 credits worth of first-year core MPPA courses must be completed prior to the start-date of the first work term;
4. be registered as a full-time student in each academic term prior to a work term;
5. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work terms)

For more information, please refer to the Co-operative Education Policy.