Students in the MPA program must complete 12 half-course credits, normally taking five courses in each of the fall and winter terms and two in the summer term. They may choose to complete a Master's Research Project, in lieu of two optional courses.

Core Courses

MPA students normally complete six required courses from these three groups:

1. Political and Institutional Analysis

MPA 800 - Governing Institutions (Fall)
MPA 802 - Approaches to Policy Analysis (Winter)

2. Economic and Quantitative Analysis

MPA 804 - Principles of Economics (Fall)
MPA 801 - Applied Analytical Methods l (1.5 credit hours) (Fall)
MPA 803 - Applied Analytical Methods ll
OR
MPA 808 - Applied Methods for Public Policy (1.5 credit hours each) (Fall)

And at least one of: 

MPA 815 - Economic Analysis (Winter) 
MPA 816 - Quantitative Program Evaluation (Winter)
MPA 840 - Economics of Social Policy (Winter or Spring)
MPA 844 - Canadian Economic Policy (Winter)
MPA 865 - Behavioural Public Finance (Winter)

3. Management 

MPA 809 - Management in the Public Sector (Winter 2010)

Exemption with Replacement Policy for MPA Core Courses

Where a student can demonstrate an adequate background in the subject matter of MPA 800, MPA 804, MPA 801 and MPA 808, or MPA 809, the student may receive an exemption from that course.

Students exempted from MPA 804 may replace it with an additional selection from among MPA 815, MPA 840, MPA 844, MPA 865 or a broadly based policy-oriented course in the Department of Economics approved by the MPA Program Director.  Students exempted from MPA 801 and MPA 808 will replace it with MPA 816.

Advanced Standing (Transfer Credit)

Students admitted to the MPA program may apply for advanced standing for degree credit for a maximum of two graduate courses completed prior to their enrolment in the Queen's MPA program. Applications for advanced standing should be made at the time of application and no later than at the beginning of the first term of a student's enrolment in the Queen's MPA program. Courses credited towards another academic degree will not be considered for advanced standing. [Read more...]

Optional Courses

Students may take at least six optional courses, typically one in the fall term, three in the winter and two in the spring. Students may choose to take optional courses offered by the School of Policy Studies or related graduate courses offered by other academic departments or professional schools at Queen's University.

Master's Research Project

MPA students have the option to write a Master's Research Project (MPA-898). Guidelines for this research-based analysis of a particular policy or management issue, conducted under the supervision of an academic advisor, are available elsewhere on the School's website.