School of Policy Studies
Queen's UniversityDegree Overview
PMPA students must complete 10 course credits to meet MPA degree requirements. They normally take five core and five optional courses.
Core Courses
The core curriculum consists of five courses. Core courses in the first year provides students with an understanding of the role of government and the nature of policy-making as well as essential skills in economic analysis and research methods. Core courses in the second year build on this foundation, introducing students to the fundamentals of policy analysis and management.
Typical Program of Study
|
|
Fall/Winter (September to March) |
Summer Term (April to June) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | MPA 800 - Governing Institutions MPA 804 - Principles of Economics |
MPA 806 - Analytical Tools for Policy Research One optional course |
| Year 2 | MPA 802 - Approaches to Policy Analysis MPA 809 - Management in the Public Sector |
Two optional courses |
| Year 3 | Two optional courses completed on-campus in the fall/winter or summer term OR a Master's Research Project. With approval by the Program Director, PMPA students may be permitted to take up to two (2) courses at another institution as a visiting graduate student |
|
*Students may choose to complete all course credits within two years.
Exemption with Replacement Policy for PMPA Core Courses
Where a student can demonstrate an adequate background in the subject matter of MPA 800, MPA 804, or MPA 806, the student may receive an exemption from that course and complete an additional optional course.
Optional Courses
The strong core curriculum is complemented with a wide range of optional choices, allowing students to tailor their studies to specific professional and personal interests and set their own schedule for program completion in two or three years, depending on individual needs and responsibilities.
PMPA students may complete five optional course credits through courses only or through courses and an independent research project. Students normally complete three optional courses during the spring terms in their first two years in the program. The final two optional credits may be taken at any time within three years of initial PMPA program registration.
Optional courses highlight some of the exciting challenges facing contemporary policy-makers and managers. Led by prominent scholars, senior practitioners and policy advisors at Queen's University and elsewhere, they give students the opportunity to apply their analytical, research and communication skills to concrete policy and management problems.
Master’s Research Project
MPA students have the option to write a Master's Research Project (MPA-898), in lieu of two optional courses. Guidelines for this research-based analysis of a particular policy or management issue, conducted under the supervision of an academic advisor.
