Public Policy & Public Administration/MPPPA (MA)

• Undergraduate degree in Political Science or a related discipline.
• Undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.30 or equivalent is normally required. If applying with a previous master's degree, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is normally required.
• Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Political Science Courses page for course descriptions.

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA (45 credits)

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA Option B (Internship)

Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) MA Option A (Courses Only)

Public Policy and Public Administration MA Core Courses (9 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

Option A (Courses Only). For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved (12 credits).

Option B (Internship). For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved (6 credits).

Language Requirement. Students in the MA (Public Policy and Public Administration) Option B Internship are expected to demonstrate an ability to read and understand literature relevant to their field in French.

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
• Statement of purpose (500 words maximum) should describe applicant's academic interest and relevant experience, primary area of concentration, preferred program option, and expectations and goals. Students should also explain why they are a good candidate for the program
• Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.

Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures. 

All applicants must select Option A Courses-Only. You will have the opportunity to transfer into the Internship option once admitted. Please check the Internship page for additional information.

Kindly note that we do not process admission applications on a rolling basis. All applications received for a specific term will be assessed after the application deadline for that term.

Courses typically offered include:

• Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration
• Research Methods
• Comparative Public Policy
• Political Leadership & Decision Making
• Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
• Canadian Public Administration

Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses.

Master’s students are eligible for a variety of scholarships and fellowships, Research assistant and Teaching assistant positions, conference travel awards and other in-course funding.

Consideration for Entrance Awards is automatically part of the admissions process for all new students.  Upon admission, students will also be considered for the Department of Political Science’s Dr. Everett Price Graduate Scholarship which is awarded to an incoming student on the basis of academic merit.

The Department of Political Science is also pleased to offer the Leo Tavormina Memorial Entrance Bursary ($500), which is awarded to an incoming student on the basis of financial need.

We encourage students seeking admission to our program to apply for funding from external sources in the final year of their undergraduate studies (e.g. FRQSC, SSHRC).

Please consult Concordia’s graduate funding page and Financial Aid and Awards for additional information.

During a four-month internship, you will gain hands-on experience under professional supervision. Many internships evolve into temporary or permanent employment positions, and students are often paid during their placement.

Examples of past internship sites include:

• Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Canada
• Alcan Inc.
• Canadian Heritage
• City of Montreal
• Global Affairs Canada
• National Defence
• Employment & Social Development Canada
• Environment & Climate Change Canada
• Global Health Program – McGill University
• Government of Colombia
• Government of Mexico – Legislature
• International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) – Geneva
• International Bureau of Children's Rights
• Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
• Office of the Auditor General
• Privy Council Office 
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Transport Canada
• United Nations
• US Consular General in Montreal

Learn more about the Internship.

Our faculty members are active researchers who contribute to the field in the areas of constitutional law, comparative politics, policy making, political theory, international relations, public administration, Canadian politics, Quebec politics, nationalism, federalism, and public opinion. They encourage deliberative democracy in classrooms, academic functions, and departmental decisions.

Faculty research interests include:

• Canadian and comparative public policy
• feminist and critical policy studies
• international relations and non-governmental organizations
• politics of population aging
• public administration and Canadian politics
• strategic studies

The Political Science Graduate Student Association (PSGSA) provides a platform to stimulate opportunities for all members in a variety of cultural, intellectual, political, recreational and social activities.

Recent initiatives of the PSGSA include a graduate student conference in which students from Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada present their work and foster dialogue across multiple fields and disciplines. Past conference themes have included “Political and Economic Crises and their Implications,” “Challenges, Disconnects, and Clashes in Political Studies” and “Trends and Dynamics in Global Politics.”

The Political Science Graduate Student Journal is an annual publication produced by a team of graduate students in the Department of Political Science. The journal promotes the work of students from all levels of graduate studies and from a variety of research areas.

Our alumni are highly sought after by federal agencies and departments, universities, industry associations, patent offices, provincial programs, colleges, advocacy groups, and intergovernmental organizations. Graduates are working as analysts, advisors, directors, special programs officers, assistants, program evaluators, chief accountants, internal auditors and managers.

Examples of organizations and institutions our alumni are currently working for include:

• Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Canadian Space Agency
• eHealth Ontario
• Global Affairs Canada
• Health Canada
• House of Commons of Canada
• Mohawk College
• Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
• Parks Canada
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Read about our alumni career stories.