The Master of Public Administration (called a Joint Master’s Program or JMP) is offered jointly by The University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. Students in the program acquire indepth knowledge of both the theory and the practice of government organizations, including knowledge of political, economic, social and other contexts in which they operate.
MPA students have the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience through the Cooperative Education option in the program.
The objective of the joint MPA program is to provide students - both full- and part-time - with a sound knowledge of public administration. The approach is interdisciplinary, although courses in Political Science (at UWinnipeg) and Political Studies (at UManitoba) are emphasized.
The core program exposes all students to a common set of courses designed to encourage both innovative and integrative perspectives. There are also opportunities to take a range of policy courses in the areas of health care, public finance, aboriginal government, and organizational change.
Students complete 36 credits of course work in the program, and two work terms of 13 weeks each. The maximum time length to complete the MPA Program for part-time students is six years.
SAMPLE CAREERS Graduates may find employment in local, provincial, or federal government offices. They may also find work in the fields of international law and organization, teaching, journalism, public relations and public administration. They are valued as management consultants in public opinion research or in law enforcement services, labour unions, political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Many lawyers and business people also find that the degree provides them with valuable background knowledge.
SAMPLE COURSES
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC FINANCE FOR POLICY ANALYSIS - An introduction to basic economic theories and tools used in public sector economics, which may include the economics/politics of taxing policies, externalities, theories of intergovernmental grants, major Canadian government spending programs, and new developments.
MPA CAPSTONE SEMINAR - Students pursue individual supervised projects that allow them to integrate theory and practice in an original topic in public administration and/or public policy, drawing on their skills and knowledge gained throughout the program. These projects will be presented in a semester-end colloquium.
MORE SAMPLE COURSES
Public Policy Process & Issues • Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis • An Indigenous Approach to Program Evaluation • Governance & Administration