Interested in learning about our Master of Public Administration program? Why not connect with one of our graduate program advisors in person or online?
Program Description
Are you interested in learning about Canadian institutions, public sector processes, and the theoretical and practical aspects of policymaking? What about the policymaking cycle, and how decisions are made and implemented in government?
Students entering the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program build knowledge and skills to advance a career with impact. Our students and graduates work in governments, non-profit organizations, and businesses, including cooperatives and credit unions.
Student performance is assessed against factors linked with success in the public sector. These factors are called competencies and they have been developed with researchers, alumni and public sector partners and they are refined over time. The development of up-to-date knowledge and competencies at JSGS prepares graduates for a rapidly changing world.
Students can expect assignments that approximate real-world scenarios and tasks as they build their professional competencies in these three areas:
- Evidence and Strategic Thinking – develops and applies an evidence-informed approach to policy issues and policy options;
- Connection and Collaboration – communication with different audiences to build relationships and harness a diversity of perspectives to gain understanding, design, and advance policy solutions; and
- Implementation and Improvement – lead self, teams, and partners to implement policy decisions, manage change initiatives, monitor progress, and support continuous improvement.
The standard program length for the MPA is two years. However, the MPA can be completed in a period as short as 16 months (via an accelerated program) and as long as five years (the maximum time allowed for Masters students).
Please note that students entering the program are required to participate in the Get Connected! academic orientation offered in the fall.
Courses
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy made changes to the MPA program, which took effect for students who began in the winter 2020 semester. Those MPA students who started the program prior to then will be required to meet the program as it was constructed when they were admitted.
| Phased-Out Program Requirements | New Program Requirements |
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The following listing of courses applies to all MPA students enrolled in the program prior to January 2020. MPA students are required to complete 36 credit units, consisting of eleven core courses (30 credit units) and two elective courses (6 credit units).
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The following listing of courses applies to all MPA students enrolled in the program starting in January 2020. MPA students are required to complete 36 credit units, consisting of ten core courses (30 credit units) and two elective courses (6 credit units).
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Additional courses required by Graduate Studies and Research at each university
University of Saskatchewan campus
- JSGS 990 Public Policy Seminar Series (0-credit course)
- GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity (0-credit course, taken in the first term of study)
University of Regina campus
- GRST 800AA Academic Integrity Tutorial (0-credit course, taken in the first term of study)
These are non-credit courses required by Graduate Studies and Research at each campus and are offered at no cost to the student.
Course Delivery Modes and Schedules
This program includes a combination of in-person core courses and online elective courses, through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous delivery.
Click here for the course schedule and delivery modes for the above courses.
NOTICE: The JSGS MPA program at the University of Saskatchewan schedules an academic break during the Summer term. There are no required course offerings available during this time
Students who started in 2020/2021 and prior have a scheduled academic break from May 1 - Aug 31 as per the requirement when they began their program.
Students starting in 2021/2022 or 2022/23 will have a scheduled academic break from July 1 - Aug 31 and will continue with the same arrangements beyond 2022. This means that students are required to take at least two courses in the Spring term.
Students enrolled in the MPA program on a study permit at the University of Regina campus are required to take at least one class in the spring/summer semester to maintain student status.
Internships
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School (JSGS) offers MPA students the opportunity to enhance their postgraduate work with an internship in the federal or provincial public service, municipal government, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association or in health services research. The many concrete benefits to interns in the Johnson Shoyama Executive Internship Program include initial job placement, valuable career preparation and experience, the development of an extensive professional network as well as accelerated professional growth and advancement.
Application Qualifications
Admission to the MPA program is very competitive. Please note that because the number of applications received greatly exceeds the number of available places (we typically admit 25-30 students a year per campus), not all qualified applicants will be offered admission (i.e., successful candidates will typically have an average in excess of 75 per cent [or upper second class]).
University of Regina
All applicants must meet the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in any area with a GPA of at least 75 per cent.
University of Saskatchewan
Applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university. An average of 75 per cent or better must be maintained during the final two years (60 credit units) of the undergraduate program or in the graduate program if students are entering the MPA after a graduate degree.
Students from a wide variety of disciplines - including everything from the fine arts to the humanities to the social sciences to the physical sciences to professional college disciplines - are eligible. While it is not necessary, some knowledge of economics, statistics and social science is generally an advantage.
Non-Refundable Deposit
If you are offered admission into the Master of Public Administration program, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 CAD is required to save your seat. The non-refundable deposit must be paid within 30 days of the offer of admission being made. If you enroll in the program consistent with the terms of the offer, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to your student account. If you do not enroll, the deposit is retained by JSGS.
NOTICE: If you are an Indigenous student from Canada, you are eligible for a waiver for the non-refundable deposit. For more information, please contact the advisor for the program and campus to which you are applying.
Funding
The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School offers entrance scholarships to outstanding MPA candidates. All complete applications will automatically be considered for funding based on academic standing. To receive the scholarship, students must be enrolled in the school on a full-time basis. In addition to potential funding from the JSGS, other scholarships and awards are available for students at the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. They can be found using the links below.
Tuition
NOTE: Tuition and fees are subject to change. Should there be a discrepancy between the information posted on the institution's website and information posted on the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy website, the institution website should be viewed as accurate.
University of Regina campus
Tuition for the MPA program at the University of Regina campus is approximately $18,090 (program rate) for the 2022/23 academic year (September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023). It is paid as students take courses, and is charged on a per-credit unit basis. All students must also pay a graduate student fee and an international surcharge (if applicable). The per-term international surcharge fee is $1,283.00.
University of Saskatchewan campus
Tuition for the MPA program at the University of Saskatchewan campus is $18,090.72 (program rate) for the 2022/23 academic year (September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023). It is paid as students take courses, and is charged on a per-credit unit basis. All students must also pay a graduate student fee and an international surcharge (if applicable). The per-term international surcharge fee is $1,264.58.