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2024-2025 Academic Calendar | York University Faculty of Graduate Studies

Public Policy, Administration & Law

Posted on 17 August 2022

All Programs

LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
120 McLaughlin Collegejewan@yorku.cayorku.ca/gradstudies/ppal/

York’s executive-style Master of Public Policy, Administration & Law is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed to provide students with the skills needed for effective public administration and public policy analysis, with an emphasis on the themes of constitutional and administrative law and social justice.

While including all the elements of the standard curriculum followed by other Canadian MPA programs, this graduate program includes leading-edge subjects such as change management, human resources management, the impact of multiculturalism on policy development and implementation, as well as innovative approaches to labour relations and conflict resolution, e-government and the impact of globalization.

Students are provided with a combination of legal, policy analysis and public management skills all rooted in a social justice perspective, and applicable to any area of the public sector, including government, emergency, police and military services.

The Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration & Law is offered as a two-year, part-time or a one-year full-time program. Courses are held during evenings and in intensive monthly weekend sessions over two terms. Course materials may be accessed by students up to one month in advance, so that readings can be spread over a longer period of time.

Admission Requirements

Master of Public Policy, Administration & Law Program

Candidates must:

  • have completed an Honours Bachelors degree or its equivalent from a recognized University with a minimum grade point average of B+ in the final two years and a minimum of five years work experience in a relevant public sector management, administrative, or supervisory position.; OR,
  • have completed an honours bachelors degree or its equivalent from a recognized University with a minimum grade point average of A in the final two years. Under this category, students may have completed less than five years work experience in a relevant public sector management, administrative, or supervisory position. Preference will be given to students who have completed an honours bachelors degree in public administration or political science with an emphasis on public administration.

Candidates also must:

  • submit a curriculum vitae or résumé, statement of areas of interest, and a letter outlining their experience and background; and,
  • for students whose first language is not English, have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based); or York English Language Test score 1.

At the discretion of the selection committee, in exceptional circumstances, students who have completed a three-year bachelors degree with a minimum grade point average of B+ and have significant work experience in terms of time frame and/or quality of experience (specifically more than five years work experience in a relevant public sector management, administrative, or supervisory position) may be recommended for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Although it is not a prerequisite, students are advised that they may find it helpful to have completed a university level two-term introductory course covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics (Economics 1000 3.0/1010 3.0 or equivalent) prior to enrolling in the program.

Students who have completed advanced level courses (i.e., only graduate level) offered by accredited universities or colleges or other accredited professional development courses which overlap significantly with courses in the Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration & Law, may be able to apply for advanced standing. General procedures for awarding advanced standing are determined by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Students may be awarded no more than 6 credits of advanced standing.

Degree Requirements

Master of Public Policy, Administration & Law Program

The program is offered on a part-time or full-time basis, with a recommended time of two years part-time or one year full-time for
completion of the program.

Program courses cover the essential curriculum that forms the core of any public policy and administration program, but they also include substantial original content focused on a more comprehensive consideration of social justice issues, public law, administrative law, public sector ethics, and human rights.

Students move through three conceptual modules, with 9 credits in each:

  • public management and finance
  • law, administration and ethics
  • public policy and analysis

Each module must be completed in its entirety. The last module provides students with the option of completing a research paper or a public policy issue and development course.

Students normally progress as a cohort. The specific order in which courses are taught may vary from year to year. However, students must complete the Research Methods and Information Systems and Program Evaluation and Public Policy Analysis courses in Module 3 before embarking on the Major Research Paper.

Module 1: Public Management and Finance (9 credits)
The public management and finance module emphasizes the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that are essential to an effective lower-middle level public sector manager. These include a firm understanding of the basics of public administration, as well as effective change management, leadership, human resources management, public finance, and accountability mechanisms.

Students must successfully complete the following courses:
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6000 3.0: Public Management;
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6010 3.0: Leadership and Human Resources Management; and,
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6020 3.0: Public Finance and Accounting.

Module 2: Law and Ethics (9 credits)
The law and ethics module is designed to provide students with the tools to deal competently with legal and ethical matters in public affairs.

Students must successfully complete the following courses:
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6100 3.0: Canadian Constitutional Law;
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6120 3.0: Administrative Law and Ethics: Principles and Practices in the Policy-Making Context; and,
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6130 3.0: Equity, Policy, Law and Planning.

Module 3: Public Policy and Analysis (9 credits)
This module is designed to provide students with a firm understanding of the skills of program evaluation, and with relevant analytical tools regarding public policy development and the public policy cycle.

Students must successfully complete the following courses:
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6200 3.0: Research Methods and Information Systems;
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6210 3.0: Program Evaluation and Public Policy Analysis;
and one of the following three courses:
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6230 3.0: Topics in Public Policy;
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6240 3.0: Topics in Local and Regional Governance; OR
Public Policy, Administration & Law 6250 3.0: Major Research Paper.

The MPPAL program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.

The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 3 terms; part-time students are expected to complete within 6 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.