Master of Public Administration
Halifax, Canada
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The Dalhousie MPA
The Dalhousie MPA seeks to equip students with the management skills tailored for public service organizations and fosters a deep understanding of governmental structures, processes, and policies, encompassing not only government bodies but also public agencies and policy groups operating within the public sector. Combined with a paid summer internship and dedicated professional development courses, our graduates are prepared to make a real difference in the lives of those they serve.
The Public Sector
The public sector is made up of governments and their agencies, from the international level to the local level. It includes other publicly funded bodies, such as hospitals, schools, government corporations (CBC, Canada Post, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, etc.) and many not-for-profit organizations. The MPA degree will prepare you for the realities of working in the public sector, where the internal environment (visioning and goal-setting, decision-making, managing, accountability and conduct) is distinct from the for-profit sector
The Dalhousie MPA is is specifically designed for highly motivated and dedicated individuals interested in pursuing a career in the service of the public, ans wish to realize advanced educational objectives and achieve academic ambitions in public policy and public management.
The Program welcomes students from all undergraduate backgrounds and is direct entry, meaning it does not require applicants to have professional work experience for admission.
There are a number of opportunities available to help fund your MPA degree:
Dr. Fernando Jimenez Gomez Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to full time students entering their 1st or 2nd year second year of study in the Master of Public Administration program at Dalhousie University.
To be eligible for the Fernando Jimenez Gomez Scholarship, a student must have a strong academic background and have experience in, or demonstrate a high level of commitment to, public sector reform in transitional or developing societies or countries.
Preference will be given to students who come from transitional or developing societies or countries.
Applications must include a cover letter and résumé
Award Amount: $1000
Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships
The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers entrance scholarships to students in the Master of Public Administration program. These awards are made on the basis of scholarly performance and promise. Applicants wishing to be considered for fellowships should indicate their interest in their original application.
See the full list of Faculty of Graduate Studies scholarships.
Guy Henson Gold Medal in Public Administration
The Guy Henson Gold Medal honours the memory of Dr. Guy Henson, a former Director of the Institute of Public Affairs, Professor of Public Administration at Dalhousie, and a member of the Order of Canada.
Graduating MPA students and faculty annually vote on the awarding of the Henson Medal. It is awarded to a graduating MPA student who has achieved a high level of scholastic achievement, personal integrity, social justice and professionalism.
IPAC Award for Academic Excellence
The Nova Scotia Regional Group of IPAC annually awards two certificates plus memberships in the Institute to graduating MPA students—one to a full-time and one to a part-time student. Recipients are those who best fulfil the criteria of academic excellence specified by the MPA program.
Promise Scholars
The program was launched in 2021. It was developed it to align with Dalhousie’s commitment to admit, engage, support and graduate a more diverse student body, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented students and especially Black and Indigenous Students.
The Promise Scholars program for a student in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program provides students with a $2,000 scholarship.
In addition to financial support, our advisors will provide academic and career support, including assistance in finding paid work during the program should you choose and career mentors to support your long-term career aspirations.
Criteria: The sole awarding criteria for the Promise Scholars will be an Indigenous or Black Canadian student, with priority given to Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian students.
How to apply: If you self-identify as Indigenous or African Canadian, you can apply. Applicants must submit a 500 word statement (by email to the school email ) articulating the importance of diversity and inclusion in public administration.
Deadline:
May 1 at 4 p.m. (AST)
For more information about the Scholar Program, please contact us.
Public Administration Alumni Awards
$500 is awarded annually to the student obtaining the highest aggregate standing in the first year of the Master of Public Administration program.
$1,000 is awarded annually to the student entering the MPA program who is deemed by the Admissions Committee to have attained the highest level of scholarship in a previous academic program.
Roselle Green Award in Public Administration
This annual award goes to a full-time student who has completed the requirements for the first year of the MPA program, and who demonstrates an interest in the areas of community and public affairs as they impact public policy
Teaching and Marking Assistantships
A number of assistantships are available from the Faculty of Management. Details of the positions and the procedures for applying will be distributed by email to all MPA students.
The optional MPA Internship Program offers an opportunity for a paid work term.
Tom Merklinger Award
The Tom Merklinger Award ($500) is presented annually in memory of Tom Merklinger (MPA'79) to the student attaining the highest overall standing in MPA 5120. The endowment fund for this award is accumulated from donations made by alumni, friends and faculty.
Courses
There are ten required courses in the program. Please see the MPA Courses page for a list of the required classes.
Students must also take Elective Courses:
MPA students choose graduate-level electives to complete their programs. Students may choose any of the Public Administration electives (PUAD classes) listed on the MPA Courses page. They may also take up to three (3) graduate-level courses, or 1.5 credits, outside of these PUAD options if they are approved by the Program Manager.
The MPA Internship
The MPA Internship is an investment partnership by the Faculty of Management and public sector employers in professional development and future public service leadership. Our Internship program is an approved Government of Canada Co-op program, registered with the Public Service Commission of Canada.
We offer an elective half-credit course for professional development, which includes a public service work term. Employers offervarious development positions for work terms. The work terms foster the integration of practical public service experience with the professional education of the MPA program.
Investing in Professional Development and Future Public Service Leadership:
During the inter-session between the two years of study, students have the opportunity to be employed in the public sector. The Internship Coordinator negotiates the positions and tasks to ensure that interns are taking a step forward in their professional development. Students then compete for the available positions.
The program has always been successful in helping students to secure an internship. To date, 100% of our students were able to find an internship as part of this program.It provides the opportunity to apply much of the knowledge and skills learned in the first year.
All internships are paid.
Rated number #275 in the world, learn more about Dalhousie University's QS Ranking.
The MPA degree is a two-year full-time course of study; it can also be completed part-time over a maximum of 6 years. A total of 54 credit hours (3 credit hours = 1 course) are needed for completion of the Master of Public Administration program.
- 30 credit hours from required courses
- 24 credit hours from graduate level electives
Part Time Study
Some Public Administration students take the program on a part-time basis and the program makes a special effort to accommodate their needs. In particular, many of our classes are scheduled in the late afternoon or early evening so that they may be accessible to students who work during the day.
Learn more about part-time study
Part-time study can be highly rewarding, but it can pose special problems. The pressures of work, family life and study may conflict with one another.
We are aware of the obstacles that the part-time students confront and are anxious to do what we can to help you overcome them. We recommend that you discuss your study program with the Director or Program Manager at least twice a year, and that you do not hesitate to draw particular problems to their attention. The problems might be resolved more easily than you think.
We suggest that you contact the College of Continuing Education (494-2526), which has special responsibilities for part-time studies, and that you join the Mature Students’ Association by emailing. There are a number of short courses designed for individuals who are returning and need to refurbish their study skills. More information about these can be obtained through the Counselling and Psychological Services Centre (494-2081).
Our graduates hold various positions in municipal, provincial and federal government, as well as the not-for-profit and private sectors. A number of roles our alumni find themselves in are listed below:
- Policy analyst
- Program manager
- Communications advisor
- Performance auditor
- Evaluation analyst
- Client service manager
- Research and statistical officer
- Consultant
- Operations & policy manager
- Staffing advisor
Click below to learn more!
CAPPA Accredited
The MPA program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA). Accreditation from CAPPA is based on five key student competencies relating to critical thinking, leadership, engagement, ethics and communication.
Opportunities for Research
There are a number of ways Dalhousie Students can get innvolved with opportunities for research.
Second Year Research Scholarships
Each year the program offers research scholarships to almost 10% of its second-year students, based on performance in the first year in the program. Students on research scholarships are matched with a professor in the program. Tasks are defined by the professor.
Grant-Funded Research Assistantships
In most years, professors hold research funds from SSHRC, CIHR or other funding institutions. Professors often hire MPA students to assist with research projects. Tasks are defined by the professor.
Consulting Research Assistantships
On occasion, professors engage in consulting activities with the public sector or another client. When needed, professors hire students to assist with consulting research projects. Tasks are defined by the professor.
Applied Courses
A number of courses in the MPA program incorporate an applied research component. These courses include Research Methods and Policy Analysis, Program Evaluation, Practicum, Projects, Issues in Applied Economics, Management Without Borders, and others. Applied research components typically require that students work with external stakeholders in some capacity.
Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management
The Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management (DJIM) is a student-led initiative aimed at publishing Dalhousie graduate student work of the highest quality and significance in all areas of management. Find out more at the DJIM website.
The Dalhousie Community
Learn about our Student conference, Campus life and Living in Halifax on our school website.