Canada’s public servants have long been regarded among the very best in the world. Whether working in policy development, financial management or government research, well-trained public servants are essential to good government. Today all levels of government need employees with the knowledge and ingenuity to ensure resources, organizational capacity and effective communications are in place to meet the challenges ahead.
The Master of Public Service program is a course-based, co-op program offered through the Faculty of Arts. Open to students with an Honours Bachelor's degree from any undergraduate (or graduate) discipline, the MPS program provides professional, multidisciplinary training for students aspiring to a career in Canada’s public service at any level of government (federal, provincial, regional municipal and Aboriginal). The 20-month program combines coursework, an 8-month paid co-operative work experience and a major team project.
Detailed program information is available on the Master of Public Service website.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the MPS program include:
Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, with an average of at least 78% (B+) in the final two years of the degree.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate command of the English language with a minimum TOEFL score of 600 or the equivalent on a comparable test, such as CanTEST 4.5, CAEL 70, IELTS 7.0, MELAB 85.
Application support material includes:
• All previous university transcripts
• Three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from academic sources
• Statement of interest (maximum of two pages)
• Resume (maximum of two pages)
The application and all support material must be submitted entirely online by the deadline, which will normally be in February of each year. Check the program website for the specific deadline each year.
Degree Requirements
Courses
MPS students must successfully complete ten required courses in Terms 1 and 2, which are taught by faculty from a range of academic disciplines. In addition, senior-level public servants may be invited to give special seminars and teach certain course components.
Co-op
Students must participate in an 8-month paid co-op work term with a government department or agency at the national, provincial, regional or local level. In pursuit of a co-op work term, students complete an application and interview process facilitated on-campus by Co-operative Education and Career Services (CECS).
Major Project
A major project course must be completed in the final (5th) term of study. Supervised by a faculty member, the project will normally be undertaken by teams of three or four students and will address an approved topic derived from co-op work experience or based on a relevant public service issue.
MPS Course Requirements
Term 1*
PS 611 - Government and the Public Service: Structure and Function
PS 612 - Government Finance I: Accounting and Accountability
PS 613 - Aboriginal Issues and Government
PS 614 - Communicating with Diverse Audiences
PS 620 - Effective Leadership and Management
Term 2
PS 615 - Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making
PS 617 - Values and Ethics in Government
PS 618 - Public Policy Development
PS 619 - Government Finance II: Practices and Procedures
PS 621 - Project Management in Government
PS 616 - Spoken French in Context (Optional course)
Terms 3 &4
Co-op work term
Term 5
PS 622 - Major Research Project
* Note: the order of the courses may vary from year to year.