Public Administration and Governance

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be eligible for admission under Toronto Metropolitan University's Mature Student guidelines (opens in new window) .  

NOTES:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
2. The grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.
4. Students are admitted in the fall, winter and spring/summer terms.

The curriculum reflects the latest developments in public sector issues and initiatives, and features a mix of courses providing students with a broad understanding of the Canadian political process. The courses emphasize the importance of linking the theory and practice of public administration to concerns of political economy and public policy.

The program is also delivered to First Nations administrators through a partnership with the First Nations Technical Institute (external link, opens in new window)  (FNTI).

The program provides students with:

• a better understanding of organizations and operations in the public sector
• the attainment of analytic, administrative, communication and management skills necessary for career development in the public sector and in organizations that interact with it
• an awareness of the political forces that shape public administration and policy

Those currently working in or with the public sector will enjoy the immediate benefit of improved understanding of their work environment and greater potential for long-term career development and mobility.

To enhance the flexibility of learning opportunities, the program offers courses in various teaching modes including classes at Toronto Met campus, online, and virtually.

The Public Administration and Governance program consists of three separate, but interrelated levels of study that allow students to set their own educational goals. Students may apply to graduate with a Level 1 Certificate after completing Level 1, with a Level 2 Certificate after completing Level 2, and with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree after completing Level 3.

Each level features a mix of program courses in Canadian politics, policy, and public administration, complemented by elective offerings in areas such as accounting, economics, communication, human resource management, and business technology management. Also included are liberal studies courses to broaden intellectual horizons and create an awareness of the philosophical and ethical premises upon which many public administration activities are based.

LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATE: In order to earn a Level 1 Certificate, students are required to complete successfully eight courses. Core courses introduce students to the basics of public administration and examine the relationship of rights, equity and the state. Two of Canadian, Ontario, Local, or Indigenous politics (core electives) are chosen. Two open electives intended to develop or enhance administrative skills, are chosen from fields such as accounting, communication, economics, human resources management, information technology management, law, nonprofit and voluntary sector management, and occupational and public health. One Lower Level Liberal Studies elective must also be completed successfully.  

LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE: Students can earn a Level 2 Certificate after completing successfully eight additional courses. At this level, a core course introduces the study of public policy, while three core electives provide the opportunity to explore the relationship between government and labour, the ideological basis for administrative institutions and public budgeting. One economics course is required. Students will continue to develop their administrative and communication skills by choosing two open electives and one Lower Level Liberal Studies elective.

Level 3: BA (honours) DEGREE: Students at Level 3 will participate in a sophisticated investigation of specialized areas in public administration, beginning with a required course in Research Methods. Students will then select core electives that explore theories of bureaucracy and organization, administrative law, e-Government, financial planning and management, intergovernmental relations, collaborative governance, program planning and evaluation, current issues, advanced and/or comparative public policy, and public-sector leadership.

Students who pursue the Course Option must complete fourteen core courses, six open electives, and four Liberal Studies courses.

Students who have a minimum of three years of paid, full-time work experience that is appropriate and relevant to the application of knowledge and skills in public administration may apply to pursue the Practicum Option, which requires the successful completion of eleven core courses, two open electives, and four Liberal Studies courses. In addition to the employment requirement, at the time students apply to enrol in PPA 50A/B, they must have a CGPA of at least 2.67 in order to enrol in PPA 50A/B: Practicum.

Students admitted through a First Nations partnership follow the general outline of the Practicum Option, but complete a series of courses specially designed to address an Indigenous context.

Upon successful completion of Level 3, students may apply to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public Administration and Governance.

Students may apply for transfer credit or advanced standing based on previous post-secondary studies. Consult the Department of Politics and Public Administration for details.

Course Identification

Part-time courses are administered by either the program department or The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The mode of delivery is not reflected in this calendar. Continuing education courses are identified in your course enrollment selection process with a 'C' prefix. These identifiers are for internal use only and do not affect the equivalency.

Course Equivalencies:

• Level 1 students must take one lower level liberal studies course in order to graduate.
• Level 2 students must take one lower level liberal studies course in order to graduate.
• Level 3 students must take a total of four liberal studies courses to graduate. At least three must be upper level liberal studies courses.
• Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major. 

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

NOTE: Upon successful completion of Level 1, students may apply for a Level 1 Certificate in Public Administration and Governance.

NOTE: Upon successful completion of Level 2, students may apply for a Level 2 Certificate in Public Administration and Governance (opens in new window) .

Students admitted before Fall 2011 should follow the curriculum as it appeared in the calendar in effect at the time of their admission. Students admitted before Fall 2011 who wish to follow the new curriculum (above) should contact the Department of Politics and Public Administration and complete a plan change form.

Upon successful completion of Level 3, any of the three options, students may apply for a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public Administration and Governance.

First Nations students admitted through the First Nations partnership are, as part of the admission criteria, eligible to complete the Practicum Option.

Students who are accepted into the Practicum Option are exempt from the Required Group 2 requirement in the Course Option, and require only two Open Electives.

Upon successful completion of Level 3, any of the three options, students may apply for a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public Administration and Governance.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Doug Allen
Health Care Researcher
Canadian Union of Public Employees

Dr. Isabella Bakker
Professor; York Research Chair; Trudeau Fellow
 Department of Politics, York University

John Campey
Executive Director
Ralph Thornton Centre

Mary Crescenzi
Senior Executive Director
Employment and Social Development Canada
Government of Ontario

Jennifer Franks
Lead, Indigenous Place-Making
Indigenous Affairs Office
City of Toronto

Martha Greenberg
Deputy Minister, Policy and Delivery (Cabinet Office)
Deputy Minister Champion  - Toronto Metropolitan University
Government of Ontario

Jenny A. Gumbs
Government Relations Specialist
Chair, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada
Director, Tropicana Community Services
Member, Administrative Penalty Tribunal (Toronto)

Adam Hopkins
Vice President Academic
First Nations Technical Institute

Tana Turner
Principal, Turner Consulting Group