Course Curriculum

The Queen’s MPA program requires students to complete 12 courses (3.0 credits), typically taking five courses in each of the fall and winter terms and two in the summer, with the option to complete a Master’s Research Project in place of two electives. The curriculum includes seven core courses across four main groups. The Political and Institutional Analysis group includes MPA 800 Governing Institutions (Fall) and MPA 802 Applied Policy Analysis (Winter). Economic and Quantitative Analysis covers MPA 804 Principles of Economics and MPA 805 Quantitative Analysis (both Fall), along with at least one advanced course such as MPA 815 Economic Analysis, MPA 816 Quantitative Program Evaluation, MPA 840 Economics of Social Policy, MPA 844 Canadian Economic Policy, MPA 849 Behavioural Public Finance, or MPA 876 Instruments of Public Finance. The Management group requires MPA 809 Implementing Public Policy (Fall), and the Policy Process group includes MPA 810 Introduction to Public Administration, which integrates policy analysis and implementation across the academic year. Students also take at least six electives, typically four in winter and two in spring/summer, drawn from offerings by the School of Policy Studies or other departments, subject to approval. Electives include courses such as Intergovernmental Policy, Ethics in the Public Service, Health and Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Immigration Policy, Indigenous Governance, internships, professional placements, and the Master’s Research Project, providing flexibility for specialized policy study and applied experience.