MPA Online changes: notice to MPA Online students admitted by Fall

MPA Online changes: notice to MPA Online students admitted by Fall 2018  

As a result of program review in 2018, the School proposed changes that will update the MPA Online program. These changes underwent scrutiny by all of the necessary University committees, and in mid-January received approval to come into effect May 1, 2019.

The changes fall into two broad categories: courses and final report (Master’s Project or Master’s Thesis). The changes are briefly discussed below:

• Courses: the courses required for the MPA Online have not changed, but the sequence of the courses changes minimally - ADMN 531, Performance and Strategic Human Resource Management, moves to the spring term of the second year (term 5), and an elective moves to the fall term of the second year (term 4).
• Final Report (project or thesis): students admitted to the MPA Online program may complete a final report (Master’s Project ADMN 598, or Master’s Thesis ADMN 599), but are not required to do either.

Effects of the changes to students admitted to the MPA Online prior to and including Fall 2018 (September 2018 entry)

The effects for students currently in the MPA Online program will vary, depending upon the program phase:

• for MPA Online students who are taking courses, including students admitted in Fall 2018: there may be a change to the sequence of courses, but there is no change to the courses required for the program. When you have completed your course work, you will have the option of completing a final report (project or thesis), but you will not be required to complete either. You do not need to decide or declare your intention at this time.
• for students who are working only on the final report (Master’s Project or Master’s Thesis): you have the option of completing your report. Please refer to the letter that was sent to active MPA Online students (available here). If you are currently registered for the report and plan to complete this work, please continue. If you are currently registered for the report and elect to be governed by the new program, please contact Judy Selina (jselina@uvic.ca), as she will assist you with the next steps in the process. Please note that if you elect to be governed by the new program, the earliest you should apply to graduate is May 1, 2019, and the earliest you may be able to convocate is in November 2019.
• for students who are working both on courses and currently registered for the final report (project or thesis): If you plan to complete the final report, please continue. If you elect to be governed by the new program requirements, please contact Judy Selina (jselina@uvic.ca), as she will assist you with the next steps in the process.

Effects of the changes in the MPA On Campus program

Students admitted to the MPA On Campus program will not be affected by the changes to the MPA Online program.