MPA thesis-based (co-op/on campus)

Instructors will engage you in concepts directly related to the courses you will take in the program. Your cohort will develop skills for sizing up and addressing complex challenges.

In the first fall semester, you'll enrol in three core courses, one elective and the co-op preparation seminar. These courses are dedicated to fostering skills in collaboration, engagement, analysis, research design and policy interventions.

ADMN 589, the co-op seminar, will support you in identifying suitable co-op opportunities, developing professional application packages, preparing for interviews and developing strategies for making the most of your co-op placements during the spring semester.

As you return in the summer from your co-op experience, you will enrol in three core courses, your second elective and start planning for your thesis research. You will have opportunities to reflect on your co-op experiences, learning about the evolving nature of public governance work from multiple vantage points. This will allow you to reflect on your learning from the first term complemented by your co-op workplace experience. You will also be preparing for a second co-op placement to come in the second fall semester.

With the learning from two cycles of applied courses, integrated cases and co-op placements, you will be well prepared to identify a research project to undertake your thesis. Here you may opt to work with a client.

You will apply critical skills in sizing-up and parsing out problems, undertaking reviews of literature and best practices, carrying out empirical work, and developing findings and strategic recommendations. You will learn how to prepare a substantial professional report and communicate the findings in different ways.

Thesis option students must complete a total of 18 units:

• Six core courses (1.5 units each):
  
  • ADMN 504, 509 , 512, 557, 589; PADR 504, 505
    
    
• Two elective courses (1.5 units each) from
  
  • approved electives list (Not all electives are available each term but rather on a rotating basis each year.)
    or
  • courses from other School of Public Administration offerings; MADR (DR,PADR) or MACD (CD) courses (first preference is given to students in those programs)
    or
  • from other academic programs: with permission of the instructor of those courses and the school's graduate adviser.

• Two co-op terms (3.0 units each)
  
  
• Thesis (6.0 units)
  
  • ADMN 599

See the recommended sequence of courses in the program overview. Core courses are offered only in the terms noted. A selection of electives are offered each term.

Program length

It is possible to complete this program in two years (six terms, including two co-operative work terms). Some students may need more time to complete their thesis.

You must successfully complete two co-op work terms before completing the program. You may do a third optional co-op experience with approval from the graduate adviser and co-op coordinator.

You'll prepare for your co-op work terms in ADMN 589 during the fall term.

Examples of MPA co-op work experiences:

• Auditor General of Canada, Student Programs, Ottawa
• BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, Post-Secondary Policy and Programs, Victoria
• BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Governance and Structure Branch, Victoria
• BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Southern Interior Regional Office, Kamloops
• BC Office of the Ombudsperson, Victoria
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Treaties and Aboriginal Government, Negotiations West, Vancouver
• Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Service Policy and Strategy Directorate, Gatineau
• Environment and Climate Change Canada, Sustainable Development Policy Division, Gatineau
• Global Affairs Canada, Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch, Brussels
• Health Canada, Regulatory, Operations and Enforcement Branch, Ottawa
• Ontario Public Service, Ministry of Education, Toronto
• Ucluelet First Nations, Department of Lands and Resources, Ucluelet
• Village of Tahsis, Village of Tahsis Municipal Office, Tahsis

Learn more about our co-op program. 

Get the details on tuition and costs on the Graduate Studies site.

The MPA program is a minimum of five full fee installments. If you complete the program early you must pay any outstanding fee installments. You will incur more fees if you go beyond the five fee installments. 

The estimates below are approximate as tuition and fees are re-evaluated every year and typically go up by 1-2% in May. This estimate doesn’t include any tuition increases, textbooks or GSS fees.

• Some courses have all open access reading materials and others require textbooks. We recommend budgeting about $150-$200 CDN per term.
• Graduate Student Society fees (GSS) are about $100.00 per term. There is also a health and dental plan that students can opt out of should they already have coverage.

For domestic students, tuition for this program is approximately $12,500.00.

For international students, tuition for this program is approximately $15,500.00 CDN. There may be additional fees for international students. Contact the International Centre for Students for more information.

You may choose to complete the Graduate Certificate in Evaluation (GCE) at the same time as your MPA program.

Courses for the GCE are credited as electives for the degree program and core credit for the certificate program. There is a a one-time certificate fee in addition to regular MPA online tuition, as well as tuition for additional terms of study required to complete both programs.

Program overview

The current one-time graduate certificate fee for concurrent students is:

• $847.78 (domestic students)
• $1,071.98 (international students)
  Please note: Tuition fees are updated annually

Taking the concurrent MPA and Graduate Certificate in Evaluation programs may extend the time of degree completion which may result in additional fees per term to complete all requirements. Before applying, or if you have questions regarding the concurrent program, please contact paservice@uvic.ca.

We've partnered with the Faculty of Law to offer the JD+MPA thesis option (on-campus) for students wishing to pursue a double degree.

You must apply separately to each program. If you're accepted into both the Faculty of Law JD and the School of Public Administration MPA thesis option (on campus), you may earn both degrees concurrently. 

The first year of the double degree program is devoted entirely to the first-year law curriculum. The second year you'll complete required core public administration courses in the fall and summer terms, and co-op requirements. In consultation with the graduate adviser, these courses can be completed in combination with law courses, if scheduling permits.

MPA courses take priority in the second year. The remaining two years entail the completion of all other law and public administration course requirements. You may reduce the time in the program by enrolling in some MPA courses during the third summer term.

Program overview

For information about the Faculty of Graduate Studies; rules governing the JD+MPA double degree program, see registration in double degree programs. Further information on the program may also be obtained from the Faculty of Law website or contacting paservice@uvic.ca.

Students enrolled in the JD+MPA double degree program must submit two formal applications for graduation when registering in their final summer or winter session. Both graduation applications should be submitted through Student Services - Online Tools.

Both degrees must be conferred at the same Senate meeting and be awarded at the same convocation.