Professional & undergraduate FAQ

On-campus undergraduate programs:

• Minor in Public Administration
• Minor in Indigenous Community Development & Governance

Online professional programs:

• Diploma in Local Government Management
• Diploma in Public Sector Management
• Diploma in Indigenous Community Development and Governance
• Certificate in Local Government Management
• Certificate in Public Policy and Governance
• Certificate in Public Sector Management
• Certificate in Voluntary and Non-profit Sector Management
• Certificate in Indigenous Community Development and Governance

The undergraduate professional certificate and diploma programs can be done part-time.

Applicants to the professional specialization certificates require work experience and a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants to the diploma programs require work experience and should have the equivalent of two years of post-secondary education.

For diploma and professional specialization certificate programs, you are normally admissible if you meet the academic and work experience requirements. 

All School of Public Administration courses are 1.5 units. Part-time students pay fees per term, per credit unit. Get tuition information.

You should plan to spend 10-15 hours per week on each course. This is a sizeable time commitment and you'll need good time management skills to assure success.

As most people study these programs part-time, they are not eligible for scholarships. However, if you work in local government you should check with the Board of Examiners for scholarships or seek reimbursement for tuition from your employer.

We use Brightspace to deliver our online courses. Using Brightspace, you will:

• review your course notes
• join discussion forums
• submit your assignments
• keep track of your grades
• link to online readings

For some courses, you will meet fellow students online for a seminar or discussion. Other course materials can include text notes, Powerpoint presentations, streaming audio, video or audio podcasts and online debate tools.

All methods of communication are possible within Brightspace: email, text messaging or phone.

You can ask questions as part of the weekly online dialogue that shapes most online courses. If you would like to discuss an issue privately, you can email or phone the instructor.

Typically, there are no exams in our online programs. Grades are mostly based on written assignments and online participation.

It depends on the subject matter, course material and your habits and preferences. Some courses might require 8-10 hours per week, while others may require 10-15 hours per week.

In most instances, courses are delivered asynchronously, meaning that you can do the work anytime you want as long as you meet submission deadlines.

There are a few courses that may require online meetings (e.g., to present group projects). These are scheduled well in advance and at a time that will be reasonable for most students.