
Public Administration
Programs
Honours in Public Administration
Course Sequence | CO-OP | French Immersion
Joint Honours in Public Administration and Political Science

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Description
The study of public administration seeks to advance our understanding of how governments work and of their role in contemporary societies. The program examines public management principles from various perspectives (administration, financial management, human resources, ethics, administrative reforms, governance, etc.) and the processes involved in designing public policies (policy cycle, roles of various stakeholders, ideologies, contextual factors, etc.).
The program offers a high-quality education to students seeking a career in the public or para-public sectors, as well as those wanting to work in the private or community sectors, or in government relations.
General admission requirements
Province | Prerequisites | Admission averages |
---|---|---|
Ontario | English or Français 4U | ± 75 % |
Quebec – CEGEP | English (603) or Français (601) | ± 65 % |
Quebec – Secondary V | English or Français | 84 % |
Program highlights
- A solid education in public policy and public management.
- A flexible program that students can choose to customize: focus specifically on public administration or choose to complement it with other related disciplines (political science, economics, history, etc.).
- A distinct geographical advantage: our students get to study next door to the federal public service, which is not only an employer, but also a university partner and the subject of much university research.
- The program is offered in a bilingual environment where students can choose to study in one or both languages. This is a great opportunity for those wishing to enhance their
bilingualism, an essential requirement to advance in today's federal public service.
Career opportunities
- Public administration manager
- Manager in community organizations
- Public policy analyst
- Consultant in business-government relations
- Public relations officer
Course examples
- PAP 3325 Gender and Public Policy
- PAP 3340 Human Resources in Public Organizations
- PAP 4315 Public Policy Analysis
- PAP 4355 Ethics and Public Affairs
International opportunities
This program provides students with international opportunities as of their third year of study.

Testimonials
“Public administrators can make decisions that will help transform cities and make them more functional and pleasant places. This ability to make a difference in a community is one of the many reasons I enrolled in this program.”
Éveline Bruck, student

“Our professors are interested in a wide range of subjects, including policies on families and energy use, public finances, cultural policies, administrative reforms and human resources management. Much of our research is concerned with Canada, but we’re also interested in international administration and policies. Our program is growing and offers many opportunities for both students and graduates.”
Jonathan Paquette, professor