Carleton University's School Of Public Policy And Administration
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The School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University (SPPA) is the
public policy school A public policy school or school of public affairs is typically a university program, institution, or professional school of public policy, public administration, political science, international relations, security studies, management, urban pla ...
of
Carleton University Carleton University is an English-language public university, public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to se ...
in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1953, it is Canada's oldest graduate school in the field of policy studies and
public management Public administration, or public policy and administration refers to "the management of public programs", or the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day",Kettl, Donald and James Fessler. 2009. ''The Politics of the ...
. Since its establishment, it has produced several prominent leaders within the Canadian public and non-profit sectors, and has led research activities in this area. The SPPA's administrative offices are located in Richcraft Hall on the Carleton University campus, with 25 faculty members and 236 students. It offers one doctoral program, three Master's programs, and five graduate diplomas. The School boasts a strong national reputation, and is rated as the top public policy school in Canada by Corporate Knights, citing its academic rigour and research related to sustainable development. It is accredited by the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA).


History

Creating an institute for public administration was one of the key visions of the Ottawa Association for the Advancement of Learning, the community group responsible for establishing Carleton University in 1942. By 1945, the Bachelor of Public Administration was introduced, becoming one of the first degree programs offered by Carleton, producing first cohort of graduates in 1946. The Bachelor of Public Administration was offered until the 1951–52 academic year, before being reorganized as a major offered through a Bachelor of Arts degree the following year. Through a $200,000 contribution from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation of Toronto, the School of Public Administration was established in 1953, with the goal of further developing and enhancing research into the field of public administration, but also preparing students for careers in government. At the time, the school offered an Honours B.A. in Public Administration, a Certificate of Public Service Studies, a graduate diploma in Public Administration, and a Master of Arts in Public Administration. In the 1960, the School began to intake students from
Colombo Plan The Colombo Plan is a regional intergovernmental organization that began operations on 1 July 1951. The organization was conceived at an international conference, The Commonwealth Conference on Foreign Affairs held in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri ...
countries, many of whom held mid- and senior-level positions in the civil services of their home countries, providing them with specialized coursework delivered over a few weeks on public management taught by Carleton professors and senior Canadian civil servants. This program continued until the sometime in the early 1970s. Beginning in the early 1980s, the School of Public Administration reintroduced its Bachelor of Public Administration, which would be offered until the 1998–1999 school year, which it turn was replaced by the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management in the new
Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs The Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, colloquially known as Arthur Kroeger College or AKC, is a specialized institute within the Carleton University#Public Affairs, Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. The Co ...
. In 1992, the School began offering a Ph.D. in Public Policy, distinguished for being the first of its kind in Canada. In 2001 the school was renamed the School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA).


Academics


Doctoral-level


Ph.D. in Public Policy

The Ph.D. program in Public Policy is a research-intensive doctorate program that provides students with the concepts and methods to undertake public policy research. Established in 1992, the Ph.D. in Public Policy is the oldest doctorate program in public policy, and admits six to nine students annually. Students are required to complete four core courses, three electives, a comprehensive exam, a research seminar, and a thesis, which can be done within five years of full-time study.


Master's-level


Master of Public Policy and Administration

The
Master of Public Policy and Administration The Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) is a graduate-level professional degree that blends the theoretical and practical aspects of public administration and policy analysis. Tailored for individuals aspiring to contribute to the p ...
(MPPA) is a two-year graduate program focusing on public policy and public administration, preparing students for policy leadership roles in the professional and academic settings. Students can complete the program through a coursework, research essay, or thesis pathway. First offered in 1953, the program is one of the oldest and most renowned of its kind in Canada. The program consists of ten core courses spanning numerous subjects related to public management, including
policy analysis Policy analysis or public policy analysis is a technique used in the public administration sub-field of political science to enable civil servants, nonprofit organizations, and others to examine and evaluate the available options to implement th ...
,
economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...
,
political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
,
organizational theory Organizational theory refers to a series of interrelated concepts that involve the sociological study of the structures and operations of formal social organizations. Organizational theory also seeks to explain how interrelated units of organiza ...
, and ethics, plus four elective courses at the graduate level. The program allows incoming students to receive an Advanced Completion Credit for up to 4 courses for the two quantitative and qualitative methods courses, and select economics and public policy courses where students can demonstrate at least a B+ grade in third or fourth-year undergraduate courses that cover the same subject matter. Students in the MPPA also have the option to complete a
co-op A cooperative (also known as co-operative, coöperative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democr ...
work term after successful completion of six core courses, with placements available at federal government departments and think tanks.


= Specializations

= The MPPA, in addition to its general course offering, allows students to tailor their degree toward specific areas. As of the 2020–21 academic year, these areas include: * Indigenous Policy and Administration * Data Science


Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy

The Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy is offered jointly between the SPPA and the Faculty of Engineering and Design. It combines elements of both engineering and public policy, giving students a broader understanding of policy and regulatory approaches to
sustainable energy Energy system, Energy is sustainability, sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Definitions of sustainable energy usually look at its effects on the e ...
production.


Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL)

The Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is a graduate program that aims to prepare students for management-level positions in
charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...
and
nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
s. Established in 2012, it is one of Canada's leading programs for executive training in the non-profit sector. Coursework covers subject areas such as
organizational theory Organizational theory refers to a series of interrelated concepts that involve the sociological study of the structures and operations of formal social organizations. Organizational theory also seeks to explain how interrelated units of organiza ...
,
philanthropy Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
, and
program evaluation Program evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, policies and programs, particularly about their effectiveness and efficiency. In the public, private, and voluntar ...
, in addition to a capstone project.


Graduate diplomas

The SPPA offers graduate diplomas geared toward mid-career professionals to upgrade their skills and knowledge in different areas relating to public policy and management. Graduate diplomas are delivered at a slower pace compared to Master's and doctorate programs, allowing students to balance both classroom and work obligations. As of the 2020–21 academic year, diploma offerings include: * Policy and Program Evaluation * Public Management * Health Policy * Sustainable Development * Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership


SPPA Research Centres

The Research Centres associated with the School offer specialized research, professional development and host seminars and visitors. * Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci) * Carleton Sustainable Energy Research Centre (CSERC) * Carleton Research Unit in Innovation, Science and Environment (CRUISE) * Centre for Governance and Public Management (CGPM) * Centre for Urban Research and Education (CURE) * Centre for Policy and Program Assessment (CPPA) * Regulatory Governance Initiative (RGI) * Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership The School is also a partner with the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank in the acclaimed International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET). This executive training program brings about 200 professionals from 80 countries to Carleton for up to a month every summer to acquire practical skills for conducting and managing evaluation in a development context.


Publications


Periodicals

* ''How Ottawa Spends'' (published by McGill-Queen's University Press) is a review of government policies and spending that has been produced annually since 1980. *''Innovation, Science and Environment'' (published by McGill-Queen's University Press) is a publication by faculty associated with CRUISE.


Academic journals

* ''ISEMA: Perspectives on Innovation, Science & Environment]'' is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes a selection of the top papers produced by students in the MA program that deal with innovation, science and environment topics. Launched in 2005, it has produced annual issues since. * ''Northern Public Affairs'' is a public policy magazine for Northern Canada; its mandate it to create space for informed policy debate on the topics most relevant to Northerners. Founded in fall 2011, it publishes three issues a year, featuring articles written by, and for, an audience of academics, commentators, current and former politicians, business leaders, public servants, and engaged northerners.Northern Public Affairs
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Notable alumni and faculty

* John G. Abbott (M.A. '80): Former Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services of
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
* Yaprak Baltacioğlu (M.A. '89): Former Secretary of the
Treasury Board The Treasury Board of Canada () is the Cabinet committee of the Privy Council of Canada which oversees the spending and operation of the Government of Canada and is the principal employer of the core public service. The committee is supported ...
and current Chancellor of Carleton University * Steve Desroches (M.A. '00): Former Ottawa City Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ottawa * Barbara Grantham (M.A. '87): CEO of the
Vancouver General Hospital Vancouver General Hospital (locally known as VGH, or Vancouver General) is a medical facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest facility in the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre (VHHSC) group of medical facili ...
and UBC Hospital Foundation * Judy Taguiwalo (M.A. '92):
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development The secretary of social welfare and development (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Kalihim ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad'') is the head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and is a member of the Cabinet of the Philippin ...
,
Government of the Philippines The government of the Philippines () has three interdependent branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Philippines is Central government, governed as a unitary state under a presidential system, presidential representativ ...


See also

*
Public policy school A public policy school or school of public affairs is typically a university program, institution, or professional school of public policy, public administration, political science, international relations, security studies, management, urban pla ...
*
Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs The Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, colloquially known as Arthur Kroeger College or AKC, is a specialized institute within the Carleton University#Public Affairs, Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. The Co ...
*
Norman Paterson School of International Affairs The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA ( )) is a professional school of international affairs at Carleton University that was founded in 1965. The school is based at Richcraft Hall on Carleton's campus in Ottawa, Ontario, C ...
*
University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) (or ''l'École supérieure d'affaires publiques et internationales de l'Université d'Ottawa (ESAPI)'') is a professional public and international policy schoo ...


References


External links


Carleton University School of Public Policy and Administration
{{coord missing, Ontario
School of Public Policy and Administration A public policy school or school of public affairs is typically a university program, institution, or professional school of public policy, public administration, political science, international relations, security studies, management, urban pla ...
Public policy schools in Canada Public policy schools Public administration schools 1953 establishments in Ontario Universities and colleges established in 1953