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Prospective students

The MPA (M) program emphasizes the theory, analysis and practice of public sector management. Dalhousie’s professors, in consultation with other experts in public administration from across the country, authored the MPA (M) courses to address the specific concerns and realities of today’s public sector leaders. A management team from the School of Public Administration ensures the courses are integrated, yet individually focused, and that the curriculum encompasses a firm and full academic foundation for public management practice.

The program embraces diversity management issues in a modern work environment and emphasizes people, relationships, organization and policy.  All courses address transparency, ethics, accountability, integrity, leadership and change.

Educational methods use web-facilitated instruction, problem-based assignments and interactive sessions. The varied layers and means of learning allow candidates to develop skills and analytic ability as well as to grapple with current issues and priorities. For problem-based assignments, students are encouraged to use actual workplace issues/problems.

Each course ends with a 2.5-day intensive session. Students gather with their professor(s) – typically in Ottawa or Halifax – to review and build upon the distance curriculum.  The intensives provide each student with the opportunity to receive individual attention from the professor (s) and to share invaluable perspectives and experiences with fellow public sector professionals.

Course Descriptions

Course Title	Course Description
Government Structure and Organization	This class focuses on the Canadian  system of government and addresses basic organizational theory and design as well as fundamental issues of public management.
Management of People	This class explores how managers can deal effectively with human problems in their organizations. Topics include motivation, leadership, communications perception and group dynamics.
Managing the Information Resource	This course examines the complex technological changes public administrators grapple with. It provides broad-based information about the technological advances underway in Canada and fosters understanding of the opportunities and problems these changes present.
Policy Formulation and Analysis	This course covers the techniques, theory and contextual underpinnings central to effective policy management. The course explores strategic approaches to policy design and the role of the policy analyst in modern government.
Intergovernmental Relations	This class focuses on a wide array of policy areas and uses case studies to demonstrate how intergovernmental issues – such as fiscal federalism and coordination of service delivery – are successfully resolved.
Research Methods	This class provides a practical setting for understanding the purchase, management and evaluation of research products. Applied research methods, research services and best practices are discussed in depth.
Managerial Economics	This class elucidates basic microeconomic theories and principles and applies these to economic decisionmaking. The course increases understanding of the relationship between economic theory and economic policy.
Human Resource Management	This class explores the evolving practices and challenges faced by organizations seeking to excel in human resources – an essential determinant of organizational success.
Financial and Managerial Accounting	This class reviews each of the forms of accounting and financial data that public sector managers will be faced with now – and in the future. The essential concepts of financial and managerial accounting are comprehensively reviewed.
Public Economics	Introduces the basic principles of public finance and macroeconomics. The role of risk analysis in public sector decision-making is also explored. The class places a special emphasis on the role of government in the economy and on the application of economic theory in public policy analysis within the framework of the Canadian federation.
Program Evaluation	This class examines the theory, methods and issues of this growing field. The course emphasizes the skills necessary to assess feasibility of a program evaluation and to design it. Topics also include underlying values, alternative approaches, and implementation and utilization.
Business and Government	This class presents the relationship between government and business in North America. It offers a practical approach to understanding the differences in how government and business operate, highlighting the techniques used by each side to influence the other.
Modern Comptrollership	This class focuses on the public policy and management issues of governance. It emphasizes development of the skills necessary to assess financial management approaches, develop business plans and implement performance measurement.
Strategic Management in the Public-Sector	This class explores the concepts, potential and dynamics of strategic management in modern public administration. A wide variety of management instruments and techniques are analyzed.