We have asked a couple of our recent grads to tell us about their PAPM experience before they go off to bigger and better things. Madeleine Lawler is graduating in June 2020 with a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management with a Specialization in Public Policy and Administration and Concentrating in Social Policy.
“One of the most valuable and enjoyable parts of my PAPM experience was the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Unlike other majors, with PAPM, you take a variety of courses from different disciplines. During my PAPM degree, I took classes in economics, political science, law, public administration, history, and even social work and geography. I enjoyed this diversity because it enabled me to look at issues that I cared about through a variety of perspectives. The diversity of classes had another benefit as well – while there are some classes I took with only other PAPM students, the interdisciplinary approach made me interact with peers from multiple majors. Looking back, the variety of classes gave me a well-rounded academic background that I am extremely thankful for.
Another valuable part of the PAPM experience was the location in Ottawa. I decided to come to Carleton in PAPM because of the opportunities available – I figured if I was to study public policy, it was best to do it in the nation’s capital. My experience with PAPM and Ottawa lived up to these expectations: during my degree, I had the chance to intern with a Member of Parliament and to work for various parts of the federal civil service (including the Canada Revenue Agency and the Library of Parliament). I made the choice to study PAPM because I thought the program would give me the skills and knowledge in public policy to make change in the community I came from. Upon graduating, I can say that PAPM exceeded my expectations in this regard.
After graduation, I will be attending law school at l’Université de Montréal.”
-Madeleine Lawler, May 2020