- What are the admission requirements for the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) Sustainable Energy and the Environment?
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), with an average of B+ or higher. The level of academic performance and potential demonstrated within the degree is more important than the discipline; students may enter the program from a wide variety of academic backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, natural/life sciences and engineering. Mid-career applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree, but who have demonstrated professional excellence over a number of years of work in the public and/or private sector will also be considered.
All applicants must have completed:
- 0 credit in university-level micro- and macroeconomic theory ( ECON 1000 [1.0] or the equivalent)
- 5 credit in PSCI at the 2000-level or higher, dealing with institutions and processes by which governments legitimize and exercise power, ideally in a Canadian setting (PSCI 2003 or equivalent).
- A working knowledge of algebra is also expected.
In some cases, applicants may be admitted to the program despite not having completed one of these prerequisite courses in economics or political science, on the condition that the course be completed with a grade of B- or higher in the first year of the program. It is strongly recommended that students complete the prerequisites before starting the program, to ensure that their progress through the core courses is unimpeded.
- What are the intake terms for the MPP-SEE?
Intake for incoming students is each Fall. The application deadline is February 1st and applications will be considered (depending on space and budget availability) up until July 15th.
- I have no background in economics or political science. What prerequisites do I need for the M.P.P. Sustainable Energy and the Environment?
Students enter the MPP-SER from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. All, however, are required to complete prerequisite university courses in economics and political science, and obtain a grade of B- or better in those courses.
The economics prerequisite
The economics prerequisite consists of either a two-semester course or two one-semester courses covering introductory microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. At Carleton University, this material is covered by the two-semester course ECON 1001 and 1002 – Introduction to Economics. At the University of Ottawa, ECON 1102 and ECON 1104 satisfy the pre-requisite. At Athabasca University, the online courses ECON 247 plus ECON 248 would work.
In order to determine whether a first-year economics course would meet our requirements, ask: would this course count as a prerequisite for second-year economics at the institution concerned? If the answer is yes, it will probably count as a prerequisite for us; if the answer is no, it will not count.
The political science prerequisite
The political science prerequisite consists of a course at the second-year level or higher that deals with Canadian political institutions. At Carleton University, this material is covered by PSCI 2003 Canadian Political Institutions. At Athabasca University, the online course POLI 309 covers this material. Courses in political theory, international relations, or comparative politics will not substitute for a Canadian politics course.
For any of the prerequisites, please be prepared to provide the course syllabus you are suggesting could meet these requirements.
On occasion, students are admitted to the MPP-SEE without having first completed the prerequisites before beginning the program. Their admission, however, would be conditional on completing the prerequisites during the first academic year. This scenario is not ideal: the ability of these students to advance through the MPP-SEE curriculum is often hampered by their need to take the prerequisites during the first year of their two-year degree.
Hence, applicants without the prerequisites in economics or political science are strongly urged to complete them before starting the program (such as by taking summer courses), and to state clearly in their application cover letter how they plan to do this.
- What do I need to do to change from part-time to full-time or vice versa?
A change of status from full-time to part-time will normally only be granted for medical reasons or while on co-op. To apply for a change of status, complete the Academic Change Request form and submit it to the School’s Graduate Administrator. The decision of whether or not to approve a change of status is made by the Graduate Studies Registrar’s Office.
Part-time students may take up to two half-credit courses in a term and are not eligible to receive University funding. Students with University funding who request a change from full-time to part-time status forfeit their funding. The only exception is students who do so to complete a co-operative work term who may defer their funding to another term.
- What should I do if temporary circumstances prevent me from studying for a term?
If you are unable to study for a term, you may apply for a leave of absence. To do so, please complete the Academic Change Request form and submit it to the School’s Graduate Administrator. The decision of whether or not to approve a leave of absence is made by the Graduate Studies Registrar’s Office, on the advice of the School’s MPP-SEE Supervisor.
Terms for which a leave of absence has been granted do not count toward the time limit for completing the degree (see the FAQ #10 on time limits). Full-time students receiving university funding normally forfeit the funding assigned to the terms in which they have been granted a leave of absence, unless the underlying reasons are medical ones.
- What does the Co-operative Education Program involve?
Co-operative Education
For more information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works please visit the Co-op website. All students participating in the Co-op program are governed by the Graduate Co-operative Education Policy.
Graduate Co-operative Education Policy
Admission and Participation Requirements
For co-op admission and participation requirements please visit: http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/administrationoftheregulations/#14.
A co-op option is available to full-time students in the MPP program. Students admitted to this option must satisfactorily complete at least two work terms in order to graduate with a co-op designation on their transcripts and diplomas. These work terms are four months in duration and locate students in government departments or other organizations in order to work at a junior officer level. They provide students with opportunities to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of public administration. During a work term, students will register in PADM 5913. While on a work term, students are limited to an additional 0.5 credit course. It should be noted that most co-op positions in the federal public service are restricted to Canadian citizens.
- Must I finish my MPP-SEE degree within a certain time limit?
Full-time students have six academic terms (two academic years) in which to complete the MPP-SEE degree. Part-time students have 18 terms (six academic years) in which to complete the degree. These terms include those for which a student does not register in courses. They exclude those for which a student is enrolled in a co-op work term, or for which a student has been granted a leave of absence (see the FAQ above on co-operative work terms and leaves of absence).
- Do I need to maintain a minimum grade-level to remain in the MPP-SEE?
A grade of B- or better must normally be obtained in each course used toward the MPP-SEE. MPP-SEE students may, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, be allowed to use grades of C+ in up to 1.0 credit of courses. To be in good standing, students in the MPP-SEE program need to maintain a grade point average of at least 7.0 (B- under Carleton’s 12-point scale), as calculated on their most recent courses. For full-time students, the GPA is calculated on the courses from the last two academic terms in which they were registered. For part-time students, the GPA is calculated on the last 2.0 credits (four single-semester courses).
- What are the required documents I need to submit online along with my application?
- Transcript(s): all post-secondary transcripts are required
- Letters of Reference (2 required): Please select two referees who can comment on your preparation and potential for graduate study in public policy and administration and sustainable energy and the environment. Ideally, both will be university faculty members who have taught you in upper-year courses, or who have supervised your academic work. If you have been away from university studies for some time, you may select non-academic referees who have supervised your professional work.
- Statement of Intent (1 required): that is no more than 1 page, single-spaced. In it, please briefly outline: your academic and/or professional experience; your personal and professional goals; and how the MPP-SEE will build on that experience in order to help you reach those goals.
- CV/Résumé (1 required): that includes information about your education, professional experience, voluntary activities, and noteworthy achievements.
- Writing Sample (1 required): of which you are the sole author; of 8-20 pages, double-spaced (e.g., a paper you wrote for a course).
- What are the English Language Requirements?
All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:
- Present an official transcript to indicate that they have completed a degree within the past three years in a university in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom or any other country in which the primary language is English, and where the language of instruction in the relevant educational institution was exclusively English; or
- Provide official documentation of a satisfactory English proficiency test score. Minimum scores for this program are: CAEL: 70; TOEFL (paper-based test): 600; TOEFL (internet-based test): 100, with a minimum score of 25 on each component; IELTS: 7, with a minimum of 6.0 in each band score.