Public Administration & Services in Canada

The MSW Indigenous Specialization (MSWI) is designed for practitioners working for and with Indigenous organizations. We recognize that these practitioners work in a fundamentally different historical, cultural and administrative environment to those working in non-Indigenous settings.

Our MSWI program will prompt you to develop your knowledge and skills within this context. You can choose to write a thesis or complete an Advanced Practicum placement (450 hours) and Capstone course.

The MSWI program is offered every other year on even numbered years. It is available to applicants who currently hold a BSW degree from an accredited Canadian (CASWE) or international (IASSW) school of social work.

All students entering the MPA Program complete a program of 36 credits.  Students will complete 8 core courses (24 credits, all 3 credits) and 12 credits as options for a total of 36 credits. The MPA is course-based program so there is no thesis option or comprehensive examination. No advance standing will be accepted (i.e. transfer credits). The co-operative education program (Co-op Program) will be mandatory for all students, with approved waivers for those who meet eligibility criteria.

The MSW at UBC can be achieved within one of three fields of practice: Health and social care; Family and Children's Services; Social and International Development. Organized around an ethic of social care and social justice, each stream of practice shares some core courses and electives germane to the student's field of practice. Related practicum experiences build on knowledge and skills cultivated in the classroom. Typically, students complete a practicum in the field of practice addressed in their area of concentration.

Pursue your passion for community change and personal empowerment with a degree in social work.

Study the holistic, interdisciplinary, activist nature of social work, and its commitment to justice and community service. Prepare for a rewarding career supporting vulnerable members of our society.

The MA in Public Policy and Public Administration gives you the training needed to succeed in public sector organizations, including the public service and non-governmental organizations. You will apply your research to issues of democratic governance, analyzing complex political situations in order to provide expert strategic advice. Coursework and events organized through the Workshops of Social Science Research provide occasions to connect with political leaders and pundits, senior-level bureaucrats and academics. Students enrolled in the internship option benefit from a four-month job placement in the public or private sector during the final semester of their studies. The majority of our graduates secure paid internships with government agencies in Ottawa and Montreal, with some finding opportunities further afield in major centres such as Geneva and Washington. Around 95 per cent of our internship students accept full- or part-time positions immediately following their placement.

Launched in 2005, this program offers students the unparalleled advantage of engaging with public, non-profit and private sector organizations in Canada’s largest metropolis. Our downtown Toronto location is a significant asset in supporting student research, networking and elective placement/internship opportunities. In 2007-08, the program received the highest possible evaluation from an Ontario Council of Graduate Schools (OCGS) review, and in 2008 was the first program in Canada to earn accreditation from the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA). The program is offered in full- and part-time options.