Program overview

Master of Public Service

Sharpen your leadership and administrative expertise through comprehensive coursework, research, and hands-on experience.

Our Master of Public Service program cultivates students' abilities in public policy, governance, and administration through rigorous instruction and co-operative education opportunities. With the integration of up to 8 months of paid work experience during the program, students are well-prepared to navigate the multifaceted landscape of public service.

Graduates of our Master of Public Service have gone on to achieve influential roles in various levels of government across Canada, contributing to the development and implementation of policies that shape our nation.

Master’s graduate finds her passion in social policy and government

While her high school education in Hong Kong nurtured her strengths in sciences, Gigi Chan explored her interest in social and political issues as an undergraduate student in Canada where she discovered that public policy could merge her aptitude for evidence-based analysis and passion for social impact.

"Before starting the MPS program, public policy seemed far from reach for me. And that was what I really meant to gain through the program, to feel comfortable to enter this world as a professional.”

Read Gigi's story →

Program structure

The Master of Public Service program offers two study options: co-op and regular. The co-op stream is completed over 5 terms, and the regular stream is completed over 3 terms (1 year). Both options are only offered on a full-time basis.

Study option Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Term 5
MPS co-op
  • PS 611 - Government, Politics and the Public Service
  • PS 614 - Communicating with Diverse Audiences
  • PS 621 - Project Management in Government
  • PS 624 - Research Methods and Data Analysis 
  • PS 625 - Economics and Public Policy I
  • PS 613 - The Politics of Difference in Canada: Challenges and Policy Responses
  • PS 618 - Public Policy Development
  • PS 620 - Effective Leadership and Management
  • PS 623 - Government, Business, and Civil Society
  • PS 626 - Economics and Public Policy II
  • PS 616 - Spoken French in Context*
 Co-op Co-op Major team project
MPS regular
  • PS 611 - Government, Politics and the Public Service
  • PS 614 - Communicating with Diverse Audiences
  • PS 621 - Project Management in Government
  • PS 624 - Research Methods and Data Analysis 
  • PS 625 - Economics and Public Policy 
  • PS 613 - The Politics of Difference in Canada: Challenges and Policy Responses
  • PS 618 - Public Policy Development
  • PS 620 - Effective Leadership and Management
  • PS 623 - Government, Business, and Civil Society
  • PS 626 - Economics and Public Policy II
  • PS 616 - Spoken French in Context*
 Major team project    

*Optional course

Contact Us

Want to know more about the MPS program? We would be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Current Students

MPS Program Assistant

Juhee Lee
jh234lee@uwaterloo.ca

Future Students

MPS Program Officer

Sheila McConnell
sheila.mcconnell@uwaterloo.ca