Graduate Diploma in Public Administration

The Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (GDPA) is a one-year program designed for public servants and others who have completed an undergraduate degree at a standing satisfactory for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It combines the essential components of financial, economic and policy analysis with organization and management theory; courses in quantitative methods are also required.

The program is ideal for someone with experience in the public sector who wishes to better understand the principles and concepts of the profession and learn some key specific skills.

Required Courses

  • PUAD 5100.03 F (Government Structure and Organization)
  • PUAD 5120.03 F (Introduction to Public Policy)
  • PUAD 5130.03 F (Applied Economics I) or PUAD 5131.03 W (Applied Economics II)
  • PUAD 5140.03 F (Quantitative Methods I) or PUAD 5180.03 W (Research Methods and Analysis)
  • PUAD 5170.03 W (Human Resource Management)
  • PUAD 5250.03 W (Strategic Financial Management)
  • and three additional graduate level three credit hours elective course from the PUAD series

Note:  Electives can include PUAD5130, PUAD 5131, PUAD5140, and PUAD5180 or any of the PUAD6XXX currently offered through the MPA program (PUAD6050, 6235, 6300, 6400, 6420, 6450, 6500, 6505, 6520, 6525, 6537, 6540, 6555, 6556, 6560, 6570, 6625, 6630, 6750, 6780, 6800, 6855, 6900)   One of the electives can be a non-PUAD graduate level course

"F" courses are given in the fall term and "W" courses in the winter term.

A student who is able to demonstrate competence in the subject matter of a required course may, with the permission of the Program Manager, choose an elective.

Transferring to the MPA program
You have the option of transferring to the two-year MPA program during your studies.