Pursue Undergraduate Program in
Public Administration
Advance the public good and enjoy a rewarding career.
The best public management leaders have excellent critical thinking and a solid base of diverse knowledge. In this honours-only program, we will help you develop these skills–with an emphasis on social justice, ethics and good governance–so you can excel in today’s dynamic multicultural work environment.
Taught by faculty with many years of experience in active public service, our program gives you a head start with plenty of hands-on opportunities. In this close-knit program, you’ll enjoy peer and alumni support, in addition to networking opportunities. Students interested in questions of governance, administration, public ethics and the law will find a sense of community.
Focus your studies further by specializing in one of three streams:
- Law, Justice and Public Policy
- Management
- Policy Analysis
You’ll graduate with career options spanning all levels of government, public institutions non-profit organizations as well as the private sector. Our graduates have found work as policy analysts, program managers, legal compliance officers, consultants, government relations managers and more.
What you’ll learn
- Gain strong research and policy making skills and understand the theory and practice of government.
- Examine current and emerging debates regarding public institutions, law, human rights and questions of equity.
- Get expertise in policy analysis, program evaluation and other public service functions, such as project management, human resources, budgeting and finance.
Hands-on experiences
- Take on a junior consultancy or practicum position with a partner organization in the public sector and create solutions for real-world challenges.
- Work on in-class simulations and exercises drawn from actual scenarios at all three levels of Canadian government.
- Paid internship and co-op opportunities are available to qualified students.
Questions?
Contact us at goyork@yorku.ca
Program Details
Offered By
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Degrees Offered
BPA
Fall Entry
Yes (first and upper year)
Winter Entry
Yes (first and upper year)
Summer Entry
Yes (first and upper year)
Ways to Study
Full-Time, Part-Time
Sample Schedule (First-year)
- Introduction to Public Administration: Bureaucracy and Western Liberal Capitalist Democracy
- Canadian Government
- Introduction to Business
- Professional Skills and Communication
- Introduction to Microeconomics
- Introduction to Macroeconomics
- General Education courses in Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science
Possible Career Paths
- Public servant (local, regional, provincial, national and international)
- Public sector manager
- Policy analyst
- Registered lobbyist
- Government relations officer
- Community organizer
- Public sector advocate
- Non-profit manager
Viewbooks
Undergraduate
View Viewbook (PDF)
Transfer & Mature
View Viewbook (PDF)
Indigenous
View Viewbook (PDF)
International
View Viewbook (PDF)
Admission Requirements
I am a high-school student I have completed at least one year of full-time study at college or university I have been away from high-school for at least two years I have never studied in a formal academic high-school environment Returning / Reactivating student (previously York) Visiting StudentsLiberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Baccalauréat Français
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- A maximum of 30 possible transferable credits may be granted for successful completion of the Baccalauréat Général. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
Bachillerato
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- Minimum overall result of “Bien/Buena/Bueno/Good” on all academic courses.
- Some programs require a higher GPA.
CAPE
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- A minimum overall average of 3 out of 7 is required. Higher grades required for certain programs.
- CAPE 2-unit courses, with results of 3 or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- Extra courses will be assessed for transfer credit. Applicants with the DEC may be awarded up to one full year of transfer credit.
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Chinese High School
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
Turkish High School
- Some programs require higher. Please review the requirements for your program below.
- Prerequisite courses should not be below a grade of 4.0 or 70%.
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
GCE
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- GCE A2 examinations with results of "C" or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
To gain admission to this program, minimum average of C is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of C.
The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
Hong Kong
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
International Baccalaureate
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- IB Diploma with passes in six subjects: three passes at the Standard-level and three passes at the Higher-level, or two passes at the Standard-level and four passes at the Higher-level
- Analysis and Approaches higher-level
- Analysis and Approaches standard-level
- Applications and Interpretations higher-level
- Applications and Interpretations standard-level
- Transfer credit is granted for IB courses with Higher-level final grades of 5 or better, to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
To gain admission to this program, minimum IB diploma point scores of 28 is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum IB diploma point scores of 28.
The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
Indian High School
- Some programs require a higher average. Please review the requirements for your program below.
- Prerequisite courses should not be below a grade of 55%.
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- All-India Senior School Certificate (AISSCE)
- Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
- Indian School Certificate (ISC)
- Intermediate Examination Certificate
- Pre-University Examination Certificate
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
OUAC code YPG
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
To be considered a mature student, you must:
be at least 20 years old by the end of the calendar year of admission to the University;
have been out of full-time high school studies for at least two years; and
have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited college or university.
Requirements for admission:
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
Tawjihyah
Minimum Requirements
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
United States High School
- Grade 12 graduation with a minimum overall average of "B" on Grade 11 and Grade 12 academic courses is required to be considered for most programs. Some programs require a higher average. Please review the requirements for your program below.
- SAT or ACT scores are not required for students studying in a recognized accredited US curriculum outside the United States, Puerto Rico or Guam.
- SATs/ACTs are considered in combination with high school grades.
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
For Fall (September) 2021 and Winter (January) 2022 entry, York University will deem the SAT/ACT as optional for students studying in a recognized accredited US curriculum high school in the United States, Puerto Rico or Guam. However, students who have completed a standardized test are encouraged to submit their test scores as it may support your application for competitive programs. SAT/ACT scores must be sent electronically from the College Board directly to York. Please browse the section below for pre-requisites and detailed admission requirements.
Note: An SAT/ACT test will be required from students who are not enrolled in a recognized accredited US curriculum high school in the United States, Puerto Rico or Guam or have not studied in a formal academic high-school environment.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
- AP College Board examinations are eligible for transfer credit, for results of 4 or 5, up to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or National Examinations Council (NECO) - minimum 6 academic courses
Required Documents for Preliminary Review
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
BPA
Requirements for admission:
To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
You are required to provide official evidence of academic achievement in secondary education. This can be demonstrated through:
- Final grades under the Ontario curriculum (obtained through correspondence, night school or through TVO)
- Credentials through other curricula, such as results from Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced-level courses in the General Certificate of Education (GCE). (Students may register to sit for the AP and GCE examinations as private candidates.)
In the absence of final grades in courses:
- You must submit the results of standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with a minimum combined total of 1170 on the Critical Reading and Math components or a composite American College Testing (ACT) score of 24.
- Your application will be reviewed by an admissions sub-committee. If admitted, you will not be eligible for entrance scholarships. You will be considered for continuing student scholarships at the end of your first year of study, if you satisfy those criteria.
You may also be required to provide proof of language proficiency. You will be considered for entrance scholarships on the basis of your overall averages in the six 4U/4M (Ontario curriculum) or equivalent courses.