Our Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program has many mature students. Whether you are considering a change in career direction or already working in the public or non-profit sectors, our BPA program has a strong-track record of providing a competitive edge. It is therefore common to see students who are completing the BPA as a second degree, or as a pathway to an Honours degree, which is typically required for graduate studies, including our Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) program.
The BPA program provides hands-on learning and professional development to those with minimal work experience, while also providing a significant upgrade in skills and knowledge for those already working in the broader public sector to be able to take their careers to the next level. To name a few examples, we have social workers, firefighters, border services agents and even public sector and non-profit managers.
If you have already begun a degree at another post-secondary institution, you may be eligible to transfer. For more information on transfer credits, visit the Office of Admissions website.
There is a specific transfer credit pathway from the following Seneca College programs:
- Social Service Worker - Gerontology
- Social Service Worker - Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated)
- Social Service Worker
Graduates with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (B or 70%) will be eligible for admission consideration and granted 45 transfer credits (the equivalent of a year and a half of studies). Graduates must apply directly to York University.
Prior to entering the BPA program, students are required to have completed one 4U mathematics course from high school, or the equivalent. If you do not have a 4U math course from high school, you can easily complete such a course through one of the following options:
- A fully online course is available through Ontario’s Independent Learning Centre for a fee of only $40 for Ontario students.
- York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) offers a fully online, non-credit Pass/Fail course once a year during the Summer term for only $40. This course does not affect your Grade Point Average (GPA) and is suitable for those who did not take math beyond the 3U level as it does not require any additional prerequisite courses. For more information please visit the Mathematics for LA&PS (12U Math Equivalency Course) website. This Summer course is a great fast-track option, enabling students with conditional admission to the BPA program to begin in the Fall term. It is also available to current York students who wish to transfer into the BPA program but do not have the math prerequisite.
- Students may also choose to complete Advanced Functions (MTH196) or Statistics 1 (MTH197) courses at Seneca College to satisfy the math admission requirement.
If you already have an Honours Bachelor’s degree and work experience in the public sector, but you are looking to update your credentials or boost your GPA for graduate studies, you may also consider our Professional Certificates in Public Policy Analysis, or Public Administration and Law.
Learn more about our Professional Certificate options.