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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions. If your question is not answered here, please reach out to us.

What is the School of Public Policy & Administration?

The School of Public Policy & Administration was created as a single unified School on the Keele campus of York University, established in July 2006. The School brings together the various undergraduate programs in the area of public policy as well as relevant graduate programming, including the Master of Public Policy, Administration & Law (MPPAL) program.

Is there a math requirement to enter the BPA Program?

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 online (fully online preparation and grade components, for a fee of only $40 for Ontario residents) through Ontario’s Independent Learning Centre. To satisfy the math admission requirement, interested students may also take Advanced Functions (MTH196) or Statistics 1 (MTH197) courses at Seneca College.
Note: Our Minor in Public Administration and Certificate programs do not require a 4U mathematics course for admission.

I would like to enrol in a PPAS course but the system will not let me. How should I proceed?

There may be various reasons why the system may not allow you to add a course such as:

  • Reserved Seating
  • Prerequisites or Co-requisites
  • Outstanding Fees
  • Enrolled in too many credits

The following actions are recommended:

  • Place yourself on our waitlist for course(s) that you are interested in. Use our Waitlist Request Form.
  • Continue to try to enrol into courses that are full multiple times a day in the hopes that someone will drop and a spot will become available for them.
  • Contact the SPPA Office for more information.

Can I do an internship as part of my degree?

A paid internship program is available for BPA majors in collaboration with the Faculty of LA&PS. The eligibility criteria include min. 6.0 GPA and having completed AP/PPAS 3190 6.0 and AP/PPAS 3300 6.0. More information about the internship program and upcoming information sessions can be found at on the Internships website.

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) internship and summer employment opportunities are typically open for applications during the Winter term (January-March application window). SPPA organizes preparatory workshops for students in late January or early February and these are publicized in the SPPA Biweekly Newsletter available via email distribution and the SPPA website.

Another opportunity for practical professional experience is our upper level 4th year seminar course, AP/PPAS 4995 6.00 Practicum in Public Administration. Internship and practicum placements are limited and a strong GPA and personal interview will likely be required to assess eligibility. For further information please contact our Internship Coordinator, Prof. Peter Constantinou by email at peter.constantinou@rogers.com. If interested in PPAS 4995 6.0, please fill out the Waitlist Request Form.

How can I network with other students?

Membership in the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA) is open to any student affiliated with the School of Public Policy & Administration. Interested students should contact PPASA at 168 Founders College or ppasa@yorku.ca.

Am I able to submit assignments after hours or on weekends? If so, where?

Should the office be closed, please note that we have an after-hours assignment drop-box that is located to the right and slightly down the hall from our main office window, at 119 McLaughlin College. The drop box is clearly marked and located in a door slot. You can access it both during the evening and on weekends. This drop-box is checked at the beginning of every business day and course work is date stamped on the date of receipt. All items are then promptly placed in the appropriate faculty or teaching assistant's mailbox.

How can I check which degree requirements I have completed and which ones are still outstanding?

Use the Degree Progress Report (DPR) to check.

If it is showing as unavailable please note that those students who have not declared a stream in the BPA Specialized Honours won't be able to see anything. While you have until the end of your second year to declare a stream, streams can be changed at any time and so it is recommended that you declare a stream to have access to the DPR.

The DPR is not available for those who pursue a major/minor combination. Please note that credits cannot be double counted for a major and minor. The DPR is not available for the Certificate programs (stand-alone or sub-program with a degree). Only 12 credits have to be unique to our Professional Certificates, the remaining 12 credits can overlap with your BA major.

To check on your degree progress, course selection and academic standing, please consider meeting with an Academic Advisor.

Where do I go to file an academic and/or financial petition?

Students must meet with an academic advisor before submitting an academic petition or appeal. For full details about the LA&PS petition process go to the LA&PS website.

What is the best way to keep on top of important deadlines, events or professional networking opportunities?

Please make sure to read through the Biweekly SPPA Newsletter, which is available via email distribution and on the SPPA website. If you are not receiving our weekly newsletter via email, please contact the SPPA Office to ensure that you are included in our email distribution lists.