Political Management
About the program
The Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management offers courses leading to the degree of Master of Political Management.
The MPM program provides an intensive professional education that prepares its graduates for positions of responsibility and authority in electoral, legislative, and advocacy politics: as political staff to cabinet ministers and elected representatives; strategists and tacticians for political parties; campaign managers and communication advisers; and organizers for civil society agencies and grassroots movements.
The degree comprises 5.0 credits and has been designed so as to be completed in 10 months of full-time study.
Academic Regulations
See the General Regulations section of the Graduate Calendar.
A standing of B- or better must be obtained in each course or component counted towards the degree.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:
- hold an honours baccalaureate or equivalent with at least high honours standing; and
- demonstrate a commitment to and aptitude for political management through prior involvement in party or campus politics, grassroots organization, political advocacy, or similar experience.
Although there is no formal second language requirement for the degree, individuals preparing for political professions in Canada should have or develop a facility in French.
Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not completed a previous degree at an English-language university must demonstrate fluency in English via any one of the criteria outlined in the general regulations of the Graduate calendar.
Program Requirements
Students must complete:
- 3.0 credits of core courses, as listed below;
- 1.0 credit based on a practicum placement arranged through the program, combined with an integrative analytical research essay; and
- 1.0 credit of elective courses, as listed below.
Core courses
- POLM 5001 Institutions and Governance I [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5002 Institutions and Governance II [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5003 Strategic Communications I [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5004 Strategic Communications II [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5005 Political Management I [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5006 Political Management II [0.5 credit]
Elective courses
- POLM 5010 Polling and Opinion Research [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5011 Political Campaigns [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5012 Political Advocacy [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5013 Political Management and the Media [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5014 Political Marketing [0.5 credit]
- POLM 5015 Political Policy Landscape [0.5 credit]
Practicum and Research Essay
- POLM 5098 [1.0 credit]