MLIS/MPA Program

As the information-based economy continues to develop, employees must be effectively equipped with technical and professional competencies to survive and prosper in public sector environments. In response to this need, the School of Information Management and School of Public Administration are jointly offering the only combined degree, MLIS/MPA program in Canada. Graduates of the program are expected to be leaders, particularly with regard to the administration and management of public sector organizations.This three-year program will enable students to pursue careers as:

• Chief Information Officers
• Government information policy analysts
• Information product and service managers
• Information systems consultants
• Librarians with a specialization in public policy/public administration
• Public sector managers

Admission requirements:

• Bachelor's degree with at least second class standing (3.0 GPA)
• Official transcripts (2 copies)
• Candidates whose mother tongue is NOT English are required to demonstrate a working and a reading knowledge of English. A TOEFL score of 600 (250 for computerized testing, or a score of 100 on the TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL IBT) and 5.5 for the TWE, a MELAB score of 95, and IELTS score of 80, a CAEL score of 70, or the General Certificate in Education in the English Language at the Ordinary or Advanced Level are acceptable
• Two academic letters of reference
• Essay
• Résumé
• IT Competencies
• Proof of financial ability (international students)
• GMAT score may be submitted but it is not essential 
• Previous relevant work experience is an asset

*Note: Applicants must gain separate and independent admission to both Schools.

The MLIS/MPA combined degree is a three-year full-time course of study leading to the degrees Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) and Master of Public Administration (MPA). A total of 27 courses (12 MLIS and 15 MPA) are needed to complete the MLIS/MPA program.

Plan of study:

Year 1

First year classes of the MLIS program, plus INFO 0590 Practicum** (Spring term).

Year 3 (10 courses)

PUAD 6000 Ethics, Public Service, and Governance
PUAD 6100 Modern Comptrollership
PUAD 3 electives, plus MGMT 5000 (offered only in the fall term)
INFO 6540 Database Management Systems
INFO 3 electives

All combined degree students are advised on a one-on-one basis as an aid to course selection.

For further information contact JoAnn Watson (JoAnn.Watson@dal.ca), MLIS Program Coordinator, or Dominika Wranik (dwl@dal.ca), MPA Graduate Coordinator.

*Note:Students who have worked in an information setting prior to admission to the MLIS/MPA program, under the supervision of an experienced information professional, and who have accumulated a minimum of 500 hours continuous pre-admission employment in this setting may apply to have this experience count for PUAD 6855 Internship.

** The non-credit MLIS Practicum (INFO 0590) is an option for MLIS/MPA students.