Canvas Learning Management System

Canvas Learning Management System

As of Fall 2024, the MPA Program (both formats) is utilizing the UNC Canvas site.

The MPA Program utilizes a Learning Management System (LMS), where students syllabi, interact with classmates in discussion boards (and live sessions for online courses), find assignments, and upload documents. This video introduces various tools of Canvas:

To learn more about the different options for classes, please see the Section Format Glossary of Terms (pdf here, and details also below).

UNC-MPA Section Format Glossary of Terms

On Campus Section  (1.5, 3, or 4.5 credit hours)

  • Sections taught in-person on campus for on campus format students.
    • These sections are primarily delivered with all synchronous in-person instruction.
    • Priority registration is for on campus students. There may be opportunities for online students to enroll in these sections if they are able to come in-person and seats are available.

Online Section  (3.0 or 1.5 credit hours)

  • Section taught online for online format students.
    • These sections are typically offered with a blended delivery model of half of the content being pre-recorded asynchronous lecture and half of the content being weekly live section instruction.
    • We do offer several 1.5 credit hour elective courses that are delivered with all synchronous content.
    • Priority registration is for online students. There may be opportunities for on campus students to enroll in these sections if seats are available.

Hyflex Section (3.0 or 1.5 credit hours)

  • Sections which allow both on campus and online students to enroll in the same section.
    • These sections are typically delivered with all synchronous instruction.
    • Both on campus and online students have access to this course, with no priority registration given.
      • Hyflex Online
        • Instructor and students are all virtual
      • Hyflex Oncampus
        • Instructor and oncampus students

Immersion  Course (1.5 credit hours)

  • The Immersion Course is taught in-person for both on campus and online format students and typically occurs on a Thursday evening through Saturday evening of the term.
    • The one course that allows all online students the opportunity to come to campus to take a course (given there are no capacity constraints)
    • Each year (typically fall term) the topic varies to address broad, contemporary, and cross-cutting topics in the field of public administration.
    • In addition to curriculum, this immersion experience is designed for building affinity for the program and to build relationships with peers/cohort of both formats
    • Pre and post work outside of the in-person Immersion should be expected.
    • While a credit-bearing course, the Immersion Course also offers some programmatic program-wide events and services such as meetings with academic advisors, faculty, and an alumni reception.
    • This course has a larger than typical enrollment cap to account for increased accessibility to the course of all students.

On-Campus Weekend Intensive Course (1.5 credit hours)

  • Weekend Intensive Courses are taught in-person on campus typically during a Friday and Saturday of the term.
    • Pre and post work outside of the in-person weekend should be expected.
    • Previous examples include PUBA 768: Mediation, PUBA 769: Facilitation and PUBA 763: Grant Writing.
    • Traditionally more skills-oriented courses
    • There may be opportunities for online students to enroll in these sections if they are able to come in-person and seats are available.

Additional Definitions:

  • Course Format: On campus or Online
  • Delivery:
    • Blended: Synchronous (live / in-real-time) and Asynchronous (pre-recorded or self-paced)
    • Synchronous Only (live / in-real-time)