ObjectivesThis course is designed to provide a thorough grounding in public administration and policy for students with a wide variety of interests. Applied research on public policy issues is encouraged.Issues are studied in a regional, national and international context, with a particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.The course aims to develop critical awareness, knowledge and skills in public policy and public decision-making for candidates wishing to build careers in the public sector.Learning outcomesAt the completion of this course students should be able to: * demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of theory and practice of public policy and the process of public policy making; * display an enhanced understanding of the role of public policies in promoting public goods and general welfare of the society; * identify and analyse the complex web of socio-economic, political and environmental forces that shape public policies and their implementation * demonstrate skills in policy analysis and engage in informed debates on policy issues and their impacts; * demonstrate enhanced familiarity with contemporary trends and developments in the field of public policy and appreciate the importance of multidisciplinary approach in assessing and analysing policy outcomes; * demonstrate broad knowledge and skills required to pursue careers in the public service and variety of not-for profit organisations.
Entry requirements* Basic level entry, requiring the completion of 72 units of work, is normally available to applicants who hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature. * Progressive level entry, requiring the completion of 54 units of work, is available to applicants who have completed the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management or the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Public Policy*, or an approved equivalent. Credit may be granted, on application, for relevant work already completed in other approved programs. Progressive level entrants can undertake 18 units of the 54-unit program to complete the graduate diploma. * Advanced level entry, requiring the completion of 36 units of work, is available to applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, or an approved equivalent with an acceptable GPA. Approved equivalents include an honours degree of the University in a field acceptable to the Board. All applicants must submit to the Director of Studies a satisfactory proposal for a coherent program of studies.* Students who have completed one of the graduate certificates or an approved equivalent but not an undergraduate degree must have achieved an acceptable GPA.
Academic titleMaster of Public Administration (Policy)
Course descriptionThe Master of Public Administration (Policy) is a 72-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences. Entry is available at three levels - basic, progressive and advanced.
The course is available on-campus and on a fee-paying basis, by flexible delivery or in mixed, on-campus/flexible delivery mode. It requires two years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).
PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Master of Public Administration (Policy) a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:
* the 36 units required for the Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management (progressive entry students receive 18 units of credit and advanced entry students 36 units of credit);
* a further 36 units of core and elective topics not taken at the Graduate Diploma level to fulfil the requirements set out below.
Except with permission of the Faculty Board:
* no topic may be attempted more than once;
* the program must be completed within twelve consecutive semesters or, where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Board.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 12 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
CORE TOPICS
Students must complete:
POAD9010
Public Policy
6
POAD9039
Public Management
6
POAD9038
Contemporary Issues in Public Policy
6
POAD9124
Governance and Public Policy
6
POAD9123
Ethics in Public Administration
6
Plus 24 units of Policy Topics
24
Plus 18 units of Elective Topics
18
POLICY TOPICS
Topics currently listed are:
HMAN8001
Housing Policy
6
POAD9027
Economics and Public Policy
6
POAD9033
Urban Policy and Governance
6
POAD9114
Critical Systems Thinking and Practice
6
POAD9116
Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance
6
POAD9121
Culture and Public Policy
6
POAD9122
Environmental Governance
6
POAD9109
Action Learning Project (Policy)
6
SOAD9054
Social Policy M
6
ELECTIVE TOPICS
This list currently includes:
EDES9609
Strategic Planning and Management
6
EDES9625
Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning
6
HMAN8002
Housing Management
6
HMAN9001
Applied Issues in Housing Management
6
POAD8102
Management in Non-Government Organisations
6
POAD8201
Program Evaluation
6
POAD8202
Risk Management Principles and Practice
6
POAD9041
Financial and Resource Management
6
POAD9110
Project Management
6
POAD9113
Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector
6
POAD9120
Action Learning Project (Management)
6
POAD9120
Action Learning Project (Management)
6
POAD9125
Organisational Politics, Culture and Management
6
POAD9127
Toolkit for Public Management
6
POAD9128
Development Administration
6
POADxxxx
Interactive Design and Evaluation for Democracy and Sustainable Future
6
OTHER APPROVED ALTERNATIVES
By agreement with the Director of Studies, candidates may include other topics at masters level including topics offered by other institutions. Permissible topics include:
POAD9003
Policy and Management: Selected Areas (supervised reading topic)
6
POAD9004
Policy and Management: Selected Issues (supervised reading topic)
6
and selected topics from other graduate programs including International Development, International Relations, International Business Administration, Environmental Management, Social Administration and Social Work, Asian Governance, Population Studies and Public Health.