The Master of Public Administration is a 72-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Entry is available at three levels - basic, progressive and advanced.
The course is available by flexible delivery or in mixed, on-campus/flexible delivery mode. It requires two years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).
The course is also available in a fully online study mode and is provided in an accelerated format which may be completed in a minimum of 15 months full-time. See Master of Public Administration (online pathway).
Admission requirements
The Master of Public Administration 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.
Credit
Credit may be granted towards completion of the degree for relevant prior study.
Up to 18 units of credit may be granted 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. Students who have completed one of the Graduate Certificates or an approved equivalent but not an undergraduate degree must have achieved an acceptable GPA.
Up to 36 units of credit may be granted to applicants who have completed the 36-unit 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.
Course aims
The Master of Public Administration aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in public administration, management and policy and to undertake research in one or more of these areas.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course students will:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the concepts and theories in the fields of public policy, administration and management
- Understand research methodologies in the social sciences
- Design and complete a small research project.
Program of study
To qualify for The Master of Public Administration, 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:
Core topics
Students complete 40.5 units of core topics comprising:
POAD8007 Policy Analysis: Frameworks, Approaches and Values (4.5 units)
POAD8014 Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD8017 Contemporary Public Policy: Theoretical Perspectives (4.5 units)
POAD8022 Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD8137 Ethics in Public Administration (4.5 units)
POAD8138 Governance and Public Policy (4.5 units)
plus two topics chosen from:
POAD8130 Toolkit for Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD8139 Organisational Politics, Culture and Management (4.5 units)
POAD8142 Leading and Managing Change (4.5 units)
plus
POAD9045 Research Practices and Principles (4.5 units)
OR an alternate research methodology topic, with the approval of the Director of Studies.
plus an 18 unit Dissertation from:
Option - Research topics
POAD9050 Master of Public Administration Dissertation (18 units)
or
POAD9050A Master of Public Administration Dissertation (4.5/18 units) and
POAD9050B Master of Public Administration Dissertation (4.5/18 units) and
POAD9050C Master of Public Administration Dissertation (4.5/18 units) and
POAD9050D Master of Public Administration Dissertation (4.5/18 units)
plus 13.5 units of option topics selected from:
Option topics
EDUC8601 Strategic Thinking and Planning (4.5 units)
EDUC9605 Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning (4.5 units)
POAD9015 Economics and Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD9026 Management in Non-Government Organisations (4.5 units)
POAD9028 Evaluation Methods (4.5 units)
POAD9030 Indigenous Issues in Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD9034 Risk Management - Principles and Practice (4.5 units)
POAD9037 Financial Management (4.5 units)
POAD9118 Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
POAD9119 Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance (4.5 units)
POAD9129 Environmental Policy and Governance (4.5 units)
POAD8130 Toolkit for Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD9131 Development Administration (4.5 units)
POAD9133 Critical Systems Thinking and Practice (4.5 units)
POAD9135 Project Management (4.5 units)
POAD9136 Culture and Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD8139 Organisational Politics, Culture and Management (4.5 units)
POAD9140 Public Policy Internship (13.5 units)
POAD8142 Leading and Managing Change (4.5 units)
POLI9004 The Politics of Climate Change (4.5 units)
SOAD9109 Social Development (4.5 units)
A maximum of one topic from any other post-graduate programs within the University may be taken with the approval of the Director of Studies.