Master of Public Policy

The Master of Public Policy is a 72 program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the College of Business, Government and Law.

The Master of Public Policy articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management.

Students may choose to exit from the Master of Public Policy with the Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Graduate Certificate in Public Policy or Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management, provided that they have met the requirements for these degrees.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study 
  

Admission requirements

The Master of Public Policy is normally available to applicants who hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management or Graduate Certificate in Public Policy or an approved equivalent, but not an undergraduate degree, must also meet a GPA requirement.

However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Up to 18 units 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.

Up to 36 units credit may be granted to applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management or an approved equivalent. Approved equivalents include an honours degree of the University in an acceptable field.

Course aims

The Master of Public Policy aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in public policy and provide them with the skills and knowledge to undertake professional research.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• assess complex concepts, theories, contemporary trends and developments in public policy
• evaluate complex information and issues in order to address problems and challenges in public policy using appropriate theories
• investigate public policy theory and practice related using critical research and evaluative skills
• discuss acquired knowledge, skills and ideas with specialist and non-specialist audiences

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Public 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 below.

Core - Year 1 topics

27 units comprising:

POAD8014 Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD8007 Policy Analysis: Frameworks, Approaches and Values (4.5 units)
POAD8017 Contemporary Public Policy: Theoretical Perspectives (4.5 units)
POAD8022 Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD8137 Professional Ethics and Public Administration (4.5 units)
POAD8138 Governance and Public Policy (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of option topics selected from the Year 1 and 2 Option Topics List below

Core - Year 2 topics

13.5 units comprising:

POAD9015 Economics and Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD9058 Research Design (4.5 units)
POAD9129 Environmental Policy and Governance (4.5 units)

Plus 22.5 units of option topics selected from the Year 1 and 2 Option Topics List below

Year 1 and 2 Option Topics*:

Choice of capstone project:

POAD9057 Professional Research Project (9 units)

or

POAD9140  Public Policy Internship (13.5 units)

or

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 up to 22.5 units (to total 72 units given the capstone choice) selected from:

POAD8130 Toolkit for Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD8139 Organisational Politics, Culture and Management in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
POAD8142 Strategic Change Management in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
POAD9037 Public Financial Management (4.5 units)
POAD9045 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (4.5 units)
POAD9118 Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
POAD9131 Development Administration (4.5 units)
POAD9135 Project Governance (4.5 units)

*Students can select up to 9 units in option topics offered across the University with approval from the Course Coordinator, and provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.