Master of Public Administration

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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. Approved equivalents include an honours degree of the University in an acceptable field.

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. The course includes a significant research component and is ideal for those who plan to pursue a Doctorate in the future.

Learning outcomes

Graduates completing the Master of Public Administration will:

• have an integrated and advanced understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the field of public sector administration and understand contemporary trends and developments in the field in both developing and developed countries
• acquire the ability to analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in the field of public sector administration
• research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice and demonstrate a broad range of skills needed to tackle administrative/ managerial problems and challenges in real world situations
• interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audience.

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  Professional Ethics and Public Administration (4.5 units)
 POAD8138  Governance and Public Policy (4.5 units)
 POAD9045  Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (4.5 units)
 POAD9058  Research Design (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units chosen 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)

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 in Education (4.5 units)
 EDUC9605  Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning (4.5 units)
 POAD8130  Toolkit for Public Management (4.5 units)
 POAD9015  Economics and Public Policy (4.5 units)
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations (4.5 units)
 POAD9028  Evaluation Methods for NGOs and the Public Sector (4.5 units)
 POAD9030  Indigenous Issues in Public Policy (4.5 units) 
 POAD9034  Risk Management in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
 POAD9037  Public 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)
 POAD9131  Development Administration (4.5 units)
 POAD9133  Critical Systems Thinking and Practice (4.5 units) 
 POAD9135  Project Governance (4.5 units)
 POAD9136  Culture and Public Policy (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)
 POLI9004  The Politics of Climate Change (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.