Major - Public Policy

To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the degree in which you are enrolled:

A student may complete a major sequence of 36 units in Public Policy by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), two Year 2 topics (9 units) and two Year 3 topics (9 units) plus two additional topics (9 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 topics listed in the program of study below.

A student may complete a minor sequence of 18 units in Public Policy by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units) and two Year 2 topics (9 units) listed in the program of study below.

A minor in Public Policy is not available to students who commenced the Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of Arts from 1 January 2019.

The minor sequence is not available to students who commenced the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Teaching (Primary R-7) from 1 January 2020

Course aims
Learning outcomes
Program of study
Honours

Course aims

The key educational aims of the Public Policy major are to:

provide graduates from a variety of backgrounds and interests-including political science, social work and business studies with an awareness and understanding of how governments organise their executive, policy-making and administrative activities; the ways in which governmental programs are devised and implemented; and the impact of public policies and programs on business and society
provide graduates who wish to pursue a career in either the public sector, private sector businesses that have significant dealings and interactions with government, or community organisations; with the necessary intellectual and professional skills
provide graduates with opportunities to gain an insight into the application of these skills through the in depth study in key policy areas.

Learning outcomes

Graduates with a major in Public Policy should be able to apply their professional knowledge to the formulation of policies, the provision of policy advice, the preparation of policy analyses, and the undertaking of policy research and evaluation. In particular they should have an understanding of:

the ideas, and principles which shape public policy both in Australia and internationally, the institutions which give it legitimacy and legal force, the processes and means of analysis that give it practical form, the political context which influences its development and its relationship to and interaction with the wider economy and society
the debate regarding the role of government in a market economy and analyse the patterns of business, government, and community interaction as they relate to key policy areas.

They should also have an ability to:

communicate in a professional and culturally aware manner through high quality written analytical and oral presentational skills and express complex ideas and proposals in a concise and logical form
apply academic research and study to the analysis of policy issues and dilemmas
work collaboratively to ensure that their knowledge and skill relates to and supports the work of other professionals in a modern working environment
understand the impact of cultural difference on policy development and implementation
operate at all times within a strong ethical framework.

Program of study

The following is the program of study for a 36 unit major sequence in Public Policy and should be read in conjunction with the course rule for the degree in which you are enrolled.

Major - Public Policy

Core - Year 1 topics

GOVT1001 Fundamentals of Public Policy (4.5 units)
POLI1003 An Introduction to Democracy and Government (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

Select 4.5 units from Group A plus a further 4.5 units from either Group A or Group B.

Option - Group A topics

POLI2002 Government Business and Society (4.5 units)
POLI2011 Australian Public Policy: Policy Design (4.5 units)

Option - Group B topics

AMST2002  American Politics (4.5 units)
GEOG2030 Sustainable Development in a Global World: Challenges and Prospects (4.5 units)
PHIL2601  Ethics for Professionals (4.5 units)
POLI2005  Politics of the European Union (4.5 units)
POLI2020  Australian Indigenous Politics (4.5 units)
POLI2025  The Politics of the Australian Welfare State (4.5 units)
POLI2026  Research Methods in Political Science (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

9 units from the year 3 topics listed below

AMST3013 The Alliance and the Re-Emergence of China (4.5 units)
GOVT3002 Digital Governance, Cyber Security & the Future of Democracy (4.5 units)
GOVT3003 Debates in Public Policy (4.5 units)
INTR3001 Australian Foreign Policy (4.5 units)
POLI3068 Environmental Politics (4.5 units)
POLI3069 The Politics of the Australian Welfare State (4.5 units)

plus an additional two topics (9 units) from the year 2 or 3 topics listed above or

POLI3007 South Australian Parliamentary Internship (9 units)

Honours

Refer to Honours- Government and International Relations

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.