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Managing Public Finances (PADM90003)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
July
Overview
Availability | July |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Managing Public Finances is one of the core subjects in the Melbourne Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused degree program for managers that work within or with government. This subject provides the theoretical and analytical tools for understanding the nature and practice of finance in relation to public administration and management, drawing on the disciplines of economics and finance. Key ideas that will be explored in this subject include budgets, performance, reporting and decision–making and how these relate to broader notions of governing in complex institutional and policy environments.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Acquire an understanding of key concepts in public finance;
- Understand the importance of finance to the public manager in both a strategic and operational sense;
- Understand the complexities of developing and executing budgets, evaluating performance, and decision-making; and
- Appreciate the local, national and global aspects of these issues.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have:
- A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of key concepts in public finance;
- A sound understanding of the interconnectedness between finance and politics, economics and law, as they apply to public management processes and decisions and shape the public manager’s environment;
- A high-level ability to combine the theory and practice of public finance in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges and reflect critically on one’s own professional practice;
- A high-level ability to combine professional skills such as analysis and decision-making with discipline-based expertise and to apply this complex synthesis to the practice of public finance; and
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities relating to public finance.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PADM90007 | The World of Public Administration |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous study in public policy, political science, management, law, business, economics, international relations, non-profit management or cognate area.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- An issues paper of 1000 words where students identify and address an issue relevant to their work experience or interests that relates to a key public finance theme (10%) due at first seminar for the subject.
- Assessment task 2: Syndicate project (group presentation and individual paper):
- Group presentation (20%) scheduled during the teaching period
- Individual paper of 1500 words exploring key aspect of the group presentation (20%) due shortly after the presentation
- Case paper of 2500 words where students apply key concepts from the course. (50%) due in the week after the intensive teaching period has concluded.
- Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- July
Principal coordinator Stephen Peterson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 4 hours per week in weeks 2 to 7 of semester 2 Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 19 July 2017 Teaching period 26 July 2017 to 8 September 2017 Last self-enrol date 20 July 2017 Census date 18 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 8 September 2017 Assessment period ends 6 October 2017 July contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Delivery mode:
Intensive, and with a pre-teaching period.
Pre-teaching Period Requirements:
Students will be required to access the LMS and the readings provided in order to prepare for the first assessment task. Note: this is due at the first seminar of the teaching period. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period.
Please note that to enrol in this subject:
- Students must be admitted to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Enhanced), Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) or Specialist Certificate in Public Administration
- Students must have successfully completed PADM90007 The World of Public Administration
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Andrew Graham, Canadian Public-Sector Financial Management Second Edition, Queens Policy Series, 2014
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022