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The World of Public Administration (PADM90007)
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
February
Overview
Availability | February |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The World of Public Administration is the foundation subject 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 sets out the foundations of public administration and explores how the theory and practice of public administration has adapted over time and in various settings to address the challenges faced by policy makers and managers.
The subject will particularly focus on understanding management and administration and the strategic environment in which managers operate. Students will develop an understanding of administration and management across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the strategic environments that shape their actions, and the relationships these managers develop to deliver on the public policy challenges of the 21 st century.
This subject introduces students to the interdisciplinary aspects of public administration, in particular making connections to political science, law and economics, which are explored in depth in the three discipline core subjects in the Melbourne MPA.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- Understand the foundations of public administration and management and contemporary debates related to this;
- Appreciate the connections between public administration and management and a range of disciplines including political science, law, and economics;
- Understand the strategic environment in which managers operate and the relationships they develop to deliver on public policy goals; and
- Explore the local, national, regional, and global factors that impact on these managers and their environment.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject students should have:
- A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration, and the strategic environment in which managers operate;
- A sound understanding of politics, economics and the law as they are connected to key ideas in public administration;
- A high-level ability to combine theory and practice in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges and analyse contemporary issues of administration in a global environment;
- A high-level ability to combine professional managerial and administrative skills with discipline-based expertise and to apply this complex synthesis to professional practice;
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities including report writing, workplace discussions, negotiation and management and lobbying strategies;
- Flexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication; and
- The ability to draw upon an extensive repertoire of advanced professional skills, in particular in decision-making, providing advice and collaborating across sectors.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
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
- Assessment Task 1: Practice application paper of 1000 words where students write up a practical issue related to key themes in the subject (20%) due the week prior to the face-to-face seminars
- Assessment Task 2: Syndicate project (group presentation and individual paper):
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- Group presentation (20%) scheduled during the face-to-face seminars
- Individual paper of 1500 words exploring key aspects of the group presentation (20%) due two weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars
- Assessment Task 3: Case paper of 2500 words where students apply key concepts from the course to the practical issue from assessment task 1 (40%) due four weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 100% of classes in order to pass this subject, and regular class participation is expected
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Maria Katsonis Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours total, delivered as an intensive over five days - Monday 25 February to Friday 1 March. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 11 February 2019 Pre teaching 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 in the first week of the teaching period, which is prior to face-to-face teaching. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period. Teaching period 18 February 2019 to 1 March 2019 Last self-enrol date 12 February 2019 Census date 25 February 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 15 March 2019 Assessment period ends 5 April 2019 February 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 in the first week of the teaching period, which is prior to face-to-face teaching. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period.
Please note: students must be admitted to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Enhanced) or Specialist Certificate in Public Administration to enrol in this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Last updated: 3 November 2022