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Public Administration Thesis (PADM90004)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The thesis in Public Administration is a capstone option in the Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused program for managers that work within or with government. This subject provides students with an opportunity to undertake a program of independent research from which they produce a thesis of 10,000 words. The subject is undertaken in one semester and students will be supervised by a member of academic staff.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject students shoud be able to:
- demonstrate a specialist understanding of the subject being studied;
- show advanced skills of analysis pertinent to the subject;
- show a detailed sense of the theoretical debates in the subject area;
- demonstrate an ability to undertake critical independent research; and
- show a good capacity to communicate research in written form.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- semonstrate a critical understanding of the operation of governments in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and across the world, and an ability to situate an area of specialisation within this context;
- show a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration, and a specialist understanding of a particular topic in the field;
- show a sound understanding of politics, economics, law and sciences, as they contribute to theoretical debates in the field of public management;
- demonstrate flexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication;and
- conceptualise, plan and execute a substantial, independent, research-based project in the form of a minor thesis, demonstrating high-level skills in interdisciplinary and comparative research, analysis and critique, underpinned by a thorough understanding of academic protocol and presentation.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PADM90005 | The Nature of Governing | July (Online) |
12.5 |
PADM90006 | The Rule of Law | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PADM90007 | The World of Public Administration |
February (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Please note: All students intending to take this subject are required to consult with the MPA Director, prior to enrolment, and complete the thesis application process.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: A thesis based on the student's individual research
| During the examination period | 100% |
Additional details
The following hurdle requirements must also be met in order for students to be eligible to submit the final Thesis:
- Supervision: Regular supervisory meetings.
- Topic Proposal Form: To be submitted by the first week of the semester of thesis enrolment.
- Progress Report: To be submitted halfway through the semester of thesis enrolment.
- Thesis Draft: A full draft of the thesis is to be submitted approximately three weeks prior to the final thesis submission date.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Tom Daly Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Regular meetings with the academic supervisor. Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Tom Daly Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Regular meetings with the academic supervisor. Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020
Time commitment details
340 hours
Additional delivery details
Please note that to enrol in this subject:
- Students must be admitted to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Administration (Enhanced).
- Students must have consulted with the MPA Director, and completed the thesis application process
- Students must have successfully completed the three pre-requisite subjects.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
Students will are required to prepare an application for the thesis - information on this process will be provided by the Academic Services team.
Students are encouraged to discuss thesis ideas with the MPA Director in the semester prior to undertaking the thesis.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Public Administration (Enhanced) Course Master of Public Administration
Last updated: 3 November 2022