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The World of Public Administration (PADM90007)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On 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
February
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | February July |
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Fees | Look up fees |
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 21st century.
This subject introduces students to the interdisciplinary aspects of public administration, in particular making connections to political science, law and economics.
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
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: Practice application paper where students write up a practical issue related to key themes in the subject
| Due the week prior to the face-to-face seminars | 20% |
Assessment Task 2a: Syndicate project: Group presentation | Scheduled during the face-to-face seminars | 20% |
Assessment Task 2b: Syndicate project: Individual paper exploring key aspects of the group presentation
| Due 2 weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars | 20% |
Assessment Task 3: Case paper where students apply key concepts from the course to the practical issue from assessment task 1
| Due four weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars | 40% |
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 | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Maria Katsonis Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours, delivered as an intensive over five days - Monday 24 February to Friday 28 February. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 3 February 2020 Pre teaching requirements Students will be required to access the LMS and the subject materials in order to prepare and submit the first assessment task. Note: the first assessment task is due BEFORE the face-to-face seminars begin. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period. Teaching period 10 February 2020 to 28 February 2020 Last self-enrol date 4 February 2020 Census date 24 February 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 13 March 2020 Assessment period ends 30 March 2020 February contact information
- July
Principal coordinator Maria Katsonis Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours total, delivered as an intensive over five days; Monday 27 July - Friday 31 July Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 6 July 2020 Pre teaching requirements 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. Teaching period 13 July 2020 to 31 July 2020 Last self-enrol date 7 July 2020 Census date 28 July 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 14 August 2020 Assessment period ends 31 August 2020
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 subject materials in order to prepare for the first assessment task. Note: the first assessment task is due BEFORE the face-to-face seminars begin. 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), Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) 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 via the LMS prior to the commencement of the subject.
- 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.
Last updated: 3 November 2022