Public /Social Policy Thesis Part 1 (PPMN90049)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 18.75On 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
Contact information
Semester 1
MPPM Program Director
Erik Baekkeskov: erik.baekkeskov@unimelb.edu.au
MSP Program Director
Keith McVilly: keith.mcvilly@unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
MPPM Program Director
Scott Brenton: sbrenton@unimelb.edu.au
MSP Program Director
Keith McVilly: keith.mcvilly@unimelb.edu.au
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 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject involves a supervised thesis of 12 000 words, embodying the results of the student's own research.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should 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:
- conceptualise and plan a substantial project of original research;
- present material in draft form and engage productively with a supervisor;
- consolidate and enhance established skills in engaging creatively with a critical field;
- synthesise critical arguments and debates;
- test and develop new research methods in relation to ongoing debates;
- enhance drafting and writing skills, in both a critical and creative manner; and
- manage time and study resources over a sustained period of time.
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students enrolling in the thesis must also complete Social Science Research Seminar (may be taken concurrently).
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLS40013 | Social Science Research Seminar | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Students must be admitted to the Master of Public Policy and Management or Master of Social Policy to enrol in this subject.
Please note:
- To be eligible to enrol in the thesis, all students must submit a 300 word thesis proposal for approval by the course coordinator prior to the semester of enrolment in the thesis
In addition:
- Students admitted into the 200 point program must be in their final 100 points and must have completed 50 points of compulsory or core subjects within the program, with an average of H1 (80%), prior to enrolment in the thesis
- Students in the 150 point program must have completed at least 25 points of compulsory or core subjects within the program with an average of H1 (80%) prior to enrolment in the thesis
Students completing the thesis must enrol in Thesis Part 1 and Part 2 in consecutive semesters.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
PPMN90002 Minor Thesis - Public/Social Policy
Recommended background knowledge
Public Policy or Sociology at Undergraduate level
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: 30 October 2023
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 |
|---|---|---|
A thesis
| Due at the end of the second semester of enrolment | 100% |
Additional details
Please note: This assessment statement applies to the entire enrolment across parts 1 and 2 of the subject (i.e. PPMN90049 and PPMN90050 together)
*Hurdle statement: the following requirements must 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 half way through the thesis year.
Thesis Draft: A full draft of the thesis is to be submitted approximately 5 weeks prior to the final thesis submission date.
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinators Erik Baekkeskov and Keith McVilly Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Regular meetings with the supervisor over two consecutive semesters of enrolment. Total time commitment 510 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 1 contact information
MPPM Program Director
Erik Baekkeskov: erik.baekkeskov@unimelb.edu.au
MSP Program Director
Keith McVilly: keith.mcvilly@unimelb.edu.au
- Semester 2
Principal coordinators Keith McVilly and Scott Brenton Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Regular meetings with the supervisor over two consecutive semesters of enrolment. Total time commitment 510 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 Semester 2 contact information
MPPM Program Director
Scott Brenton: sbrenton@unimelb.edu.au
MSP Program Director
Keith McVilly: keith.mcvilly@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
510 hours total - inclusive of two semesters (thesis Part 1 and Part 2)
Additional delivery details
This subject continues over two consecutive study periods, with students first enrolling in PPMN90049 Public / Social Policy Thesis Part 1 and then subsequently enrolling in PPMN90050 Public / Social Policy Thesis Part 2, for a total enrolment of 37.5 credit points. Students will receive an overall result for the subject following completion of the two-subject sequence.
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Links to additional information
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 30 October 2023