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Social Policy Internship (SOCI90013)
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
Semester 1
Semester 2
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 |
In this subject Master of Social Policy students will be placed in an organisation which either has governmental responsibilities or deals with government, where they will work under the supervision and guidance of a senior manager in the organisation. Students will be required to use their own networks to make an initial contact with a potential organisation. Their choice will then need to be ratified by the department. Students will carry out research or analytical exercises of relevance to the organisation that will be involved in high-level and complex policy making. Students will study the structure, culture and policy environment of the organisation and develop advanced analytical, research and report-writing skills as well as negotiating and interpersonal skills. Students completing this course should expect to acquire significant insight into the complexities of policy making and management. During the internship an academic supervisor will advise them.
If primary research is carried out during the internship, ethics approval is the responsibility of the host organisation.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- have an understanding of the organisation in which they are placed and of its policy making responsibilities, approaches and context;
- have well-developed analytic, research, interviewing and report-writing skills;
- have practical skills enabling the provision of consultancy-type research services; and
- have high level interpersonal skills developed through interaction with a range of people in and connected with their placement.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of policy research reports;
- conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through report writing, workplace discussion and presentations;
- communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through report writing and workplace discussion;
- manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, and the completion of policy research reports; and
- participate in team work through involvement in workplace placements.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
- Entry into the Master of Social Policy
- Permission from the internship coordinator is required.
- The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance.
- All Internship students need to be in their final 100 points of the degree in the semester they intend to enrol.
Students are required to apply for permission to enrol into this subject prior to commencement of the internship. Students should make this application via the online application form:
Application Form
Applications will be reviewed in three rounds:
Round 1 (Summer and Semester 1 availability): closing 31 October
Round 2 (Semester 1 availability): closing 31 January
Round 3 (Semester 2 availability): closing 31 May
The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance in the first half of the degree.
Students will receive outcomes within two weeks of the closing date for the relevant round. For further information including FAQS on the Application and Selection Process see:
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
No longer available |
Recommended background knowledge
Public Policy, Sociology or Politics 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
Students undertaking an internship with a host agency may be required to satisfy a number of requirements, including:
- undergoing a recent National Police Record Check
- holding a valid Working with Children Check for the relevant state/territory
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 |
---|---|---|
A report or professional portfolio
| During the examination period | 80% |
A reflective essay
| During the examination period | 20% |
Hurdle requirement: A mid-semester progress report and Supervisor's assessment report. Seminar attendance is compulsory for all classes and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Ali Reza Yunespour Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 4 seminars scheduled throughout the semester. Other hours to be determined in consultation with organisation officers and program staff. 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 1 contact information
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Ali Reza Yunespour Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 4 seminars scheduled throughout the semester. Other hours to be determined in consultation with organisation officers and program staff. 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 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
340 Hours
Additional delivery details
- Permission from the internship coordinator is required.
- The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance.
- All Internship students need to be in their final 100 points of the degree in the semester they intend to enrol.
Students are required to apply for permission to enrol into this subject prior to commencement of the internship. Students should make this application via the online application form:
Application Form
Applications will be reviewed in three rounds:
Round 1 (Summer and Semester 1 availability): closing 31 October
Round 2 (Semester 1 availability): closing 31 January
Round 3 (Semester 2 availability): closing 31 May
The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance in the first half of the degree.
Students will receive outcomes within two weeks of the closing date for the relevant round. For further information including FAQS on the Application and Selection Process see:
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Off-campus study
This subject has a workplace component
Semester-long internship subject. In this subject Master of Social Policy students will be placed in an organisation which either has governmental responsibilities or deals with government, where they will work under the supervision and guidance of a senior manager in the organisation.
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 November 2022