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Master of Public Administration (MC-PA)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2022 Delivered: On Campus
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Further study
Contact
Melbourne School of Government
Currently enrolled students:
- Contact Stop 1
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
Future students:
- Further information: http://government.unimelb.edu.au/
- Future student enquiry: https://government.unimelb.edu.au/study/enquiry
Overview
Award title | Master of Public Administration |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2022 |
CRICOS code | 080609D |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
AQF level | 9 |
Credit points | 150 credit points |
Duration | 18 months full-time or 36 months part-time |
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a flagship degree of the Melbourne School of Government. An inter-disciplinary and globally-focused degree, the MPA is for leaders from the community, corporate and public sectors. The MPA draws on the expertise across the University of Melbourne to develop the skills and competencies of professionals who operate in increasingly complex governing environments where challenges cut across disciplinary, organisational, sectoral, jurisdictional and geographical boundaries. The MPA offers participants the opportunity to combine disciplinary expertise in political science, public administration and management, law, and business and economics with professional expertise in areas such as ethics, evidence, and management. Participants will mix theory and practice to address the complex challenges of management in practice through an interactive learning experience, combining individual and team-based learning opportunities that explore a range of contemporary issues.
Links to further information
https://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/37-master-of-public-administration
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- an undergraduate degree in an area related to public administration, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%); and
- at least three years of documented relevant professional experience.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance; and
- relevance of previous studies; and
- the professional experience.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete the Master of Public Administration should:
- understand the challenges that confront leaders from the community, corporate and public sectors;
- appreciate the interconnected nature of these challenges, and the power of applying interdisciplinary approaches to them;
- understand the strategic environment in which leaders operate and the relationships they develop to deliver on complex public policy goals; and
- explore the local, national, regional, and global factors that impact on these leaders and their environment.
Generic skills
Knowledge
Graduates should have:
- A critical understanding of the operation of governments in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and across the world;
- A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration;
- A sound understanding of politics, economics, law and science, as they apply to public administration and management processes and decisions.
Skills
Graduates should have:
- A high-level ability to combine theory and practice in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges, analyse contemporary issues of administration, and reflect critically on one’s own professional practice;
- A high-level ability to combine professional skills such as decision making, media and communication management, ethics, project management, strategic management, leadership and negotiation with discipline-based expertise in political science, law and economics, and to apply this complex synthesis to professional practice;
- A highly-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and reflect upon professional practice in order to most effectively address challenges;
- 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 including skills in leadership, negotiation, decision analysis and strategic management and to apply these skills with an awareness of the ethical implications of strategies and decisions.
Graduate attributes
Graduates of the Master of Public Administration will have acquired the following attributes:
Academic Distinction
- An in-depth knowledge of the disciplinary foundations of public administration and new perspectives on the field;
- The ability to develop creative and pragmatic solutions to a range of challenges;
- Skill of persuasion built on evidence, research, and analysis.
Active Citizenship
- A knowledge and appreciation of issues at local, national and global level and their impact on communities;
- An ability to work with others, and to lead in challenging environments;
- A commitment to making a difference.
Integrity and Self-Awareness
- Independent thinkers who can work in diverse groups and appreciate alternative perspectives;
- Ethical individuals who operate with a sense of personal and professional integrity and encourage others to do the same;
- Passionate problem solvers who seek out new knowledge.
Course structure
Students are required to take 112.5 points of compulsory subjects, including a 25-point capstone subject. Students then choose 37.5 points of elective subjects, 25 points which must come from the core elective list.
150 point program
Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time
- eight compulsory subjects (112.5 points) (includes 25-point capstone subject)
- elective subjects (37.5 points) (25 points of which must come from the core elective subject list).
Capstone Requirement:
All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (25 points). Students must complete this capstone option:
- PADM90001 Administration Challenges in Practice
Purpose: This existing subject draws together key lessons from the compulsory and core subjects and applies them to a practical case. Students work in small teams to undertaken analysis, develop practical recommendations and present these to an expert panel. In addition, students prepare an individual paper that allows them to reflect on the group process, and also their own lessons from across the course.
For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.
Subject options
Compulsory Subjects
112.5 points (including 25-point capstone subject)
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PADM90001 | Administrative Challenges in Practice | February (Online) |
25 |
MGMT90265 | Managing Teams |
Term 2 (Online)
Term 4 (Online)
|
12.5 |
PPMN90033 | Public Budgets and Financial Management | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
PADM90005 | The Nature of Governing | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PADM90006 | The Rule of Law | No longer available | |
PADM90007 | The World of Public Administration | No longer available | |
PADM90008 | Using Evidence | October (Online) |
12.5 |
PADM90009 | Working Ethically | June (Online) |
12.5 |
Core Elective Subjects
25 points
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PADM90004 | Public Administration Thesis |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
PADM90010 | Applied Syndicate Project | Not available in 2022 | 25 |
PADM90011 | Governing Challenges 1 | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
PADM90012 | Regional Governance | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
PPMN90039 | Executive Internship |
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
25 |
PPMN90045 | Government Today 1 | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
PPMN90046 | Persuasion for Policymakers | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PPMN90055 | Understanding Big Data for Public Policy | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
PADM90019 | Democracy, Power and the Public Service | April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Elective Subjects
12.5 points
Please note: in the 150 point Master of Public Administration program, participants choose an elective subject in consultation with the Master of Public Administration Director to enable them to explore professional and intellectual interests and to ensure the requisite background for study across the faculties at the University of Melbourne.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90377 | Design for Ageing | Term 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
DEVT50002 | Poverty, Microfinance and Development | No longer available | |
DEVT90035 | Monitoring and Evaluation in Development | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
DEVT90039 | Civil Society, NGOs and the State | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
DEVT90045 | Political Economy of Development | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON90009 | International Trade and Policy | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ECON90015 | Managerial Economics |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
ECON90029 | Economics For Public Policy | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ECON90032 | Macroeconomics for Managers | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON90045 | Microeconomics 2 | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ECON90047 | Macroeconomics 2 | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ENST90017 | Environmental Policy Instruments | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
ENST90032 | Sustainability and Behaviour Change |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
ESLA90001 | Professional Speaking Communication | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ESLA90002 | Advanced Self-Editing |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
ESLA90003 | Professional Literacies | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ESLA90004 | Intercultural Professional Communication |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
FNCE90065 | Fundamentals of Finance |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
FOOD90040 | Nutrition Politics and Policy | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
GEND90006 | Gender, Globalisation and Development | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEND90007 | Rethinking Rights and Global Development | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70082 | Privacy Law |
March (Online)
September (Online)
|
12.5 |
LAWS70100 | Environmental Law | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70114 | Human Rights of Groups | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70141 | Energy Regulation and the Law | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70164 | Racing Industry Law and Regulation | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70184 | Media, Free Speech and the State | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70319 | Tax Policy | May (Online) |
12.5 |
LAWS70334 | Bills of Rights | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70365 | International Migration Law | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70366 | International Refugee Law | June (Online) |
12.5 |
LAWS70368 | Law of Intergovernmental Relations | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70391 | Human Rights at Work | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70407 | Australians Detained Abroad | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70411 | Constitutional Problems in Comparison | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70417 | Elements of Legislation | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70425 | Money, Law and Politics | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LAWS70430 | Poverty, Human Rights and Development | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
LING90026 | Transcultural Communication at Work | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MECM90010 | Strategic Political Communication | No longer available | |
MGMT90011 | Managing Stakeholders | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
MGMT90012 | Managing Diversity | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90013 | Leadership and Team Dynamics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MGMT90015 | Human Resource Fundamentals |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MGMT90016 | Performance and Reward Management | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MGMT90022 | Managing Organisational Change | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90037 | Conflict and Negotiation |
Summer Term (Online)
Winter Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
November (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MGMT90040 | Behaviour & Leadership in Organisations | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90049 | Strategy, Ethics & Governance | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90107 | Leadership & Management | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90111 | Management and Business Communication | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
MGMT90165 | Social Entrepreneurship | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MULT50002 | Indigenous Peoples in Global Context | No longer available | |
MULT90059 | Social Enterprise Incubator | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHIL90010 | Global Justice | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
PHIL90027 | The Moral Limits of Markets | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
POLS40015 | Women in Global Politics | No longer available | |
POLS90012 | Trade Policy Politics & Governance | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
POLS90015 | Business and Government | No longer available | |
POLS90016 | The United Nations: Review and Reform | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
POLS90034 | International Policymaking in Practice | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
POLS90037 | Corruption in Today's World | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
POLS90045 | Governing Money and Finance | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
POLS90056 | Social Policy and Development | No longer available | |
POPH90256 | Ageing in Society | Term 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
POPH90257 | Body of Ageing | Term 3 (Online) |
12.5 |
POPH90258 | Economics of Ageing | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
POPH90259 | End of Life Issues | No longer available | |
POPH90260 | Ethics of Ageing and End of Life | Term 3 (Online) |
12.5 |
POPH90263 | Technology and Ageing | Term 4 (Online) |
12.5 |
POPH90264 | Global Population Ageing | Term 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
PPMN90030 | Public Policy in the Asian Century | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PPMN90031 | Public Policy Lobbying Strategies | April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PPMN90032 | Innovative Design and Service Delivery | September (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PPMN90048 | Crisis Management | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
SOCI90006 | Ageing, Society And Social Policy | Not available in 2022 | 12.5 |
SOCI90010 | International Migration | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI90012 | Inclusive Policy Development | September (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOTH90006 | Social Justice: Policy and Practice | No longer available | |
POPH90267 | Ageing Health & Human Services | Term 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
Further study
Students who complete the thesis may be eligible to enter the PhD.
Last updated: 14 April 2023