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Public Administration Thesis (PADM90004)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville) and Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Online Semester 2 - On Campus |
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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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
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: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Online
Principal coordinator Tom Daly Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Regular meetings with the academic supervisor. Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 - Semester 2 - On Campus
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 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022
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: 31 January 2024
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 Course Master of Public Administration (Enhanced)
Last updated: 31 January 2024