150pt Program
Master of Social PolicyCourse Entry PointYear: 2025
150pt Program
Contact information
Coordinator
Dr Max Holleran
Email: max.holleran@unimelb.edu.au
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Overview
The Master of Social Policy offers a curriculum that reflects cutting-edge theory in a number of professional development fields. Graduates will be equipped with the skills necessary for advanced community sector management and policy making, including the skills to:
- Analyse key areas of contemporary social policy: governance, inclusion\exclusion, social capital, globalisation
- Engage with the social dimensions of social policy: race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age
- Understand social policy as a contested process and apply research skills to a range of organisational contexts
- Draw on a range of disciplines and take a comparative and global focus.
Last updated: 20 March 2025
Structure
150 credit points
Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time
Capstone Stream 1 (Minor thesis):
- four compulsory subjects (50 points)
- POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points)
- minor thesis parts 1 and 2 (37.5 points total)
- elective subjects (50 points)
or
Capstone Stream 2 (Internship):
- four compulsory subjects (50 points)
- SOCI90013 Social Policy Internship (25 points)
- elective subjects (75 points)
or
Capstone Stream 3 (Project):
- four compulsory subjects (50 points)
- SOCI90023 Project-based Policy Analysis (25 points)
- elective subjects (75 points)
Capstone Requirements:
All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (at least 25 points). Students must complete one capstone option:
Capstone Stream 1: PPMN90049 Public/Social Policy Thesis Part 1 and PPMN90050 Public/Social Policy Thesis Part 2 (37.5 points total)
Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a research question; pathway to the PhD.
Capstone Stream 2: SOCI90013 Social Policy Internship (25 points)
Purpose: An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in social policy practice to solve problems that arise in professional contexts and develop an integrated understanding of research and practice.
Capstone Stream 3: SOCI90023 Project-based Policy Analysis (25 points)
Purpose: An opportunity to work in a team-based project where knowledge and skills are applied to a practical project under the supervision of an academic and practitioner expert.
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
50 points
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCI90004 | Critical Social Policy | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90005 | Social Research Design and Evaluation | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90011 | Foundations of Social Policy | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90003 | Comparative Social Policy | September (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Capstone Options
Minor Thesis Option
Please note the following prior to enrolling in the minor thesis:
- students admitted into the 150 point program must have completed 25 points of compulsory subjects within the program, with an average of H1 (80%); and
- to be eligible to enrol in the thesis, students must submit a 300 word thesis proposal for approval by the course coordinator prior to the semester of enrolment in the thesis; and
- students enrolling in the minor thesis must also complete POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar; and
- the minor thesis must be completed over two consecutive semesters (part 1 and 2).
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLS40013 | Social Science Research Seminar | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PPMN90049 | Public /Social Policy Thesis Part 1 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
18.75 |
| PPMN90050 | Public /Social Policy Thesis Part 2 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
18.75 |
Internship Option
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCI90013 | Social Policy Internship |
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
25 |
Project Option
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCI90023 | Project-based Policy Analysis | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
Elective Subjects
Note: Students are strongly recommended to take all electives at level 9 (subject code numbering starting with 9). Students can only take a maximum of 25 points at level 4 (subject code numbering starting with 4) and in their first 50 points of the degree.
Students should do at least 50% of their electives from the following list:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCI40003 | Understanding The Life Course | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
| SOCI90010 | International Migration | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90012 | Inclusive Policy Development | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90018 | Indigenous Policy Analysis | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90020 | Social Policy: Special Topics A | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
| SOCI90021 | Feminist Social Policy | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90025 | Social Justice and Social Welfare | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90026 | Social Policy and Urban Problems | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PPMN90035 | Public Consultation & Policy Negotiation | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PPMN90056 | Business and Government | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90067 | Migration and Development | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90076 | Social Policy and Development | November (Off Campus) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90035 | Monitoring and Evaluation in Development | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90039 | Civil Society, NGOs and the State | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEND90006 | Gender, Globalisation and Development | April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEND40008 | Queer Studies: Identities & Sexualities | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEND40003 | Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CRIM40002 | Qualitative Research Methods | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CRIM90011 | Criminal Justice Knowledge Production | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CRIM90037 | Disability, Crime and Justice | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
| CRIM90008 | Sovereignty, Justice, Indigenous Peoples | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CRIM90041 | Carcerality | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SOCI90024 | Future of Work in Comparative Contexts | November (Off Campus) |
12.5 |
| PPMN90032 | Innovative Design and Service Delivery | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PPMN90054 | Global Issues in Indigenous Governance | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
Students can take a maximum of 50% of their total electives (points) from the following list of subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| POPH90058 | Health Program Evaluation 1 | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| POPH90088 | Disability in Policy and Practice | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| POPH90206 | Health Policy | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| POPH90267 | Ageing Health & Human Services | Term 3 (Online) |
12.5 |
| ECON90029 | Economics For Public Policy | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
| ENST90002 | Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90004 | Climate Change Politics and Policy | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ENST90032 | Sustainability and Behaviour Change |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ASIA90014 | Civil Society and Social Change in China | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MGMT90049 | Strategy, Ethics & Governance | Not available in 2025 | 12.5 |
| ABPL90026 | Property Development | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL90279 | Cities Without Slums | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MGMT90290 | Social Enterprise Incubator |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Links
http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/ssps
Last updated: 20 March 2025