Master of Social Policy

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 etc;
• engage with the social dimensions of social policy: race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age etc;
• 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.

Students who complete this course should develop a number of generic skills that should help them with future study and employment. Students will enhance their skills in:

• Research: through competent use of advanced information sources and retrieval of appropriate information;
• Critical and theoretical thinking: through presentation of research papers, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis;
• Time management and planning: through managing and organising workloads;
• Team work: through small group discussions

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time

First 100 points:

• two compulsory subjects (37.5 points)
• five elective subjects (62.5 points)

Second 100 points:

• Two compulsory subjects (25 points) and

Option 1

• Six elective subjects (75 points) or

Option 2*

• Thesis (37.5 points) &
• Electives (37.5 points)

*(Written permission from the course coordinator is required for option 2)

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / up to 2 years part-time

• Four compulsory subjects (62.5 points) and

Option 1

• Three elective subjects (37.5 points) or

Option 2*

• Thesis subject (37.5 points)

*(Written permission from the course coordinator is required for option 2, the thesis requires enrolment over two consecutive semesters)

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.

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria –

For the 200 point program

• an undergraduate degree with a major area of study related to social policy with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) in the relevant subjects, or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any field with an overall grade average of at least H2B (70%) and at least one year of full time documented relevant professional work experience, or equivalent.

For the 100 point program

• an honours degree with a major area of study related to social policy with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) in the relevant subjects, or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any field and at least two years of full time documented relevant professional work experience, or equivalent.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews or tests and may call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Documented evidence of relevant professional experience:
Applicants seeking admission into 100 program must provide the following documentation in support of their application for the recognition of prior professional experience:

• brief curriculum vitae, detailing work experience;
• contact details of two referees ;
• a covering letter outlining the applicants professional background and how this prepares them to successfully undertake the program.

In some cases, an interview and/or two reference letters from employers/managers detailing the period of employment and areas of responsibility, and/or evidence of written work or reports undertaken during the period of employment may be requested.

Admission process

For the purposes of considering request 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 Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students who complete the minor thesis may be eligible for entry into the PhD.

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