Master of Public Administration (Enhanced)

The Master of Public Administration is the flagship degree of the Melbourne School of Government. An inter-disciplinary and globally-focused degree, the MPA is for those professional who work with, and within, governments in Australia, the region, and around the world. 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 focuses on the role of managers and administrators and offers participants the opportunity to combine disciplinary expertise in political science, law, and economics and professional expertise in areas such as decision making, media and communication management, ethics, project management, strategic management, leadership and negotiation. 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 allow them to explore a range of contemporary issues. All participants undertake an internship or research project as part of the Melbourne MPA to apply their learning in an individual or team-based experience.

In the 200 point MPA, the MPA (Enhanced), students can take five electives and these are selected in consultation with the MPA 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. Drawing on the broader expertise at The University of Melbourne, the MPA offers participants access to a series of master classes with world-leading practitioners and scholars to supplement and extend their intellectual and professional interests.

Students who complete the Master of Public Administration (Enhanced) should:

• understand the management and administrative challenges that confront public managers;
• appreciate the interconnected nature of these challenges, and the power of applying interdisciplinary approaches to them;
• understand the strategic environment in which managers operate and the relationships they develop to deliver on complex public policy goals;
• explore the local, national, regional, and global factors that impact on these managers and their environment.

200 point program

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

The Master of Public Administration (Enhanced) 200 point program requires:

• eight compulsory subjects (112.5 points)
• one core subject (25 points)
• elective subjects (62.5 points)

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.

Compulsory Subject

Eight compulsory subjects (112.5 points)

Core Subjects

One core subject (25 points)

Elective Subjects

Elective subjects (62.5 points)

Please note: in the 200 point MPA, students can take five electives and these are selected in consultation with the MPA 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. Drawing on the broader expertise at The University of Melbourne, the MPA offers participants access to a series of master classes with world-leading practitioners and scholars to supplement and extend their intellectual and professional interests.

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

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in an area related to public administration with an average equivalent to H2B (70%);
• At least three years of documented relevant professional expertise at a level considered appropriate by the Committee.

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

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 Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students who complete the thesis may be eligible to enter the PhD.

http://www.unimelb.edu.au/about/attributes.html

Knowledge

Graduates will 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;
• an enhanced understanding of the challenges facing public managers and administrators through additional studies in an area of professional or intellectual focus.

Skills

Graduates will 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. These skills are enhanced through additional studies in areas of professional or intellectual focus;
• 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. These skills are enhanced through additional studies in areas of professional and/or intellectual focus;
• a highly-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and reflect upon professional practice in order to most effectively address challenges. These skills are enhanced through the selection of
• additional studies in areas of professional and intellectual interest;
• well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities including report writing, workplace discussions, negotiation and management and lobbying strategies;
• alexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication;
• ahe 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.