200 Point Master of Public Policy and Management

The Master of Public Policy and Management is the premier public policy program in Australia. For more than 30 years it has prepared students for leadership roles in Australia and internationally. It is designed for current public, private and community sector leaders and managers, as well as those wishing to begin a career in public policy and management. The program draws upon the expertise of academics engaged in researching public policy and of senior leaders from state and federal government and public service delivery organisations.

Students who complete the Master of Public Policy and Management should:

• understand the dilemmas posed by the interdependence, diversity and dynamics of global, national and local institutions and actors and appreciate the potential and limits of public policy action;
• become familiar with the key theoretical and analytical perspectives and debates in public policy, governance and management;
• gain broad and deep knowledge of the institutions, actors, processes and practices of contemporary government and policy making;
• develop high level analytic skills to meet the demands of complex contemporary public policy making and an ability to locate the evidential and other resources needed to apply these skills;
• acquire a critical appreciation of the role of leadership (and followership) in policy making and public service delivery;
• develop advanced management skills appropriate to complex public service systems.

200 point program

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

The Master of Public Policy and Management 200 point program requires:

• three compulsory subjects (75 points)
• 25 points of core subjects

Coursework Option

• 100 points of elective subjects

or

Minor Thesis Option

• PPMN90002 Minor Thesis - Public/Social Policy (37.5 points)

• POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)

• 50 points of elective subjects

Capstone Requirement:

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: PPMN90039 Executive Internship

Purpose: An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in policy making to solve problems that arise in professional contexts and develop an integrated understanding of research and practice

Capstone Stream 2: PPMN90006 Public Management

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills in public management to a practical management problem through a sustained piece of applied scholarship

Capstone Stream 3: PPMN90007 Policy Design and Implementation

Purpose: An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in policy design to a practical policy problem through a sustained piece of applied scholarship

Capstone Stream 4: PPMN90002 Minor Thesis - Public /Social Policy

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a research question; Pathway to the PhD

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 Subjects

Three compulsory subjects (75 points)

Core Subjects

25 points

Minor Thesis Subjects

Minor Thesis Option:

• PPMN90002 Minor Thesis - Public/Social Policy (37.5 points)

• POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)

Please note the following prior to enrolling in PPMN90002 Minor Thesis - Public/Social Policy:

• students admitted into the 200 point and 150 point program must have completed 37.5 points of compulsory subjects within the program, with an average of H1 (80%)
• 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
• students enrolling in the minor thesis must also complete POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar
• the minor thesis must be completed over two consecutive semesters

Elective Subjects

Coursework Option:

• 100 points of elective subjects

or

Minor Thesis Option:

• 50 points of elective subjects