Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the flagship degree of the Melbourne School of Government. An inter-disciplinary and globally-focused degree, the MPA is for leaders from the community, corporate and public sectors. 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 leaders and offers participants the opportunity to combine disciplinary expertise in political science, law, and business and economics with professional expertise in areas such as decision making, media and communication management, ethics, 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 150 point MPA, participants choose an elective 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 should:

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

150 point program

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

• eight compulsory subjects (112.5 points)
• one core subject (25 points)
• elective subject (12.5 points)

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (25 points). Students must complete one capstone option:

Capstone Stream 1: PPMN90039 Executive Internship (25 points)

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

Capstone Stream 2: PADM90004 Minor Thesis - Public Administration (25 points)

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

Capstone Stream 3: PADM90010 Applied Syndicate Project (25 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to work in a team-based project where knowledge and skills are applied to 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.

Compulsory Subjects

8 compulsory subjects (112.5 points)

Core Subjects

1 core subject (25 points)

Elective Subjects

12.5 points

Please note: in the 150 point Master of Public Administration program, participants choose an elective subject in consultation with the Master of Public Administration 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 Master of Public Administration offers participants access to a series of master classes with world-leading practitioners and scholars to supplement and extend their intellectual and professional interests

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree in an area related to public administration, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%); and
• at least three years of documented relevant professional experience.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of previous studies; and
• the professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

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://learningandteaching.unimelb.edu.au/curriculum/graduates

Knowledge

Graduates should 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.

Skills

Graduates should 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;
• 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;
• A highly-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and reflect upon professional practice in order to most effectively address challenges;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities including report writing, workplace discussions, negotiation and management and lobbying strategies;
• Flexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication; and
• The 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.