Master of Public Administration
Manage the business of global, national, and local government. Lead and excel in today’s rapidly changing policy environment.
About the Course
The Master of Public Administration aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in public administration and public management. It also aims to teach students how to undertake and/or interpret research in these areas.
The Master of Public Administration requires 2 years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time) and is offered by the College of Business, Government and Law.
The course articulates with the 18 unit Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and the 36 unit Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Administration, and the sequentially developed topics enable progression through the three awards.
Course Entry Requirements
Applicants must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.
Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy, a Graduate Certificate in International Relations, or an approved equivalent, but not an undergraduate degree, must also meet a Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement.
Flinders University conducts an English Language proficiency check on applications submitted for consideration to its courses. This will be met in a number of ways, including if the applicants:
- first language is English (i.e. citizenship is held for a country where English is the official language)
- completed secondary schooling in Australia
- completed prior study in English (e.g. a Certificate IV or higher from a recognised Australian training institution)
- completed one semester of full-time equivalent tertiary study at a higher education institution
- completed a recognised Foundation Studies or bridging program
- performance in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) meets the University's admissions requirements
- registered with an Australian professional registration body relevant to the applicant's proposed course (e.g. applicant holds current registration as a Registered Nurse, General Practitioner, Teacher, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker and such in Australia)
- achieved a score within an international English language proficiency test such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or Cambridge CAE that meets the minimum proficiency for the university
- completed an approved English language course from a registered English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Provider.
In some instances, applicants may be asked to provide evidence they meet the requirements if the information required is not available in their application.
Course Structure
Recommended study pattern
Program of study - 72 credit points
Year 1 - 36 credit points (Core Topics Only)
First half - 18 credit points
- GOVT8004 Governance in a Global World - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8009 Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8013 Public Management - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8007 Evidence in Policy and Program Management: Innovation, Effectiveness and Adaptation - 4.5 credit points.
Second half - 18 credit points
- GOVT8014 Understanding Research - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8002 Emerging Digital Futures - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8006 Inclusion and Innovation in Public Leadership - 4.5 credit points
- POAD8137 Professional Ethics and Public Administration - 4.5 credit points.
Year 2 - 36 credit points (Option Topics Only)
Select 36 units from the following:
- GOVT9006 Government Research Project - 9 credit points
- GOVT9005 Government Internship - 13.5 credit points
- GOVT9007 Government Thesis - 18 credit points
- GOVT9002 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT9001 Individual Supervised Study - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8012 Public Policy - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8011 Policy Design - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8005 Ideas and Perspectives in Contemporary Public Policy - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT9009 Environmental Policy - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT9008 Politics of Climate Change - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT9004 The Alliance and the Re-Emergence of China - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8017 Sustainable Development and Global Inequality - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8001 Debating International Relations - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT9003 Security in the International System - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8010 Normative Approaches to International Relations - 4.5 credit points
- GOVT8008 International Order in the 21st Century - 4.5 credit points
- INTR9078 Governing East Asia in the 21st Century - 4.5 credit points
- POAD9015 Economics and Public Policy - 4.5 credit points
- POAD9037 Public Financial Management - 4.5 credit points
- POAD9118 Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector - 4.5 credit points
- POAD9131 Development Administration - 4.5 credit points
- POAD9135 Project Governance - 4.5 credit points.
Award requirements
To qualify for the Master of Public Administration, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic.
On completion of the course, you will be able to:
- Integrate concepts, theories, contemporary trends and developments in public administration using advanced abilities.
- Evaluate complex information to appropriately address problems and challenges in public administration.
- Combine appropriate critical research and evaluative skills in relation to the theory and practice of public administration.
- Critically defend knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
