Courses Handbook 2008 - [ Archived ]

308344 v.3 Master of Public Administration

MPA(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 059069C
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 1.5 Years


Introduction

This course will focus on major issues confronting public sector organisations. It has been designed to facilitate an understanding of government, the law of government, governance and ethics, policy design, management and leadership issues through critical reflection, theoretical perspectives and practical methods. The course incorporates a work-based project unit where students critically examine and research a major area of interest.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites

A relevant bachelor degree from a recognised tertiary institution with either a postgraduate qualification or at least two years in a senior level public sector role. Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience may be considered for admission but may be required to complete the Graduate Certificate in Public Administration as a pre-requisite.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis. Applicants will not normally receive recognition of prior learning for core units within the program except where the specific core units have been undertaken within the specified institutional timeframe.

Duration and Availability

This fee-paying course is one and a half years full-time or equivalent part-time study. Some units are available in the evening or intensively over two weekends.

Intermediate Awards 1

A student who has successfully completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval of Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate award(s) approved for this course are:

Intermediate Awards II

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration. Graduate Diploma in Public Administration.

Course Organisation

Students must study at least six core units (150 credits) and optional units. The optional units may be taken in year one or two, subject to availability.

Career Opportunities

Graduates generally find employment positions with public sector organisations.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials.

Special Note

Students may enrol at either Curtin University of Technology or the University of Western Australia to undertake this collaborative program provided they satisfy course entry prerequisite requirements. Students who have nominated Curtin as their home institution and will be admitted at Curtin, undertake Curtin units and complete units at the University of Western Australia on a cross-institutional basis. All units undertaken appear in the Curtin academic transcript. Curtin will award the degree on satisfactory completion, bearing the crest of the University of Western Australia. Students who have nominated the University of Western Australia as their home institution and will undertake units at Curtin cross-institutionally and have these units credited towards their degree.

Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.

Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1
308349 v.2 *   Ethics, Public Values and Policy 500 3.0 25.0
308350 v.2 *   The Machinery of Government 500 3.0 25.0
308351 v.2 *   Public Policy Analysis and Design 500 3.0 25.0
308352 v.2 *   Markets and Government 500 3.0 25.0
308353 v.2 *   Managing in the Public Sector 500 3.0 25.0
310076 v.1 *   Public Sector Communications 500 3.0 25.0
310607 v.1 *   LAWS4400 Constitutional Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
  SELECT 1 OPTION   25.0
  200.0
Year 2
310075 v.1 *   Work-Based Project 500 3.0 25.0
  SELECT 3 OPTIONS   75.0
  100.0
Optional Units (No Year Level Specified) Hrs/Wk Credit
10978 v.6   Economics (Public Finance) 568 4.0 50.0
11390 v.2   Leadership in a Global Dynamic Environment 520 3.0 25.0
301843 v.2   Social Policy 501 - Social Policy in Australia 2.0 25.0
301846 v.3   Social Policy 505 - Theoretical Perspectives on Social Policy 2.0 25.0
301847 v.2   Social Policy 507 - Economic Foundations of Social Policy 2.0 25.0
301849 v.4   Social Policy 604 - Comparative and Global Perspectives on Social Policy 2.0 25.0
301948 v.3 +   International Health and Primary Health Care 600 8.0 25.0
310608 v.1   LAWS8540 Environmental Protection Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310609 v.1   LAWS8555 Employee Relations Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310610 v.1   LAWS8534 Indigenous Peoples and the Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310611 v.1   LAWS3324 Medicine and the Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310612 v.1   LAWS3385 Administrative Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310613 v.1   LAWS3304 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Law (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310614 v.1   LAWS8539 Criminology, Criminal Law and Public Policy (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310615 v.1   LAWS8544 Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Policy (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310616 v.1   LAWS8543 Measuring Crime and Monitoring the Administration of Criminal Justice (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310617 v.1   LAWS8561 Theories of Punishment and Principles of Sentencing (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310618 v.1   MGMT8623 Leadership Effectiveness (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310619 v.1   MGMT8560 Information Management (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310620 v.1   MGMT8615 Organisational Change and Transformation (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310621 v.1   MGMT8505 Societal, Environmental and Public Policy Marketing (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310622 v.1   HRMT8518 Human Resource Management (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310623 v.1   ACCT2206 Performance Measurement and Evaluation (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310624 v.1   ACCT7461 Public Sector Financial Management and Performance (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310625 v.1   ECON8401 Economic Policy Analysis (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310626 v.1   ECON2295 Public Finance (UWA) 4.0 25.0
310627 v.1   IREL2208 Managing Diversity (UWA) 4.0 25.0
5248 v.6   Managerial Leadership 561 3.0 25.0
5698 v.5   Organisational Behaviour 550 3.0 25.0
5706 v.7   Accounting (Public Sector) 567 3.0 25.0
*      Only six of these core units need to be completed to fulfil the requirements of the course. Two of the units may be substituted with units from the list of options.
+      Available externally only and can be taken in either year one or two

Availability

Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2008 Bentley Campus Semester 1   Y      
2008 Bentley Campus Semester 2   Y      
2008 Bentley Campus Semester 2   Y      

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

*The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

#Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.



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