MPP and MPA Programs
University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Government (MSG) - MPPM and MPA
Program Comparison Highlights
Institutional Structure: TO COME
Curriculum Design: The Melbourne School of Government (MSG) offers a wider variety of degrees than most schools examined to date, with both public policy (and management) degrees and public administration degrees. There are three different durations for the MPPM: 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. The MSG differs from most schools in North America and Europe in providing systematic information on learning outcomes, assessment mechanisms and generic skills to be acquired (see links to courses in the Course Maps and in the handbooks noted above). The MSG also differs from most North American schools in offering a different suite of courses for the public policy degrees and the public administration degrees - many of the MPPM courses are not listed as electives for the MPA degree and vice versa. This is reflected in the Course Maps below, keeping in mind that the MPA Course Map differs from the MPPM Course Map in listing only the electives provided in the MSG. The MPA is also unusual in the proportion of its courses that are required (11/12). The MPPM and the MPA have quite different PEACO profiles, with the MPA having a much higher proportion of instruction in the Tools and Skills domain, and essentially no instruction in the Policy Sectors domain. The MPPM differs from most North American MPP degrees in having no course requirements in Economic Analysis, Quantitative Methods or Management Sciences. Relative to the other programs reviewed to date, the MPPM is at the very low end in its proportion of instruction in the Tools and Skills domain (30% compared with, for example, 74% at Berkeley and 52% at Harvard, and 44% at Toronto). It has among the highest proportions of instruction in Institutions and Contexts domain (46% compared with Toronto at 31%, Carleton at 24%, Harvard at 23%, and Berkeley at 9%). It is in the mid-range for the Management Functions domain (10% compared with Harvard at 3%, Berkeley at 7%, Carnegie at 28%) and in the lower range for proportion of instruction in the Policy Sectors domain (at 15% it is slightly lower than Harvard at 22%, Oxford at 23% and Toronto at 24% and much lower than Carleton at 35%). See PEACO Profile Comparisons, accessed 27 January 2014.
Professional Program Features: TO COME
Program Summary
Website: http://government.unimelb.edu.au
University: University of Melbourne
Location: Australia, Melbourne, Parkville (main) Campus
Degree: Masters of Public Policy and Management (MPPM), and Masters of Public Administration (MPA)
Marketing Approach:
Institution: "Welcome to Australia's No. 1 University" ... "The new Melbourne School of Government is designed to inspire and equip individuals to make a difference on a global scale. Through rigorous research, teaching and debate, we convert shared knowledge into collective wisdom influencing politics and decision-making to improve future outcomes." http://government.unimelb.edu.au, accessed 7 January 2014)
MPPM Degree: "The Master of Public Policy and Management is the premier degree of its kind in Australia and has been established for over 30 years. This comprehensive postgraduate pathway prepares for leadership and government roles in the national and international spheres." (At http://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/23-master-of-public-policy-and-management, accessed 26 January 2014)
MPA Degree: "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." (At https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2014/MC-PA, accessed 27 January 2014)
Degrees Awarded per Year: TBD [Information will be requested from the School]
Academic Unit within University: The Melbourne School of Government is a graduate school within the Faculty of Arts. It was created in 2013, although the MPPM "has been established for over 30 years" (at http://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/23-master-of-public-policy-and-management, accessed 18 May 2015.) The School's report on its first year can be found at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/msog-production/assets/files/000/000/166/original/12826_MU_School_of_Gov_Interactive_PDF_CS6_03_0.pdf?1401925665 (accessed 18 May 2015).
Related Academic Units and Degrees: The Melbourne Law School and the Faculty of Business & Economics are listed as core Partner Faculties for the School, supporting the development and delivery of its academic mission.
Posted Tuition: The 2015 indicative fees for the 2-year MPPM program are $62,517 AUD ($31,258 AUD per year), at http://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/23-master-of-public-policy-and-management/fees-and-scholarships, accessed 18 May 2018. Note 1: 1 Australian Dollar = 0.80 US Dollar on 18 May 2015.
Concentration/Curriculum Overview:
Degree Requirements
Summary: The Master of Public Policy and Management degree usually comprises a 200-point course of full-time study, however, applicants may be eligible to earn a degree with 100 or 150 points depending on previous studies and experience. [Note: a one-semester-equivalent courses is worth 12.5 points.]
The Master of Public Administration degree is a 150-point course of full-time study. There is no 100-point programs available for this degree but a 200-point option is available for those who wish to pursue specific areas of interest in policy such as Law, Economics, Development or International Politics.
Duration: 1-2 years for the MPPM; 1.5-3 years for the MPA
Academic Prerequisite: For the MPPM, the requirements of a 1-year full-time degree are: an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with at least a H2B (70%) average, or equivalent; or an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience, or equivalent. The requirement of a 1.5 years full-time degree is an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, or equivalent, and at least one year of documented, relevant work experience, or equivalent. The requirements of a 2 years full-time are: an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, or equivalent; or an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience, or equivalent.
For the MPA, the requirements of a 1.5 years full-time degree are: successful completion of an undergraduate degree in an area related to public administration with an average equivalent to H2B (70%); and at least three years of documented relevant professional expertise at a level considered appropriate by the Committee.
Number of One-Semester-Equivalent Courses Required for Completion: MPPM 2-year degree: 16; 1.5-year degree: 12; 1-year degree: 8. MPA 1.5-year degree: 12
Number of Required Courses: MPPM 2-year degree: 8, 1.5-year degree: 6, 1-year degree: 4. MPA 1.5-year degree: 11
Number of Electives Typically Taken (difference between above two entries): MPPM 2 year degree: 8, 1.5 year degree: 6, 1 year degree: 4. MPA 1.5 year degree: 1
Number of Electives Offered within Program: MPPM: 8 in the School, total of 44 including those from other departments
MPA: 5 in the School, total of 76 including those from other departments
Comprehensive Examination: None
Thesis Required: Optional
Internship Required: Optional
International Study Required: The School offers international internships and study abroad/exchange programs.
Co-curricular Activities Supportive to Degree
Professional Development and Career Support: Not mentioned on website.
Student-run Journal: Not mentioned on website.
Applied Projects: Not mentioned on website.
Pro Bono Consulting: Not mentioned on website.
Courses Offered: The full list of 2013-14 Melbourne School of Government courses for the MPPM is found at: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2014/%21344AB-SPC%2B1000. This has been downloaded to the Atlas at Melbourne Handbook Course Requirements for 200 Point MPPM, January 2014. The courses for the MPA are at: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2014/MC-PA. This has been downloaded to the Atlas at Melbourne Handbook Course Requirements for MPA, January 2014. In the Course Maps below, required courses are indicated by (R).
Course Material Online: Brief course descriptions, including information on learning outcomes, assessment mechanisms and generic skills to be acquired, but no syllabi appear to be available to the public online.
Instructional Distribution (PEACO Profile): The distribution of instruction offered for the two flagship programs, based on the course assignments to subjects in the two Course Maps below is displayed in the following table. [See note on PEACO Profile Methodology.]
|
|
Melbourne |
Melbourne |
|
|
MPPM |
MPA |
|
Courses Required and Offered |
|
|
|
a. Number of one-semester courses required for degree |
16 |
12 |
|
b. Number of required courses |
8 |
11 |
|
c. Number of elective courses taken (a - b) |
8 |
1 |
|
d. Number of elective courses offered |
44 |
5 |
|
e. Enrolment weight of elective courses (c/d) |
0.18 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution of Instruction by Subject-matter Domain |
|
|
|
Tools and Skills |
29.5% |
63.3% |
|
- Strategy and Structure |
15.9% |
28.3% |
|
- Economic Analysis |
1.1% |
0.0% |
|
|
- Quantitative Methods and Management Sciences |
2.3% |
8.3% |
|
- Leadership, Communication, Professional Practice |
10.2% |
26.7% |
|
Institutions and Context |
45.5% |
28.3% |
|
- Democratic Institutions and Policy Process |
29.5% |
16.7% |
|
- Ethics and Accountability |
6.8% |
8.3% |
|
- Social, Political, Global and Local Contexts |
9.1% |
3.3% |
|
Management Functions |
10.2% |
8.3% |
|
- Public Financial Management |
2.3% |
8.3% |
|
- Evaluation and Performance Measurement |
2.3% |
0.0% |
|
- Other Management Functions |
5.7% |
0.0% |
|
Policy Sectors |
14.8% |
0.0% |
|
- Fiscal, Monetary and Tax Policy |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
- International Development |
2.3% |
0.0% |
|
- Health |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
- Other Policy Sectors |
12.5% |
0.0% |
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution of Instruction by NASPAA Competency Domain |
|
|
|
Lead and Manage in Public Governance |
21.6% |
32.5% |
|
Participate and Contribute to the Policy Process |
39.4% |
21.1% |
|
Analyze, Synthesize, Solve Problems and Make Decisions |
22.3% |
12.8% |
|
Articulate and Apply Public Service Perspectives |
7.6% |
11.1% |
|
Communicate and Interact with Workforce and Citizenry |
9.1% |
22.5% |
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
Source: At http://government.unimelb.edu.au and http://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/23-master-of-public-policy-and-management and http://government.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/37-master-of-public-administration and https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2014/344AB and https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2014/MC-PA (accessed 8 January 2014).
Page Created By: Matthew Seddon on 8 January 2014 and updated by Ian Clark 27 January 2014 and by Dave Marshall on 3 April 2015. Updating and editing may consist of substantive and/or formatting changes. Unless otherwise noted, however, information regarding a program's structure, curricular offerings and PEACO score is based on the program as it was on the date of page creation. The content presented on this page, except for the assignments of courses to Atlas subjects, the Instructional Distribution analysis, and the Commentary is drawn directly from the source(s) cited above, and consists of direct quotations or close paraphrases.
Melbourne (MSG) 2-year MPPM Course Map
C o u r s e s O f f e r e d, l i s t e d b y P u b l i c P o l i c y a n d M a n a g e m e n t S u b j e c t
[NOTE: The MPPM Course Map is an image of the live-linked map at University of Melbourne, MPPM Course Map]
.
Melbourne (MSG) 1.5-Year MPA Course Map
C o u r s e s O f f e r e d, l i s t e d b y P u b l i c P o l i c y a n d M a n a g e m e n t S u b j e c t
[NOTE: The MPA Course Map differs from the MPPM Course Map above in listing only the electives provided in the MSG. Details on the total of 76 elective courses, including those from other departments, canm be found at Melbourne Handbook Course Requirements for MPA, January 2014. ]