Graduate Certificate in Development Administration

The Graduate Certificate in Development Administration is an 18-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. It requires one semester of full-time study (or equivalent part-time).

The course is available on-campus, by flexible delivery or in mixed mode. It is available for full-time study option in Semester 2 only.

It articulates with the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and three 72-unit masters programs - the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Management) and Master of Public Administration (Policy).

Sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three levels.

Students who complete the graduate certificate normally receive credit for up to 18 units of topics should they wish to proceed with the graduate diploma or masters.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

Admission may be granted based on prior work and voluntary experience. This will usually include several years of experience in a public sector or non-government organisation. Admission will be based on the extent to which work or voluntary experience has enabled the applicant to develop an understanding of issues in the public and non-government sectors, and policy and/or analytical skills.

Applicants who wish to be admitted on this basis need to provide:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a description of the roles and activities in work or voluntary positions;
• a description of the skills and abilities demonstrated through their work/voluntary experience; and
• name(s) of referee(s) who could verify work/voluntary experience.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Development Administration seeks to provide the participants with basic understanding and knowledge of developmental issues and to enhance their capabilities and skills necessary to plan, implement, manage and evaluate development programs. Thus it provides a conceptual and practical framework for individuals wishing to proceed with careers in government, international development agencies and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Learning outcomes

Graduates with the Graduate Certificate in Development Administration will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge about the basic concepts of and approaches to development with a deeper appreciation of the broader context of its management
• demonstrate capacities and skills in planning and managing development programs
• acquire competencies in analysing development problems and thus develop a framework for reflective practice about development policy and management.
  

Program of study

The program comprises 18 units of study - one core topic (4.5 units) and electives (13.5 units):

Students enrolling in this course must complete the core topic. plus one topic from Group A and 9 units from Group B.

Core - Year 1 topics

 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)

Option - Group A topics

 DVST8010  Development Problems, Policies and Programs  (4.5 units)
 DVST8701  Sustainable Development GE  (4.5 units)
 DVST9029  Gender, Public Health and International Development  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8712  Asian Regional Development GE  (4.5 units)

Option - Group B topics

 ASST9016  Social and Cultural Change in Asia  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9601  Strategic Thinking and Planning  (4.5 units)
 ENVS9701  Sustainable Environmental Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9016  Urban Policy and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9022  Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations  (4.5 units)
 POAD9028  Evaluation Methods  (4.5 units)
 POAD9037  Financial Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9043  Selected Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9044  Selected Issues in Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9119  Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9129  Environmental Policy and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9132  Action learning project/internship (9 units)  (9 units)
 POAD9133  Critical Systems Thinking and Practice  (4.5 units)
 POAD9135  Project Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9139  Organisational Politics, Culture and Management  (4.5 units)