Graduate Diploma in Public Administration

The Graduate Diploma in Public Administration is a 36-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

It is available on campus, by flexible delivery or in mixed mode, on campus/flexible delivery mode. The graduate diploma requires one year of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).

It articulates with:

• Graduate Certificate in Development Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
• Master of Public Administration
• Master of Public Administration (Management)
• Master of Public Administration (Policy).

Sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three levels.

Students who have completed the graduate certificate or an approved equivalent normally receive credit for 18 units of topics towards the graduate diploma. In turn, those who complete the graduate diploma normally receive 36 units of credit should they wish to proceed with a masters degree.

Alternatively, students who enrol directly in the graduate diploma may choose to complete only the requirements for the graduate certificate and exit with that award.

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

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold either the Graduate Certificate in Development Administration, Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Graduate Certificate in Public Policy* (or an approved equivalent); or an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Credit may be granted, on application, for relevant work already completed in other approved programs.

All students must submit to the Director of Studies a satisfactory proposal for a coherent program of studies which complements their previous studies or professional experiences in public policy and management.

* Those who were admitted to the Graduate Certificate without completing an undergraduate degree must have attained an acceptable GPA in the graduate certificate to be eligible to proceed to the Graduate Diploma.

Course aims

The Graduate Diploma in Public Administration aims to provide a broad overview of issues in public policy, management and administration and to provide a foundation for those wishing to pursue studies at the Masters level. 

Learning outcomes

Graduates with a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration will be able to:

• Understand contemporary trends and developments in public policy, public sector administration and management in both developed and developing countries
• Demonstrate the ability to apply relevant theories in explaining and analysing real world public policy, public sector administration and management problems.
  

Program of study  

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, students must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

• no topic may be attempted more than twice
• the program must be completed within six consecutive semesters or where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Board.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 12 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University&##39;s Policy on Student Progress.

Core - Year 1 topics

 POAD9014  Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9022  Public Management  (4.5 units)

AND one of:

 POAD9005  Contemporary Cases in Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9017  Contemporary Public Policy: Theoretical Perspectives  (4.5 units)
 POAD9138  Governance and Public Policy  (4.5 units)

AND one of:

 POAD9130  Toolkit for Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9137  Ethics in Public Administration  (4.5 units)
 POAD9139  Organisational Politics, Culture and Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9142  Leading and Managing Change  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 - Group A topics

One topic from Group A:

 INTR9054  The Alliance: The Strategic Shaping of Australia and US Trade Policy  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9015  Economics and Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9018  Housing Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9030  Indigenous Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9043  Selected Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9119  Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9129  Environmental Policy and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9133  Critical Systems Thinking and Practice  (4.5 units)
 POAD9134  Democracy and Sustainability  (4.5 units)
 POAD9136  Culture and Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POLI9004  The Politics of Climate Change  (4.5 units)*
 SOAD9104  Social Policy  (4.5 units)
 WMST8008  Engendering Justice, Rights, and Representation: Gender, State and Citizenship  (4.5 units)*

 *= not available in distance mode

Elective - Year 1 - Group B topics

AND one topic from Group B:

 EDUC9601  Strategic Thinking and Planning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9605  Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9762  Introduction to Statistics  (4.5 units)
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations  (4.5 units)
 POAD9028  Evaluation Methods  (4.5 units)
 POAD9034  Risk Management - Principles and Practice  (4.5 units)
 POAD9037  Financial Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9044  Selected Issues in Public Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9118  Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector  (4.5 units)
 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)
 POAD9132  Action learning project/internship (9 units)  (9 units)
 POAD9135  Project Management  (4.5 units)
 POAD9141  Qualitative Research Methods  (4.5 units)

AND one or two additional topics ( to make a total of 36 units), which can be chosen from any of the topics listed above, or from any other post-graduate program with the approval of the Director of Studies.