A6028 Master of Public Policy

The course comprises 96 credit points structured into four parts: Part A. Core studies, Part B. Professional practice studies, Part C. Applied studies, and Part D. Specified elective studies.

A research pathway is also available for students seeking eligibility to apply for HDR studies.

Part A. Core studies 

These studies will introduce you to public policy theory and practice at an advanced graduate level. Throughout these studies, you will gain practical knowledge and skills that will provide a solid foundation for the specialist studies units undertaken in the program.  

Part B. Professional practice studies

Designed in association with industry experts, select from this suite of professional enhancement offerings to build essential competencies for your career pathway

Part C. Applied studies

The focus of these studies is professional and project work, focused locally or globally, that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. In this part of the program you can also undertake higher level research.

Part D. Specified elective studies

The focus of these studies is to develop your expertise in a specialisation: Policy studies or Global studies. These will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed for the capacity to work and communicate across the borders of context or discipline.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1, you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part. A, Part. B, Part. C and Part. D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part. A, Part. B (6 credit points), Part. C and Part. D (18 credit points). 
• If you are admitted at entry level 3, you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part. A (24 credit points), Part. C and Part. D (12 credit points).

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression maps

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map. 

The course comprises 96 credit points structured into four parts: Part A. Core studies, Part B. Professional practice studies, Part C. Applied studies, and Part D. Specified elective studies.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Core studies (36 points)

You must complete six units (36 points) from the list below:

Note: Entry level 3 is only required to complete four units (24 points).

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy 
• APG5102 Governance 
• APG5103 Policy analysis 
• APG5104 Public sector reform 
• APG5129 Evaluation 
• APG5195 Implementation and service delivery 

Part B. Professional practice studies (12 points)

Note 1: Entry level 2 is only required to complete one unit (6 points).

Note 2: If you intend to pursue the research pathway, please note that APG5084 is a co-requisite for APG5849 Research Thesis A.

Note 3: If you intend to enrol in APG5856 in Part C, you must complete APG5084 as it is a prerequisite.

You must complete one or two units (12 points) from the list below:

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5129 Evaluation
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5140 Principles and practices for disaster management, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation
• APG5170 Social enterprise challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5393 Ethical theory
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments

• APG5652 Language and intercultural communication

• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development

• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills

• APG5967 Professional enhancement A

• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (12 points)
• MON5750 Monash Innovation Guarantee

Part C. Applied studies (12 points) and Part D. Specified elective studies (36 points)

You must complete one specialisation from the following:

• Policy studies 
• Global studies 

Research pathway (24 points) - optional

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master by research, PhD) is available if you:

• are completing the Policy studies specialisation; and
• have achieved a minimum weighted average mark of 80% in the units of this course.  

Note 1: APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester.

Note 2: Entry into the research pathway does not guarantee admittance into a graduate research degree 

If you are admitted into the course at entry point 1, the following unit replacements will apply:

• APG5084 Designing research replaces 6 credit points from Part B.
• APG5849 Research thesis A replaces 6 credit points of specified electives from Part D.
• APG5850 Research thesis B replaces 12 credit points of applied study from Part C

If you are admitted into the course at entry point 2, the following unit replacements will apply:

• APG5084 Designing research replaces 6 credit points from Part B.
• APG5849 Research thesis A replaces 6 credit points from Part D.
• APG5850 Research thesis B replaces 12 credit points of applied study from Part C

If you are admitted into the course at entry level 2, the replacement units will be determined based on previous study in consultation with the Course Director

All students undertaking the research pathway will complete:

• APG5084 Designing research 
• APG5849 Research thesis A 
• APG5850 Research thesis B