APG5101 Foundations of public policy
Faculty of Arts
APG5101 Foundations of public policy is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Caulfield. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before APG5101
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
- MGF5923Public policy
After APG5101
No unit lists APG5101 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prohibition: MGX9230 also
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
Understanding public policy is a vital skill in any contemporary organisation. The unit introduces you to the basic principles of how public policy is made, how it emerges from competing interests and debates, and how stakeholders inside and outside government participate in this process. Lessons are drawn from practice in international experience.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | Online blk |
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Case studyWritten35%
- Case studyDemonstration35%
- ReflectionsArtefact15%
- QuizzesQuiz / Test15%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Analyse the core concepts and theories that help explain how public policy is made;
- 2
Evaluate the role of government institutions and other stakeholders in the processes in policy making;
- 3
Critically assess how policy makers contribute to the development of policies, make decisions and choose strategies to implement policy decisions;
- 4
Apply knowledge and skills to a real case of public policy.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops12 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
Where it fits
APG5101 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Jade Wong
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jade Wong
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for APG5101?
APG5101 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is APG5101 offered?
In 2026, APG5101 runs in Semester 1 at Caulfield.
How much work is APG5101?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does APG5101 have an exam?
No. APG5101 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include APG5101?
APG5101 is part of Leadership for sustainable development.