Specialist Certificate in Public Administration

The Specialist Certificate in Public Administration is designed for professionals working in or with government, through public, corporate or community organisations.

The course offers an introduction and foundation to an inter-disciplinary and globally-focused group of subjects.

The course draws on the expertise across the University of Melbourne to develop the skills and competencies of professionals who operate in increasingly complex governing environments where challenges cut across disciplinary, organisational, sectoral, jurisdictional and geographical boundaries.The Specialist Certificate offers participants the opportunity to combine disciplinary expertise in political science, law, and business and economics with professional expertise in areas such as decision making, ethics, strategic management, negotiation and leadership.

Participants will mix theory and practice to address the complex challenges of management in practice through an interactive learning experience, combining individual and team-based learning opportunities that allow them to explore a range of contemporary issues.

Course structure

Program Structure –

• 1 Compulsory Subject (12.5 points)
• 1 Core Subject (12.5 points)

Total 25 points

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree in an area related to social sciences and at least three years of documented relevant professional experience

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of previous studies; and
• the professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providing support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete the Specialist Certificate in Public Administration should:

• understand the challenges that confront leaders from the community, corporate and public sectors;
• develop the understanding to appreciate the interconnected nature of these challenges, and the power of applying interdisciplinary approaches to them;
• start to understand the strategic environment in which leaders operate and the relationships they develop to deliver on complex public policy goals; and
• explore the local, national, regional, and global factors that impact on these leaders and their environment.