Public Policy

Overview

Public Policy is the set of decisions that shapes the way the country is run. The study of public policy examines why governments are necessary and how they can be made more effective. We look at how governments make policy, how the public sector is run and the political dimensions of public sector decision-making.

A further examination of public policy can be found in this Mediasite presentation of a lecture given in 2010 for the course FCOM111, Government, Law and Business.

The School of Government offers an undergraduate major in Public Policy, which is available as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA). Public Policy is also available as a specialisation in the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Commerce, and the Graduate Diploma in Arts. We also offer a full range of postgraduate programmes, including Honours, Master's and PhD qualifications.

Whatever you choose to focus on, a major in Public Policy is a valuable tool in understanding government from the inside out.

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Undergraduate Information

BA major requirements
  1. One course from ECON 130, POLS 111, PUBL 113
  2. PUBL 201, 40 further points from PUBL 200-299
  3. PUBL 306, 20 further points from PUBL 300-399

BCA major requirements
  1. The BCA core must be included (ACCY 111 or ECON 130*, FCOM 111**, INFO 101, MARK 101, MGMT 101 and QUAN 102)
  2. PUBL 201, and two further courses from PUBL 200-299
  3. PUBL 306, and one further course from PUBL 300-399
*The ECON 130 requirement will be waived for a student who has passed ECON 140

**FCOM 111 can be replaced by COML 203 and PUBL 113/201/202

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Postgraduate and Post Experience Information

Postgraduate Qualifications in Public Policy
Post Experience Qualifications in Public Policy

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How To Find Out More

You can order more information on this subject using our Request for Study Material form.

Victoria's Student Recruitment, Admission and Orientation Office offers advice on courses and help with planning your degree.

Contact the Faculty of Commerce and Administration's Student and Academic Services Office for information on admission, qualifications and courses, course advice and selection criteria, exemptions and prerequisites and your Application to Study.

Public Policy courses are taught within the School of Government, Rutherford House.


For Undergraduate Programmes and the Certificate/Diploma in Commerce, contact

Associate Professor Graham Hassall
Undergraduate Coordinator
Phone: (04) 463 5047
Email: address


For Honours and Post Experience Programmes, contact

Dr Chris Eichbaum
Honours Coordinator and Director of Master's Programmes
Phone: (04) 463 5675
Email: address


Bun Wong
Senior Administrator
Phone: (04) 463 5453
Email: address

For MA/MCA and PhD Programmes, contact

Dawn Yeabsley
Administrator
Phone: (04) 463 6966
Email: address


Alternatively, contact

School of Government Office
Phone: (04) 463 6599
Email: address

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Related Subjects and Careers

Related Subjects Careers

Economics
Education
Environmental Studies
Geography
Law
Management
Political Science
Social Policy

Community organisations
Government
Iwi organisations
Local government
Policy analyst
Politics
News media
Regional government
Social science researcher

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List of Courses

100 Level Public Policy Courses

PUBL 113 – Social and Public Policy: Values and Change

200 Level Public Policy Courses

PUBL 201 – Introduction to Public Policy

PUBL 202 – Institutions and the Policy Process

PUBL 203 – Introduction to Public Economics

PUBL 205 – Development Policy and Management

PUBL 206 – Power and Bureaucracy

PUBL 207 – Environmental Policy

PUBL 209 – Introduction to Public Economics

300 Level Public Policy Courses

PUBL 302 – Managing the Public Sector

PUBL 303 – Public Sector Economics

PUBL 304 – Cabinet Government

PUBL 305 – Special Topic

PUBL 306 – The Theory and Methods of Policy Analysis

400 Level Public Policy Courses

PUBL 401 – Craft and Method in Policy Analysis

PUBL 402 – Aspects of Public Policy: Theory

PUBL 403 – Contemporary Policy Issues

PUBL 404 – Bureaucratic Power in Western Democracies

PUBL 406 – Some Aspects of Policy-Making

PUBL 408 – State and the Economy

PUBL 410 – Public Economics: Taxes and Transfers

PUBL 411 – Public Economics: Economics of Social Regulations

PUBL 412 – Special Topic: Policy Economics

PUBL 415 – Special Topic: Research Paper

PUBL 416 – Research Project in Public Policy

PUBL 482 – Internship

500 Level Public Policy Courses

MAPP 521 – Economics

MAPP 522 – Economics and Public Policy

MAPP 523 – Politics, Philosophy and Public Policy

MAPP 524 – Institutions and the Policy Process

MAPP 525 – Policy Analysis and Advising

MAPP 526 – Policy Methods and Practice

MAPP 527 – Regulatory Policy

MAPP 528 – Local Government

MAPP 529 – Strategic Management in the Public Sector

MAPP 530 – Comparative Public Management

MAPP 531 – Law in the Public Sector

MAPP 551 – Health Policy

MAPP 552 – Education Policy

MAPP 553 – Topics in Research and Analysis

MAPP 554 – Monitoring and Evaluation

MAPP 555 – Social Policy

MAPP 556 – Equity and Public Policy

MAPP 557 – Managing Policy Organisations

MAPP 558 – Development Policy and Management

MAPP 559 – Special Topic: Health Sector Strategy and Decision Making: Linking Theory to Practice

MAPP 560 – Special Topic: Contemporary Issues in Policy and Governance

MAPP 561 – Special Topic: Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development

MAPP 562 – Special Topic

MAPP 567 – Approved Personal Course of Study

MAPP 568 – Approved Personal Course of Study

MAPP 570 – Research Essay

MAPP 575 – Dissertation

MAPP 580 – Project

MAPP 581 – Project

MAPP 582 – Internship

PUBL 501 – Research Paper in Public Policy

PUBL 502 – Research Paper in Public Policy

PUBL 591 – Thesis

600 Level Public Policy Courses

PUBL 690 – Public Policy for PhD

The following information will not be shown on the published Page
but is provided as a reference for the selections for this page.

Public Policy