MA Public Administration Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Public Administration
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			Level 7			Length of programme			1 Year (full time) 2 Year (part time)
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full and Part Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes for both years			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			18th Sept - 2nd Feb 5th Feb - 17th Sept
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Politics
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17	Lead department			Politics			Other contributing departments			Management, School of Business and Society
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			campus-based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	No
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	N/A
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	No
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35	Exceptions to Regulations
36	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
37	N/A
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39	Internal Transfers
40	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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42		Transfers in:	students who meet the entry requirements will be able to transfer into the programme up to week 4 of the autumn term.				Transfers out:	students who meet the entry requirements will be able to transfer into the programme up to week 4 of the autumn term.
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45	Statement of Purpose
46	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
47	The Masters in Public Administration (MPA) is an interdisciplinary programme that promotes shared learning across the public, private and non-profit sectors, within an international context. This is an opportunity to study for a qualification designed to enrich your knowledge of service delivery in government and non-profit organisations. You will gain an in-depth understanding of public policy from the practical to the controversial, allowing for a deeper understanding of the factors and contexts that determine a diverse range of domestic and international policies – and how those policies deliver the services we rely on. The programme promotes intellectual heterogeneity and is taught and combines knowledge from across different departments, making this into a collaborative and multidisciplinary programme. With five core modules delivered across three Departments, you will be able to explore key themes in strategic planning, policy delivery, public management and reform within the public sector, from different academic perspectives. A final Policy Report will refine your learning in a policy area that appeals to you and provide the chance to acquire independent research skills such as conceiving and operationalising research questions; selecting and justifying the use of relevant concepts and tools to gather and interpret policy data; and draw appropriate conclusions and policy recommendations. The course is geared towards helping you to approach key developments in public administration with a critical and creative mind and to progress your policy practice. The programme feeds into public policy practice, for example in enhancing your confidence, capabilities and expertise in order to help you lead or navigate career progression.
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57	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
58	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
59	Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration			no	Students exiting with a Postgraduate Diploma will have met PLOs 1, 2, 4 and 6 and will be expected to be making progress toward meeting the other PLOs.				To qualify for a Postgraduate Diploma students must pass modules worth a total of 120 credits that can include the ISM or dissertation module (60 credits).
60	Postgraduate certificate in Public Administration			no	Students exiting with a PG Certificate will have met PLOs 1, 2, and 6 and will be expected to be making progress toward meeting the other PLOs.				To qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate students must pass modules worth a total of 60 credits.
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62	Programme Learning Outcomes
63	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
64	1	Identify and understand the critical issues that drive policy-making by looking at how policies are managed, implemented, monitored and evaluated. (Substantive Knowledge)
65	2	Use intellectual reasoning and systematic empirical testing to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of concepts specific to public policy and apply different theoretical perspectives from international development. (Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking)
66	3	Explain and demonstrate to audiences the application of public policy and international development concepts, drawing on an understanding of strategic planning and on appropriate skills and tools. (Communication and Strategic Skills)
67	4	Construct and clearly present persuasive and critical written reflections that effectively communicate sustained policy analysis to academic and policy-making audiences.
68	5	Undertake independent research on policy and international development related topics by: conceiving and operationalising research questions; building on specialist expertise in public policy; using relevant concepts and tools to gather and interpret policy data; and draw appropriate conclusions and policy recommendations. (Research skills)
69	6	Engage with shared learning across several disciplines and develop an understanding of the values of tolerance, sustainablity and inclusivity. (Professional skills)
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71	Diverse entry routes
72	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
73	Throughout the autumn term the department run regular Study Skills sessions for PGT students. Sessions focus on: Reading and taking effective notes, Participating in seminars, and Developing academic writing skills. For non-native English speakers these study skills sessions are supplemented by English language classes run by the Centre for English Language Teaching. All students participate in department-run Turnitin workshops and complete the University's academic integrity tutorial.
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77	Inclusion
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79	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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81	Employability
82	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
83	Students gain practical skills and are exposed to practitioners in a practitioner seminar series, which provides them with first-hand insights into the type of skills expected of them in the 'real world'. They will also enhance their employability skills through the other core modules of the programme that foster critical thinking and research skills. Through these students will be trained how to think, act, engage, reflect and communicate as a researcher and practitioner in public administration. They’ll gain the skills and knowledge to play an effective role in highly complex policy-making processes in different countries, sectors and levels of government. The type of knowledge accumulated and type of assessments used in this programme will allow our students to gain key transferable skills that employers are looking for, such as developing research, planning and time management skills.
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90	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
91	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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93	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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95	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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97	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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99	Placement year			FALSE
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