The course provides an introduction to the study of public administration – in other words, the nature of government, how it is organised, how the political and administrative elements work together, and how it relates to citizens. It will help you understand why certain decisions are made by ministers, where power lies in government, why disasters and government failures occur, why governments sell off public assets and contract out functions, why some issues are considered to be problems and some aren’t, and the shadowy world of political advisers. We look at how fundamental ideas and shifts in the shape of the state are played out everyday in newsfeeds. The course uses case studies as ways of learning about theories and current controversies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand the theoretical debates about the nature of government and bureaucracy, including administrative theory and bureaucratic behaviour;
- understand the development of New Public Management, its rationale and implications and its critics;
- understand the concepts of patronage and politicisation and how these relate to fundamental political-administrative traditions;
- understand the emergence of political staff, and their role, influence and impact around the world; and
- demonstrate advanced skills in oral and written communication, research and critical analysis.
Indicative Assessment
- Essay 1 (2500 words) (40) [LO 1,2,5]
- Quiz (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Tutorial participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Exam (sit down, in person 1.5 hours) (40) [LO 3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 12 hours of tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4082 | 19 Feb 2024 | 26 Feb 2024 | 05 Apr 2024 | 24 May 2024 | In Person | View |