Master in Public Administration (MPA)

Course details

In this 1-year degree programme, students are required to read 40 modular credits in order to graduate. The current MPA curriculum consists of:
A Common Curriculum (12 MCs)
Governance Study Conference (4 MCs)
Electives from the MPP Public Management and Leadership Specialization (2 modules, 8 MCs)
Free Electives (4 modules, 16 MCs): Students can choose to read any 4 available electives as their free elective modules
Common Curriculum

The modules in the Common Curriculum are:
PP5801 Economic Analysis (4 MCs, Semester 1):
Modern public policy experts need a solid grounding in Economics to be able to craft policies that take into account the economic factors that affect nearly all aspects of policy making. The first half of this course introduces the principles of microeconomics and applications are introduced via cases on externalities, taxation and public goods, regulation and competition policy, and trade policy. The second half deals with the tools of macroeconomic policy. Topics include macroeconomic indicators, exchange rate determination, inflation, policies for economic growth and stabilization.
PP5802 Policy Analysis (4 MCs, Semester 2 + Special Term):
Public sector managers are frequently confronted with decisions about whether or not to initiate, continue, modify, or terminate policies or programs, and the knowledge and skills in policy analysis and program evaluation are essential for them to make intelligent choices. The module will cover important considerations in conducting policy analysis and evaluation, such as identifying policy problems, establishing criteria, assessing policy alternatives, choosing among policies, and evaluating policy impacts.
PP5803 Public Management (4 MCs, Semester 2 + Special Term):
Public managers are answerable to various groups of people including those within hierarchical structures, political parties and politicians, citizens and civil society groups, and international actors and organizations. Also, public managers are often caught in policy dilemmas and are tasked to carry out policy promises in very challenging contexts. This course aims to introduce students to key concepts in the discipline of public administration.
Governance Study Conference

PP5804 The Governance Study Project (GSP, 4 MCs, Semester 1 + 2 + Special Term) is a year-long team-based project to replace the current 1-week intensive Capstone examination. Consisting of a study trip at the end of the first semester, a seminar, and a final conference at the end of the special term, the GSP connects the beginning to the end of the degree programme, requiring students to put to use the knowledge and skills learnt in each module. Through projects that are real public problems, students will acquire skills related to analysis of complex managerial problems, basic research, and writing and other presentational modes.
Electives

Students will also have to take the following electives:
Electives from the MPP Public Management and Leadership Specialization (2 modules, 8 MCs).
Free Electives (4 modules, 16 MCs)
In addition to the Common Curriculum, students can choose to read any 4 electives as their Free Elective modules in the Specialization lists.
Please click here for brief descriptions of electives. MPA students may also cross-register for up to 2 courses (8 MCs) offered in other postgraduate programmes (such as Business Administration, Economics, Political Science and Southeast Asian Studies). Please note that not all electives will be offered in any one semester.