Master of Public Administration (Applied) MPA

Teesside University

You gain real-world practical experience in a professional setting to enhance your employability and accompany your academic learning. You undertake an applied practice opportunity to develop your work-related knowledge, skill set and aspirations. With support from the University's careers advisors you apply for either an external internship opportunity or a project within the university working alongside practising researchers. You are assessed through a reflective portfolio; this module does not count towards the overall degree classification.

You study the most important issues in public administration, politics and policy in the modern world at local, national and international levels, and will be assigned a supervisor to explore an area of independent research into a contemporary issue in public administration, politics or policy. You design an area of independent study, determining the contemporary subject area, methodology and structure of the assessment. You write a learning contract outlining the aims, methods and outcomes of the study, and complete a reflective learning log which will develop awareness of research, learning processes and time-management.

You apply your knowledge, written communication and research skills to a specific area of interest relevant to the field in a dissertation or knowledge exchange equivalent of 15,000 words. The dissertation can take a traditional format or the form of knowledge exchange such as a systematic review and policy recommendations, or a research report to a public body.

You gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and structures which underpin international law, the sources and modes of development of international law, the nature of key international institutions and of the operation and enforcement of international law in specific areas and in the context of current international issues. You critically examine the extent to which international law performs its function of maintaining the international legal order.

You assess the principles and theories in the management of the public sector and investigate key policy debates. The module offers you a comprehensive survey of the key literature and theories underpinning the study of policy conception and analysis alongside training in undertaking research into the public policy process. You investigate the practice of public administration across history using case study examples, which questions how policies are implemented, impacted and evaluated within different contexts across public administration. You are encouraged to engage in debates about current public and social policy issues in areas such as local government, health, welfare and crime.

You develop an advanced understanding of the processes and issues of social research. Drawing upon the philosophical underpinnings which are central to research methodologies, you consider the relationship between theory, methods and data. You also critically consider the need to balance theory with conducting research on real issues in the real world. This ensures you have a coherent understanding of the decisions researchers make when deciding which research methods to use and to develop practical skills in using a variety of research methods. You also develop a sound understanding of ethical and practical issues in designing, conducting and analysing research.