GraduatePolitical Science & International Relations
Master of Public Policy
Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
About this program
The Master of Public Policy at Charles Darwin University provides in-depth knowledge of political, cultural and social theory approaches to public policy and a solid understanding of evidence-based policy development and evaluation embedded within practical research theories and methodologies. The course uniquely focuses on northern Australia and its relationship to South-East Asia, exploring policy issues in remote contexts and the significance of First Nations peoples and cultures. Streams include education, environment and livelihoods, health and social policy, Indigenous contexts, public management and governance, and secure and safe communities, and it culminates in a research project.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified cdu.edu.au ↗
Course structure
Study plan in 5 parts
- The final 40 credit points of research project units are developed and designed in collaboration with your supervisor
Core Units (4 units)
- Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics
- Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy (unit title change 2023)
- Public Policy Practice
- 20cpResearch Units (2 units): Public Policy Research Project
Specialist Electives (2-8 units)
- Research Methodologies in Education
- Real-World Statistics and Data Reasoning
- 20cpResearch Methods 1
- Principles of Research in Indigenous Contexts
- Research Design
- Research
- Ethics and Impact
- Assessment and Quality Assurance in Learning and Teaching
- Leadership in Education
- Sustainability
- Tropical Invaders and Biosecurity
- Ecological Restoration and Conservation
- Fire Ecology and Management
- Ecology and Management of Tropical Forests and Savannas
- Environmental Planning and Policy
- Natural Resources and Indigenous Livelihoods
- Wildlife Management
- Indigenous Health
- Public Health Anthropology
- Health Promotion
- Indigenous Health Research
- Health Systems
- Planning and Management
- Public Health Economics and Decision Making
- Health Policy
- Natural Resources and Indigenous Livelihoods
- Neocolonialism
- Advocacy and the Critique of Development
- Indigenous Knowledges
- Property Rights and Economic Participation
- Indigenous Sovereignty and the Challenges of Reconciliation
- Indigenous Health
- Organisational Change and Development (replaces BUS504 from 2026)
- Global Human Resources (replaces BUS506 from 2026)
- Business Analytics
- Entrepreneurship (replaces ENT501 from 2026)
- Strategic Management (replaces MAN514 from 2026)
- Emergency and Disaster Management in Context
- Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management
- Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management
- Cultural
- Social and Psychological Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management
- Leadership in Social Policy
- Cultural Security in Child Protection Practice
Electives (0-4 units): Units totalling up to 40 credit points may be selected from postgraduate units offered by the University. Students may select units from any of the approved specialisations (as above) as electives or by cross institutional enrolment that is approved by the course coordinator
Admissions
Bachelor's degree, graduate certificate/diploma or equivalent qualification
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