Title	Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies
Study Level	Diploma
School	School of Social Sciences and Humanities
Course Code	P1070
Qualification	Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies (PgDipPolSt)
Availability	Murdoch campus (internal) Murdoch campus (external)
Restriction	All postgraduate courses are subject to restriction.
Description	The areas of specialisation available for study in this course are: Development Studies Public Policy Social Research and Evaluation Development Studies enables students to approach the complex issues related to contemporary processes of globalisation, economic and social development from an interdisciplinary perspective. It forms the first half of the Master of Arts in the Development Studies. Public Policy is built around required units in politics, economics, public policy and public administration. There is also space to take elective units to allow students the opportunity to follow subjects relevant to their experience and interests. Social Research and Evaluation is designed to develop the knowledge and skills required for the commissioning and conduct of research and evaluation studies in health education, welfare, criminal justice, psychology, disability services, and other areas with social programs and policies.
Employment Prospects	Development studies will enhance practitioners' qualifications and open opportunities for those interested in social research and working in industry areas such as community and social services, local government, overseas aid work, economic and social planning, sustainable development and Indigenous governance. It is designed to service the advanced needs of teachers,journalists, development consultants and those currently working or seeking employment in government and private sector organisations concerned with environmental protection, development assistance, human rights, and the relationships between trade, capital and people in the global system. Public Policy is designed for people intending either to follow a managerial career in the public sector or who already have experience in that sector. This will include those in, or intending to enter, federal of state public service, local government, educational or health administration and related fields. Social Research and Evaluation prepares graduates for careers in the public and private sectors for positions including research and development, evaluation or policy officers, undertaking responsibility for the conduct and commissioning of social research and evaluation studies, or utilising information from such studies.
Admission Requirements: Onshore course offerings	Recognised Bachelor's Degree or higher, or equivalent training, although not necessarily in an area directly related to the proposed course of satisfactory preparation for the course through previous study or professional experience. English competence. Internet access is required for students studying externally; exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Special Requirements	There may be a reduction in choice of units if completing this course in the external mode.
Main research areas	Development; policy; policy studies; public policy' social research' social evaluation.

Jump to:

• Development Studies Specialisation
• Public Policy Specialisation
• Social Research and Evaluation Specialisation

Development Studies Specialisation

Course Structure - 24 credit points

Core Units - 8 credit points

Students who have already completed any of the Core Units should contact the Academic Chair for substitutes.

Select from the following:

POL699 Politics of Globalisation -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

EDU627 Development and Education -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-external

STP604 Overseas Aid and International Development -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

Specified Electives - 16 credit points

Select from the following or from the Core Units not already completed:

STP612 Sustainability, Ecology and Communities -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

ENV503 GIS for Environmental Management and Planning -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

ENV512 Global and Regional Sustainability -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

STP640 Special Topics in Sustainable Development -- 4 pts
Topic not currently offered

SSH629 Ethnic Diversity and Ethnic Conflict -- 4 pts
NA 2012

COD545 Community Development Theory and Practice -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

STP606 Sustainability Ethics -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

STP623 Cities and Sustainability -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

MBS593 Chinese Economy -- 4 pts
Murdoch: W-internal, W-external

STP633 Disasters and Risk Management -- 4 pts
NA 2012

SSH601 Special Topic: Leadership in Sustainability -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

AST650 Society, Culture and Ecology in Asia -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

AST558 Women in Asian Societies -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

COD655 Community and Social Policy -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

MCC540 Politics, Journalism and Society -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal

AIS601 Country, Nature and Identity: Indigenous Sustainability -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

PHL472 Ethics in Practice -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

STP603 Sustainability and Social Justice: The Non Profit Sector -- 4 pts
NA 2012

Other electives may be selected from the Master of Arts in Development Studies, after consultation with the Academic Chair.

Public Policy Specialisation

Course Structure - 24 credit points

Core Units - 8 credit points

Students who have already completed any of the Core Units below should contact the Academic Chair for substitutes.

Select from the following:

COD655 Community and Social Policy -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

POL530 Public Policy Analysis -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

* MBS562 Macroeconomics A -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

Specified Electives - 16 credit points

Select from the following:

POL551 Government Agencies in a Changing World -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

COD634 Creative Ways to Work with Community -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

COD624 Projects in Community Development -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

MCC637 Cultural and Media Policy -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

POL585 Environmental Politics -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

POL697 Democracy in the 21st Century -- 4 pts
NA 2012

STP670 Policy, Technology and Democracy -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

POL660 Modern Theories of the State -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-internal, S2-external

COD545 Community Development Theory and Practice -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

EDU637 Program Evaluation -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-external

STP612 Sustainability, Ecology and Communities -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

* Students should note that this unit assumes knowledge equivalent to BUS161 Introduction to Economics. Students should ensure that they are familiar with introductory texts in micro- and macroeconomics. Students with further queries should contact the Unit Coordinator.

Students may also select further relevant electives from the Master of Arts in Public Policy and other related Postgraduate Diploma and Masters courses, subject to the approval of the Academic Chair.

Social Research and Evaluation Specialisation

Course Structure - 24 credit points

Core Units - 8 credit points

Students who have already completed any of the Core Units below should contact the Academic Chair for substitutes.

EDU637 Program Evaluation -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-external

SOC522 Social Research Methods -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

OR

EDU603 Introduction to Research for Educators -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external, S2-internal, S2-external

Specified Electives - 16 credit points

EDU639 Quantitative Approaches to Research -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S2-external

EDU643 Qualitative Approaches to Research -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external, S2-internal, S2-external

EDU670 Professional and Action Learning Project -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-external, S2-external

SSH604 Advanced Research Methods in Social Sciences and Humanities -- 4 pts
Murdoch: S1-internal, S1-external

With permission of the Academic Chair, students may include in their program of studies a research or evaluation practicum, an Independent Study Contract, or a unit from outside this list of units.