Discipline/School details [HSA]
Public Policy – School of Government
The School of Government offers majors in two programs: Political Science and Public
Policy. Both programs are offered on the Hobart and Launceston campuses. Each major
shares two common first year (level 100) units and the two programs complement each
other in understanding and explaining politics and policy at all levels from the smallest
political community to the international system of states.
Public Policy is the study of government activity: the decisions and actions (or inactions)
undertaken by political institutions to deal with problems or issues.
Students may undertake: [i] a major program, or part thereof, in Public Policy in their
Bachelor of Arts course (taught at the Hobart and Launceston campuses); [ii] a major
program, or part thereof, in Public Policy in their Bachelor of Social Science (Police
Studies) course (taught at the Hobart and Launceston campuses); or [iii] a major
program, or part thereof, in Public Policy in their Bachelor of Social Science course (taught
at the Launceston campus only); or [iv] undertake units which count toward courses
offered by other faculties.
First year units are also offered at the North-West Centre, Burnie and via distance
education.
The study of Public Policy is useful preparation for students planning careers in the public
and private sectors, community and non-government organisations, public relations,
policing, teaching, journalism and research. The program of study is relevant to students
who want to understand more about how to deal with, or operate within, complex
modern public sector organisations. Students undertaking courses in Commerce,
Economics, Law, Science or combined degrees will also find Public Policy units useful for
their professional development.
First year
Introduction to Government A and B (HSG101 and HSG102) are the two first year (level
100) units in the Public Policy program (they are also the first year units in the Political
Science program). These units are suitable for students who want a general overview of
government and politics to complement their studies in other disciplines. They also
provide a foundation for students who wish to proceed further in Public Policy and
completion of both is a prerequisite for a major in the discipline.
Second and third year
Second year (level 200) and third year (level 300) units address a range of themes
including the environment, the economy, social policy, political activism, and policing.
To complete a major in Public Policy for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students are
required to gain a minimum of 100% in Public Policy units, of which 25% will be obtained
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Discipline/School details [HSA]
at level 100 (HSG101 and HSG102) and the remaining 75% from units at levels 200 and
300, including at least 25% at level 300.
If Bachelor of Arts students wish to complete majors in both Public Policy and Political
Science they are required to [i] complete a minimum of 100% in Public Policy (consisting
of 25% of level 100 units plus 75% of level 200 and 300 units – a total of 100%, with at least
25% of units chosen at level 300); and [ii] a minimum of 100% in Political Science
(consisting of 100% of level 200 and 300 units with at least 25% of units chosen at level
300), or vice versa.
To complete a major in Public Policy for the Bachelor of Social Science (Police Studies)
degree, students are required to gain 125% in Public Policy units of which 25% will be
obtained at level 100 (HSG101 and HSG102) and 50% from units at level 200 and 50% from
units at level 300.
To complete a major in Public Policy for the Bachelor of Social Science degree, students
are required to gain 125% in Public Policy units of which 25% will be obtained at level 100
(HSG101 and HSG102) and 50% from units at level 200 and 50% from units at level 300.
Economics and Commerce students may enrol in HSD208/308 Business–Government
Relations without having completed either HSG101 Introduction to Government A or
HSG102 Introduction to Government B.
Students who commenced the major before 2001
Students who began their degree before 2001 and who wish to complete a major in Public
Policy are reminded that a major consists of sequential study in one discipline with a total
HECS weighting of 100% as detailed above.
Refer to page B-xx for further information on the changes to the BA.
Honours year
The fourth year (level 400) Honours program provides a more advanced understanding of
current Public Policy theory and practice. The program is open to students who have
majored in Public Policy with a Grade-Point Average of 6.5 or higher. The Honours year
consists of specialised coursework units and a thesis, and introduces students to the skills
involved in independent research. The Honours program also provides a stepping stone to
Masters and PhD work, as well as providing an additional qualification.
Postgraduate courses
The School of Government welcomes enquiries from appropriately qualified students
wishing to undertake Master of Arts and PhD research degrees in Public Policy and
Political Science. For further information about these courses, students should consult the
relevant section of the Research Higher Degree Handbook and contact the School’s
Postgraduate Coordinator.
In addition, the School offers postgraduate coursework courses in Public Policy at the
Hobart Campus: [i] a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy, [ii] a Graduate Diploma in
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Discipline/School details [HSA]
Public Policy and [iii] a Master of Public Policy. Further information about these particular
courses is listed in the ‘Course Details’ section of this Handbook and at the end of the
Public Policy section of this Handbook (following Honours units).
The following is a summary of units offered in the Public
Policy program
Unit title
campus offered
weight
unit code
Hbt~1, Ltn~1, NWC~1,
dist.ed~1w
Hbt~2, Ltn~2, NWC~2,
dist.ed~2w
12.5%
HSG101
12.5%
HSG102
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
HSD230/330
HSD206/306
HSD208/308
HSG201/301
HSD205/305
HSG202/302
Year 1 (level 100)
Introduction to Government A
Introduction to Government B
Year 2 (level 200) and Year 3 (level 300)
1.
2.
3.
The School reserves
the right not to offer
any level 200/300
units which do not
attract a minimum
enrolment, or which
cannot be offered due
to staff leave or
movements.
Students may not
enrol in units which
substantially repeat
other units, or units
which they have
previously passed.
Many units are offered
on two or three year
cycles. If a unit is not
offered this year, then
it may be offered next
year or the year after.
Check unit details for
confirmation or
contact the School.
Semester 1
Australian Environmental Policy
Australian Public Policy
Business–Government Relations
Contemporary Issues in Government
Policing and Governance
Political Activism: Local to Global
Hbt~1, Ltn~1v
Hbt~1, Ltn~1v
Hbt~1v, Ltn~1
Hbt~1, Ltn~1v
Hbt~1, Ltn~1v
Hbt~1, Ltn~1v
Semester 2
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Discipline/School details [HSA]
Approaches to Political Analysis
Building Blocs: Economic Regionalism
International Cooperation
Re-inventing Governance
Social Policy in Welfare States
Hbt~2, Ltn~2v
Hbt~2v, Ltn~2
Hbt~2, Ltn~2v
Hbt~2v, Ltn~2
Hbt~2, Ltn~2v
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
HSG200/300
HSG204/304
HSG203/303
HSG205/305
HSD231/331
[na]
[na]
[na]
[na]
[na]
[na]
[na]
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
HSD239/339
HSD229/329
HSD241/341
HSD227/327
HSD209/309
HSD223/323
HSD207/307
Not offered in 2003
Asian Environmental Justice
Global Environmental Policy
Global Political Economy
Media Policy
Policy Analysis
Regional Development Policy
Sex, Drugs and Toxic Waste: Risk and
Regulation
Cross-listed units
Units from the following list can be counted towards a major in Public Policy. The prerequisite for all units
listed below is 25% in level 100 Public Policy.
<tcolg_8>Units from the following list can be counted towards a major in Public Policy. The prerequisite
for all units listed below is 25% in level 100 Public Policy.
[na]
Australian Foreign Policy
Hbt~2
Australian Political Institutions
Ltn~1, Hbt~1
Social and Political Research
[na]
Survey Research
[na]
Tasmanian Politics and Australian Federalism
[na]
Understanding Organisations
[na]
Women and Public Policy
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
HSA240/340
HSA241/341
HGA203/303
HGA204/304
HSA260/360
HGA236/336
HSD240/340
Students are advised to turn to the BA schedule (page B-xx) or the Index of Unit Codes on
page A-xx to find the page references to units referred to here.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Science course should refer to the course
details on page B-xx.
Level 100 units<s16>
Introduction to Government A
Enrolment code: HSG101
See page C-xx for unit details
Introduction to Government B
Enrolment code: HSG102
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See page C-xx for unit details
Level 200/300 units<s16>
Approaches to Political Analysis
Enrolment code: HSG200/300
See page C-xx for unit details
Building Blocs: Economic Regionalism
Enrolment code: HSG204/304
See page C-xx for unit details
Contemporary Issues in Government
Enrolment code: HSG201/301
See page C-xx for unit details
International Cooperation
Enrolment code: HSG203/303
See page C-xx for unit details
Political Activism: Local to Global
Enrolment code: HSG202/302
See page C-xx for unit details
Re-Inventing Governance
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Discipline/School details [HSA]
Enrolment code: HSG205/305
See page C-xx for unit details
Postgraduate Courses in Public Policy – School of
Government
The School of Government offers the following postgraduate coursework courses in Public
Policy at the Hobart Campus:
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy – Course code R5M
Graduate Diploma in Public Policy – Course code R6M
Master of Public Policy – Course code R7M
See page B-xx for course details.
Listed below are the units in these courses:
HSD418 Challenges to Governance (25%)
HSD412 Environmental Politics and Policy (25%)
HSD422 Leadership, Influence and Dispute Resolution (25%)
HSA434 Parliament in Society (25%)
HSD423 Participation and Public Policy (25%)
HSD421 Policy Development (25%)
HSD425 Policy Implementation and Evaluation (25%)
HSD701 Research Thesis (50%)
HSA431 Selected Topics in Australian Politics (25%)
HGA412 Social Research (25%)
To find page references for these units, use the Index of Unit Codes on page A-xx.
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