Programme Specification – MSc Public Management and Governance
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. UCAS Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
MSc
Public Management and Governance
12 months full-time (full-time only)
Management Department
N/A
N2U7
September 2006 / November 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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provide a combined high quality education in the multi-disciplinary study of
management and governance of the public sector;
provide a grounding in policy and practice, information systems, accounting, financial
management and organisational control, human resource management and options
for further study;
enable students to understand concepts that underpin analysis and implementation of
policies and appreciate their relevance through case studies;
offer a wide range of options for study of subjects such as health services, education,
social policy, European policies;
provide a basis for further study and research, and careers in government,
consultancies and international agencies.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Knowledge and understanding:
 knowledge of key concepts in accounting and financial management, strategy and
institutional development, information systems and innovation, employee relations and
organisational behaviour;
 knowledge of formal approaches to policy analysis;
 developing critical appreciation of intellectual work about public management and
governance, the role of information and communication technology for change and
improvement, the use and relevance of accounting, financial management and
organisational control, the importance of international differences between public
sector employment systems;
 understanding where markets work and fail, and the problems faced by governments
in achieving equity and efficiency in the financing and delivery of public services;
 understanding the process of policy making, exercise of power and strategies of
conflict;
 understanding principles of, and difficulties with, economic appraisal of costs and
benefits;
 understanding the problems of contractual design in paying for delivery of public
goods and services;
 understanding reforms that aim to improve quality and performance of public services
through inspections, targets and league tables.
Skills and other attributes:
 developing skills in critical thinking in relation to public sector practices;
 developing skills in critical analysis of the practice of public management and
governance though case studies;
 developing skills in tackling problems by working in groups;
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developing skills in communication, in written papers and presentations;
developing skills in independent research that leads to the Dissertation.
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
Teaching methods comprise lectures, seminars and presentations. Seminars particularly
encourage student participation and include groups having to present their analysis of
problems. Students have supervisors who are available to discuss progress and give
guidance and assistance with academic and personal concerns. A considerable amount of
guidance is given to help with essays.
Each student also writes a dissertation on a topic approved by their dissertation supervisor.
Assessment strategies:
Assessment involves written examinations and/or extended essays. Oral feedback on student
performance is provided in seminars and written feedback is provided for most assessed
work.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc Public Management and Governance programme regulations for further
information.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
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First or good upper second bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in social
sciences. Preference will be given to applicants with some work experience or
student involvement in activities related to this degree.
English requirement: Higher (this means 7.0 in IELTS with at least 5.5 in each
section; or 107 in TOEFL with at least 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading, and
23 in speaking)
GRE/GMAT requirement: None
15. Indicators of quality
High application numbers compared to intake target.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
School quality assurance processes include:
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regular staff appraisal and review;
improvements in teaching technique are effected by the Teaching and Learning
Centre (TLC) through observations, advice and further training;
induction programme and mentoring scheme for new members of staff;
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Staff/student liaison committee;
centrally administered student satisfaction questionnaires by the Teaching Quality
Assurance and Review Office;
an improved system for ensuring that External Examiner’s
comments/recommendations are fed through to Departments and acted upon;
the School’s Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee (TLAC) which regulates
all aspects of teaching quality;
annual monitoring of courses and periodic reviews every 3-5 years. The outcomes of
the annual reviews are presented to TLAC;
the School’s Undergraduate Studies Sub Committee and Graduate Studies Sub
Committee which oversee all taught programmes and ensure that significant changes
to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages to ensure that
curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.