Master of Public Policy: Policy Communication Specialisation

Upon completion of the study, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate deep understanding of public policy and its key challenges and issues, in Australia and globally;
2. Understand processes and challenges of agenda-setting, formulation, implementation, management and evaluation of public policy;
3. Reflect critically on key theoretical debates in the field of public policy including its practical application across cultural, developmental and institutional contexts;
4. Demonstrate understanding of methods for policy research and analysis and identify and apply them with appropriate tools to public policy issues;
5. Analyse, synthesise and communicate complex, political and institutional policy problems from multiple perspectives.

Policy Communication, one of the Master of Public Policy specialisations, enables you to tackle social issues by understanding the changing role of communications in policy making and public service delivery. The specialisation is designed to sharpen your skills of communicators in the contemporary public policy landscape, enhance policy advocacy and public engagement in theory and practice, and examine applied examples and case studies. If you want to lead improvements in policy communication and, in turn, service delivery outcomes, this degree specialisation is for you.

By learning the principles of effective policy communication, persuasion and participatory policy making, you will understand the importance of embedding communication in the policy making cycle. Policy advocacy and public engagement – in theory and practice – will be examined, along with the practicalities, challenges and politics involved in realising policy communication ideals in contemporary governance. You will learn to appreciate how policy communication involves influencing target audience(s) with messages that resonate. Through applied examples and case studies, you will consider the impact of digital technology and the 24/7 news cycle on the communicative landscape of public policy. When you graduate, you will have gained valuable analytical skills, deepened theoretical knowledge, and the ability to communicate persuasively in the field of public policy.

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This MPP specialisation requires the completion of 24 units from the specified courses in relevant areas. Find out more about the unit and course details at the ANU Programs and Courses.

Australian National University is a world-leading university in Australia’s capital city, Canberra. With ties to the Australian Government, they have special standing as a resource for the Australian people. Their approach to education ensures graduates are in demand the world-over for their abilities to address complex contemporary challenges. Offering innovative online subjects from beginning to advanced levels through Open Universities Australia, they meet varied students’ needs and goals.

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At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis.

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or · 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

Find more information for the Master of Public Policy at the ANU Programs and Courses.

Applications must meet the ANU English Language Requirements for Admission.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units.