C04257v1 Master of Local Government
Award(s): Master of Local Government (MLG)CRICOS code: 087647G
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 72
Course EFTSL: 1.5
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Articulation with UTS courses
Other information
Overview
The Master of Local Government provides professionals, managers and leaders in local government with an advanced body of knowledge and skills to reflect critically on theory and practice. This enables them to apply this knowledge in their roles in strategic thinking, planning and shaping local communities.
The course provides graduates with an evidence-based learning approach to build a high level of influence and leadership in their local government workplace. The course, which is informed by the research and capacity-building activities of the UTS Centre for Local Government, provides an interdisciplinary program with teaching and learning activities ranging across and beyond the faculty. An education program is developed to match the requirements of each participant's individual requirements, and subjects can be studied through intensive block release or in some cases through online delivery mode.
Course aims
The education and professional development provided through the Master of Local Government aims to meet individual needs and provide opportunities for local government practitioners who wish to broaden their knowledge and skills, underpinned with a strong foundation in public service and democratic values and principles. On completion of the course, graduates have a sound understanding of current issues in local government and in diverse communities, as well as an ability to relate this knowledge back to their own workplaces. They gain research and scholarship competencies that allow them to continue their own professional development through short courses or further academic study, including at doctoral level.
Career options
The course is highly suited to professionals wishing to progress their careers as senior managers and leaders of local councils. It is also highly recommended for public administrators and policymakers from other tiers of government, and managers from the non-government sector who partner on a regular basis with local government and wish to better understand the principles and practices of local governance.
Course intended learning outcomes
| A.0 | Attitudes and values |
| A.1 | Address issues in local government and intergovernmental organisations with an attitude that is open, ethical and empathetic |
| A.2 | Apply leadership skills to take a proactive and convincing role in in fostering cultural competence and identifying and addressing policy issues |
| A.3 | Reflect on personal views and values in the development of professional judgement and practice |
| C.0 | Communication and groupwork |
| C.1 | Communicate and engage effectively with people from diverse perspectives and cultures across multiple platforms, acknowledging the status of Indigenous peoples to develop cross-disciplinary strategy |
| C.2 | Synthesise and deliver well-informed, engaging and effective presentations in written, oral and digital formats for diverse audience types |
| C.3 | Collaborate effectively and apply leadership skills within multidisciplinary teams for local government and intergovernmental relations |
| I.0 | Innovation and creativity |
| I.1 | Develop critically informed and innovative approaches to understanding local government and intergovernmental issues in domestic and international contexts |
| I.2 | Apply and lead creative, evidence-based approaches to complex, real-world issues in local government and related organisations |
| P.0 | Practical and professional |
| P.1 | Apply processes of organisational practice and review for a broad range of policy fields across diverse types of organisations, relating to local government |
| P.2 | Demonstrate strategic thinking and prioritising about competing resources, multiple governance structures and drivers of change |
| P.3 | Apply an advanced understanding of theories and debates in local government and intergovernmental relations, including Indigenous perspectives, and articulate this understanding across a range of organisational types |
| R.0 | Research and critique |
| R.1 | Consider, analyse and evaluate complex arguments and multiple interests within specific contexts, particularly as they pertain to local government and intergovernmental relations |
| R.2 | Identify, interpret and evaluate different evidence required in organisational change and decision-making |
| R.3 | Conduct independent applied research to develop a deep understanding of complex policy problems and innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions pertaining to government and its stakeholders |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.
Applicants must have one of the following:
- a UTS recognised Bachelor's degree or equivalent, or higher qualification, or
- a UTS Graduate Diploma in Local Government Management, or
- a UTS Graduate Certificate in Local Government Leadership, or
- a UTS Graduate Certificate in Development Assessment.
Applications based on a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or equivalent or higher qualification must provide the following:
- a personal statement (max. 300 words) addressing their reasons for wanting to undertake the Master of Local Government
- a CV clearly articulating local government sector-related work with a minimum experience of five years.
Applicants who do not satisfy the academic requirements may be considered on their ability to demonstrate equivalency through a minimum of five years' relevant work experience.
Applicants need to provide:
- a CV clearly articulating relevant experience
- a Personal Statement (max. 300 words) explaining the reasons for wanting to study the Master of Local Government. If applicable, detail should be provided about general or professional qualifications that demonstrate potential to pursue graduate studies.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Recognition of prior learning
Students who have completed relevant previous studies (such as relevant postgraduate studies at a recognised institution or eligible UTS short courses) may apply to the course coordinator for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Course duration and attendance
This course is offered on a one-and-a-half-year, full-time or three-year, part-time basis in block mode.
Course structure
Students must complete 72 credit points made up of 36 credit points of core subjects and 36 credit points of electives.
Course completion requirements
| STM90795 Core subjects (Local Government) | 36cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Total | 72cp |
| Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15604 Local Government Principles and Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15608 Organising and Managing in Local Government | 6cp | |
| 15619 Comparative Local Governance | 6cp | |
| 15623 Local Government Research Planning | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| September Session | ||
| 15645 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making A | 3cp | |
| November Session | ||
| 15646 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making B | 3cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15624 Local Government Research Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 18 credit points from the following: | 18cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| 15608 Organising and Managing in Local Government | 6cp | |
| 15619 Comparative Local Governance | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| September Session | ||
| 15645 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making A | 3cp | |
| November Session | ||
| 15646 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making B | 3cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15604 Local Government Principles and Practice | 6cp | |
| 15623 Local Government Research Planning | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15624 Local Government Research Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 18 credit points from the following: | 18cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Autumn commencing, part time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15604 Local Government Principles and Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15608 Organising and Managing in Local Government | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15619 Comparative Local Governance | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| September Session | ||
| 15645 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making A | 3cp | |
| November Session | ||
| 15646 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making B | 3cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15623 Local Government Research Planning | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15624 Local Government Research Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring commencing, part time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| 15608 Organising and Managing in Local Government | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15604 Local Government Principles and Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15619 Comparative Local Governance | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 15623 Local Government Research Planning | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
| September Session | ||
| 15645 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making A | 3cp | |
| November Session | ||
| 15646 Evidence and Research for Decision-Making B | 3cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 15624 Local Government Research Practice | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK90877 Options | 36cp | |
Articulation with UTS courses
This course is part of an articulated program of study. Students can exit this course after completing:
- 24 credit points of specified subjects with a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management (C11053)
- 48 credit points of specified subjects with a Graduate Diploma in Local Government Management (C06033).
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS: Institute for Public Policy and Governance
email Academic Programs Officer
telephone + 61 2 9514 1659