Year One: Certificate In Public Management
The first year is both a stand-alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.
Economics
This introductory-level course explains the main theories and principles of economics. No prior knowledge of economics is presumed. The course covers both micro and macroeconomics and addresses such topics as the laws of supply and demand, how market prices are reached and competition.
Law
Public servants must understand the fundamentals of the legal system. This course focuses on the fundamentals, explaining the Irish legal system and the main provisions of the Irish Constitution. Students explore, among other topics, the structure of the court system, practice and procedure in the courts and the rights that the Constitution affords citizens.
Politics, Government and Public Administration
This course is divided into two parts. The first is largely concerned with the institutions of government and the Irish political system. The Irish institutions and systems are compared to those in other countries. The second part of the course focuses on Ireland’s system of public and social administration.
Principles of Management
This course provides a solid grounding in the key principles of modern management theory. It explains the origins of contemporary management science and details the most important elements of management, including leadership, HRM and change management.
Year Two: Diploma in Public Management
The second year is both a stand-alone qualification – Diploma in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.
Organisational Behaviour
Human behaviour is the critical element in organisational success. This course explores the theories that have developed about how people behave in an organisational setting and how management can respond to those behaviours. It considers such topics as motivation, leadership, group behaviour and organisational culture.
Organisation and Management
An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, the design of effective organisations and the significance of the internal culture and the external environment to an organisation’s work.
Economics
This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.
European Studies
Ireland’s membership of the EU is plainly of huge importance to public management. This course explains the key facts of EU membership, addressing the history of the EU, the power and responsibilities of its institutions, the decision-making process, key EU policies, and different perspectives on the EU’s development and reform.
Year Three
Human Resource Management
This course covers several specific topics in the HRM field, including manpower planning, performance management, managing change, health and safety, employment legislation and strategic management.
Employee Resourcing, Development and Performance Management
A key requirement of the HRM function in any organisation is to obtain suitable employees and to develop their skills and knowledge. This course examines the elements of this requirement, including recruitment and selection.
Administrative Law
Administrative law is a public law subject that deals with the lawful exercise of power by government and state agencies. It seeks, in short, to establish the manner in which public bodies can affect the lives of citizens. Students will examine the laws regarding the civil service, the separation of powers, judicial review and legal compliance.
Economics
This year’s course focuses on public sector economics, a field within the discipline that is plainly critical to public servants at various grades. The topics addressed include economic growth, forecasting and planning, the finances of central and local government and the principles of taxation.
Year Four
Human Resource Leadership and Strategy
The evolving nature of the modern organisation requires clear leadership to determine objectives and a clear HR strategy to secure those objectives. This course examines, among other things, leadership theories, HR strategies in a globalised world, the strategic management of human capital and HR strategy in the public sector.
Employee Relations and Law
This course addresses the key topic of employee relations, examining how such relations can determine an organisation’s success or otherwise. It considers the main provisions of employment law, participation and partnership in the workforce, health and safety legislation and managerial strategies for healthy employee relations.
Economics
The study of economics in the final year of the degree turns to economic policy and policy analysis. The course explores such topics as industrial and regional economic policy, economic integration, globalisation and issues around financing and control.
Strategic Management
Strategic management is the study of how organisations meet their objectives and effectively respond to change. This course focuses on strategic management in the Irish public sector, but it covers concepts common to both public and private sector organisations.