Program Overview

Programme: BAdmin Public Management Public Administration

The BAdmin Public Management Public Administration programme is designed to equip students with in-depth knowledge of administrative and management functions from a South African and comparative perspective. The programme focuses on the three spheres of government, including public resources management, policy studies, public sector ethics, organisation studies, and the role of the state.

Programme Information

Formal selection takes place, and work experience is required for this programme. The option is directed towards candidates already active in the field of public administration, including those from national, provincial, and local spheres of government. Students will gain knowledge of public organisational dynamics, behaviour, and leadership skills.

Admission Requirements

• National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies
• Departmental Selection
• Three years' working experience

Other Programme-Specific Information

• Specialisation modules: PAD 312, 322
• "Major subject" To be considered a "major subject," the equivalent of four 14-week modules, including two at 300-level, must be passed, provided that:
  • The following modules, which are offered at 300-level only, are also considered "major subjects": Labour law 311 (ABR 311), Labour relations 320 (ABV 320), and International business management 359 and 369 (OBS 359 and 369).
  • Only two 14-week modules, or the equivalent thereof, that are not preceded by the 100- and 200-level modules, may be taken for degree purposes. In other words, at least four 14-week modules must be taken at 300-level that are preceded by the 100- and 200-level, except for modules offered on 200- and 300-level only.

Promotion to Next Study Year

According to General Regulation G.3, students must comply with certain requirements as set by the Faculty Board.

1. A student must pass at least 4 core semester or 2 core year modules to be admitted to the subsequent year of study.
2. If a student has passed less than the required minimum of 4 core semester or 2 core year modules, he/she will not be readmitted to the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Such a student may apply in writing to the Faculty's Admissions Committee to be readmitted conditionally with the proviso that the Admissions Committee may set further conditions with regards to the student's academic progress. The Faculty's Admissions Committee may deny a student's application for readmission.
3. If a student has been readmitted conditionally, his/her academic progress will be monitored after the first semester examinations to determine whether he/she has complied with the requirements set by the Admissions Committee. If not, his/her studies will be suspended.
4. A student whose studies have been suspended because of his/her poor academic performance has the right to appeal against the decision of the Faculty's Admissions Committee.
5. A student may be refused promotion to a subsequent year of study if the prescribed tuition fees are not paid.
6. A student may be refused admission to the examination, or promotion to a subsequent year of study or promotion in a module (if applicable) if he/ she fails to fulfil the attendance requirements. Class attendance in all modules and for the full duration of all programmes is compulsory for all students.

Pass with Distinction

1. A degree may be awarded with distinction provided the candidate meets the following criteria:
2. Completes the degree within three years;
3. Obtains a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 75%;
4. Repeated passed modules will not be considered. The initial pass mark of module will be used when calculating the GPA.
5. Transferees from other faculties and from other universities who still complete their bachelor degrees (including credits transferred and recognised from the degrees they registered for originally) within three years will be considered as exceptional cases by the Dean.
6. The GPA will not be rounded up to a whole number.
7. Exceptional cases will be considered by the Dean.

General Information

Minimum requirements for bachelor's degrees; semester and year modules; new regulations

1. Students who commenced their studies before 2015 must complete the programme in terms of the curriculum of the year in which they commenced their studies, or in terms of the curriculum of the year in which they switched to their current field of specialisation. Students who prefer to do so may, however, apply to change over to the latest curriculum, but then they should comply with all the requirements thereof and they may not revert to the regulations of an earlier year.
2. Students who are registering for a degree programme for the first time in 2015 must take the modules indicated under the particular field of specialisation.

Please note: Only two 14-week modules, or the equivalent thereof, that are not preceded by the 100- and 200-level modules, may be taken for degree purposes. In other words, at least four 14-week modules must be taken at 300-level that are preceded by the 100- and 200-level, except for modules offered on 200- and 300-level only.
It is thus the responsibility of students to ensure before registration, that their curricula comply with all the requirements of the applicable regulations.

Minimum credits: 122

Fundamental Modules

• AIM 101: Academic information management 101
  • Credits: 6.00
  • Module content: Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology. Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.
• ALL 124: Academic literacy for Economic and Management Sciences 124
  • Credits: 6.00
  • Module content: This module intends to equip students with the competence in reading and writing required in the four high impact modules: Business Management, Financial Accounting, Statistics and Economics. Students will also be equipped to interpret and draw figures and graphs and to do computations and manage relevant formulas. During Semester 1 students engage with the online computer program MyFoundationsLab individually in a flexible learning environment, and during Semester 2 they attend the scheduled contact sessions and do the coursework.
• UPO 107: Academic orientation 107
  • Credits: 0.00

Core Modules

• ODM 110: Public organisation studies 110
  • Credits: 18.00
  • Module content: Development of organisation theory from classical to contemporary theories. Organisation structure and design. Implementation of organisational functions including departmentalisation, coordination, span of control, unity of command, centralisation and decentralisation, authority and control. Public organisational dynamics and behaviour including establishing the organisational culture, individual differences in the workplace, motivating the public sector employee, group and team dynamics, communication, power and empowerment and public leadership skills.
• OPB 110: Public management 110
  • Credits: 18.00
  • Module content: Development of management and public management. Importance of and need for effective management. Management theories. Public management environment. Public leadership theories. Leadership challenges. Creating an enabling public leadership environment.
• PUF 110: Public resource management 110
  • Credits: 18.00
  • Module content: The nature and role of public policy and decision making. Theories and models for public policy-making, implementation and analysis. Public policy design and policy decision making. Role players and stakeholders in public policy-making, implementation and analysis.
• PUM 120: Public information management 120
  • Credits: 18.00
  • Module content: Use and design of public management information systems. Knowledge management. E-governance as an alternative service delivery strategy. Digitalisation of government in South Africa.
• PUT 120: Public people management 120
  • Credits: 18.00
  • Module content: The foundations and legislative framework for public people management. Strategic human resource planning and utilisation. Management of diversity, equity, gender and disability in the public sector. Maximising public acquisition strategies. Human capital development in the public sector.
• PAD 112: Public administration 112
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: This module in public administration is designed specifically to assist students in understanding the role of public administration in a modern state, the unique characteristics of public administration, the schools and approaches in public administration and introducing the various generic administrative functions.
• PAD 122: Public administration 122
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: This module in public administration will introduce the constitutional framework pertaining to public administration. The South African system of government, the functions, role and powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government as well as the functioning of the three spheres of government will be discussed.

Minimum credits: 120

Core Modules (Year 2)

• OPB 210: Public management 210
  • Credits: 22.00
  • Module content: Public management functions including planning, organising, leading and control. Public management challenges in the South African public sector. The role of the public sector junior and senior manager in a developmental landscape.
• PUF 210: Public resource management 210
  • Credits: 22.00
  • Module content: Concepts, aims and principles of public finance. Government and the distribution of income. Role players in financial resource management. Different budgetary systems. Governmental budget organisation, preparing government budget and managing the budget. Intergovernmental fiscal relations. Structures established to promote financial intergovernmental relations.
• PUF 220: Public resource management 220
  • Credits: 22.00
  • Module content: Public procurement and supply chain management. Financial controls and fiscal reporting. Financial accountability and responsibility. Institutions established to promote financial accountability in the public sector.
• PUT 220: Public people management 220
  • Credits: 22.00
  • Module content: Maximising public performance and productivity. Managing public employees through appropriate communication, conflict- and diversity management and employee health strategies. Labour relations in the public sector. Performance management and appraisal.
• PAD 212: Public administration 212
  • Credits: 16.00
  • Module content: This module in public administration constitutes an in-depth analysis of the generic administrative functions, including, policy making, organising, financing, staffing and control.
• PAD 222: Public administration 222
  • Credits: 16.00
  • Module content: This module on public administration introduces the student to the process of planning, executing and evaluating research in the public sector.

Minimum credits: 120

Core Modules (Year 3)

• OPB 310: Public management 310
  • Credits: 24.00
  • Module content: Students are exposed to specific modern public management techniques aimed at effective management and performance, including business process re-engineering, total quality management and service orientation.
• PBP 320: Public practices 320
  • Credits: 32.00
  • Module content: Work-integrated learning module. Students are assessed at their workplace and are required to hand in a portfolio of evidence as part of their assessment.
• PUF 310: Public resource management 310
  • Credits: 24.00
  • Module content: The module is aimed at enabling students to demonstrate their competence in the use of project management for strategic goal achievement.
• PAD 312: Public administration 312
  • Credits: 20.00
  • Module content: This module in public administration is designed specifically to assist students to have a better understanding regarding the depth, origin and development of ethics in public service and administration.
• PAD 322: Public administration 322
  • Credits: 20.00
  • Module content: This module on public administration is designed to broaden the view of students on the understanding of the origin and development of administrative systems.