Career Pathway: Public Administration and Civil Services
How government works, how policy is made and delivered, and the skills of a public servant.
Public administration is about turning decisions into services that reach people. Students study how federal, provincial and local government are organised, how a policy moves from idea to implementation, how budgets are made and audited, and how accountability works. Long case studies (for example, rolling out a school meals programme, or digitising land records) are followed by questions on options, costs, risks and ethics. Students also practise essays, précis writing, current affairs analysis and interviews. The placement is with a government department, regulator, local government office or policy institute.
- Length
- 6 months, three days a week
- Classes
- 4.5 months, at the centre or online
- Placement
- 1.5 months
- Ages
- 15–18
What students get
Module 1: How the state works
The constitution, separation of powers, and federal, provincial and local government.
Module 2: The policy cycle
Agenda setting, analysis, choosing options, implementation and evaluation.
Module 3: Public finance
Budgets, taxation, public spending, audit and value for money.
Module 4: Public management
Organisations, leadership, service delivery and e-governance.
Module 5: Ethics and accountability
Administrative law, conflicts of interest, transparency and the right to information.
Module 6: Public service skills
Essays, précis, briefing notes, current affairs and interview practice.
Every topic, three ways
In-depth theory, a long case study of about 1,000 words, and practice questions with model answers.
Placement and capstone
Six weeks in the public sector and a policy brief presented to a panel.
Learn the field, then practise it
4.5 months
Classes three days a week, at the centre or online: theory, case studies and practice questions.
1.5 months
Placement with a host organisation in the field, guided by a mentor.
Capstone
A mock trial, policy brief, campaign plan or project presented to professionals.
After
Portfolio, mentor reference and university and degree advice.
Three pathways with full programmes
Law and Legal Practice
Legal systems, contract, criminal, constitutional and international law, legal writing, advocacy and a mock trial.
See the programmePublic Administration and Civil Services
How government works, policy, public finance, management, ethics and the skills of public service.
You are herePolitics, Policy and Advocacy
Political systems, policy analysis, campaigns, media and international relations, strictly non-partisan.
See the programmeFields we plan pathways in
Every pathway is personal. Choose any field below in the enrolment form and we build the plan, the reading and the placement around it.
Real materials, ready from day one
Every Career Pathway: Public Administration and Civil Services student works from original Spectrum materials, written by our teachers, printed for class and available online in the Spectrum portal.
- 18 course packs and plans
- 2 guides for teachers and parents
- A student handout for every slide deck, with space for notes
- Answer keys and teaching notes for every teacher
Courses in this programme
Enrolled students and teachers open these materials in the Spectrum portal. Course materials are released in stages as the course runs.
| Course | Materials | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Complete course pack: six modules (theory, two case studies of about 1,000 words each, practice with model answers), slide decks, mentor guide and Policy Lab capstone pack (available now) | 26 | 317 |
Also in this pathway
Career Pathways (6 months)
Career Pathway: Law and Legal Practice
Career Pathway: Politics, Policy and Advocacy
Enrol in Career Pathway: Public Administration and Civil Services
Tell us about the student’s interests and goals. Every Career Pathway is planned around one student, so this helps us build the right plan and find the right mentor and host.
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