Public Administration and Governance
Study programme title in Est.
Avalik haldus ja riigiteadused
Study programme title in Engl.
Public Administration and Governance
TalTech study programme code
HAAB02
MER study programme code
1892
Study programme version code
HAAB02/25
Faculty / college
M - School of Business and Governance
Head of study programme/study programme manager
Leno Saarniit
Language of instruction
Estonian
Study level
Bachelor study
ECTS credits
180
Self-paid study programme
no
Nominal study period
6 semesters
Study programme group
Business and Administration
Broad area of study
Business, Administration and Law
Study field
Business and administration
Curriculum group
Management and administration
Granting the right to conduct studies in the study programme group
õppe läbiviimise õigus
Validity date of the right to conduct studies in the study programme group
tähtajatu
No. of the decision granting the right to teach in the study programme group
112
Access conditions
Secondary education or corresponding qualification in accordance with admission requirements of TalTech.
Study programme aims and objectives
- To provide a broad understanding of social sciences, governance and management and develop specific skills and knowledge of the state functioning.
- To equip graduates with the skills required for working in the public sector - in central or local governments, international organisations (including the European Union), but also in private and non-profit sector organisations that are closely involved in the governance and management of social affairs.
- To enable students to adapt to the constant developments in the society, government and public administration, the programme provides general knowledge of governmental functions, public-private partnerships, practical skills in policy development and implementation, and develops individual and teamwork skills. The programme aims at improving the quality of government and governance in Estonia as well as supporting the development of professional public service. Show more...
- To equip graduates with the skills required for working in the public sector - in central or local governments, international organisations (including the European Union), but also in private and non-profit sector organisations that are closely involved in the governance and management of social affairs.
- To enable students to adapt to the constant developments in the society, government and public administration, the programme provides general knowledge of governmental functions, public-private partnerships, practical skills in policy development and implementation, and develops individual and teamwork skills. The programme aims at improving the quality of government and governance in Estonia as well as supporting the development of professional public service. Show more...
Learning outcomes of the study programme
Upon successful completion of the curriculum, the graduate:
- knows the functioning of society, the political system and public administration, especially its role in society and its philosophical, theoretical and practical principles;
- understands and is able to explain major development trends and reforms in public administration, including public sector innovation in Estonia and internationally;
- understands and is able to analyse the processes of the development and implementation of policies and the role of public administration in these processes, considering the legal framework of public service and administrative processes and relationships between public, private and non-profit sectors;
- compares philosophical and ethical foundations of the public sector with the foundations of the private sector, taking into account the values of equality, tolerance, and justice, and their importance in the functioning of public service and civil society;
- is able to independently write research papers in the field of public administration and governance, and to find, present and analyse relevant information, and to work with and lead a team. Show more...
- knows the functioning of society, the political system and public administration, especially its role in society and its philosophical, theoretical and practical principles;
- understands and is able to explain major development trends and reforms in public administration, including public sector innovation in Estonia and internationally;
- understands and is able to analyse the processes of the development and implementation of policies and the role of public administration in these processes, considering the legal framework of public service and administrative processes and relationships between public, private and non-profit sectors;
- compares philosophical and ethical foundations of the public sector with the foundations of the private sector, taking into account the values of equality, tolerance, and justice, and their importance in the functioning of public service and civil society;
- is able to independently write research papers in the field of public administration and governance, and to find, present and analyse relevant information, and to work with and lead a team. Show more...
Graduation requirements
Completion of the curriculum in the required amount, and taking the final exam in conformity with the requirements set by the TalTech Senate.
In order to obtain Cum Laude diploma the final exam must be taken for the grade "5" and the weighted average grade must be at least 4,600, where all grades from diploma supplement are taken into account. Show more...
In order to obtain Cum Laude diploma the final exam must be taken for the grade "5" and the weighted average grade must be at least 4,600, where all grades from diploma supplement are taken into account. Show more...
Degrees conferred
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences
Study programme version structure :
Module type
total ECTS credits
General studies
75.0
Core studies
66.0
Special studies
24.0
Free choice courses
6.0
Graduation exam
9.0
Total
180.0
- +MAIN SPECIALITY 4: public administration and governance
- +MODULE: Public administration and public policy 42.0 ECTS credits (General studies)AimsModule gives the basic knowledge of public administration and its development trajectories. One of the focal points is the public policy development,
implementation and analysis, in regard to its theories, methods and practices. Therefore academic studies are combined with classes led by leading public officials. The courses cover topics such as policy process, organisations involved in policy development and implementation, their functioning, reforms and development, analytical and managerial skills in policy development and implementation. Show more...Learning outcomesStudent who has passed this module:
- knows the historical
development of public administration as a field of study and as a field of practice and is able to compare the main models of contemporary governance and bureaucracy;
- understands and is able to explain and compare the different trends in administrative reforms, their strengths and weaknesses;
- explains the public policy process and analyses critically the main theories, models and practices of public policy;
- knows Estonian administrative system, its development, main challenges and development opportunities;
- knows the main research and analytical methods of social sciences, their strengths and weaknesses;
- can formulate research questions, choose appropriate data and methods and plan research. Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 42.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Government and Society 24.0 ECTS credits (General studies)AimsThe module gives the basic knowledge of different fields of social sciences and their approaches to state and society,
the main challenges faced by the society and government and their historical development, the main trends influencing the development of the government (including impact of the development of culture, technology, media, etc on the role of government in the society). Module forms the basis for studying the public administration modules. Show more...Learning outcomesStudent who has passed this module:
- knows the development of social sciences,
their ideas, concepts and theories and their connections to the development of contemporary state and society;
- knows the main ideas and concepts of governance and political philosophy and are able to compare the different approaches and philosophers;
- knows and is able to use the central notions and fields of research in governance and political science;
- analyses the main social problems facing the state and society;
- is able to place today’s social debates in the historical development of social sciences. Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 24.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Electives 9.0 ECTS credits (General studies)AimsThe main aim of the module is to give the student opportunity to gain additional general knowledge and skills.Learning outcomesStudent who has passed an elective course:
- has acquired thorough knowledge of the discipline in question;
- knows and is able to use the terms, main theories of this field and knows its main problems. Show more...Elective courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: at least 9.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: State, market and innovation 24.0 ECTS credits (Core studies)AimsModule gives theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in regard to market processes,
public finance, e-governance, and the role of the state in economic and innovation policies. Students will learn the main theoretical approaches and wide-spread international practices. Therefore academic studies are combined with classes led by leading Estonian and international practitioners. The module is aimed at in-depth understanding and analysis of innovation and economic development processes on state as well as international level. Show more...Learning outcomesStudent who has passed this module:
- knows and is able to use the main notions, concepts and theories of economics;
- knows and is able to use the main notions and theoretical approaches of public finance and critically use and assess different approaches in the solution of public finance issues;
- knows the principles, legal regulation, databases and international practices of e-governance and evaluates the development, strengths and weaknesses of Estonian e-governance;
- knows and explains the role of innovation in the development of society, state and market and the role of the state in supporting innovation;
- compares different theoretical approaches of economic and innovation policies and explains their connections to public administration and public policy;
- connects theoretical and international information on economic, fiscal and innovation policy and e-governance with topical challenges in Estonia and offers practical solutions to accelerate Estonian development. Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 24.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Electives 18.0 ECTS credits (Core studies)AimsThe main aim of the module is to give students opportunity to study narrower fields of public administration or disciplines that border with public administration more thoroughly.Learning outcomesStudent who has passed an elective course:
- has acquired thorough knowledge of the discipline in question;
- knows and is able to use the terms, main theories of this field and knows its main problems;
- forms research questions and conducts research in this field. Show more...Elective courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterMNE52406.04.02.00.02.0ASTotal: at least 18.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Law and International Governance 24.0 ECTS credits (Core studies)AimsModule gives students theoretical and practical knowledge of constitutional and administrative law and skills for reading,
understanding and drafting legal acts. Therefore academic studies are combined with classes led by practitioners. The basic knowledge of international governance is aimed at in-depth understanding of governance trends and law on the supranational level. The module is focused on the preparation of students for the work in organisations that require legal skills or knowledge of international governance and cooperation. Show more...Learning outcomesStudent who has passed this module:
- knows the constitution of the Republic of Estonia,
its role in Estonian legal system and knows how to use and explain the main notions and principles related to constitutional law;
- knows the role of administrative law and its importance for the functioning and defining of public administration and is able to critically analyse the relationship between public authorities and individuals;
- analyses and drafts legal norms;
- knows the historic development of international institutions, including the European Union and their impact on national governments;
- understands and analyses the impact of international trends (e.g. EU policies, WTO treaties etc) on Estonian governance, law and public policies and suggests necessary changes. Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 24.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Practice of policy development and implementation 24.0 ECTS credits (Special studies)AimsThe main aim of the module is to develop students' practical skills in policy analysis,
development, design of public services and provide practical experience of work in public service. Show more...Learning outcomesStudent who has passed this module:
- uses the main methods of policy analysis and writes policy analyses as one of the basis for policy development;
- using the basic knowledge of public administration, policy process, economy, innovation and e-governance, can identify, analyse and diagnose the main problems of a public sector organisation and services, and design solutions (e.g. structure and coordination of a policy field or organisation, provision and delivery of a public service etc);
- using the basic knowledge of public administration, policy process, economy, innovation and e-governance, can identify, analyse and diagnose the main problems related to technological development of a public sector organisation or a policy field (including the use and supporting the development of technologies), and design solutions for the support of technological development of an entrepreneurial state (e.g. support and promotion of technological development through public procurement, regulations, development of e-services etc);
- designs public services and policies, by finding connections and cooperation opportunities with private sector and civic society;
- has obtained at least 5 weeks of practical job experience in public service.
Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 24.0 ECTS credits - +MODULE: Free choice courses 6.0 ECTS credits (Free choice courses)AimsTo give students academic freedom to plan their studies according to their (academic) interests as well as their future career and academic aims.Learning outcomesA student who has successfully completed the module will have knowledge and skills for better performance in his/her field-specific academic activity,
professional field or as an active and educated member of the Estonian society. Show more... - +MODULE: Final Exam 9.0 ECTS credits (Graduation exam)AimsThe main aim of the bachelor's exam is to test the students' knowledge and analytical skills in the field of public administration and governance.Learning outcomesStudent who has passed the bachelor’s exam:
- explains the main development trends of public administration,
analyses policy development and implementation on international level and in local and central governments in national level and explains the role of public administration, law and economy in the process;
- explains and justifies his/her arguments by using and interpreting different data sources;
- uses the main terms, notions and concepts of public administration correctly (in Estonian and English). Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 9.0 ECTS credits - +STANDARD STUDY PLAN: Autumn daytime study
- +MINOR SPECIALITY MODULE: Public administration and governanceAimsThe main aim of the minor specialisation in Public Administration
and Governance is to give students an opportunity to obtain the necessary basic knowledge and skills for a career primarily in the public sector (in central as well as local governments), international organisations (including the European Union), but also in private and non-profit sector organisations that are closely connected to the governance and management of social affairs. The courses focus on the structure and functions (especially the policy development, implementation and analysis) of state, public administration and public service as well as European Union. Show more...Learning outcomesThe graduates of bachelor´s programme in public administration and governance:
- know the functioning of society, political system and public administration, especially the latter’s role in the society and its theoretical and practical bases;
- understand and are able to explain the main development trajectories and reforms in public administration (including public sector innovation) in Estonia as well as on the international level;
- understand and are able to explain the connections between the government and public administration on the one hand, and the developments of the private and non-profit sectors on the other hand;
- understand and are able to analyse the processes of policy development and implementation and the role of public administration in those processes. Show more...Compulsory courses:Course titleCourse codeECTS creditsHours per weekLecturesPracticesExercisesE/P-F.Ass./ Gr.Ass.Teaching semesterTotal: 48.0 ECTS credits