Master of Public Management

The Master of Public Management (MPM) Program of • In particular, the program aims to: Provide a high
the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, level of competence in public policy, governance, and
UP Open University (UPOU) was first offered during the administration;
second semester of AY 1997-1998. The institution of the • Prepare students to become better public managers,
Program was initiated and led by the then UP College administrators, government or volunteer workers and/
of Public Administration (UPCPA, now the UP National or advocates of social change, administrative, reform,
College of Public Administration and Governance, or and national development; and
NCPAG), the country’s foremost academic institution in
public management, education, research and extension. • Equip them with skills and knowledge needed in
managing and developing organizations that work for
The UPCPA, with the support of the Civil Service the welfare and interest of the Filipino people.
Commission, had aspired to assist in democratizing
education by offering programs in distance mode. Distance Admission Requirements
education (DE) as an approach to learning aims to provide
academic preparation to enhance the skills of practitioners Applicants to the MPM Program must have a bachelor’s
who have no time to attend the University or cannot degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution, and
leave their work place due to tasks in the office or in the at least two years’ work experience.
field. As such, the UPCPA took the challenge by offering
DE programs. The College invited faculty from the UP Those seeking admission must also take and pass the MPM
System offering Public Administration courses as course Graduate Admission Test (MPM-GAT) which are usually
writers and tutors, and ensured quality in the offering of administered twice a year.
programs.
Documents to be submitted include the following:
Currently, the Program offers three specializations: Local
Government and Regional Administration (LGRA), Public • Duly accomplished application form for admission.
Policy and Program Administration (PPPA), and Voluntary If the applicant is a former UP student, he/she must
Sector Management (VSM). The Program seeks to indicate his/her student number in the form.
expand and develop other areas of specialization, such as • Official Transcript of Records (1 original and 1
Organization Studies, and Public Fiscal Administration, in photocopy) bearing the school dry seal and imprint,
the future. and the Registrar’s signature in ink, and with
acceptable remarks.

Program Goals • Two letters of recommendation from: employer/

supervisor, former professor, former program adviser
The Master of Public Management (MPM) Program is (the UPOU Form 1a to be used for this purpose is
designed for policy-makers, administrators, and managers attached to the printed application form or can be
of public, private, and non-governmental organizations; downloaded online from the UPOU website).
practitioners in local government and administration; and • Two identical 2”x2” photos and two identical 1”x1”
other individuals interested in good governance, and public photos, with your name and the program applied for
policy and administration. Students must complete 36 printed at the back of the photos.
units to finish the program.
• A 500-word essay (refer to item #30 of the application
The fundamental goal of the MPM Program is to for admission form)
professionally upgrade the management skills and
education of administrators and practitioners, in the
pleasure of their own time and place.
Mode of Instruction Survey Courses (Total of 6 units)
All courses are delivered in Distance Education (DE)
Two of the following:
mode using state-of-the-art multi-media technology and
equipment. Teachers and students interact via the internet
PM231 Public Fiscal Administration
mainly through the MOODLE (Modular Object-Oriented
(3 units) Organization, processes and procedures of
Dynamic Learning Environment) platform which can be
fiscal administration covering such areas
viewed at the MyPortal LMS.
as revenue administration, budgeting,
accounting, auditing, and inter-governmental
fiscal relations
Courses
The MPM Program consists of a 36-unit academic course/ PM241 Public Policy and Program Administration
program and a written comprehensive examination. The (3 units) Introduction to policy analysis, policy
36 academic courses include five mandatory core courses, system, policy research, the role of the State
i.e. these courses should all be taken by the students; two and the rationale for public policy, policy
survey courses; three courses in the field of specialization; implementation, including the disciplinary
and two electives (from the pool of survey and field of foundation, processes, and methodological
specialization courses not yet taken by the student). and practical issues of Policy Science

Core Courses (Total of 15 units) PM251 Local Government and Regional

Administration
PM201 Theory and Practice of Public Administration (3 units) Theoretical and empirical perspectives of
(3 units) Ideas, issues, and trends in the theory and local government and regional administration,
practice of Public Administration and national issues and central local relations, community
development and institutional development and area
management
PM208 The Philippine Administrative System
(3 units) Nature, processes and dynamics of the PM281 Voluntary Sector Management and the
Philippine Administrative System and its role Development of Civil Society
in national development [Prerequisite: PM (3 units) Theory and practice of voluntary sector
201] management including understanding and
analysis of the nature of civil society, the
PM230 Financial Management in Government management of its organizations, and the
(3 units) Financial management, including financial dynamics of its interaction with the state and
planning, budget analysis and preparation, a the market
ccounting, cash management, and financial
accountability in a government organization Electives (Total of 6 units)

PM299.1 Quantitative Methods in Public Policy and PM227 Human Resource Management
Administration (3 units) The government’s manpower development
(3 units) Statistics and other mathematical methods policies and plans as they relate to public
applied to the analysis of issues and decision- personnel in general and to selected agency
making in policy and administration manpower planning programs in particular;
forecasting for manpower needs at the
PM299.2 Research Methods in Public Administration agency level; developing programs to meet
(3 units) Application of scientific methods to the such needs
study and practice of Public Administration
[Prerequisite: PM 299.1]
Any Survey or Major Courses not taken previously PM243 Program and Project Development
(3 units) (3 units) Systematic analysis, planning, and
evaluation of programs and projects
Specialization (Total of 9 units) [Prerequisites: PM 241 or COI]

Major Courses in Local Government PM244 The Policy Process

and Regional Administration (LGRA) Track (3 units) Methodological, environmental,
institutional, and substantive issues in the
PM252 Rural Administration and Development policy cycle, including in-depth analysis
(3 units) Roles of local, regional, and central of specific substantive policy issues
institutions in rural development [Prerequisites: PM 241 or COI]
and service administration; planning,
organization, personnel, and management PM245 Program and Project Implementation
concepts and methods in local and (3 units) Policy and program implementation with
area agencies; community organization emphasis on the factors related to success
and participation in rural development and failure of public policy [Prerequisites:
programs and projects [Prerequisite: PM PM 241 or COI]
251]
Major Courses in the Voluntary Sector
PM253 Human Resource Management Management (VSM) Track
(3 units) The government’s manpower
development policies and plans as they PM282 Human Resources Management in the
relate to public personnel in general and Voluntary Sector
to selected agency manpower planning (3 units) Managing volunteer and paid staff in
programs in particular; forecasting for the voluntary sector, their interaction
manpower needs at the agency level; with each other, with the civil service,
developing programs to meet such needs and civil society; process towards
professionalization, nurturing the
PM254 Human Resource Management commitment and competence of
(3 units) The government’s manpower human resources in the organization
development policies and plans as they [Prerequisite: PM 281]
relate to public personnel in general and
to selected agency manpower planning PM283 Resource Generation and Financial
programs in particular; forecasting for (3 units) Management in the Voluntary Sector
manpower needs at the agency level; Generating and managing resources
developing programs to meet such needs in the voluntary sector, the nature of
philanthropy, generating income in
PM259 Special Problems in Local Government not-for-profit organizations, budgeting,
(3 units) and Regional Administration accounting and accountability
[Prerequisite: PM 251] for resources of the organization
[Prerequisite: PM 281]
Major Courses in the Public Policy
and Program Administration (PPPA) Track PM284 Strategic Planning and Management in
the Voluntary Sector
PM242 Methods of Policy Analysis (3 units) Undertaking strategic planning and
(3 units) Quantitative and non-quantitative management for organizations in the
methods in the analysis of public policy; voluntary sector, setting and achieving the
problems in applying these methods and vision of such organizations [Prerequisite:
techniques [Prerequisite: PM 241] PM 281]

PM289 Special Problems in Voluntary Sector

(3 units) Management [Prerequisite: PM 281