Public Administration

Study programme The Public administration provides specialised education in the field of law, particularly for the performance of professional and management activities in public administration. On the necessary theoretical basis, in a broader legal framework (constitutional, European and international law), and with respect to the conditions and requirements of public administration in a modern state governed by the rule of law, the study programme enables the acquisition of the necessary scope and spectrum of knowledge about the legal bases and regulation of the position, organization and activities of public administration and its role in society, including the European context.

Students are given the opportunity to obtain a systematic general overview of Czech and European legislation on the position and functioning of public administration, as well as in-depth knowledge of the fields of legal basis - i.e. in particular administrative law and financial law, in both their substantive and procedural parts, including more demanding issues (law - making, discretion, liability for damage). Mentioned knowledge is complemented by specialized courses for public administration (environmental law, social security law, financial administration, administrative science, or so-called clerical law). The necessary knowledge from other basic legal disciplines is provided to the extent needed for the public administration (civil law, civil proceedings, criminal law). The education is complemented by additional knowledge needed to working in a public administration with legal specialization (public administration economy, information technology, public administration management). The development of language competences is an integral part of this.

The program provides the opportunity to acquire or deepen a current or anticipated specialization or job position, including managerial or executive positions. The program gives a choice of four thematic blocks of compulsory-optional subjects, where it is possible to obtain knowledge from a broader legal basis of public administration, including more demanding areas (e.g. legal argumentation), from selected sections of public administration, further knowledge in the field of political science, sociology or management, or in the field of financial and economic aspects of public administration.

The program, within a combined setting, supports the development of students' skills for the performance of modern public administration by teaching methods, where, in addition to collective consultations, study materials are provided by e-learning, using interactive syllabus developed in the MU Information System environment. Knowledge and skills are provided at a high professional level, which is, inter alia, needed to obtain specialised professional education, inter alia for the pursuit of management activities in the public administration.

The study programme builds on the bachelor's programmes carried out at PrF MU, while it is also suitable for graduates of other fields. As the only one of the masters programmes focused on public administration, it offers a specific concept and composition of subjects, providing a reliable and thorough knowledge of the legal basis of the public administration environment and operation, and also a qualification for the performance of professional activities in public administration, for public administration, including elected or advisory positions, or for entities entering into contact with the public administration.

The program is based on the results, experience and already obtained reputation, and further develops the potential for the use and application of knowledge and skills in the field of legal basis and regulation of public administration in a changing environment of public administration, including modernization tendencies and trends.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• - be aware of the rules governing the organisation and operation of the public administration in general, and its areas and sectors, as well as constitutional foundations and contexts, and the relevant European context, including general principles,
• - to apply own systematic knowledge of administrative law and other sectors regulating the operation of public administration, as well as the necessary broader legal basis, both public and private;
• - to apply own specialised knowledge – from areas, where public administration applies – at the required professional level, and to reflect the specificities of the legal regulation of these areas, including procedural regulation and review;
• - to apply knowledge of the legal framework of management activities and to perform management activities in the field of public administration, with knowledge of the legal basis and the context of decision-making and responsibility of public authori
• - to apply knowledge of administrative bodies activities of conceptual and coordinating nature, and when preparing or considering proposals, filings or documents, normative, programmatic, specific decisions or other acts of a legal nature;
• - to communicate and argue at expert level in dealings with subjects or bodies of public administration, with other public institutions and bodies, including European one, as well as with the addressees of public administration and in negotiations wi

The graduate of the program is fully qualified to apply the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge and skills , and the graduate is also prepared for own professional activities in public administration bodies and institutions and the graduate is also prepared for own professional activities in public administration bodies and institutions at all levels of state administration and its branches, in the whole area of territorial self-government, furthermore, in organizations founded and established by the above-mentioned entities, as well as in professional (interest) or university self-government bodies. The graduate can also find employment in the non-profit sector or in the private sector, regarding the need for knowledge of the system, principles and rules of operation of public administration and its legal framework. The graduate of the program is ready to handle activities of a qualified professional with the necessary knowledge of the legal basis and regulation of the organization and activities of public administration and their broader context. In the conditions of public administration, this corresponds, among other things, to the professional status of "public administration official" and "chief public administration official, The graduate of the program is also qualified to perform the activity of an elected official in public administration, or take the control, resp. managerial positions in the field of public administration. The graduate can also find employment in the European institutions.

In general another form of direct contact with the practice of public administration is not required, taking into account the duration of the programme (2 years); and content of the program providing to a large extent knowledge of the actual operation of public administration in the level of interpretation and application of law in the field of public administration, judicial review of public administration and relevant practical skills, with frequent use of commentary literature and case law, and also with regard to the fact that a significant part of students already work in public administration. The practice may be allowed within the optional subject.

The minimum extent of the diploma thesis is 50 standard pages, including footnotes, title page, abstract with a list of keywords, content and bibliography. In the work assignment, the extent can be limited by the upper limit of the number of standard pages or characters, including spaces. The topic of the diploma thesis is chosen by the student from the topics published well in advance by the teachers of compulsory and optional subjects taught under the program, or from free topics falling within the scope of these subjects, which, for example, reflects the issues that they encounter in practice or that they intend to focus on professionally.

The diploma thesis does not have the character of an empirical research itself (a possible exception must be approved by the thesis supervisor). Student works with already published professional texts in the field of theory, with publications of practical focus (commentary literature), and with case law and other documents (legal drafts, methodological materials). They should demonstrate the ability to critically work with professional texts, process concepts – theories and conclusions formulated in them, and find relevant answers in them, or with their help, or own substantiated opinions or suggestions on solved questions of a partly theoretical nature and particularly in the field of application law, resp. from the field of administrative science.

Instructions for state final examinations and elaboration of a bachelor's / diploma thesis are regulated by the Dean's Directive No. 7/2012 On Study in Bachelor's and Master's Degree Programs. The diploma thesis consists of a title page, a sworn statement, an abstract with a list of keywords, content, the text itself, a list of used sources and the assignment of the thesis, in the order in which they were listed, all in that order. The work is prepared on a computer in a format that is accepted by the archive of the final works in Masaryk University Information system. The work is written in proper Czech or Slovak language.

If the graduates fulfil the conditions of the admission procedure, they may continue to study at Faculty of Law Masaryk University, in a doctoral degree programme, particularly in the Administrative and Environmental Law program or in Master of Public Administration program.