UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

OPEN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

MASTER OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM GUIDE
A. Program Description

The Master of Public Management (MPM) Program of the Faculty of Management and Development
Studies, UP Open University (UPOU) was first offered during the second semester of AY 1997-1998.
The institution of the Program was initiated and led by the then UP College of Public Administration
(UPCPA, now the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, or NCPAG), the
countrys foremost academic institution in public management, education, research and extension.
The UPCPA, with the support of the Civil Service Commission, had aspired to assist in democratizing
education by offering programs in distance mode. Distance education (DE) as an approach to
learning aims to provide academic preparation to enhance the skills of practitioners who have no
time to attend the University or cannot leave their work place due to tasks in the office or in the
field. As such, the UPCPA took the challenge by offering DE programs. The College invited faculty
from the UP System offering Public Administration courses as course writers and tutors, and ensured
quality in the offering of programs.
Currently, the Program offers three specializations: Local Government and Regional Administration
(LGRA), Public Policy and Program Administration (PPPA), and Voluntary Sector Management (VSM).
The Program seeks to expand and develop other areas of specialization, such as Organization
Studies, and Public Fiscal Administration, in the future.
B. Program Goals
The Master of Public Management (MPM) Program is designed for policy-makers, administrators,
and managers of public, private, and non-governmental organizations; practitioners in local
government and administration; and other individuals interested in good governance, and public
policy and administration.
The fundamental goal of the MPM Program is to professionally upgrade the management skills and
education of administrators and practitioners, in the pleasure of their own time and place.
In particular, the Program aims to:

Provide a high level of competence in public policy, governance, and administration;

Prepare students to become better public managers, administrators, government or
volunteer workers and/or advocates of social change, administrative, reform, and national
development; and
Equip them with skills and knowledge needed in managing and developing organizations
that work for the welfare and interest of the Filipino people.
1

C. Organization of the Program

The MPM Program is headed by a Program Chair. He/she is in charge of the over-all coordination of
the Program. He/she oversees the development and delivery of courses under the program, screens
applicants, recommends faculty, and provides program advising to students.
The courses offered by the Program are handled by the Faculty-in-Charge (FIC). The FICs prepare a
course guide and new sets of assignments for the course. They attend to course-related student
concerns. They submit the final exam and other required exams such as mid-term tests, correct all
examination papers, and submit the final grades of all students enrolled in the course.
D. Admission Requirements and Procedure

Applicants to the MPM Program must have a bachelors degree or its equivalent from a recognized
institution, and at least two years work experience.
Those seeking admission must also take and pass the MPM Graduate Admission Test (MPM-GAT)
which are usually administered twice a year.
Documents to be submitted include the following:
a. Application for admission form duly accomplished (can be obtained from the UP Open
University website1, the UPOU Learning Center, or the Office of the University Registrar). If
the applicant is a former UP student, he/she must indicate his/her student number in the
form.
b. Official Transcript of Records (1 original and 1 photocopy) bearing the school dry seal and
imprint, and the Registrars signature in ink, and with acceptable remarks 2
c. Two letters of recommendation from: employer/ supervisor, former professor, former
program adviser (the UPOU Form 1a to be used for this purpose is attached to the printed
application form or can be downloaded online from the UPOU website 3).
d. Two identical 2x2 photos and two identical 1x1 photos, with your name and the
program applied for printed at the back of the photos.
e. A 500-word essay (refer to item #30 of the application for admission form)
f. Photocopy of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license (not expired)
g. Photocopy of PBET/LET eligibility (for teacher applicants only)
h. Certificate of Teaching Load, UPOU Form 1b 4 (for teacher applicants only)
An application fee of PhP500.00 for applicants living in the Philippines, and USD 100.00 for
applicants living outside the Philippines must be made 5.
The application documents including the accomplished application form and proof of payment must
be mailed or brought to:
1

Please refer to the UPOU website, or the following web address, for downloadable forms:
http://www2.upou.edu.ph/students/student-resources/111
2
Please refer to the UPOU website, or the following web address, for the List of Remarks that Makes a TOR
Valid or Not Valid as a Transfer Credential:
http://www2.upou.edu.ph/images/stories/downloads/2012_downloads/valid_TOR.pdf
3
Please refer to footnote no. 1
4
Please refer to footnote no. 1
5
Please refer to the UPOU website, or the following web address, for information on payment options and
procedures: http://www2.upou.edu.ph/paymentprocedure

The Admissions Section

Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
Los Baos, Laguna
4031 Philippiines
The admission schedule is normally posted in the UPOU website6.
The Office of the University Registrar will inform the student concerning the details of the MPM
Graduate Admission Test.
The results of the application will be made known through the following:

A mailed notice from the Office of the University Registrar

An email notice from the Office of the University Registrar
An announcement on the UPOU website

The receipt of the result of the application is expected two weeks before the registration period of
each term. If the applicant does not receive his/her result by this time, he/she can contact the
Admission Section of the Office of the University Registrar through email or phone.

For Admission and Results of Admission

Examinations

For General Inquiries

Visit the UPOU website, or the following web

address for inquiries:
http://www2.upou.edu.ph/contact-us

Information Office
UPOU Headquarters
Los Baos, Laguna
4031, Philippines

E-mail: admissions@upou.edu.ph

Email: info@upou.edu.ph
Tel. No. +63 (049) 536 6001 to 06 loc. 710
Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 7AM-6PM

E. Mode of Instruction
All courses are delivered in distance education (DE) mode using state-of-the-art multi-media
technology and equipment. Teachers and students interact via the internet mainly through the
MOODLE (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) platform which can be viewed
at http://myportal.upou.edu.ph.
F. Program Structure

The MPM Program consists of a 36-unit academic course/program and a written comprehensive
examination. The 36 academic courses include five mandatory core courses, i.e. these courses should
all be taken by the students; two survey courses; three courses in the field of specialization; and two
electives (from the pool of survey and field of specialization courses not yet taken by the student).

Please refer to the UPOU website, or the following web address, for the application guide:
http://www2.upou.edu.ph/admission/application-guide

Students must complete 36 units with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 2.0 or better.

MPM Program Curricular Framework

Core Courses (15 units)

PM 201, PM 208, PM 230, PM 299.1, PM 299.2

Survey Courses (6 units)

Two of the following: PM 231, PM 241, PM 251, PM 281

Electives (6 units)
PM 227, and any Survey or Major Courses not taken previously

Specialization (9 units)
LGRA Track:

PPPA Track:

VSM Track:

PM 252

PM 242

PM 282

PM 253

PM 243

PM 283

PM 254

PM 244

PM 284

PM 259

PM 245

PM 289

Total number of units = 36

G. Courses and Course Description

Core Courses
PM 201

Theory and Practice of Public Administration

Ideas, issues, and trends in the theory and practice of Public Administration and
4

national development
PM 208

The Philippine Administrative System

Nature, processes and dynamics of the Philippine Administrative System and its
role in national development (Prerequisite: PM 201)

PM 230

Financial Management in Government

Financial management, including financial planning, budget analysis and
preparation, accounting, cash management, and financial accountability in a
government organization

PM 299.1

Quantitative Methods in Public Policy and Administration

Statistics and other mathematical methods applied to the analysis of issues and
decision-making in policy and administration

PM 299.2

Research Methods in Public Administration

Application of scientific methods to the study and practice of Public
Administration (Prerequisite: PM 299.1)

Survey Courses
PM 231

Public Fiscal Administration

Organization, processes and procedures of fiscal administration covering such
areas as revenue administration, budgeting, accounting, auditing, and intergovernmental fiscal relations

PM 241

Public Policy and Program Administration

Introduction to policy analysis, policy system, policy research, the role of the State
and the rationale for public policy, policy implementation, including the
disciplinary foundation, processes, and methodological and practical issues of
Policy Science

PM 251

Local Government and Regional Administration

Theoretical and empirical perspectives of local government and regional
administration, issues and central local relations, community and institutional
development and area management

PM 281

Voluntary Sector Management and the Development of Civil Society

Theory and practice of voluntary sector management including understanding and
analysis of the nature of civil society, the management of its organizations, and
the dynamics of its interaction with the state and the market

Electives
PM 227

Human Resource Management

5

The governments manpower development policies and plans as they relate to

public personnel in general and to selected agency manpower planning programs
in particular; forecasting for manpower needs at the agency level; developing
programs to meet such needs
Major Courses in the Local Government and Regional Administration (LGRA) Track
PM 252

Rural Administration and Development

Roles of local, regional, and central institutions in rural development and service
administration; planning, organization, personnel, and management concepts and
methods in local and area agencies; community organization and participation in
rural development programs and projects (Prerequisite: PM 251)

PM 253

Urban and Metropolitan Administration and Development

Roles of local, metropolitan, and central institutions in urban development and
service administration; urban and metropolitan planning, organization and
management concepts and methods; community organization and participation;
problems and issues in the administration of urban and metropolitan
development

PM 254

Local and Regional Finance

Principles, techniques and practices in local and regional financial planning and
administration; patterns of revenues and expenditures, fiscal organization, and
management and control

PM 259

Special Problems in Local Government and Regional Administration(Prerequisite:

PM 251)

Major Courses in the Public Policy and Program Administration (PPPA) Track
PM 242

Methods of Policy Analysis

Quantitative and non-quantitative methods in the analysis of public policy;
problems in applying these methods and techniques (Prerequisite: PM 241)

PM 243

Program and Project Development

Systematic analysis, planning, and evaluation of programs and projects
(Prerequisite: PM 241 or COI)

PM 244

The Policy Process

Methodological, environmental, institutional, and substantive issues in the policy
cycle, including in-depth analysis of specific substantive policy issues
(Prerequisites: PM 241 or COI)

PM 245

Program and Project Implementation

Policy and program implementation with emphasis on the factors related to
success and failure of public policy (Prerequisite: PM 241 or COI)

Major Courses in the Voluntary Sector Management (VSM) Track

PM 282

Human Resources Management in the Voluntary Sector

Managing volunteer and paid staff in the voluntary sector, their interaction with
each other, with the civil service, and civil society; process towards
professionalization, nurturing the commitment and competence of human
resources in the organization (Prerequisite: PM 281)

PM 283

Resource Generation and Financial Management in the Voluntary Sector

Generating and managing resources in the voluntary sector, the nature of
philanthropy, generating income in not-for-profit organizations, budgeting,
accounting and accountability for resources of the organization (Prerequisite: PM
281)

PM 284

Strategic Planning and Management in the Voluntary Sector

Undertaking strategic planning and management for organizations in the
voluntary sector, setting and achieving the vision of such organizations
(Prerequisite: PM 281)

PM 289

Special Problems in Voluntary Sector Management (Prerequisite: PM 281)

H. Retention Policy
The student must complete the MPM Program within seven years (UPOU Academic Information for
Post Baccalaureate Programs by Distance Education, June 2000, page 14). Within the period,
students must complete 36 units with a GWA of 2.0 or better. This qualifies them for the
comprehensive examination.
I.

Comprehensive Exam7

The comprehensive exam is composed of two parts the general field and the students area of
specialization (Local Government and Regional Administration, Public Policy and Program
Administration, Voluntary Sector Management). A student is given two chances to take and pass
both fields. If the student fails to satisfy this requirement, he/she is permanently disqualified (PD)
from the MPM Program.
The MPM student qualifies for graduation upon passing the comprehensive examination.
PROGRAM ADVISING
For concerns that can be taken up with the Program Chair (e.g., cross registration, comprehensive
examinations), address them to:

See the MPM Guidelines for the Comprehensive Examinations for more information.

Prof. Juvy Lizette M. Gervacio

Program Chair, Master of Public Management
Faculty of Management and Development Studies
Email: mpmpc@upou.edu.ph
STUDENT SUPPORT
For concerns that can be taken up with Student Support staff (e.g., procedures on deferment of
admission, registration, change of matriculation, dropping of courses, LOA, readmission, completion
of grade), you may bring it up with the Learning Center.
Please refer to the Learning Center directory:
http://www2.upou.edu.ph/about-us/learning-centers-directory/learning-centers-directory

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS can be found at the UPOU Student Handbook.
For more information, please contact:
The Faculty of Management and Development Studies
3/F University of the Philippines Open University Main Building
Los Baos, Laguna 4031
Tel: (049) 536-6001 to 06 loc. 821/333
Telefax: (049) 536-6010
Email: fmds@upou.edu.ph
Website: http://www2.upou.edu.ph/