This document provides information about the BSc (Hons) in Public Management and Business degree program at Plymouth University. The 3-year program provides students with both management skills and an understanding of public services. In the first year, students are introduced to core themes and topics in public services history, business, policymaking, and research methods. The second year focuses on challenges in public services and developing skills in areas like operations and people management. For the final year, students complete a dissertation and can choose modules in public services or management, with an option for workplace learning. The degree prepares students for careers in public, private or third sector organizations providing public services.

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PUBLIC
MANAGEMENT
AND BUSINESS
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
Career Opportunities
The ability to understand and
manage in complex areas where
you are often working in tandem
with a number of different
agencies from a range of sectors
is becoming central in all areas
of public management. A degree
in Public Management and
Business will help you prepare
for work within the dynamic and
rapidly changing world of public
management.
You will be given the requisite
management skill sets to
enable you to work, manage
and understand a range of work
environments from large state
organisations such as the health,
social services and the emergency
services, and private and third
sector organisation that act as
suppliers of public services in such
areas as housing, community care,
and drug and alcohol services.
The balance of management skills
and theoretical and contemporary
knowledge of all aspects of public
provision will enhance your long-
term career prospects.
PUBLIC
MANAGEMENT
AND BUSINESS
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE

2. BSc (Hons) PUBLIC
MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
Available Full-time or Part-time
Special Features
• Academic staff who are leaders
in their respective fields and
conducting up to the minute
research on areas of public
service provision
• Outstanding links with public
sector agencies including the
opportunity for work-based
placements
• Guest lectures from
leading figures in public
service provision
Learning Outcomes
We have six key themes that
underpin all of our teaching,
these include:
• Research
• Project work
• Values and ethics
• Professional practice
• Philosophy and theory
• Leadership
Public Management and Business aims to provide students with the knowledge
and skills required to fully appreciate the needs of the rapidly changing and highly
complex world.
The course is structured to appeal to those who wish to pursue a career in public
services be that health, criminal justice, social welfare, fire services, third sector
agencies including major charities or more locality-based social enterprises.
The course is structured to provide students with key transferable management
skills running in tandem with a comprehensive overview of the history,
development and contemporary structure of public service provision.
Year One
In this year we introduce students
to the key areas which will form the
bedrock of their study. You will be
introduced to the six key themes
that inform and set the standards
and direction of travel for the
entirety of the programme.
Modules studied will include:
• Public services history
and development
• World of business
• Policy making in the
public services
• Organisational behaviour
• Introduction to research methods
• Generic personal development
programme module
Year Two
At this stage we encourage and
facilitate students to use the
investment in the basic knowledge
gained in the first year. This is
a year where we encourage
students to investigate some
of the key challenges facing
public services management in
contemporary Britain and to begin
to employ the concept of praxis
in their work.
Modules studied will include:
• Sustainability and commissioning
in public services
• Operations management
• Enterprise and innovation
• Public services: Theories
and philosophies
• Managing people
• Research methods: Theory
and application
Year Three
It is here where we encourage
the students to employ the
skills and knowledge they have
acquired in the previous two
years. Students will undertake
a research dissertation which will
allow them to link their theoretical
knowledge of management and
public policy with their knowledge
of management practice.
Those part-time students that
are in work will be encouraged
to undertake a work-based
action research project.
In addition, students will be
able to select from a suite of
modules from both public service
and management portfolios in
order that they can enhance and
expand their understanding of
public services and management
theories and practice.
You will also have the opportunity
to undertake some workplace-
based learning. This will be in the
form of an elective work-based
action research project where
students, under the supervision
and guidance of members of
staff and a professional mentor,
undertake a piece of work that
aids the host organisation. The
programme team view year three
as the ideal time for students to
engage in work-based learning
as it provides them with an
opportunity to gain invaluable
workplace experience and also
begin to understand how the
programme’s six key themes
impact on public service policy
and practice.
Modules studied will include:
• A dissertation
• Public Services Delivery
and Evaluation
• Public Management
and Leadership.
Of the remaining three modules
at least 20 credits must be from
management, with the remaining
20 coming from a pathway of
your choice.