MASTER in public management - Public administration management course (1st and 2nd year)

-Initial training: candidates with a Bachelor's degree, mainly in management and economics, but also in law, political science or social sciences.

-Continuing education: public sector professionals wishing to acquire or consolidate managerial skills, professionals undergoing professional retraining, or jobseekers.

In line with the training objectives, 5 blocks of knowledge and skills (BCC) are offered:

Master 1:

- Understanding the environment of public and non-profit organizations

- Managing public policies in a context of societal transition

- Managing in public, non-profit and community organizations

- Apply a scientific method to public and territorial management

- Prepare/reflect on professional activity and social commitment in a changing world

Master 2:

- Managing in public, non-profit and community organizations: General management functions

- Manage, control and audit the resources of public or semi-public organizations

- Prepare for administrative and societal change

- Prepare/reflect on professional activity and social commitment in a changing world

-Master 1
Work-study program or compulsory 2-month internship

The first year is common to several courses. It enables students to develop the skills essential to future public managers. In the second semester, a system of options (by block) enables students to define their professional project and choose the "Management of Public Administrations" field.

Courses are taught on a semester basis, in the form of lectures and tutorials.

- Master 2
Work-study program or compulsory internship of at least 6 months

This second year can be taken as a standard course or as a sandwich course. In the alternating program, students attend an average of two half-weeks of classes per month, and spend the rest of the time working in an organization (apprenticeship contract, professionalization contract, internship or job).

This rhythm encourages students to work in the field and build up a professional network. Students wishing to prepare for state and local civil service entrance examinations can take an intensive preparatory course: the IMPGT + Talents for Public Services Prep.

The 2nd year of this Master's program is supported by two Partnerships of Excellence.

- FRANCOPHONE] The double degree program with the School of Management at the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec) offers three students the opportunity to spend the second semester of their studies in Canada, and on their return obtain the Aix-Marseille University diploma at the same time as the Master's degree in Administration, public management (Bac+5) from the University of Sherbrooke.

- ANGLOPHONE] The Erasmus agreement with the "National and International Administration and Policy" Master's degree in comparative public administration (University of Potsdam), currently the only one of its kind in Germany.

Over the two years, courses are taught on a half-yearly basis in the form of lectures and tutorials. Lecturers combine a variety of teaching methods: theoretical presentations, case studies, role-playing, role-playing and discussion sessions, enabling students to play an active role in their training.

Summary course content for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years (indicative - subject to change)

- Master 1 - semesters 1 and 2
Courses shared with the 8 Master's courses in Public Management (except MESS)

-Understanding the environment of public and non-market organizations: Conceptual and theoretical foundations: French public institutions and the main principles of public management, Administrative law for the public manager, Societal issues and public policies: cross-disciplinary approaches, European institutions and governance, Public policies and systems: sectoral approaches, Opening lectures and workshops.

(- Managing public policies in a context of societal transition: Societal issues and public policies: cross-disciplinary approaches, Designing public policies: innovation and co-creation, Managing a territory, Public policies and systems: sectoral approaches, Steering and evaluating a public policy

-Managing in public, non-market and public-interest organizations: Conceptual and theoretical foundations: French public institutions and the main principles of public management, Design and organizational behavior, Project management (tools and methods), Leadership and team management, Managing the performance of public organizations.

- MAP managerial specialties: Professional and administrative writing techniques, Accounting, budgeting and financial analysis of local authorities, Public HRM - statutory and regulatory aspects, Search for funding and new funding.

-Applying a scientific method to public and territorial management: Public policy design: innovation and co-creation, Territorial management, Design and organizational behavior, Research methods: information processing and retrieval, Quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Option 1: Public manager ethics and deontology, Option 2: Research awareness

-Preparing/reflecting on professional activity and social commitment in a changing world : Research methods: processing and reporting information, English, Supporting students in the professional world.

Cross-disciplinary courses: Serious Game, Internship or apprenticeship

- Master 2 - semesters 3 and 4

-Managing in non-market and public interest organizations: General management functions: Territorial, administrative and service projects, Managing and supporting change in the public sector

-Managing, controlling and auditing the resources of public or semi-public organizations: Operational management of human resources, Administrative law and processes in the digital age, Budgetary and financial forecasting and strategy, Management control and performance management, Changes in public HR, Organizational audit and improvement initiatives, Financial audit and financial risk management, Management control and costing in the public sector.

-Preparing to support administrative and societal change: Mobilizing teams and managing innovation, Responsible public purchasing policies, Unlikely seminar, Seminar: current public reforms, Supporting ecological, societal and democratic transitions in public organizations and policies, Digital public administration: transforming processes, public data, AI, Comparative approach of policies and administration.

-Preparing/reflecting on professional activity and social commitment in a changing world : Dissertation methodology, Professional integration workshop, Professional support - activity report, Dissertation and defense.

Further study

- At the end of the 1st year of the Master's program: students can continue their studies in the 2nd year of the Master's program in Public Management (Management des administrations publiques), or in one of the 8 other Master's programs offered at the IMPGT, or in one of the other Master's programs in Law-Economics-Management.

- At the end of the two-year Master's program, students can go on to study for a Doctorate in Management Sciences.

Job opportunities

Sectors: public administrations and companies (central administrations, local authorities, public establishments, development agencies, GIPs, international organizations and institutions), companies working with the public sector (semi-public companies, SPLs, SPLAs, SCICs, public services (public works, transport, urban planning, health, social, catering, environment, waste, energy, etc.), banks, financial institutions); consulting firms, management consultancies; companies in the social economy, NGOs, associations.

Targeted professions: public sector contract managers, project managers for the design, steering and evaluation of public programs and policies, resource steering and management (control, finance, HR), project managers (new funding, e-administration, e-governance, organizational audit, consulting); unit managers in private/non-profit organizations involved in the public sector, public sector consultants.

Admission is by application.
Level of French required and recommended: C1 - C2

-Master 1 - on the Mon Master platform

Candidates with a Bachelor's degree, mainly in management, economics and law, or with a degree equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. Applicants from political and social sciences or other backgrounds are also considered, provided they can demonstrate a good academic level and a clear motivation to change direction.

- Master 2 - on the E-Candidat platform

Candidates who have completed the first year of a Master's degree in public management, or who come from other academic backgrounds (law, economics, management, political science, urban planning). Solid managerial experience (mainly in a field of public action) may be an asset for admission to the second year of the Master's program.

VAP (Validation des Acquis Professionnels) is available for students who do not have the required level to enter the program.

The 2nd year of this Master's program is supported by one of Aix-Marseille Université's International Partnerships of Excellence. The double degree with the School of Management at the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec) offers three students the opportunity to spend the second semester of their studies in Canada, and on their return to France, to obtain the Aix-Marseille Université diploma at the same time as the Master's degree in Administration, public management (Bac+5) from the University of Sherbrooke.