Public and Social Policy and Human Resources

This application is only for semester Fall 2024 (beginning September 2024). If you want to study from Spring semester 2024 (beginning in February 2024) please submit the online application for this semester (application deadline on November 15, 2023).

The aim of the subsequent regular and distance studies master’s program in English is to provide the graduate with the ability to link the knowledge and skills acquired in the bachelor's degree of PSPHR or another related field, and to gain basic professional qualifications for the independent performance of a wide range of public and social policy, social services, employment policy activities and human resources development, as well as the prerequisites to develop these skills in practice or further study.

Their core involves two abilities:

- the ability to independently reflect on and evaluate the problems and implemented measures of public and social policy, social services, social work and human resources development, and cope with dilemmas associated with them,

- the ability to independently design and implement system-specific measures, and coordinate their implementation.

On the basis of these are the other expected abilities of the graduate:

- to independently seek, identify and reflect on the causes and consequences of current or latent public and social problems and systemic weaknesses in public and social policy measures, social services, social work, employment policy and human resources development, both at the societal and local levels, as well as that of organizations,

- to independently reflect on and articulate the need for the implementation of public and social policy, social services and social work programs and systemic conditions of human resources development,

- to coordinate activities in organizations implementing public and social policy, social services and social work programs and human resources development, and contribute to the development of their own human resources and organizational capacities as a prerequisite for coping with the tasks in the field.

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

• to perceive, with the help of theories of public and social policy and other relevant fields, the important circumstances of the development of contemporary society and the possible opportunities or threats associated with this development
• to reflect on public and social problems and their solutions in terms of their socio-cultural, ethical, economic, public-political, legal and other causes and consequences; to apply this skill in diverse contexts,
• to identify the full spectrum of basic social and economic determinants and effects of public and social policy, social services, including factors that influence the focus and quality of human resources development interventions in organizations,
• to reflect on the possibilities of mutual interdependence between public and social policies, social services and social work, and human resources development, and adequately respond to them
• to comprehensively reflect on the measures taken to address public and social problems or the development of human resources, in particular in terms of their ideological starting points and the social context
• to reflect on and discuss the bases of values and the dilemmas of the creators and implementers of public and social policy and social work programs, or the development of human resources
• to conceive, design and coordinate effective, ethically and socially reasonable and cost-effective solutions (programs, projects) for public and social problems and human resources development at the macro-, meso- and micro-social levels
• to identify the context, assumptions and starting points for defining the objectives of social intervention or human resources development, to choose the procedures that are appropriate for achieving the given objectives, and to justify them
• to apply the basic organizational, managerial, legal and public-political aspects of the planning and practical implementation of the chosen solutions to social problems and human resources development
• to coordinate and manage the creation, implementation and administration of public and social policy, social services and social work measures, and human resources development at different levels and in different types of organizations

Graduates of the subsequent regular and distance master's degree programs can apply their skills especially in the following areas:

- the role of a conceptual worker in the design and implementation of public and social policy programs, social services and social work, employment policy and human resources development strategies,

- the role of coordinator in the design and implementation of public and social policy programs, social services and social work, employment policy and human resources development,

- the role of researcher,

- the role of a teacher in disciplines in the fields of public and social policy, social services, employment policy and human resources development,

- possibly other types of roles, depending on the employer's needs (e.g. speakers, advisors on public and social policy, social services, employment policy and human resources development).

These roles can be applied by graduates of the subsequent distance studies master's degree program in PSPHR in the following fields and organizations:

- in state administration and self-government organizations dealing with the administration of benefits systems, socio-legal protection, social services and other public policy areas (MLSA, regional and municipal authorities, municipalities, the Agency for Social Inclusion, and other public service bodies in this area),

- at Labour Offices, in the labour market (including private agencies),

- in state administration and self-government organizations dealing with the administration of benefits systems,

- in non-profit organizations in the field of social policy and social services, and social work services of all levels (e.g. NGOs such as Člověk v tísni (People in Need), SOZE, Naděje, Diakonie, Charita),

- in consultative bodies of state and non-profit organizations (including legislative bodies and regional government) involved in the design and implementation of public and social policy programs, social services, employment policy and human resources development,

- in research at universities and research institutes,

- in the teaching of PSPHR at university, higher vocational college and secondary school (after the completion of the pedagogical minimum),

- as specialists or advisers on various social problems and social interventions and human resources development in the media (press, radio, television); or as a spokesperson for organizations that focus on social policy, social services and social work (e.g. MLSA, Charity, Probation and Mediation Service, endowment funds),

- personnel departments and departments dealing with human resources or applying social programs for their employees, in various types of governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with public policy and/or human resources development (their personnel departments, municipalities, city administration, Diaconia, Charity, etc.),

- in trans-national organizations dealing with addressing social problems, social inclusion, or providing social assistance (e.g. those of the European Commission, trans-national non-profit organizations, trade unions, agencies),

- organizations that include among their objectives the systematic cooperation of different organizations in solving social problems (e.g. organizations aimed at helping multi-problem clients, community or volunteer centres; government, regional and municipal inter-departmental committees).

There are no courses that would include practice in English learned programme.

The state examination for the PSPHR master's degree program takes place each semester and has two components: 1. defense of the diploma thesis, and 2. a written test of the ability to write an expert analysis on a chosen theme.

Defense of the diploma work

The standard length of the basic text of the master’s diploma work (without footnotes, explanations or annexes) must be between 18,000 and 22,000 words (144,000 to 162,000 characters including spaces).

The quality of the diploma thesis is assessed according to theoretical-methodological and formal criteria. The theoretical-methodological criteria serve as a tool for assessing the diploma work during the thesis-reader procedure. The formal criteria are the starting point for determining the conditions for granting credit for the subject called Final Thesis.

Theoretical-methodological criteria

The theoretical-methodological criteria for assessing the diploma work of students of subsequent distance studies of the PPSP master's degree program are as follows:

- focus on the research of interventions,

- orientation towards an open cognitive goal,

- the comprehensiveness and application of the theoretical aspects,

- focus,

- the methodological continuity of the research process,

- theoretical orientation within the subject,

- proof of argumentation,

- applicability of acquired knowledge,

- publishability.

Formal Criteria

The student is informed in detail about the formal requirements of the work through the website of the Department of PPSP.

Written examination of the ability to draw up an expert evaluation on a given topic

The task of the student is to write a report (expert evaluation) within a time limit.

This form of examination verifies the student’s ability to synthetically apply the theoretical and empirical knowledge, methodological procedures and analytical skills and abilities acquired during the studies in order to analyze and solve a specific problem in public and social policy and human resources development. In particular, emphasis is placed on the interconnection/synthesis of knowledge from the various subjects that the student has undergone, on the choice and consistent application of a methodologically appropriate procedure for the analysis of the problem and/or the formation of proposals for its solution (the key areas include the knowledge and skills acquired from the subjects of evaluation research, the implementation of public programs, and other compulsory subjects of particular specializations).

Students choose one of the types of assignment. Possible types of assignment include, in particular, the theoretical reflection of a particular problem or the ways to solve it, a proposal of a methodology for problem-analysis or its solution, the methodology of writing a project/proposals for the solution of a problem, the evaluation of a particular project or measures to solve a particular problem, and finally the writing of (a part of) a project or a proposal for the solution to a problem in the area of public and social policy, social services, employment policy or human resources development and organizational development.

The student subsequently selects from a list of topics, problems, situations or areas of social policy or social services, employment policy, human resources management and social development.

Instructions for the completion of the diploma thesis and for the final state examination are available on the website of the department.

Graduates of PSPHR specialization may apply for (upon the condition of passing an entrance exam) a post-graduate program of Social Policy and Social Work, which is taught at FSS MU (Department of SPSW), or for other post-graduate programs in the Czech Republic and abroad (e.g. Public and Social Policy at FSV UK).