| Unit name | Power, Politics and the Policy Process |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM1060 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Ayres |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Policy making is a commonplace activity but one which is often difficult to understand and explain. During the last century a new discipline of policy studies emerged and with it the promise that through a better understanding of the nature of policy making, the content and impact of policy would be improved. Policy studies is a sub-field of political science that tries to understand and build up knowledge of the whole process of public policy beginning from the big picture of the global economy through the complex issues of which policies are chosen for inclusion on the political agenda, who designs them, who delivers them and how, finally, they are evaluated. The concept of political power influences every stage of the policy process and as such is at the core of policy analysis. This unit introduces students to the concepts of politics and power and explores them in relation to key
theories of policy making:
Unit Aims
•To introduce students to the literature of policy studies and to the development of the field over the last fifty years,
•To introduce the main theories that seek to explain the nature of policy making, including agenda setting, policy formation, implementation and policy evaluation,
•To enable students to apply these theories to understanding and explaining various aspects of policy making in different settings.
On completion of the unit students should:
Teaching will be delivered through blended learning involiving a combination of syncronic and asyncronic sessions, including online lectures, study groups and self-directed exercises
1,000 word written assignment (20%) in which students apply Agenda Setting theoretical insights to interpret and analyse a recent topic.
This assessment covers ILO 2.
3,000 word written essay (80%) in which students should demonstrate an understanding of relevant theories and modes of policy making, and a familiarity with contemporary policy debates and different approaches to policy making.
This assessment covers ILOs 1-3.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM1060).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
