| Unit name | Power, Politics and the Policy Process (PPA) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0065 |
| 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) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Global Governance and Research Methods (TB1) |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
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:
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit is one of three mandatory units taken by all students in the first term of study. Students can then select three optional units to take in the second term, followed by a dissertation in the third term. This unit provides a critical introduction to the field of public policy and underpins subsequent learning.
An overview of content
This unit will:
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit students should:
The unit will be delivered through a combination of asynchronous content for students to engage with and complete in their own time, and synchronous (live) online seminar sessions in which students will work in small groups to discuss key topics and complete prepared exercises.
Asynchronous content will present students with course materials related to weekly topics, and will be in the form of recorded presentations, as well as key readings, infographics, notes, video materials and/or self-directed exercises.
One hour per week synchronous (live) seminar sessions will give students the opportunity to develop their ideas in collaboration with other students in the programme. Students may be asked to work in small groups in seminars or in preparation for seminar activities such as group presentations.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will complete a formative element consisting of a one page essay summary that they will be required to submit via blackboard during week 8. They will have an opportunity to discuss their essay plan in a planned seminar session and during the weekly Unit drop-in office hours. Teaching staff will also give written feedback on ONE draft of their one page essay plan.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The summative assessment will be a 3000 word essay (100%) This assessment covers all of the ILOs.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, unsuccessful students may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. This will comprise the same task as the original assessment.
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. SPOLM0065).
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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
