Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3205: Civic Engagement

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Introduction: Citizenship and the Idea of Civic Engagement
  • Trends in Political Participation: Declining levels of formal political participation
  • Explaining Political Disaffection
  • The Critical Citizen? The rise of informal political participation (e.g. Petitions E-Activism, Campaigning, Demonstrating & Protesting, Supporting Boycotts)
  • Democratic Innovations from around the world and their applicability to the UK (e.g. citizens assemblies and juries, participatory budgeting)
  • Trends in Civic Participation: Volunteering and Community work
  • The Social Capital Thesis: Bowling Together or Bowling Alone?
  • Civic Engagement as Participation in Public Policy – from Consultation to Coproduction
  • Motivations for Prosocial Behaviour: Theory and Evidence
  • How Can Policy Makers, Public Managers and Non-Profits increase Political and Civic Participation? Case Studies from Policy and Practice

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
442560

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities4422 x 2 hour seminars - a mix of lectures, group discussion and student presentations
Guided independent study110Reading and preparing for seminars including taking notes and set readings
Guided independent study51Research and essay writing
Guided independent study73Research and writing of strategy paper, to include liaison with external organisation or internal university units where applicable
Guided independent study22Preparation for presentations

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Relevant URLs, youtube videos, podcasts and clips will be uploaded on the module website

Other Learning Resources

A variety of policy reports, strategy and consultation documents will be available on the module website