Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1044: Introduction to Public Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 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:

 

  1. An Introduction to Public Policy
  2. Who are the Policy Actors?
  3. Citizen Attention and Issue Framing
  4. Government Attention
  5. Decision Making Models
  6. How do Institutions Matter?
  7. Policy in Space
  8. Policy in Time
  9. Policy Implementation
  10. Policy Evaluation
  11. Module Review

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
27.5122.50

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities16.511 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities1111 x 1 hour tutorial. Tutorials are based on lecture topics. Every student will be expected to present a formative assessment during the semester.
Guided Independent Study5.5Preparation for formative seminar presentation
Guided independent study40Preparation and writing of essay
Guided independent study37Preparation and revision for examination
Guided Independent Study40Reading for Tutorials

Online Resources

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

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Indicative Reading List:

Baumgartner, F.R. and Jones, B.D. (1993) Agendas and Instability in American Politics, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Birkland, T.A. (2005) An Introduction to the Policy Process, 2nd edn, M.E. Sharpe.

Buonanno, L. and N. Zahariadis (eds) (2017) The Routledge Handbook of European Public Policy London: Taylor & Francis

Cairney, P. (2011) Theories of Public Policy Palgrave.

Dorey, P. (2014) Policy Making in Britain, Sage.

Dunn, W. (2007) Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction, 2nd edn, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Fischer, F. (2003) Reframing Public Policy, Oxford University Press.

Hill, M. (ed) (2009) The Policy Process: A Reader, 5th edn, London: Longman.

Hill, M. and Hupe, P. (2009) Implementing Public Policy, 2nd edn, Sage.

Hogwood, B.W. and Gunn, L. (1984) Policy Analysis for the Real World, Oxford University Press.

Howlett, M. et al (2012) Routledge Handbook of Public Policy, Routledge.

Howlett, M., Ramesh, M. and Perl, A. (2009) Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystem, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press.

Howlett, M., Wu, X. and Ramesh, M. (eds) (2017) Policy Capacity and Governance: Assessing Governmental Competences and Capabilities in Theory and Practice Basingstoke: Palgrave.

John, P. (2000) Analysing Public Policy, London, Pinter.

Jones, B.D. and Baumgartner, F.R. (2005) The Politics of Attention Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Jones, B.D. and Baumgartner, F.R. (2005) The Politics of Attention, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Moran, M., Rein, M. and Goodin, R.A. (2008) The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, Oxford University Press.

Parsons, W. (1995) Public Policy, London: Edward Elgar.

Richards, D. and Smith, M. (2002) Governance and Public Policy in the UK, Oxford.

Stone, D. (2001) Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision-Making, W.W. Norton and Co.

Weible, C.M. and Sabatier, P.A. (eds) (20072017) Theories of The Policy Process, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Zahariadis, N. (ed) (2016) Handbook of Public Policy Agenda-Setting Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

 

Journals: Comparative Politics; Environmental Politics; Environmental Values; European Journal of Public Policy; Governance; Health, Risk and Society; Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management; Journal of European Public Policy; Journal of Policy Analysis and Management; Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (J-PART); Journal of Public Policy; Policy and Politics; Policy Sciences; Policy Studies; Policy Studies Journal; Public Administration; Public Administration Review; Public Policy and Administration; Review of Policy Research; Risk Analysis; Risk and Regulation; Risk, Decision and Policy; Science and Public Policy