Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC1014: The Public Policy Process

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

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 themes:

  • Introduction to the policy process – policy types and stages, module assessments, reading
  • Major theories of the policy process – pluralism, neopluralism, structuralism, institutional theory, advocacy coalition framework, implementation theory, policy evaluation, policy streams
  • Relating theories to a case study
  • The decisional phase
    • Issues and agenda-setting
    • Policy formulation
    • Policy instruments
    • Decision-making
    • The post-decisional phase
      • Implementation
      • Evaluation, succession/termination
      • Conclusions and new horizons in public policy research

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 activity16.5 hours11 Lectures – 1.5 hours each
Scheduled learning and teaching activity11 hours11 Seminars – 1 hour duration
Guided independent study122.5 hoursPrivate study. Students will be given directed reading to complete which will support the lectures, seminars and coursework (approximately 50% of the allocated time). Students will be expected to devote the rest of this time to the formative exercise and completing the summative case study. The case study will also require some independent research, although guidance will be given in class and on request.

Online Resources

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

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Policy case study proposal300 words1,6Written feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Policy brief/essay 331,500 words1-7Written feedback
Policy case study/extended essay673,000 words1-7Written feedback
0
0
0
0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Policy brief/essayPolicy brief/essay (1,500 words)1-7August/September reassessment period
Policy case study/extended essayPolicy case study/extended essay (3,000 words)1-7August/September reassessment period