Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1044: Introduction to Public Policy

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

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
Essay Plan250 words1-6Verbal

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
50500

...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
Essay502,000 words1-6Written
Examination501 hour1-6Written

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
EssayEssay (2000 words)1-6August/September reassessment period
ExaminationExamination (1 hour)1-6August/September reassessment period

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.

Brik, A.B. and Pal, L.A. (2021) The Future of the Policy Sciences Cheltenham: Edward Elgar

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

Cairney, P. (2020) Theories of Public Policy 2nd edn 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.

Knill, C. and Tosun, J. (2020) Public Policy: A New Introduction 2nd edn Palgrave

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. (2012) Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision-Making, 3rd edn W.W. Norton and Co.

Weible, C.M. and Sabatier, P.A. (eds) (2007/2017) Theories of The Policy Process, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

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

Journals: Comparative PoliticsEnvironmental PoliticsEnvironmental Values European Journal of Public Policy; GovernanceHealth, Risk and SocietyJournal of Contingencies and Crisis ManagementJournal of European Public Policy; Journal of Policy Analysis and ManagementJournal of Public Administration Research and Theory (J-PART)Journal of Public PolicyPolicy and PoliticsPolicy SciencesPolicy Studies; Policy Studies JournalPublic AdministrationPublic Administration ReviewPublic Policy and AdministrationReview of Policy ResearchRisk AnalysisRisk and Regulation; Risk, Decision and PolicyScience and Public Policy