University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised November 2002)
Code: UPPNGP-30-3 Title: Policy-making In Britain Version: 1
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Standard
Owning Faculty: Humanities, Languages & Social Sciences Field: Politics
Valid from: September 2001 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSC (Hons)
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
At the end of the module the students will be able to:
• Evaluate the various processes, institutions and policy actors at work in the initiation, formulation and application of public policy in the UK (assessment components A; and B element 2).
• Identify a variety of approaches to the study of public policy-making (component B element 2).
• Analyse and evaluate various theoretical explanations of policy-making through their application to discrete policy areas, in the central, local, EC or international context (components A; and B element 2).
• Gather information from a wide variety of sources, both printed and electronic, including academic works, government publications, and the press and media (component B, elements 1 and 2).
• Present a policy-analysis case study that incorporates the formulation of a research question, a critical appraisal of a discrete policy area, and the application of theories of policy-making. The case-study essay will demonstrate an ability to synthesise material, communicate this in a coherent form, write clearly and concisely, and use appropriate presentational formats (such as tables, charts, footnotes, etc.)(component B, elements 1 and 2).
Syllabus outline:
The Course will incorporate at least some of the following:
• What is public policy and policy-making?
• Approaches to the study of policy-making and models of the policy process.
• Theoretical models and explanations
• The British political and policy-making system, including parliament, government, bureaucracies, pressure groups and local government.
• Government and governance.
• The territorial dimension: Europe, regions and local governance
• Case studies
Teaching and learning methods:
The module combines lectures, seminars and independent study. Lectures establish the structure of the course, provide information about key topics, and highlight important issues for debate and further discussion. Seminars draw on a variety of teaching/learning approaches (for example student presentations, small group work and general class discussion) to examine the topics highlighted in lectures in greater depth. Students will be encouraged to pursue further those topics on which they choose to concentrate, using guided reading of academic materials. In accumulating learning material they will also be encouraged to make use of data bases, abstracts, and official publications etc – both printed and on-line. Assessment also requires students to seek out their own sources of information and to investigate independently a policy area or issue of their own choosing.
Indicative sources:
Hill, M. The Policy Process in the Modern State (3ed) (Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1997)
Hill, M. (ed) The Policy Process: A Reader (2nd ed) (Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1997)
James, S. British Government: A reader in policy making (London: Routledge, 1997)
John, P. Analysying Public Policy (London: Pinter, 1998)
Mullard, M. (ed) Policy Making in Britain: An Introduction (London: Routledge 1995)
Parsons, W. Public Policy (Aldershot: Edward Elgar, 1995)
Peters, B. Guy Comparative Politics: Theory and Methods (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998)
Pierre, J. & Governance, Politcs and the State (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000)
Peters, B Guy
Rhodes, R Understanding Governance (Buckingham: Open University Press 1997)
Richards, D & Governance and Public Policy in the UK (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)
Smith, M.
Savage, S.P. & Public Policy Under Blair (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001)
Atkinson, R. (eds)
Wallace, H & Policy-Making in the European Union (4th ed)(Oxford: Oxford University Press,
Wallace, W. (eds) 2000)
Wilson, D. & Local Government in the United Kingdom (3rd ed)(Basingstoke: Palgrave
Game, C. Macmillan 2002)
http://www.ukonline.gov.uk (UK government information service)
Useful journals include Public Administration, Public Policy and Administration, Local Government Studies, Policy and Politics.
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 45% B: 55%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Examination (three hours) 45%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Case-study literature search and review (1200 words) 20%
2. Case-study essay (3000 words) 35%
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Examination (three hours) 45%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Essay (4000 words) 55%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)