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Policy Design: From Theory to Practice (POLS30035)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is designed to develop students’ knowledge of the theory and practice of making public policy. It provides a survey of the principal theories of the policy process, some of which emphasise a formal rational process and others of which emphasise the role of institutional process and discourse. By focusing on a range of international comparative experiences, the subject examines different governance systems and institutional changes. It includes a study of both conventional and emerging forms of public and community consultation and communication, including opinion polling, social media and crowd-sourcing.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a sophisticated and critical and comparative understanding of key theories about the policy design process; and
- Demonstrate conceptual sophistication in the analysis of the practical politics of the policy process; and
- Develop an advanced knowledge of different practices of public consultation and communication strategies; and
- Demonstrate advanced critical skills in the presentation of policy options, evidence and communication; and
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate different sources of evidence in the development of arguments; and
- Work productively and collaboratively in groups with other students.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- apply theory to analyse current events; and
- write analytic documents for policy consumers in limited time frames; and
- evaluate claims by competing theories and analytic frameworks for greatest explanatory power.
Last updated: 3 November 2022