Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.
This course introduces concepts of and approaches to public policy analysis and evaluation. Focusing on policy areas such as health, genetic engineering, human reproduction, the environment, and new technology, the course examines the interaction of expertise, society, and public policy and clarifies the intricacies of the policy process in light of technological and social change.
This course introduces students to public policy analysis and governance, drawing upon case studies in applied policy areas such as health and human reproduction, energy policy, criminal justice, immigration, and environmental policy. We will examine how technology, society, and public policy interact and consider the complexities of the contemporary policy process in light of technological and social change. The course combines lectures and readings with the case study method, in order that students gain experience in analyzing contemporary policy issues and problems from a variety of perspectives. Major concepts addressed in this course include cost-benefit analysis, uncertainty, science and public communication, adaptive governance, foresight and scenarios, wicked problems, and risk.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will:1) understand core concepts and major approaches of public policy analysis and decision-making;2) be able to conduct policy research and issue analysis and write an effective policy memo;3) be able to apply policy tools and concepts to real-world controversies;4) understand public policy analysis as both an applied/professional field and as an academic discipline;5) be able to identify tensions between science, expertise, policy-making and democracy in specific cases;6) be able to articulate the values and interests that underpin their own policy views;7) recognize alternative cultural viewpoints and how these might interact with the policy process in Western democracies;8) understand how globalization challenges public policy and decision-making processes.By definition, a government has no conscience. Sometimes it has a policy, but nothing more.—Albert Camus
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
15 points in POLS at 100-level; Or HLTH101, orHLTH106 or HSRV101. Students not meeting the prerequisites but with at least a B average in 60 points in appropriate courses may be admitted to take Political Science courses at the 200-level with the approval of the Head of Department and/or Programme coordinator.
Amy Fletcher
One required book:• Van Asselt, M et al. (2015) Foresight in Action: Developing Policy-Oriented Scenarios. Routledge Press (Earthscan). Additional required readings are available by clicking on the appropriate link in the syllabus posted on Learn.Note: you can also search the University Library catalogue, by journal title, to find the articles, if a link proves to be outdated.There will be additional, short readings on each case study topic. These will be drawn primarily from news sources. The links will be posted on Learn prior to the case study.I will post lecture notes on our Learn site, and provide links to sources that may be useful for background information and/or your research.
Domestic fee $746.00
International fee $3,038.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .